IDS DISCOVERY FUND INC
485BPOS, 1997-09-26
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<PAGE>




                                        SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                                              Washington, D.C.  20549

                                                     Form N-1A


REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

Pre-Effective Amendment No.

Post-Effective Amendment No.   34   (File No. 2-72174)                 X

                                                      and/or

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940

Amendment No.   34   (File No. 811-3178)                               X



IDS DISCOVERY FUND, INC.
IDS Tower 10, Minneapolis, Minnesota  55440-0010
Leslie L. Ogg - 901 S. Marquette Ave., Suite 2810
Minneapolis, MN  55402-3268
(612) 330-9283

Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering:

It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box)

     immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
  X  on Sept. 29, 1997 pursuant to paragraph (b)
     60 days after  filing  pursuant to paragraph  (a)(i) on (date)  pursuant to
     paragraph  (a)(i) 75 days after  filing  pursuant to  paragraph  (a)(ii) on
     (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(ii) of rule 485.
If appropriate, check the following box:
     this  post-effective  amendment  designates  a  new  effective  date  for a
previously filed post-effective amendment.

Registrant has registered an indefinite number or amount of securities under the
Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to Section 24f of the Investment  Company Act of
1940.  Registrant's  Rule 24f-2 Notice for its most recent fiscal year was filed
on or about Sept. 25, 1997.


<PAGE>



Cross  reference  sheet showing the location in the  prospectus and Statement of
Additional  Information  of the  information  called for by items  enumerated in
Parts A and B of Form N-1A.

Negative answers omitted are so indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                            PART A                                                             PART B
    <S>            <C>                                              <C>           <C>   
                                                                                  Section in Statement
    Item No.       Section in Prospectus                            Item No.      of Additional Information
     1             Cover page of prospectus                          10           Cover page of SAI
     2(a)          Sales charge and Fund expenses                    11           Table of Contents
      (b)          The Fund in brief                                 12           NA
      (c)          The Fund in brief                                 13(a)        Additional Investment Policies; all appendices
                                                                                  except
     3(a)          Financial highlights                                           Dollar-Cost Averaging
      (b)          NA                                                   (b)       Additional Investment Policies
      (c)          Performance                                          (c)       Additional Investment Policies
      (d)          Financial highlights                                 (d)       Security Transactions
     4(a)          The Fund in brief; Investment policies and        14(a)        Board members and officers of the Fund**; Board
                   risks; How the Fund is organized                               Members and Officers
      (b)          Investment policies and risks                        (b)       Board Members and Officers
      (c)          Investment policies and risks                        (c)       Board Members and Officers
     5(a)          Board members and officers; Board members         15(a)        NA
                   and
                   officers of the Fund (listing)                       (b)       Principal Holders of Securities, if applicable
      (b)(i)       Investment manager; About American Express           (c)       Board Members and Officers
                   Financial Corporation-General information         16(a)(i)     How the Fund is organized; About American Express
      (b)(ii)      Investment manager                                             Financial Corporation**
      (b)(iii)     Investment manager                                   (a)(ii)   Agreements: Investment Management Services
                                                                                  Agreement,
      (c)          Portfolio manager                                              Plan and Agreement of Distribution
      (d)          Administrator and transfer agent                     (a)(iii)  Agreements: Investment Management Services
                                                                                  Agreement
      (e)          Administrator and transfer agent                     (b)       Agreements: Investment Management Services
                                                                                  Agreement
      (f)          Distributor                                          (c)       NA
      (g)          Investment manager; About American Express           (d)       Agreements: Administrative Services Agreement,
                                                                                  Shareholder
                   Financial Corporation-General information                      Service Agreement
    5A(a)          *                                                    (e)       NA
      (b)          *                                                    (f)       Agreement: Distribution Agreement
     6(a)          Shares; Voting rights                                (g)       NA
      (b)          NA                                                   (h)       Custodian Agreement; Independent Auditors
      (c)          NA                                                   (i)       Agreements: Transfer Agency Agreement; Custodian
      (d)          Voting rights                                                  Agreement
      (e)          Cover page; Special shareholder services          17(a)        Security Transactions
      (f)          Dividend and capital gain distributions;             (b)       Brokerage Commissions Paid to Brokers Affiliated
                                                                                  with
                   Reinvestments                                                  American Express Financial Corporation
      (g)          Taxes                                                (c)       Security Transactions
      (h)          Alternative purchase arrangements                    (d)       Security Transactions
     7(a)          Distributor                                          (e)       Security Transactions
      (b)          Valuing Fund shares                               18(a)        Shares; Voting rights**
      (c)          How to purchase, exchange or redeem shares           (b)       NA
      (d)          How to purchase shares                            19(a)        Investing in the Fund
      (e)          NA                                                   (b)       Valuing Fund Shares; Investing in the Fund
      (f)          Distributor                                          (c)       Redeeming Shares
      (g)          Alternative purchase arrangements;                20           Taxes
                   Reductions and
                   waivers of the sales charge                       21(a)        Agreements: Distribution Agreement
     8(a)          How to redeem shares                                 (b)       NA
      (b)          NA                                                   (c)       NA
      (c)          How to purchase shares: Three ways to             22(a)        Performance Information (for money market funds
                   invest                                                         only)
      (d)          How to purchase, exchange or redeem shares:          (b)       Performance Information (for all funds except
                                                                                  money market
                   Redemption policies-"Important..."                             funds)
     9             None                                              23           Financial Statements




</TABLE>

*Designates information is located in annual report.
**Designates location in prospectus.

<PAGE>


IDS Discovery Fund

   
Prospectus
Sept. 29, 1997
    

The goal of IDS Discovery Fund, Inc. is long-term growth of
capital.  The Fund invests primarily in common stocks of small- and
medium-size growth companies.

This prospectus contains facts that can help you decide if the Fund is the right
investment for you. Read it before you invest and keep it for future reference.

   
Additional  facts about the Fund are in a Statement  of  Additional  Information
(SAI), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and available for
reference,  along with other  related  materials,  on the SEC  Internet web site
(http://www.sec.gov).  The SAI is  incorporated  by reference.  For a free copy,
contact American Express Shareholder Service.

Like all  mutual  fund  shares,  these  securities  have not  been  approved  or
disapproved by the Securities  and Exchange  Commission or any state  securities
commission,  nor  has  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  or any  state
securities  commission  passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus.
Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

Please note that the Fund:

o  is not a bank deposit
o  is not federally insured
o  is not endorsed by any bank or government agency
o  is not guaranteed to achieve its goal

American Express Shareholder Service
P.O. Box 534
Minneapolis, MN
55440-0534
800-862-7919
TTY:  800-846-4852
Web site address: http://www.americanexpress.com/advisors
    

                                              -1-

<PAGE>



Table of contents

The Fund in brief
        Goal
        Investment policies and risks
        Manager and distributor
        Portfolio manager
        Alternative purchase arrangements

Sales charge and Fund expenses

Performance
        Financial highlights
        Total returns

Investment  policies  and  risks  Facts  about   investments   and  their  risks
        Alternative investment option Valuing Fund shares

How     to purchase, exchange or redeem shares Alternative purchase arrangements
        How to  purchase  shares How to  exchange  shares  How to redeem  shares
        Reductions and waivers of the sales charge

Special shareholder services
        Services
        Quick telephone reference

Distributions and taxes
        Dividend and capital gain distributions
        Reinvestments
        Taxes
        How to determine the correct TIN

How the Fund is organized
        Shares
        Voting rights
        Shareholder meetings
        Board members and officers
        Investment manager
        Administrator and transfer agent
        Distributor

About American Express Financial Corporation
        General information

Appendix

        Descriptions of derivative instruments



                                              -2-

<PAGE>



The Fund in brief

Goal

IDS  Discovery  Fund (the Fund)  seeks to provide  shareholders  with  long-term
growth of capital.  Because any investment  involves  risk,  achieving this goal
cannot be guaranteed. Only shareholders can change the goal.

Investment policies and risks

The Fund is a diversified mutual fund that invests primarily in common stocks of
small-  and  medium-size  growth  companies.  Many are in  businesses  involving
technological innovation or experiencing rapidly improving productivity.

   
Stocks of smaller,  growing companies  historically have provided higher returns
to investors than stocks of larger, established companies. However, the price of
their stocks is more volatile.  Therefore, the Fund is appropriate for long-term
investors who are comfortable with a relatively high degree of price variability
and investment risk. For further information,  refer to the later section in the
prospectus titled "Investment policies and risks."
    

Manager and distributor

   
The Fund is managed by American Express Financial Corporation (AEFC), a provider
of financial  services since 1894. AEFC currently  manages more than $69 billion
in assets for the IDS MUTUAL  FUND  GROUP.  Shares of the Fund are sold  through
American Express Financial Advisors Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of AEFC.
    

Portfolio manager

   
Kurt Winters joined AEFC in 1987 and serves as senior portfolio manager.  He was
appointed to manage this Fund in January 1995. From 1992 to 1995, he managed IDS
Life Series Fund, Managed Portfolio.
    

Alternative purchase arrangements

The Fund  offers its shares in three  classes.  Class A shares are  subject to a
sales charge at the time of purchase. Class B shares are subject to a contingent
deferred  sales charge (CDSC) on  redemptions  made within six years of purchase
and an annual distribution  (12b-1) fee. Class Y shares are sold without a sales
charge to qualifying institutional investors.

Sales charge and Fund expenses

Shareholder  transaction  expenses are  incurred  directly by an investor on the
purchase or redemption of Fund shares.  Fund operating  expenses are paid out of
Fund assets for each class of shares.  Operating  expenses are  reflected in the
Fund's  daily  share  price  and  dividends,  and are not  charged  directly  to
shareholder accounts.


                                              -3-

<PAGE>



Shareholder transaction expenses
                                       Class A   Class B   Class Y
Maximum sales charge on purchases*
(as a percentage of offering price).......5%        0%        0%
Maximum deferred sales charge
imposed on redemptions (as a
percentage of original purchase price)....0%        5%        0%

Annual Fund operating expenses (as a percentage of average daily net assets):

   
                                       Class A   Class B   Class Y
Management fee**                        0.68%     0.68%     0.68%
12b-1 fee                               0.00%     0.75%     0.00%
Other expenses***                       0.45%     0.47%     0.38%
Total                                   1.13%     1.90%     1.06%
    

*This charge may be reduced depending on your total investments in
IDS funds.  See "Reductions of the sales charge."

   
**Includes the impact of a performance  fee that increased the management fee by
0.07% in fiscal year 1997.

***Other expenses include an administrative services fee, a shareholder services
fee, a transfer agency fee and other nonadvisory expenses. Class Y expenses have
been restated to reflect the 0.10%  shareholder  services fee which commenced on
May 9, 1997.
    

Example: Suppose for each year for the next 10 years, Fund expenses are as above
and  annual  return is 5%. If you sold your  shares at the end of the  following
years, for each $1,000 invested, you would pay total expenses of:

   
                    1 year       3 years      5 years   10 years
Class A             $61          $ 84         $109      $181
Class B             $69          $100         $123      $203**
Class B*            $19          $ 60         $103      $203**
Class Y             $11          $ 34         $ 59      $130
    

*Assuming Class B shares are not redeemed at the end of the period.
**Based on conversion of Class B shares to Class A shares after
eight years.

This example does not represent actual expenses, past or future. Actual expenses
may  be  higher  or  lower  than  those  shown.  Because  Class  B  pays  annual
distribution (12b-1) fees, long-term  shareholders of Class B may indirectly pay
an equivalent of more than a 6.25% sales  charge,  the maximum  permitted by the
National Association of Securities Dealers.


                                              -4-

<PAGE>



Performance

Financial highlights

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   
Fiscal period ended July 31,

Per share income and capital changesa
                                                Class A
                     1997    1996   1995    1994     1993    1992    1991   1990    1989    1988
<S>                <C>     <C>     <C>    <C>       <C>     <C>     <C>    <C>     <C>     <C>
Net asset value,   $10.73  $13.16  $10.33 $11.37    $9.87   $9.58   $9.05  $7.75   $6.69   $7.99
beginning of
period
                   Income from investment operations:
Net investment      (.04)     .06    .07    (.04)    (.02)   (.01)    .04    .14     .13     .11
income
(loss)

Net gains (losses)  3.95      .34   2.79    (.52)    1.75    1.01    1.03   1.35     .98   (1.04)
(both realized
and unrealized)

Total from          3.91      .40   2.86    (.56)    1.73    1.00    1.07   1.49    1.11    (.93)
investment
operations
                   Less distributions:
Dividends from net  (.03)    (.09)    --      --       --    (.02)   (.11)  (.14)   (.05)   (.10)
investment income

Distributions      (1.59)   (2.74)  (.03)   (.48)    (.23)   (.69)   (.43)  (.05)     --    (.27)
from
realized gains

Total              (1.62)   (2.83)  (.03)   (.48)    (.23)   (.71)   (.54)  (.19)   (.05)   (.37)
distributions

Net asset value,  $13.02   $10.73 $13.16  $10.33   $11.37   $9.87   $9.58  $9.05   $7.75   $6.69
end of period
                   Ratios/supplemental data
                                           Class A
                    1997     1996   1995    1994     1993    1992    1991   1990    1989    1988
Net assets, end of  $904     $683   $730    $523     $445    $293    $207   $168    $167    $182
period (in
millions)

Ratio of expenses  1.13%    1.00%   .99%    .97%    1.03%   1.04%    .98%   .76%    .66%    .63%
to average daily
net assetsc

Ratio of net       (.32%)    .46%   .59%   (.39%)   (.17%)  (.11%)   .40%  1.51%   1.86%   1.49%
income (loss) to
average daily
net assets

Portfolio           153%     179%   192%     67%      76%     90%     95%    76%    109%     61%
turnover rate
(excluding
short-term
securities)

Total returnb      39.1%     4.0%  27.6%   (5.5%)   17.5%    9.9%   13.4%  19.8%   16.7%  (10.9%)

Average brokerage $.0502      $--    $--     $--      $--     $--     $--    $--     $--    $--
commission rated

    
                                              -5-

<PAGE>


   
      aFor a share  outstanding  throughout  the period.  Rounded to the nearest
      cent. bTotal return does not reflect payment of a sales charge. cEffective
      fiscal  year 1996,  expense  ratio is based on total  expenses of the Fund
      before reduction of earnings credits on cash balances.  dEffective  fiscal
      year  1997,  the  Fund  is  required  to  disclose  an  average  brokerage
      commission  rate per share for security  trades on which  commissions  are
      charged.  The comparablity of this information may be affected by the fact
      that  commission  rates  per  share  vary   significantly   among  foreign
      countries.
</TABLE>

      Fiscal period ended July 31,

      Per share income and capital changesa

                             Class B                      Class Y

                     1997     1996    1995b        1997    1996    1995b
Net asset value,   $10.63   $13.12   $11.31      $10.73  $13.17   $11.31
beginning of
period
                   Income from investment operations:
Net investment       (.11)      --      .01        (.01)    .07      .07
income
(loss)

Net gains (both      3.89      .31     1.80        3.95     .34     1.80
realized
and unrealized)

Total from           3.78      .31     1.81        3.94     .41     1.86
investment
operations
                   Less distributions:
Dividends from net     --     (.06)      --        (.05)   (.11)      --
investment income

Distributions       (1.59)   (2.74)      --       (1.59)  (2.74)      --
from
realized gains

Total               (1.59)   (2.80)      --       (1.64)  (2.85)      --
distributions

Net asset value,   $12.82   $10.63   $13.12      $13.03  $10.73   $13.17
end of period
                   Ratios/supplemental data

                             Class B                     Class Y

                     1997     1996     1995b       1997    1996    1995b
Net assets, end of   $101      $43      $10         $72     $52      $39
period (in
millions)

Ratio of expenses   1.90%    1.74%    1.95%c       .98%    .81%     .93%c
to average daily
net assetse

Ratio of net       (1.10%)   (.10%)    .44%c      (.17%)   .61%    1.51%c
income (loss)
to average daily
net assets

Portfolio            153%     179%     192%        153%    179%     192%
turnover rate
(excluding
short-term
securities)

Total returnd       38.1%     3.2%    16.0%       39.3%    4.2%    16.4%

Average brokerage  $.0502      $--      $--      $.0502     $--      $--
commission ratef

    

                                              -6-

<PAGE>


   
      a For a share outstanding throughout  the period.  Rounded to the nearest
        cent.
      b Inception date was March 20, 1995.
      c Adjusted to an annual basis.
      d Total  return  does not  reflect  payment of a sales  charge.
      e Effective fiscal  year 1996,  expense  ratio is based on total
        expenses of the Fund before reduction of earnings credits on cash
        balances.
      f Effective fiscal year 1997, the Fund is required to disclose an average
        brokerage commission rate  per  share  for  security  trades  on  which
        commissions are charged. The comparability  of this  information may be
        affected by the fact that commission rates per share vary significantly
        among foreign countries.

    
The  information  in these  tables has been  audited by KPMG Peat  Marwick  LLP,
independent   auditors.   The  independent   auditors'   report  and  additional
information about the performance of the Fund are contained in the Fund's annual
report which,  if not included  with this  prospectus,  may be obtained  without
charge.

Total returns

Total return is the sum of all of your returns for a given period,  assuming you
reinvest all distributions. It is calculated by taking the total value of shares
you own at the end of the period  (including  shares acquired by  reinvestment),
less the price of shares you purchased at the beginning of the period.

Average  annual total return is the  annually  compounded  rate of return over a
given time period  (usually two or more  years).  It is the total return for the
period converted to an equivalent annual figure.

Average annual total returns as of July 31, 1997

   
Purchase         1 year    Since        5 years    10 years
made             ago       inception    ago        ago
Discovery:
  Class A        +32.16%         --%    +14.27%    +11.69%
  Class B        +34.06%     +22.38%*       --%        --%
  Class Y        +39.32%     +24.79%*       --%        --%
    

S&P 500          +52.10%     +34.06%**  +20.61%    +14.94%

Lipper Small
Cap Fund Index   +24.58%     +22.27%**  +17.97%    +12.22%

   
*Inception date was March 20, 1995.
**Measurement period started April 1, 1995.
    



                                              -7-

<PAGE>



Cumulative total returns as of July 31, 1997

Purchase        1 year      Since       5 years     10 years
made            ago         inception   ago         ago
Discovery:
  Class A        32.16%         --%      +94.89%    +202.45%
  Class B        34.06%      61.28%*        --%          --%
  Class Y        39.32%      68.90%*        --%          --%

S&P 500          52.10%     100.36%**   +155.27%    +302.43%

Lipper Small
Cap Fund Index   24.58%        59.85%** +128.50%    +216.70%

*Inception date was March 20, 1995.
**Measurement period started April 1, 1995.

These  examples show total  returns from  hypothetical  investments  in Class A,
Class B and Class Y shares of the Fund.  These  returns are compared to those of
popular  indexes for the same periods.  The  performance  of Class B and Class Y
will vary from the  performance of Class A based on differences in sales charges
and fees.  March 20, 1995 was the  inception  date for Class B and Class Y. Past
performance  for  Class Y for  the  periods  prior  to  March  20,  1995  may be
calculated based on the performance of Class A, adjusted to reflect  differences
in sales charges although not for other differences in expenses.

For purposes of calculation, information about the Fund assumes:
o       a sales charge of 5% for Class A shares
o       redemption at the end of the period and deduction of the
        applicable contingent deferred sales charge for Class B shares
o       no sales charge for Class Y shares
o       no adjustments for taxes an investor may have paid on the
        reinvested income and capital gains
o       a period of widely fluctuating securities prices.  Returns
        shown should not be considered a representation of the Fund's
        future performance.

   
Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Index (S&P 500), an unmanaged list of common stocks,
is frequently used as a general measure of market performance.  However, the S&P
500  companies are  generally  larger than those in which the Fund invests.  The
index reflects  reinvestment of all  distributions and changes in market prices,
but excludes brokerage commissions or other fees.

Lipper Small Cap Fund Index, an unmanaged  index published by Lipper  Analytical
Services,  Inc.,  includes  30 funds  that are  generally  similar  to the Fund,
although some funds in the index may have somewhat different investment policies
or objectives.
    



                                              -8-

<PAGE>



Investment policies and risks

The Fund  invests  primarily  in common  stocks of U.S.  and foreign  small- and
medium-size growth companies.  Many of these companies  emphasize  technological
innovation or productivity improvements.

The Fund invests in common stock and debt securities of large,  well-established
companies when the portfolio  manager believes such  investments  offer the best
opportunity  for capital  growth.  The Fund also may invest in debt  securities,
derivative instruments and money market instruments.

The  various  types  of  investments  the  portfolio  manager  uses  to  achieve
investment  performance  are described in more detail in the next section and in
the SAI.

Facts about investments and their risks

Common  stocks:  Stock  prices  are  subject to market  fluctuations.  Stocks of
smaller  companies may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than
stocks of larger,  established  companies or the stock market as a whole.  Also,
small  companies  often have limited  product  lines,  smaller  markets or fewer
financial resources. Therefore, some of the securities in which the Fund invests
involve substantial risk and may be considered speculative.

   
Debt securities:  The price of bonds generally falls as interest rates increase,
and rises as interest rates decrease.  The price of bonds also fluctuates if the
credit  rating is upgraded or  downgraded.  The price of bonds below  investment
grade may react more to the ability of the issuing  company to pay  interest and
principal when due than to changes in interest  rates.  These bonds have greater
price  fluctuations  and are more likely to experience a default.  The Fund will
not  invest  more than 5% of its net  assets in bonds  below  investment  grade.
Securities that are  subsequently  downgraded in quality may continue to be held
by the Fund and will be sold only when the  investment  manager  believes  it is
advantageous to do so.
    

Foreign  investments:  Securities of foreign  companies and  governments  may be
traded in the United States,  but often they are traded only on foreign markets.
Frequently,   there  is  less  information  about  foreign  companies  and  less
government  supervision of foreign markets.  Foreign  investments are subject to
political and economic risks of the countries in which the investments are made,
including the possibility of seizure or nationalization of companies, imposition
of withholding  taxes on income,  establishment of exchange controls or adoption
of  other  restrictions  that  might  affect  an  investment  adversely.  If  an
investment  is made in a foreign  market,  the local  currency  may be purchased
using a forward  contract  in which the price of the  foreign  currency  in U.S.
dollars  is  established  on the date the  trade is made,  but  delivery  of the
currency is not made until the securities are received. As long as


                                              -9-

<PAGE>



the Fund holds foreign  currencies or securities  valued in foreign  currencies,
the  value of those  assets  will be  affected  by  changes  in the value of the
currencies relative to the U.S. dollar. Because of the limited trading volume in
some foreign markets,  efforts to buy or sell a security may change the price of
the security, and it may be difficult to complete the transaction.  The Fund may
invest up to 25% of its total assets in foreign investments.

   
Technology  sector:  Stocks of  companies  that have,  or likely  will  develop,
products, processes, or services that will provide or benefit significantly from
technological  advances and  improvements  are subject to  volatility  and price
fluctuations  as the technology  market sector  increases and decreases in favor
with  the  investing  public.  Technology-based  issues  are  exposed  to  risks
associated with economic conditions in that market sector. Due to competition, a
less diversified product line, and other factors,  companies that develop and/or
rely on  technology  could become  increasingly  sensitive to down swings in the
economy.
    

Derivative instruments:  The portfolio manager may use derivative instruments in
addition to securities to achieve investment performance. Derivative instruments
include futures, options and forward contracts.  Such instruments may be used to
maintain cash reserves while  remaining fully  invested,  to offset  anticipated
declines in values of investments,  to facilitate trading, to reduce transaction
costs or to pursue higher investment returns.

Derivative  instruments  are  characterized  by  requiring  little or no initial
payment  and a daily  change in price  based on or derived  from a  security,  a
currency,  a group of  securities  or  currencies,  or an  index.  A  number  of
strategies  or  combination  of  instruments  can be used to achieve the desired
investment  performance  characteristics.  A small  change  in the  value of the
underlying security,  currency or index will cause a sizable gain or loss in the
price of the derivative  instrument.  Derivative instruments allow the portfolio
manager to change the investment performance characteristics very quickly and at
lower costs. Risks include losses of premiums, rapid changes in prices, defaults
by other  parties and  inability  to close such  instruments.  The Fund will use
derivative   instruments  only  to  achieve  the  same  investment   performance
characteristics  it could  achieve by  directly  holding  those  securities  and
currencies permitted under the investment policies. The Fund will designate cash
or appropriate liquid assets to cover its portfolio obligations. No more than 5%
of the Fund's net assets can be used at any one time for good faith  deposits on
futures  and  premiums  for  options  on  futures  that do not  offset  existing
investment  positions.  This does not, however,  limit the portion of the Fund's
assets at risk to 5%. The Fund is not limited as to the percentage of its assets
that may be invested in permissible investments,  including derivatives,  except
as otherwise explicitly provided in this prospectus or the SAI. For descriptions
of these and other types of  derivative  instruments,  see the  Appendix to this
prospectus and the SAI.



                                              -10-

<PAGE>



   
Securities  and  other  instruments  that  are  illiquid:  A  security  or other
instrument  is  illiquid  if it cannot be sold  quickly in the normal  course of
business.  Some investments cannot be resold to the U.S. public because of their
terms or government  regulations.  Securities and instruments,  however,  can be
sold in private sales, and many may be sold to other  institutions and qualified
buyers or on foreign  markets.  The  portfolio  manager  will follow  guidelines
established by the board and consider relevant factors such as the nature of the
security and the number of likely buyers when determining  whether a security is
illiquid.  No more than 10% of the Fund's net assets will be held in  securities
and other instruments that are illiquid.
    

Money market instruments: Short-term debt securities rated in the top two grades
or the equivalent are used to meet daily cash needs and at various times to hold
assets until better investment opportunities arise. Generally,  less than 25% of
the Fund's  total  assets are in these money market  instruments.  However,  for
temporary  defensive  purposes these  investments could exceed that amount for a
limited period of time.

The investment policies described above may be changed by the board.

Lending portfolio securities: The Fund may lend its securities to earn income so
long as borrowers provide collateral equal to the market value of the loans. The
risks are that  borrowers  will not provide  collateral  when required or return
securities  when due.  Unless a majority of the  outstanding  voting  securities
approve otherwise, loans may not exceed 30% of the Fund's net assets.

Alternative investment option

In the future, the board of the Fund may determine for operating efficiencies to
use a master/feeder structure.  Under that structure, the Fund's assets would be
invested in an  investment  company with the same goal as the Fund,  rather than
invested directly in a portfolio of securities.

Valuing Fund shares

The public  offering  price is the net asset value (NAV)  adjusted for the sales
charge for Class A. It is the NAV for Class B and Class Y.

The NAV is the value of a single Fund share.  The NAV usually changes daily, and
is  calculated  at the close of business,  normally 3 p.m.  Central  time,  each
business day (any day the New York Stock Exchange is open).

To establish the net assets,  all  securities are valued as of the close of each
business day. In valuing assets:

o       Securities (except bonds) and assets with available market
        values are valued on that basis



                                              -11-

<PAGE>



o       Securities maturing in 60 days or less are valued at amortized
        cost

o       Bonds and assets without readily available market values are
        valued according to methods selected in good faith by the
        board

How to purchase, exchange or redeem shares

Alternative purchase arrangements

The Fund offers three  different  classes of shares - Class A, Class B and Class
Y. The primary  differences among the classes are in the sales charge structures
and in their ongoing  expenses.  These  differences  are summarized in the table
below.  You may  choose  the  class  that  best  suits  your  circumstances  and
objectives.

              Sales charge and
              distribution
              (12b-1) fee              Service fee         Other information

Class A       Maximum initial          0.175% of average   Initial sales charge
              sales charge of          daily net assets    waived or reduced
              5%; no 12b-1 fee                             for certain purchases

   
Class B       No initial  sales        0.175% of average   Shares convert to 
              charge; maximum CDSC     daily net assets    Class A in the ninth
              of 5% declines to 0%                         year of ownership;
              after six years; 12b-1                       CDSC waived in
              fee of 0.75% of average                      certain circumstances
              daily net assets
    

Class Y       None                     0.10% of average     Available only to
                                       daily net assets     certain qualifying
                                                            institutional
                                                            investors

   
Conversion of Class B shares to Class A shares - During the ninth  calendar year
of owning your Class B shares, Class B shares will convert to Class A shares and
will no longer be subject to a distribution  fee. Class B shares that convert to
Class A shares are not subject to a sales charge or  distribution  fee.  Class B
shares  purchased  through  reinvested  dividends  and  distributions  also will
convert to Class A shares in the same  proportion  as the other  Class B shares.
This means more of your money will be put to work for you.

Considerations  in  determining  whether to purchase Class A or Class B shares -
You should  consider the  information  below in determining  whether to purchase
Class A or Class B shares. The distribution fee (included in "Ongoing expenses")
and sales charges are  structured so that you will have  approximately  the same
total return at the end of eight years regardless of which class you chose.
    



                                              -12-

<PAGE>



                              Sales charges on purchase or redemption

If you purchase Class A                   If you purchase Class B
shares                                    shares

o You will not have all                   o All of your money is
of your purchase price                    invested in shares of
invested.  Part of your                   stock.  However, you will
purchase price will go                    pay a sales charge if you
to pay the sales charge.                  redeem your shares within
You will not pay a sales                  six years of purchase.
charge when you redeem
your shares.

o You will be able to                     o No reductions of the
take advantage of                         sales charge are
reductions in the sales                   available for large
charge.                                   purchases.

If your  investments  in IDS funds  that are  subject  to a sales  charge  total
$250,000 or more,  you are better off paying the reduced sales charge in Class A
than paying the higher fees in Class B. If you qualify for a waiver of the sales
charge, you should purchase Class A shares.

                         Ongoing expenses

If you purchase Class A                   If you purchase Class B
shares                                    shares

o Your shares will have                   o The distribution and
a lower expense ratio                      transfer agency fees for
than Class B shares                        Class B will cause your
because Class A does not                   shares to have a higher
pay a distribution fee                     expense ratio and to pay
and the transfer agency                    lower dividends than
fee for Class A is lower                   Class A shares.  After
than the fee for Class B.                  eight years, Class B
As a result, Class A shares                shares will convert to
will pay higher dividends                  Class A shares and you
than Class B shares.                       will no longer be
                                           subject to higher fees.

You  should  consider  how long you plan to hold your  shares  and  whether  the
accumulated  higher fees and CDSC on Class B shares prior to conversion would be
less than the  initial  sales  charge on Class A shares.  Also  consider to what
extent the  difference  would be offset by the lower expenses on Class A shares.
To help  you in this  analysis,  the  example  in the  "Sales  charge  and  Fund
expenses" section of the prospectus  illustrates the charges  applicable to each
class of shares.



                                              -13-

<PAGE>



Class Y shares - Class Y shares are offered to certain institutional  investors.
Class Y shares are sold  without a front-end  sales charge or a CDSC and are not
subject to a distribution fee. The following  investors are eligible to purchase
Class Y shares:

        o Qualified employee benefit plans* if the plan: - uses a daily transfer
        recordkeeping  service offering  participants  daily access to IDS funds
        and  has - at  least  $10  million  in  plan  assets  or - 500  or  more
        participants;  or - does not use daily transfer  recordkeeping and has -
        at least $3 million  invested in funds of the IDS MUTUAL FUND GROUP or -
        500 or more participants.

        o Trust companies or similar institutions,  and charitable organizations
        that meet the  definition in Section  501(c)(3) of the Internal  Revenue
        Code.* These must have at least $10 million invested in funds of the IDS
        MUTUAL FUND GROUP.

        o  Nonqualified  deferred  compensation  plans* whose  participants  are
        included in a qualified employee benefit plan described above.

*  Eligibility  must be  determined  in advance by  American  Express  Financial
Advisors. To do so, contact your financial advisor.

How to purchase shares

If you're  investing  in this Fund for the first time,  you'll need to set up an
account.   Your  financial  advisor  will  help  you  fill  out  and  submit  an
application.  Once  your  account  is set  up,  you  can  choose  among  several
convenient ways to invest.

   
Important:  When opening an account, you must provide your correct
Taxpayer Identification Number (Social Security or Employer
Identification number).  See "Distributions and taxes."
    

When you purchase  shares for a new or existing  account,  the price you pay per
share is  determined  at the close of  business  on the day your  investment  is
received and accepted at the Minneapolis headquarters.

Purchase policies:

o       Investments   must  be  received   and   accepted  in  the   Minneapolis
        headquarters on a business day before 3 p.m. Central time to be included
        in your  account  that  day  and to  receive  that  day's  share  price.
        Otherwise, your purchase will be processed the next business day and you
        will pay the next day's share price.

o       The minimums allowed for investment may change from time to
        time.



                                              -14-

<PAGE>



o       Wire orders can be accepted only on days when your bank,  AEFC, the Fund
        and Norwest Bank Minneapolis are open for business.

o       Wire purchases are completed when wired payment is received
        and the Fund accepts the purchase.

o       AEFC and the Fund are not responsible for any delays that
        occur in wiring funds, including delays in processing by the
        bank.

o       You must pay any fee the bank charges for wiring.

o       The Fund reserves the right to reject any application for any
        reason.

o       If your  application  does not  specify  which  class of shares  you are
        purchasing, it will be assumed that you are investing in Class A shares.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                       Three ways to invest

<S>                   <C>                                         <C>
1
By regular account    Send your check and application             Minimum amounts
                      (or your name and account number            Initial investment: $2,000
                      if you have an established account)         Additional
                      to:                                         investments:        $  100
                      American Express Financial Advisors Inc.    Account balances:   $  300*
                      P.O. Box 74                                 Qualified retirement
                      Minneapolis, MN  55440-0074          accounts:             none

                      Your financial advisor will help you with this process.

   
2
By scheduled          Contact your financial advisor              Minimum amounts
investment plan       to set up one of the following              Initial investment: $100
                      scheduled plans:                            Additional
                                                                  investments:        $100/each payment
                      o  automatic payroll deduction              Account balances:   none
                                                                  (on active plans of
                      o  bank authorization                       monthly payments)


                      o  direct deposit of                        If account balance is below $2,000,
                         Social Security check                    frequency of payments must be at
                                                                  least monthly.
                      o  other plan approved by the Fund
    
3
By wire               If you have an established account,         If this information is not
                      you may wire money to:                      included, the order may be
                                                                  rejected and all money
                      Norwest Bank Minneapolis                    received by the Fund, less
                      Routing No. 091000019                       any costs the Fund or AEFC
                      Minneapolis, MN                             incurs, will be returned
                      Attn:   Domestic Wire Dept.                 promptly.

                      Give these instructions:                    Minimum amounts
                      Credit IDS Account #00-30-015               Each wire investment: $1,000
                      for personal account # (your
                      account number) for (your name).
</TABLE>

*If your account balance falls below $300, you will be asked in writing to bring
it up to $300 or  establish  a  scheduled  investment  plan.  If you don't do so
within 30 days, your shares can be redeemed and the proceeds mailed to you.



                                              -15-

<PAGE>



How to exchange shares

   
You can  exchange  your  shares of the Fund at no charge  for shares of the same
class of any other publicly  offered fund in the IDS MUTUAL FUND GROUP available
in your state.  Exchanges into IDS Tax-Free Money Fund must be made from Class A
shares. For complete information on any other fund, including fees and expenses,
read that fund's prospectus carefully.
    

If your exchange  request  arrives at the  Minneapolis  headquarters  before the
close of  business,  your shares will be redeemed at the net asset value set for
that day.  The  proceeds  will be used to purchase new fund shares the same day.
Otherwise, your exchange will take place the next business day at that day's net
asset value.

   
For tax  purposes,  an exchange  represents  a  redemption  and purchase and may
result in a gain or loss.  However,  you cannot use the sales charge  imposed on
the  purchase  of Class A shares to create or  increase  a tax loss (or reduce a
taxable gain) by exchanging  from the Fund within 91 days of your purchase.  For
further explanation, see the SAI.
    

How to redeem shares

You can redeem your shares at any time.  American  Express  Shareholder  Service
will mail payment within seven days after receiving your request.

When you redeem  shares,  the amount  you  receive  may be more or less than the
amount you invested.  Your shares will be redeemed at net asset value, minus any
applicable  sales  charge,  at the close of business on the day your  request is
accepted at the  Minneapolis  headquarters.  If your request  arrives  after the
close of business,  the price per share will be the net asset  value,  minus any
applicable sales charge, at the close of business on the next business day.

A redemption is a taxable transaction. If your proceeds from your redemption are
more or less than the cost of your shares,  you will have a gain or loss,  which
can affect your tax  liability.  Redeeming  shares  held in an IRA or  qualified
retirement  account may  subject you to certain  federal  taxes,  penalties  and
reporting requirements. Consult your tax advisor.

                      Two ways to request an exchange or redemption of shares

1
By letter                            Include in your letter:
                                     o  the name of the fund(s)
                                     o  the class of shares to be exchanged or 
                                     redeemed
                                     o your account  number(s)  (for  exchanges,
                                     both funds must be  registered  in the same
                                     ownership) o your  Taxpayer  Identification
                                     Number (TIN) o the dollar  amount or number
                                     of shares you want to  exchange or redeem o
                                     signature of all registered  account owners
                                     o for  redemptions,  indicate  how you want
                                     your  money  delivered  to you o any  paper
                                     certificates of shares you hold


                                              -16-

<PAGE>



                                     Regular mail:
                                            American Express Shareholder Service
                                            Attn:  Redemptions
                                            P.O. Box 534
                                            Minneapolis, MN  55440-0534

                                     Express mail:
                                            American Express Shareholder Service
                                            Attn:  Redemptions
                                            733 Marquette Ave.
                                            Minneapolis, MN  55402

   
2
By phone
American Express Financial           o The Fund and AEFC will honor any 
Advisors Telephone                   telephone exchange or redemption request
Transaction Service:                 believed to be authentic and will use
800-437-3133 or                      reasonable  procedures to confirm that
612-671-3800                         they are. This includes asking identifying
                                     questions and tape recording calls. If
                                     reasonable procedures are not followed,
                                     the Fund or AEFC will be liable for any 
                                     loss resulting from fraudulent requests.
                                     o Phone exchange and redemption  privileges
                                     automatically  apply to all accounts except
                                     custodial,     corporate    or    qualified
                                     retirement   accounts  unless  you  request
                                     these   privileges  NOT  apply  by  writing
                                     American Express Shareholder Service.  Each
                                     registered  owner must sign the request.  o
                                     AEFC answers phone requests  promptly,  but
                                     you may experience  delays when call volume
                                     is high.  If you are unable to get through,
                                     use mail  procedure  as an  alternative.  o
                                     Acting on your instructions, your financial
                                     advisor may conduct telephone  transactions
                                     on your behalf.  o Phone  privileges may be
                                     modified or discontinued at any time.
    

                                     Minimum amount
                                     Redemption:    $100

                                     Maximum amount
                                     Redemption:  $50,000

Exchange policies:

o You may make up to three exchanges within any 30-day period, with each limited
to  $300,000.  These  limits do not apply to  scheduled  exchange  programs  and
certain  employee  benefit  plans  or  other  arrangements   through  which  one
shareholder represents the interests of several.  Exceptions may be allowed with
pre-approval of the Fund.

o  Exchanges must be made into the same class of shares of the new
fund.

o If your exchange creates a new account, it must satisfy the minimum investment
amount for new purchases.

o  Once we receive your exchange request, you cannot cancel it.

o  Shares of the new fund may not be used on the same day for
another exchange.

o If your shares are pledged as  collateral,  the exchange will be delayed until
written approval is obtained from the secured party.

o AEFC and the Fund reserve the right to reject any exchange,  limit the amount,
or modify or  discontinue  the exchange  privilege,  to prevent abuse or adverse
effects on the Fund and its  shareholders.  For example,  if  exchanges  are too
numerous  or too large,  they may disrupt the Fund's  investment  strategies  or
increase its costs.



                                              -17-

<PAGE>

Redemption policies:

o A "change of mind"  option  allows you to change your mind after  requesting a
redemption  and to use all or part of the proceeds to purchase new shares in the
same  account  from which you  redeemed.  If you  reinvest  in Class A, you will
purchase the new shares at net asset value rather than the offering price on the
date of a new  purchase.  If you  reinvest  in Class B, any CDSC you paid on the
amount you are  reinvesting  also will be reinvested.  To take advantage of this
option,  send a  written  request  within  30 days of the date  your  redemption
request was received.  Include your account number and mention this option. This
privilege  may be  limited  or  withdrawn  at any  time,  and  it may  have  tax
consequences.

o A  telephone  redemption  request  will  not be  allowed  within  30 days of a
phoned-in address change.

Important:  If you request a redemption  of shares you  recently  purchased by a
check or money order that is not  guaranteed,  the Fund will wait for your check
to clear.  It may take up to 10 days from the date of purchase before a check is
mailed to you.  (A check may be mailed  earlier if your bank  provides  evidence
satisfactory to the Fund and AEFC that your check has cleared.)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                       Three ways to receive payment when you redeem shares
<S>                                                 <C>           
   
1
By regular or express mail                          o  Mailed to the address on record
                                                    o  Payable to names listed on the account


                                                       NOTE:  You will be charged a fee if you
                                                       request express mail delivery.
    
2
By wire                                             o  Minimum wire redemption:  $1,000
                                                    o  Request that money be wired to your bank
                                                    o  Bank account must be in the same
                                                       ownership as the IDS fund account

                                                       NOTE:  Pre-authorization required.  For
                                                       instructions, contact your financial
                                                       advisor or American Express Shareholder Service.

3
By scheduled payout plan                            o  Minimum payment:  $50
                                                    o  Contact your financial
                                                       advisor or American
                                                       Express Shareholder
                                                       Service to set up regular
                                                       payments to you on a monthly, bimonthly,
                                                       quarterly,  semiannual or 
                                                       annual basis
                                                    o  Purchasing new shares while under a payout
                                                       plan may be disadvantageous because of
                                                       the sales charges

Reductions and waivers of the sales charge
Class A - initial sales charge alternative

On purchases of Class A shares,  you pay a 5% sales charge on the first  $50,000
of your total investment and less on investments after the first $50,000:

</TABLE>

                                              -18-

<PAGE>



Total investment         Sales charge as a
                         percent of:*

                         Public    Net
                         offering  amount
                         price     invested

Up to $50,000             5.0%       5.26%
Next $50,000              4.5        4.71
Next $400,000             3.8        3.95
Next $500,000             2.0        2.04
$1,000,000 or more        0.0        0.00

* To calculate the actual sales charge on an investment greater than $50,000 and
less than $1,000,000, amounts for each applicable increment must be totaled. See
the SAI.

Reductions of the sales charge on Class A shares

Your sales charge may be reduced, depending on the totals of:

o  the amount you are investing in this Fund now,

o  the amount of your existing investment in this Fund, if any, and

o the amount you and your primary household group are investing or have in other
funds in the IDS  MUTUAL  FUND GROUP that  carry a sales  charge.  (The  primary
household  group  consists of accounts in any  ownership for spouses or domestic
partners  and  their  unmarried   children  under  21.  Domestic   partners  are
individuals  who maintain a shared primary  residence and have joint property or
other insurable interests.)

Other policies that affect your sales charge:

o IDS Tax-Free Money Fund and Class A shares of IDS Cash  Management Fund do not
carry sales charges.  However,  you may count  investments in these funds if you
acquired  shares in them by  exchanging  shares  from IDS funds that carry sales
charges.

o IRA purchases or other employee  benefit plan purchases made through a payroll
deduction  plan or  through a plan  sponsored  by an  employer,  association  of
employers,  employee organization or other similar entity, may be added together
to reduce sales charges for all shares purchased through that plan.

o If you intend to invest $1 million over a period of 13 months,  you can reduce
the sales charges in Class A by filing a letter of intent.

For more details, see the SAI.



                                              -19-

<PAGE>



Waivers of the sales charge for Class A shares

Sales charges do not apply to:

o Current or retired board members, officers or employees of the Fund or AEFC or
its subsidiaries, their spouses and unmarried children under 21.

o Current or retired  American  Express  financial  advisors,  their spouses and
unmarried children under 21.

   
o Investors who have a business  relationship with a newly associated  financial
advisor who joined  AEFA from  another  investment  firm  provided  that (1) the
purchase is made within six months of the advisor's  appointment date with AEFA,
(2) the  purchase  is made with  proceeds  of a  redemption  of shares that were
sponsored  by the  financial  advisor's  previous  broker-dealer,  and  (3)  the
proceeds must be the result of a redemption of an equal or greater value where a
sales load was previously assessed.
    

o Qualified employee benefit plans* using a daily transfer  recordkeeping system
offering participants daily access to IDS funds.

(Participants  in certain  qualified plans for which the initial sales charge is
waived  may  be  subject  to a  deferred  sales  charge  of up to 4% on  certain
redemptions. For more information, see the SAI.)

   
o Shareholders  who have at least $1 million invested in funds of the IDS MUTUAL
FUND GROUP.  If the investment is redeemed in the first year after  purchase,  a
CDSC of 1% will be charged on the  redemption.  The CDSC will be waived  only in
the circumstances described for waivers for Class B shares.
    

o Purchases  made within 30 days after a redemption  of shares (up to the amount
redeemed):
   -    of a product distributed by American Express Financial
        Advisors in a qualified plan subject to a deferred sales
        charge or
   -    in  a  qualified  plan  where  American  Express  Trust  Company  has  a
        recordkeeping,  trustee,  investment  management or investment servicing
        relationship.

Send the Fund a written  request along with your payment,  indicating the amount
of the redemption and the date on which it occurred.

   
o Purchases made with dividend or capital gain distributions from the same class
of another fund in the IDS MUTUAL FUND GROUP that has a sales charge.

o Purchases  made  through or under a "wrap fee"  product  sponsored by American
Express  Financial  Advisors  Inc.  (total  amount  of all  investments  must be
$50,000);  the University of Texas System ORP; or a segregated  separate account
offered by Nationwide  Life  Insurance  Company or  Nationwide  Life and Annuity
Insurance Company.
    



                                              -20-

<PAGE>



   
o Purchases  made with the proceeds from IDS Life Real Estate  Variable  Annuity
surrenders through December 31, 1997.
    

*Eligibility must be determined in advance by American Express
Financial Advisors.  To do so, contact your financial advisor.

Class B - contingent deferred sales charge alternative

Where a CDSC is  imposed  on a  redemption,  it is  based on the  amount  of the
redemption  and the number of calendar  years,  including  the year of purchase,
between  purchase and redemption.  The following table shows the declining scale
of percentages that apply to redemptions during each year after a purchase:

If a redemption is                  The percentage rate
made during the                     for the CDSC is:

First year                                5%
Second year                               4%
Third year                                4%
Fourth year                               3%
Fifth year                                2%
Sixth year                                1%
Seventh year                              0%

If the amount you are  redeeming  reduces  the  current  net asset value of your
investment  in Class B shares below the total dollar amount of all your purchase
payments during the last six years  (including the year in which your redemption
is made),  the CDSC is based on the lower of the redeemed  purchase  payments or
market value.

The  following  example  illustrates  how the CDSC is  applied.  Assume  you had
invested  $10,000 in Class B shares and that your  investment had appreciated in
value to $12,000 after 15 months, including reinvested dividend and capital gain
distributions.  You could redeem any amount up to $2,000  without  paying a CDSC
($12,000  current value less $10,000 purchase  amount).  If you redeemed $2,500,
the CDSC would  apply only to the $500 that  represented  part of your  original
purchase price.  The CDSC rate would be 4% because a redemption  after 15 months
would take place during the second year after purchase.

Because the CDSC is imposed  only on  redemptions  that reduce the total of your
purchase  payments,  you never have to pay a CDSC on any amount you redeem  that
represents  appreciation  in the  value of your  shares,  income  earned by your
shares or capital gains.  In addition,  when  determining  the rate of any CDSC,
your  redemption  will be made from the oldest  purchase  payment  you made.  Of
course,  once a purchase  payment is considered to have been redeemed,  the next
amount  redeemed is the next oldest  purchase  payment.  By redeeming the oldest
purchase  payments  first,  lower CDSCs are imposed than would  otherwise be the
case.



                                              -21-

<PAGE>



Waivers of the contingent deferred sales charge

The CDSC on Class B shares will be waived on redemptions of shares:

o In the event of the shareholder's death,
o Purchased by any board member, officer or employee of a fund or
AEFC or its subsidiaries,
o Held in a trusteed  employee benefit plan, o Held in IRAs or certain qualified
plans for which American Express Trust Company acts as custodian,  such as Keogh
plans,  tax-sheltered  custodial  accounts or corporate pension plans,  provided
that the shareholder is:
        - at least 59-1/2 years old, and
        - taking  a  retirement  distribution  (if the  redemption  is part of a
        transfer  to an  IRA or  qualified  plan  in a  product  distributed  by
        American  Express  Financial  Advisors,   or  a   custodian-to-custodian
        transfer to a product not  distributed  by  American  Express  Financial
        Advisors, the CDSC will not be waived), or - redeeming under an approved
        substantially equal periodic payment arrangement.

For  investors in Class A shares who have over $1 million  invested in one year,
the 1%  CDSC  on  redemption  of  those  shares  will  be  waived  in  the  same
circumstances described for Class B.

Special shareholder services

Services

To help you  track  and  evaluate  the  performance  of your  investments,  AEFC
provides these services:

Quarterly  statements  listing all of your holdings and transactions  during the
previous three months.

Yearly tax statements featuring average-cost-basis reporting of capital gains or
losses if you redeem  your  shares  along with  distribution  information  which
simplifies tax calculations.

A personalized  mutual fund progress  report  detailing  returns on your initial
investment and cash-flow activity in your account.  It calculates a total return
to  reflect  your  individual  history in owning  Fund  shares.  This  report is
available from your financial advisor.



                                              -22-

<PAGE>



Quick telephone reference

   
American Express Financial Advisors Telephone Transaction Service
Redemptions and exchanges, dividend payments or reinvestments and
automatic payment arrangements
National/Minnesota:   800-437-3133
Mpls./St. Paul area:  671-3800
    
       

TTY Service
For the hearing impaired
800-846-4852

   
American  Express Financial Advisors Easy Access Line
Automated  account information (TouchToneR  phones only),  including current
Fund  prices and performance, account values and recent account
transactions 800-862-7919
    

Distributions and taxes

As a shareholder you are entitled to your share of the Fund's net income and any
net gains  realized  on its  investments.  The Fund  distributes  dividends  and
capital gain  distributions to qualify as a regulated  investment company and to
avoid  paying  corporate  income and excise  taxes.  Dividend  and capital  gain
distributions will have tax consequences you should know about.

Dividend and capital gain distributions

The Fund's net  investment  income from dividends and interest is distributed to
you by the end of the calendar year as dividends.  Short-term  capital gains are
included in net investment income. Long-term capital gains are realized whenever
a security  held for more than one year is sold for a higher price than was paid
for it.

   
The Fund will offset any net realized  capital  gains by any  available  capital
loss carryovers.  Net realized  long-term capital gains, if any, are distributed
at the end of the calendar year as capital gain  distributions.  Before they are
distributed,  both net  investment  income and net  long-term  capital gains are
included in the value of each share.  After they are  distributed,  the value of
each  share  drops  by the  per-share  amount  of  the  distribution.  (If  your
distributions are reinvested, the total value of your holdings will not change.)

Dividends for each class will be calculated at the same time, in the same manner
and  will  be  the  same  amount  prior  to  deduction  of  expenses.   Expenses
attributable solely to a class of shares will be paid exclusively by that class.
    



                                              -23-

<PAGE>



Reinvestments

Dividends  and  capital  gain  distributions  are  automatically  reinvested  in
additional shares in the same class of the Fund, unless:

o       you request the Fund in writing or by phone to pay
        distributions to you in cash, or

   
o       you direct the Fund to invest  your  distributions  in the same class of
        another publicly  available IDS fund for which you've  previously opened
        an account.
    

The  reinvestment  price is the net asset  value at close of business on the day
the  distribution  is paid.  (Your  quarterly  statement will confirm the amount
invested and the number of shares purchased.)

If you choose cash  distributions,  you will receive only those  declared  after
your request has been processed.

   
If the U.S. Postal Service cannot deliver the checks for the cash distributions,
we will  reinvest  the checks into your  account at the  then-current  net asset
value and make future  distributions in the form of additional shares.  Prior to
reinvestment,  no  interest  will  accrue on  amounts  represented  by  uncashed
distribution or redemption checks.
    

Taxes

Distributions are subject to federal income tax and also may be subject to state
and local taxes.  Distributions  are taxable in the year the Fund  declares them
regardless of whether you take them in cash or reinvest them.

Each  January,  you will  receive a tax  statement  showing  the kinds and total
amount of all  distributions  you received  during the previous  year.  You must
report  distributions  on your  tax  returns,  even if they  are  reinvested  in
additional shares.

Buying a dividend  creates a tax  liability.  This means buying  shares  shortly
before a net investment income or a capital gain distribution.  You pay the full
pre-distribution price for the shares, then receive a portion of your investment
back as a distribution, which is taxable.

Redemptions and exchanges  subject you to a tax on any capital gain. If you sell
shares for more than their cost, the difference is a capital gain. Your gain may
be either  short term (for  shares  held for one year or less) or long term (for
shares held for more than one year).



                                              -24-

<PAGE>



   
Your Taxpayer  Identification  Number (TIN) is important.  As with any financial
account you open, you must list your current and correct Taxpayer Identification
Number (TIN) -- either your Social Security or Employer  Identification  number.
The TIN must be certified  under penalties of perjury on your  application  when
you open an account.
    

If you don't provide the TIN, or the TIN you report is  incorrect,  you could be
subject to backup withholding of 31% of taxable  distributions and proceeds from
certain  sales and  exchanges.  You also could be subject to further  penalties,
such as:

o       a $50 penalty for each failure to supply your correct TIN
o       a civil penalty of $500 if you make a false statement that
        results in no backup withholding
o       criminal penalties for falsifying information

You also  could be subject to backup  withholding  because  you failed to report
interest or dividends on your tax return as required.

How to determine the correct TIN
                                                 Use the Social Security or
For this type of account:                        Employer Identification number
                                                 of:

Individual or joint account                      The individual or individuals
                                                 listed on the account

Custodian account of a minor                     The minor
(Uniform Gifts/Transfers to
Minors Act)

A living trust                                   The grantor-trustee (the person
                                                 who puts the money into the
                                                 trust)

An irrevocable trust, pension                    The legal entity (not the
trust or estate                                  personal representative or
                                                 trustee, unless no legal entity
                                                 is designated in the account
                                                 title)

Sole proprietorship                              The owner

Partnership                                      The partnership

Corporate                                        The corporation

Association, club or                             The organization
tax-exempt organization

For details on TIN  requirements,  ask your financial  advisor or local American
Express  Financial  Advisors office for federal Form W-9,  "Request for Taxpayer
Identification Number and Certification."


                                              -25-

<PAGE>



Important:  This information is a brief and selective summary of certain federal
tax rules  that apply to this  Fund.  Tax  matters  are  highly  individual  and
complex,  and you should  consult a qualified  tax advisor  about your  personal
situation.

How the Fund is organized
       

Shares

The Fund is owned by its shareholders. The Fund issues shares in three classes -
Class A, Class B and Class Y. Each class has different  sales  arrangements  and
bears different expenses.  Each class represents  interests in the assets of the
Fund. Par value is one cent per share.  Both full and  fractional  shares can be
issued.

The Fund no longer issues stock certificates.

Voting rights

As a  shareholder,  you have  voting  rights  over  the  Fund's  management  and
fundamental  policies.  You are  entitled  to one vote for each  share  you own.
Shares of the Fund have  cumulative  voting  rights.  Each  class has  exclusive
voting  rights with respect to the  provisions of the Fund's  distribution  plan
that pertain to a particular  class and other matters for which  separate  class
voting is appropriate under applicable law.

Shareholder meetings

The Fund does not hold annual shareholder  meetings.  However, the board members
may call meetings at their discretion, or on demand by holders of 10% or more of
the outstanding shares, to elect or remove board members.

Board members and officers

Shareholders  elect a board that oversees the operations of the Fund and chooses
its officers.  Its officers are  responsible for day-to-day  business  decisions
based on policies set by the board.  The board has named an executive  committee
that has  authority to act on its behalf  between  meetings.  Board  members and
officers serve 47 IDS and IDS Life funds and 15 Master Trust portfolios,  except
for William H. Dudley, who does not serve the nine IDS Life funds.

Board members and officers of the Fund

President and interested board member

   
William R. Pearce
Chairman  of the board,  Board  Services  Corporation  (provides  administrative
services to boards including the boards of the IDS and IDS Life funds and Master
Trust portfolios).
    



                                              -26-

<PAGE>



Independent board members

   
H. Brewster Atwater, Jr.
Former chairman and chief executive officer, General Mills, Inc.
    

Lynne V. Cheney
Distinguished fellow, American Enterprise Institute for Public
Policy Research.

Robert F. Froehlke
Former president of all funds in the IDS MUTUAL FUND GROUP.

Heinz F. Hutter
Former president and chief operating officer, Cargill, Inc.

Anne P. Jones
Attorney and telecommunications consultant.

Melvin R. Laird
Senior  counsellor for national and international  affairs,  The Reader's Digest
Association, Inc.

   
Alan K. Simpson
Former United States senator for Wyoming.
    

Edson W. Spencer
Former chairman and chief executive officer, Honeywell, Inc.

Wheelock Whitney
Chairman, Whitney Management Company.

C. Angus Wurtele
Chairman of the board, The Valspar Corporation.

Interested board members who are officers and/or employees of AEFC

   
William H. Dudley
Senior advisor to the chief executive officer, AEFC.
    

David R. Hubers
President and chief executive officer, AEFC.

John R. Thomas
Senior vice president, AEFC.

Officers who also are officers and/or employees of AEFC

   
Peter J. Anderson
Senior vice president, AEFC. Vice president - Investments for the Fund.

Melinda S. Urion
Senior vice president and chief financial officer, AEFC. Treasurer for the Fund.
    



                                              -27-

<PAGE>



Other officer

   
Leslie L. Ogg
President, treasurer and corporate secretary of Board Services Corporation. Vice
president, general counsel and secretary for the Fund.
    

Refer to the SAI for the board members' and officers' biographies.

Investment manager

The Fund pays AEFC for  managing  its assets.  Under its  Investment  Management
Services  Agreement,  AEFC is paid a fee for these services based on the average
daily net assets of the Fund, as follows:

Assets          Annual rate
(billions)      at each asset level

First $0.25     0.640%
Next   0.25     0.615
Next   0.25     0.590
Next   0.25     0.565
Next   1.0      0.540
Over   2.0      0.515

This fee may be increased or decreased by a  performance  adjustment  based on a
comparison  of  performance  of Class A shares of the Fund to the  Lipper  Small
Company Growth Fund Index. The maximum adjustment is 0.12% of the Fund's average
daily net assets on an annual basis.

   
For the fiscal year ended July 31, 1997,  the Fund paid AEFC a total  investment
management  fee of 0.68% of its average daily net assets.  Under the  Agreement,
the Fund also pays taxes, brokerage commissions and nonadvisory expenses.
    

Administrator and transfer agent

   
The Fund pays AEFC for shareholder  accounting and transfer agent services under
two agreements.  The first agreement, the Administrative Services Agreement, has
a declining  annual rate  beginning at 0.06% and  decreasing to 0.035% as assets
increase. The second agreement, the Transfer Agency Agreement, has an annual fee
per shareholder account as follows:
    

        o   Class A   $15
        o   Class B   $16
        o   Class Y   $15



                                              -28-

<PAGE>



Distributor

The Fund has an exclusive distribution agreement with American Express Financial
Advisors,  a wholly-owned  subsidiary of AEFC.  Financial advisors  representing
American  Express  Financial  Advisors  provide  information to investors  about
individual  investment  programs,  the  Fund  and its  operations,  new  account
applications,  and exchange and redemption requests.  The cost of these services
is paid partially by the Fund's sales charges.

Persons  who buy  Class A shares  pay a sales  charge  at the time of  purchase.
Persons who buy Class B shares are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge
on a redemption in the first six years and pay an asset-based sales charge (also
known as a 12b-1 fee) of 0.75% of the Fund's  average daily net assets.  Class Y
shares are sold without a sales charge and without an asset-based sales charge.

Financial advisors may receive different compensation for selling Class A, Class
B and  Class  Y  shares.  Portions  of the  sales  charge  also  may be  paid to
securities  dealers  who have  sold the  Fund's  shares  or to banks  and  other
financial  institutions.  The amounts of those payments range from 0.8% to 4% of
the Fund's offering price depending on the monthly sales volume.

   
Under a  Shareholder  Service  Agreement,  the Fund also pays a fee for  service
provided to shareholders by financial  advisors and other servicing agents.  The
fee is  calculated  at a rate of 0.175% of average  daily net assets for Class A
and Class B shares and 0.10% for Class Y shares.

Total  expenses paid by the Fund's Class A shares for the fiscal year ended July
31, 1997,  were 1.13% of its average daily net assets.  Expenses for Class B and
Class Y were 1.90% and 0.98%, respectively.
    
       

About American Express Financial Corporation

General information

The AEFC family of companies  offers not only mutual  funds but also  insurance,
annuities,  investment  certificates  and a broad range of financial  management
services.

   
Besides  managing  investments for all funds in the IDS MUTUAL FUND GROUP,  AEFC
also  manages  investments  for itself  and its  subsidiaries,  IDS  Certificate
Company and IDS Life Insurance  Company.  Total assets under  management on July
31, 1997 were more than $170 billion.

American Express Financial  Advisors serves  individuals and businesses  through
its nationwide network of more than 175 offices and more than 8,500 advisors.
    



                                              -29-

<PAGE>



Other AEFC subsidiaries  provide investment  management and related services for
pension, profit sharing,  employee savings and endowment funds of businesses and
institutions.

AEFC  is  located  at  IDS  Tower  10,  Minneapolis,  MN  55440-0010.  It  is  a
wholly-owned  subsidiary  of American  Express  Company  (American  Express),  a
financial  services company with  headquarters at American Express Tower,  World
Financial Center, New York, NY 10285.

The Fund may pay brokerage commissions to broker-dealer affiliates of AEFC.


                                              -30-

<PAGE>


Appendix

Descriptions of derivative instruments

What follows are brief descriptions of derivative  instruments the Fund may use.
At various  times the Fund may use some or all of these  instruments  and is not
limited to these  instruments.  It may use other similar types of instruments if
they are  consistent  with the Fund's  investment  goal and  policies.  For more
information on these instruments, see the SAI.

Options  and  futures  contracts.  An option is an  agreement  to buy or sell an
instrument at a set price during a certain period of time. A futures contract is
an agreement to buy or sell an instrument  for a set price on a future date. The
Fund may buy and sell  options and futures  contracts  to manage its exposure to
changing interest rates,  security prices and currency  exchange rates.  Options
and  futures  may  be  used  to  hedge  the  Fund's  investments  against  price
fluctuations or to increase market exposure.

Indexed  securities.  The value of indexed  securities is linked to  currencies,
interest rates, commodities, indexes or other financial indicators. Most indexed
securities are short- to intermediate- term fixed income securities whose values
at  maturity or interest  rates rise or fall  according  to the change in one or
more specified underlying  instruments.  Indexed securities may be more volatile
than the underlying instrument itself.

Structured  products.   Structured  products  are   over-the-counter   financial
instruments  created  specifically to meet the needs of one or a small number of
investors.  The  instrument  may  consist of a  warrant,  an option or a forward
contract  embedded  in a note or any of a wide  variety of debt,  equity  and/or
currency  combinations.  Risks of structured  products  include the inability to
close such  instruments,  rapid  changes in the  market  and  defaults  by other
parties.


                                              -31-

<PAGE>




                                STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

                                                FOR

                                        IDS DISCOVERY FUND

   
                                          Sept. 29, 1997
    


This Statement of Additional Information (SAI) is not a prospectus. It should be
read together with the prospectus and the financial  statements contained in the
Annual Report which may be obtained from your American Express financial advisor
or  by  writing  to  American  Express  Shareholder   Service,   P.O.  Box  534,
Minneapolis, MN 55440-0534.

   
This SAI is dated Sept. 29, 1997, and it is to be used with the
prospectus dated Sept. 29, 1997, and the Annual Report for the
fiscal year ended July 31, 1997.
    



<PAGE>


IDS Discovery Fund

                                         TABLE OF CONTENTS

Goal and Investment Policies....................See Prospectus

Additional Investment Policies...............................p. 3

Security Transactions........................................p. 6

Brokerage Commissions Paid to Brokers Affiliated with
American Express Financial Corporation.......................p. 9

Performance Information......................................p. 9

Valuing Fund Shares..........................................p. 10

Investing in the Fund........................................p. 12

Redeeming Shares.............................................p. 16

Pay-out Plans................................................p. 17

Taxes........................................................p. 18

Agreements...................................................p. 19

   
Organizational Information...................................p. 23
    

Board Members and Officers...................................p. 23

   
Compensation for Board Members...............................p. 27
    

Independent Auditors.........................................p. 27

Financial Statements..........................See Annual Report

Prospectus...................................................p. 28

Appendix A:  Description of Bond Ratings.....................p. 29

Appendix B:  Foreign Currency Transactions...................p. 32

Appendix C:  Options and Stock Index Futures Contracts.......p. 37

Appendix D:  Mortgage-Backed Securities......................p. 44

Appendix E:  Dollar-Cost Averaging...........................p. 45


                                              -2-

<PAGE>


IDS Discovery Fund

ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT POLICIES

   
These are investment  policies in addition to those presented in the prospectus.
The policies below are fundamental  policies of the Fund and may be changed only
with  shareholder  approval.  Unless  holders of a majority  of the  outstanding
voting securities agree to make the change the Fund will not:
    

'Act  as an  underwriter  (sell  securities  for  others).  However,  under  the
securities  laws, the Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter  when it purchases
securities directly from the issuer and later resells them.

'Borrow money or property,  except as a temporary  measure for  extraordinary or
emergency purposes,  in an amount not exceeding one-third of the market value of
its total assets (including borrowings) less liabilities (other than borrowings)
immediately  after the borrowing.  The Fund has not borrowed in the past and has
no present intention to borrow.

'Make cash loans if the total  commitment  amount exceeds 5% of the Fund's total
assets.

'Concentrate in any one industry. According to the present interpretation by the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission  (SEC),  this means no more than 25% of the
Fund's total assets,  based on current market value at time of purchase,  can be
invested in any one industry.

'Purchase more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of an
issuer.

'Invest  more than 5% of its  total  assets in  securities  of any one  company,
government or political  subdivision  thereof,  except the  limitation  will not
apply to investments in securities issued by the U.S.  government,  its agencies
or  instrumentalities,  and except that up to 25% of the Fund's total assets may
be invested without regard to this 5% limitation.

'Buy or sell real estate, unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities
or other  instruments,  except this shall not prevent the Fund from investing in
securities or other instruments backed by real estate or securities of companies
engaged in the real  estate  business  or real  estate  investment  trusts.  For
purposes of this policy, real estate includes real estate limited partnerships.

   
'Buy or sell physical  commodities  unless  acquired as a result of ownership of
securities  or other  instruments,  except  this shall not prevent the Fund from
buying or selling financial  instruments (such as options and futures contracts)
or from investing in securities or other  instruments  backed by, or whose value
is derived from, physical commodities.
    



                                              -3-

<PAGE>


IDS Discovery Fund

'Make a loan of any part of its assets to American Express Financial Corporation
(AEFC),  to the board  members and officers of AEFC or to its own board  members
and officers.

   
'Purchase  securities of an issuer if the board members and officers of the Fund
and AEFC  hold  more  than a  certain  percentage  of the  issuer's  outstanding
securities. If the holdings of all board members and officers of the Fund and of
AEFC who own more than 0.5% of an issuer's securities are added together, and if
in total they own more than 5%, the Fund will not  purchase  securities  of that
issuer.

'Lend Fund securities in excess of 30% of its net assets.  The current policy of
the  Fund's  board  is to make  these  loans,  either  long- or  short-term,  to
broker-dealers.  In making  loans,  the Fund  receives the market price in cash,
U.S. government securities, letters of credit or such other collateral as may be
permitted by regulatory  agencies and approved by the board. If the market price
of the loaned  securities goes up, the Fund will get additional  collateral on a
daily  basis.  The  risks  are  that the  borrower  may not  provide  additional
collateral when required or return the securities when due. During the existence
of the loan, the Fund receives cash payments equivalent to all interest or other
distributions paid on the loaned securities.  A loan will not be made unless the
investment  manager believes the opportunity for additional income outweighs the
risks.
    

Unless changed by the board, the Fund will not:

   
'Buy on  margin or sell  short,  except  the Fund may make  margin  payments  in
connection with transactions in stock index futures contracts.
    

'Pledge or mortgage its assets beyond 15% of total assets. If the Fund were ever
to do so,  valuation of the pledged or mortgaged assets would be based on market
values. For purposes of this policy, collateral arrangements for margin deposits
on futures contracts are not deemed to be a pledge of assets.

'Invest more than 5% of its total assets in securities  of companies,  including
any  predecessors,  that  have a record  of less  than  three  years  continuous
operations.

   
'Invest more than 10% of its total assets in securities of
investment companies.
    

'Invest in a company to control or manage it.

'Invest in exploration or development programs, such as oil, gas or
mineral leases.

   
'Invest more than 5% of its net assets in warrants.
    



                                              -4-

<PAGE>


IDS Discovery Fund

   
'Invest more than 10% of its net assets in securities and other instruments that
are  illiquid.  For  purposes of this policy  illiquid  securities  include some
privately placed securities, public securities and Rule 144A securities that for
one reason or another may no longer have a readily available market,  repurchase
agreements with maturities  greater than seven days,  non-negotiable  fixed-time
deposits and over-the-counter options.
    

The Fund may make contracts to purchase securities for a fixed price at a future
date  beyond  normal   settlement  time   (when-issued   securities  or  forward
commitments). Under normal market conditions, the Fund does not intend to commit
more than 5% of its total assets to these  practices.  The Fund does not pay for
the  securities or receive  dividends or interest on them until the  contractual
settlement  date.  The  Fund  will  designate  cash or  liquid  high-grade  debt
securities  at  least  equal  in  value  to  its  commitments  to  purchase  the
securities.  When-issued securities or forward commitments are subject to market
fluctuations  and they may  affect  the  fund's  total  assets the same as owned
securities.

In determining  the liquidity of Rule 144A  securities,  which are  unregistered
securities  offered to qualified  institutional  buyers,  and  interest-only and
principal only fixed mortgage-backed securities (IOs and POs) issued by the U.S.
government or its agencies and instrumentalities,  the investment manager, under
guidelines  established  by  the  board,  will  consider  any  relevant  factors
including frequency of trades, the number of dealers willing to purchase or sell
the security and the nature of marketplace trades.

In  determining  the liquidity of commercial  paper issued in  transactions  not
involving a public  offering  under Section 4(2) of the  Securities Act of 1933,
the investment manager, under guidelines established by the board, will evaluate
relevant  factors  such as the issuer and the size and nature of its  commercial
paper  programs,  the  willingness  and  ability  of the  issuer  or  dealer  to
repurchase the paper, and the nature of the clearance and settlement  procedures
for the paper.

The Fund may  maintain  a  portion  of its  assets  in cash and  cash-equivalent
investments.  The  cash-equivalent  investments  the Fund may use are short-term
U.S. and Canadian government securities and negotiable  certificates of deposit,
non-negotiable  fixed-time deposits,  bankers' acceptances and letters of credit
of banks or savings and loan associations having capital,  surplus and undivided
profits  (as of the  date  of  its  most  recently  published  annual  financial
statements)  in excess of $100 million (or the  equivalent  in the instance of a
foreign branch of a U.S. bank) at the date of  investment.  Any  cash-equivalent
investment in foreign  securities  will be subject to the limitations on foreign
investments  described in the prospectus.  The Fund also may purchase short-term
corporate notes and obligations rated in the top two  classifications by Moody's
Investors Service, Inc. (Moody's) or Standard & Poor's


                                              -5-

<PAGE>


IDS Discovery Fund

Corporation  (S&P) or the  equivalent  and may use  repurchase  agreements  with
broker-dealers  registered  under the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 and with
commercial  banks. A risk of a repurchase  agreement is that if the seller seeks
the  protection  of the  bankruptcy  laws,  the Fund's  ability to liquidate the
security involved could be impaired.

   
The Fund may  invest  in  foreign  securities  that  are  traded  in the form of
American  Depositary  Receipts (ADRs).  ADRs are receipts  typically issued by a
U.S. bank or trust company evidencing ownership of the underlying  securities of
foreign  issuers.  European  Depositary  Receipts  (EDRs) and Global  Depositary
Receipts  (GDRs)  are  receipts  typically  issued  by  foreign  banks  or trust
companies,  evidencing  ownership of  underlying  securities  issued by either a
foreign or U.S.  issuer.  Generally  Depositary  Receipts in registered form are
designed for use in the U.S. securities market and Depositary Receipts in bearer
form are  designed for use in  securities  markets  outside the U.S.  Depositary
Receipts  may  not  necessarily  be  denominated  in the  same  currency  as the
underlying securities into which they may be converted. Depositary Receipts also
involve the risks of other investments in foreign securities.
    

Notwithstanding any of the Fund's other investment policies, the Fund may invest
its assets in an open-end management investment company having substantially the
same  investment  objectives,  policies  and  restrictions  as the  Fund for the
purpose of having those assets managed as part of a combined pool.

For a discussion of bond ratings, see Appendix A. For a discussion about foreign
currency  transactions,  see Appendix B. For a  discussion  on options and stock
index futures  contracts,  see Appendix C. For a discussion  on  mortgage-backed
securities, see Appendix D.

SECURITY TRANSACTIONS

Subject  to  policies  set  by the  board,  AEFC  is  authorized  to  determine,
consistent with the Fund's  investment goal and policies,  which securities will
be purchased,  held or sold. In determining where the buy and sell orders are to
be placed,  AEFC has been  directed  to use its best  efforts to obtain the best
available  price  and  the  most  favorable  execution  except  where  otherwise
authorized by the board. In selecting  broker-dealers  to execute  transactions,
AEFC may consider the price of the  security,  including  commission or mark-up,
the size and  difficulty of the order,  the  reliability,  integrity,  financial
soundness and general  operation and execution  capabilities of the broker,  the
broker's expertise in particular markets,  and research services provided by the
broker.

AEFC has a strict Code of Ethics that  prohibits its  affiliated  personnel from
engaging in personal investment  activities that compete with or attempt to take
advantage of planned portfolio  transactions for any fund in the IDS MUTUAL FUND
GROUP. AEFC carefully monitors compliance with its Code of Ethics.



                                              -6-

<PAGE>


IDS Discovery Fund

   
On occasion, it may be desirable to compensate a broker for research services or
for  brokerage  services  by paying a  commission  that might not  otherwise  be
charged or a commission in excess of the amount another broker might charge. The
board has adopted a policy authorizing AEFC to do so to the extent authorized by
law, if AEFC  determines,  in good faith,  that such commission is reasonable in
relation to the value of the brokerage or research services provided by a broker
or dealer,  viewed  either in the light of that  transaction  or AEFC's  overall
responsibilities  to the funds in the IDS MUTUAL  FUND GROUP and other  accounts
for which it acts as investment advisor.
    

Research provided by brokers  supplements AEFC's own research  activities.  Such
services include economic data on, and analysis of, U.S. and foreign  economies;
information  on  specific  industries;  information  about  specific  companies,
including earnings  estimates;  purchase  recommendations  for stocks and bonds;
portfolio strategy services;  political,  economic,  business and industry trend
assessments;  historical statistical information; market data services providing
information  on specific  issues and prices;  and technical  analysis of various
aspects of the securities markets, including technical charts. Research services
may take the form of written reports,  computer  software or personal contact by
telephone or at seminars or other meetings. AEFC has obtained, and in the future
may  obtain,  computer  hardware  from  brokers,  including  but not  limited to
personal computers that will be used exclusively for investment  decision-making
purposes, which include the research, portfolio management and trading functions
and other services to the extent permitted under an interpretation by the SEC.

   
When paying a commission  that might not otherwise be charged or a commission in
excess of the amount  another broker might charge,  AEFC must follow  procedures
authorized by the board. To date,  three  procedures have been  authorized.  One
procedure  permits AEFC to direct an order to buy or sell a security traded on a
national  securities  exchange to a specific broker for research services it has
provided.  The second procedure  permits AEFC, in order to obtain  research,  to
direct  an order on an  agency  basis to buy or sell a  security  traded  in the
over-the-counter  market to a firm that does not make a market in that security.
The commission paid generally includes  compensation for research services.  The
third  procedure  permits  AEFC,  in  order to  obtain  research  and  brokerage
services,  to cause the Fund to pay a commission in excess of the amount another
broker  might have  charged.  AEFC has  advised the Fund it is  necessary  to do
business with a number of brokerage  firms on a continuing  basis to obtain such
services as the handling of large orders,  the  willingness  of a broker to risk
its own money by taking a position in a security,  and the specialized  handling
of a particular  group of  securities  that only certain  brokers may be able to
offer. As a result of this arrangement,  some portfolio  transactions may not be
effected  at the lowest  commission,  but AEFC  believes  it may  obtain  better
overall execution. AEFC has assured
    

                                              -7-

<PAGE>


IDS Discovery Fund

the Fund that under all three  procedures the amount of commission  paid will be
reasonable and  competitive  in relation to the value of the brokerage  services
performed or research provided.

All  other  transactions  shall be placed  on the  basis of  obtaining  the best
available  price  and the  most  favorable  execution.  In so  doing,  if in the
professional  opinion  of the person  responsible  for  selecting  the broker or
dealer,   several  firms  can  execute  the   transaction  on  the  same  basis,
consideration  will be given by such  person to those  firms  offering  research
services. Such services may be used by AEFC in providing advice to all the funds
in the IDS  MUTUAL  FUND  GROUP  even  though it is not  possible  to relate the
benefits to any particular fund or account.

   
Each  investment  decision  made  for the  Fund is made  independently  from any
decision  made for another  fund in the IDS MUTUAL FUND GROUP or other  accounts
advised  by AEFC or any AEFC  subsidiary.  When the Fund  buys or sells the same
security as another Fund or account,  AEFC carries out the purchase or sale in a
way the Fund agrees in advance is fair.  Although sharing in large  transactions
may adversely affect the price or volume purchased or sold by the Fund, the Fund
hopes to gain an overall  advantage in  execution.  AEFC has assured the Fund it
will continue to seek ways to reduce brokerage costs.
    

On a periodic basis, AEFC makes a comprehensive review of the broker-dealers and
the overall reasonableness of their commissions. The review evaluates execution,
operational efficiency and research services.

   
The Fund paid total  brokerage  commissions  of  $2,154,157  for the fiscal year
ended July 31, 1997, $3,297,943 for the fiscal year 1996, and $2,182,719 for the
fiscal  year  1995.  Substantially  all firms  through  whom  transactions  were
executed provide research services.

In fiscal year 1997,  transactions amounting to $663,000,000 on which $36,150 in
commissions  were  imputed  or  paid,  were  specifically  directed  to firms in
exchange for research services.

As of the fiscal year ended July 31, 1997,  the Fund held no  securities  of its
regular  brokers or dealers or of the parents of those  brokers or dealers  that
derived more than 15% of gross revenue from securities-related activities.
    
       

   
The portfolio turnover rate was 153% in the fiscal year ended July 31, 1997, and
179% in fiscal year 1996.  Higher turnover rates may result in higher  brokerage
expenses.
    



                                              -8-

<PAGE>


IDS Discovery Fund

BROKERAGE COMMISSIONS PAID TO BROKERS AFFILIATED WITH AMERICAN
EXPRESS FINANCIAL CORPORATION

   
Affiliates of American  Express Company  (American  Express) (of which AEFC is a
wholly-owned   subsidiary)   may  engage  in  brokerage  and  other   securities
transactions  on behalf of the Fund  according  to  procedures  adopted  by that
Fund's board and to the extent  consistent  with  applicable  provisions  of the
federal securities laws. AEFC will use an American Express affiliate only if (i)
AEFC  determines  that the Fund will receive  prices and  executions at least as
favorable as those offered by qualified  independent  brokers performing similar
brokerage  and other  services for the Fund and (ii) the  affiliate  charges the
Fund commission  rates  consistent with those the affiliate  charges  comparable
unaffiliated  customers in similar  transactions  and if such use is  consistent
with terms of the Investment Management Services Agreement.
    

AEFC may direct brokerage to compensate an affiliate. AEFC will receive research
on South Africa from New Africa  Advisors,  a  wholly-owned  subsidiary of Sloan
Financial Group.  AEFC owns 100% of IDS Capital Holdings Inc. which in turn owns
40% of Sloan Financial Group. New Africa Advisors will send research to AEFC and
in turn AEFC will direct trades to a particular  broker. The broker will have an
agreement  to pay  New  Africa  Advisors.  All  transactions  will  be on a best
execution  basis.  Compensation  received  will be  reasonable  for the services
rendered.

Information  about  brokerage  commissions  paid by the Fund for the last  three
fiscal  years to brokers  affiliated  with AEFC is  contained  in the  following
table:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   
                                                  For the Fiscal Year Ended July 31,

                                                        1997                               1996            1995
<S>               <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>                   <C>             <C>          
                                  Aggregate                       Percent of            Aggregate       Aggregate
                                  Dollar                          Aggregate Dollar      Dollar          Dollar
                                  Amount of       Percent of      Amount of             Amount of       Amount of
                  Nature          Commissions     Aggregate       Transactions          Commissions     Commissions
                  of              Paid to         Brokerage       Involving Payment     Paid to         Paid to
Broker            Affiliation     Broker          Commissions     of Commissions        Broker          Broker
American          (1)             $254,844        11.83%          13.53%                $232,645        $146,985
Enterprise
Investment
Services Inc.

(1)  Wholly-owned subsidiary of AEFC.
</TABLE>
    
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

The Fund may quote various  performance  figures to illustrate past performance.
Average  annual  total  return   quotations  used  by  the  Fund  are  based  on
standardized  methods  of  computing  performance  as  required  by the SEC.  An
explanation  of the  methods  used by the Fund to  compute  performance  follows
below.


                                              -9-

<PAGE>

IDS Discovery Fund

Average annual total return

The Fund may  calculate  average  annual  total  return for a class for  certain
periods by finding the average annual compounded rates of return over the period
that would equate the initial amount  invested to the ending  redeemable  value,
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 a  period,  at the end of the  period  (or
                fractional portion thereof)

Aggregate total return

The Fund may calculate  aggregate  total return for a class for certain  periods
representing  the  cumulative  change in the value of an  investment in the Fund
over a specified period of time according to the following formula:

                                              ERV - P
                                                 P

where:    P  =  a hypothetical initial payment of $1,000
        ERV  =  ending redeemable value of a hypothetical $1,000
                payment, made at the beginning of a period, at the
                end of the period (or fractional portion thereof)

   
In its sales material and other  communications,  the Fund may quote, compare or
refer to rankings,  yields or returns as published  by  independent  statistical
services or publishers and  publications  such as The Bank Rate Monitor National
Index, Barron's,  Business Week, Donoghue's Money Market Fund Report,  Financial
Services  Week,  Financial  Times,  Financial  World,  Forbes,  Fortune,  Global
Investor,   Institutional  Investor,   Investor's  Daily,  Kiplinger's  Personal
Finance, Lipper Analytical Services, Money, Morningstar, Mutual Fund Forecaster,
Newsweek, The New York Times, Personal Investor, Stanger Report, Sylvia Porter's
Personal Finance, USA Today, U.S. News and World Report, The Wall Street Journal
and Wiesenberger Investment Companies Service.
    

VALUING FUND SHARES

   
The value of an individual share for each class is determined by
using the net asset value before shareholder transactions for the
day.  On Aug. 1, 1997, the first business day following the end of
the fiscal year, the computation looked like this:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>         <C>                                     <C>                              <C>                     
            Net assets before                       Shares outstanding               Net asset value
            shareholder transactions                at end of previous day           of one share
Class A        $903,377,204               divided by 69,437,141             equals   $13.011
Class B         100,805,131                           7,869,253                       12.809
Class Y          72,082,639                           5,536,301                       13.019
    

                                              -10-
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

IDS Discovery Fund

In determining net assets before shareholder transactions, the Fund's securities
are valued as follows as of the close of business of the New York Stock Exchange
(the Exchange):

'Securities,  except  bonds  other  than  convertibles,  traded on a  securities
exchange for which a last-quoted  sales price is readily available are valued at
the  last-quoted  sales price on the exchange  where such  security is primarily
traded.

'Securities traded on a securities  exchange for which a last-quoted sales price
is not  readily  available  are valued at the mean of the  closing bid and asked
prices,  looking  first to the bid and asked  prices on the  exchange  where the
security is primarily traded and, if none exist, to the over-the-counter market.

'Securities  included  in the NASDAQ  National  Market  System are valued at the
last-quoted sales price in this market.

'Securities   included  in  the  NASDAQ  National  Market  System  for  which  a
last-quoted  sales price is not readily  available,  and other securities traded
over-the-counter  but not  included  in the NASDAQ  National  Market  System are
valued at the mean of the closing bid and asked prices.

'Futures and options  traded on major  exchanges  are valued at the  last-quoted
sales price on their primary exchange.

'Foreign  securities traded outside the United States are generally valued as of
the time their trading is complete, which is usually different from the close of
the Exchange.  Foreign  securities  quoted in foreign  currencies are translated
into  U.S.  dollars  at the  current  rate  of  exchange.  Occasionally,  events
affecting  the value of such  securities  may occur  between  such times and the
close of the  Exchange  that will not be  reflected  in the  computation  of the
Fund's  net  asset  value.  If  events  materially  affecting  the value of such
securities  occur during such period,  these  securities will be valued at their
fair value according to procedures decided upon in good faith by the board.

'Short-term  securities  maturing more than 60 days from the valuation  date are
valued at the readily  available market price or approximate  market value based
on current  interest rates.  Short- term securities  maturing in 60 days or less
that  originally  had  maturities of more than 60 days at  acquisition  date are
valued at amortized cost using the market value on the 61st day before maturity.
Short-term securities maturing in 60 days or less at acquisition date are valued
at amortized cost. Amortized cost is an approximation of market value determined
by  systematically  increasing the carrying value of a security if acquired at a
discount,  or reducing the carrying value if acquired at a premium,  so that the
carrying value is equal to maturity value on the maturity date.


                                              -11-

<PAGE>


IDS Discovery Fund

'Securities   without  a  readily  available  market  price,  bonds  other  than
convertibles  and other  assets are valued at fair value as  determined  in good
faith by the board.  The board is responsible for selecting  methods it believes
provide  fair  value.  When  possible,  bonds are  valued  by a pricing  service
independent  from the Fund.  If a valuation  of a bond is not  available  from a
pricing  service,  the bond will be valued by a dealer  knowledgeable  about the
bond if such a dealer is available.

   
The Exchange, AEFC and the Fund will be closed on the following
holidays:  New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor
Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
    

INVESTING IN THE FUND

Sales Charge

   
Shares of the Fund are sold at the public offering price determined at the close
of business on the day an application is accepted.  The public offering price is
the net asset value of one share plus a sales charge, if applicable. For Class B
and Class Y, there is no initial  sales charge so the public  offering  price is
the same as the net asset value.  For Class A, the public  offering price for an
investment  of less than $50,000,  made Aug. 1, 1997 was  determined by dividing
the net asset value of one share,  $13.011,  by 0.95 (1.00-0.05 for a maximum 5%
sales charge) for a public offering price of $13.70. The sales charge is paid to
American Express Financial Advisors by the person buying the shares.
    

Class A - Calculation of the Sales Charge

Sales charges are determined as follows:

                                       Within each increment,
                                         sales charge as a
                                           percentage of:
                               Public                      Net
Amount of Investment       Offering Price           Amount Invested

First     $   50,000           5.0%                      5.26%
Next          50,000           4.5                       4.71
Next         400,000           3.8                       3.95
Next         500,000           2.0                       2.04
$1,000,000 or more             0.0                       0.00

Sales charges on an investment greater than $50,000 and less than $1,000,000 are
calculated for each increment  separately and then totaled.  The resulting total
sales charge,  expressed as a percentage of the public offering price and of the
net amount invested,  will vary depending on the proportion of the investment at
different sales charge levels.


                                              -12-

<PAGE>


IDS Discovery Fund

For example, compare an investment of $60,000 with an investment of $85,000. The
$60,000  investment  is composed of $50,000 that incurs a sales charge of $2,500
(5.0% x  $50,000)  and  $10,000  that  incurs  a sales  charge  of $450  (4.5% x
$10,000). The total sales charge of $2,950 is 4.92% of the public offering price
and 5.17% of the net amount invested.

In the case of the $85,000  investment,  the first  $50,000  also incurs a sales
charge of $2,500  (5.0% x $50,000)  and $35,000  incurs a sales charge of $1,575
(4.5% x  $35,000).  The total  sales  charge  of  $4,075 is 4.79% of the  public
offering price and 5.04% of the net amount invested.

The  following  table shows the range of sales  charges as a  percentage  of the
public  offering  price and of the net amount  invested on total  investments at
each applicable level.

                                  On total investment, sales
                                  charge as a percentage of
                                   Public              Net
                               Offering Price    Amount Invested
Amount of Investment                        ranges from:

First     $ 50,000                    5.00%              5.26%
More than   50,000 to 100,000    5.00-4.50          5.26-4.71
More than  100,000 to 500,000    4.50-3.80          4.71-3.95
More than  500,000 to 999,999    3.80-2.00          3.95-2.04
$1,000,000 or more               0.00               0.00

The initial  sales  charge is waived for certain  qualified  plans that meet the
requirements described in the prospectus.  Participants in these qualified plans
may be subject to a deferred sales charge on certain  redemptions.  The deferred
sales charge on certain redemptions will be waived if the redemption is a result
of a participant's death, disability, retirement, attaining age 59 1/2, loans or
hardship  withdrawals.  The deferred sales charge varies depending on the number
of participants in the qualified plan and total plan assets as follows:

Deferred Sales Charge

                                   Number of Participants

Total Plan Assets                 1-99        100 or more

Less than $1 million               4%             0%

$1 million or more                 0%             0%
- ---------------------------------------------------------

Class A - Reducing the Sales Charge

Sales charges are based on the total amount of your investments in the Fund. The
amount of all prior  investments  plus any new  purchase  is referred to as your
"total  amount  invested."  For example,  suppose you have made an investment of
$20,000 and later

                                              -13-

<PAGE>


IDS Discovery Fund

decide to invest $40,000 more. Your total amount invested would be $60,000. As a
result,  $10,000 of your $40,000  investment  qualifies for the lower 4.5% sales
charge that applies to investments of more than $50,000 and up to $100,000.

   
The total amount invested  includes any shares held in the Fund in the name of a
member of your primary household group. (The primary household group consists of
accounts in any ownership for spouses or domestic  partners and their  unmarried
children  under 21.  Domestic  partners  are  individuals  who maintain a shared
primary  residence and have joint property or other  insurable  interests.)  For
instance,  if your spouse  already has  invested  $20,000 and you want to invest
$40,000,  your total amount  invested will be $60,000 and therefore you will pay
the lower charge of 4.5% on $10,000 of the $40,000.
    

Until a spouse  remarries,  the sales charge is waived for spouses and unmarried
children under 21 of deceased  board members,  officers or employees of the Fund
or AEFC or its subsidiaries and deceased advisors.

   
The total amount  invested also includes any  investment  you or your  immediate
family already have in the other  publicly  offered funds in the IDS MUTUAL FUND
GROUP where the  investment is subject to a sales charge.  For example,  suppose
you already  have an  investment  of $30,000 in another IDS fund.  If you invest
$40,000  more in this Fund,  your  total  amount  invested  in the funds will be
$70,000 and therefore $20,000 of your $40,000 investment will incur a 4.5% sales
charge.
    

Finally,  Individual  Retirement  Account  (IRA)  purchases,  or other  employee
benefit plan purchases  made through a payroll  deduction plan or through a plan
sponsored by an employer,  association of employers,  employee  organization  or
other similar  entity,  may be added together to reduce sales charges for shares
purchased through that plan.

Class A - Letter of Intent (LOI)

If you  intend to invest $1 million  over a period of 13 months,  you can reduce
the sales  charges in Class A by filing a LOI.  The  agreement  can start at any
time and will remain in effect for 13 months.  Your  investment  will be charged
normal sales  charges  until you have  invested $1 million.  At that time,  your
account  will be  credited  with the  sales  charges  previously  paid.  Class A
investments  made  prior to  signing  an LOI may be used to reach the $1 million
total,  excluding Cash Management Fund and Tax-Free Money Fund. However, we will
not adjust for sales  charges on  investments  made prior to the  signing of the
LOI.  If you do not  invest  $1  million  by the end of 13  months,  there is no
penalty,  you'll just miss out on the sales charge  adjustment.  A LOI is not an
option (absolute right) to buy shares.

Here's an example. You file a LOI to invest $1 million and make an investment of
$100,000 at that time.  You pay the normal 5% sales charge on the first  $50,000
and 4.5% sales charge on the next

                                              -14-

<PAGE>


IDS Discovery Fund

$50,000 of this investment.  Let's say you make a second  investment of $900,000
(bringing  the total up to $1 million) one month  before the 13-month  period is
up.  On the  date  that  you  bring  your  total to $1  million,  AEFC  makes an
adjustment to your  account.  The  adjustment is made by crediting  your account
with additional  shares,  in an amount equivalent to the sales charge previously
paid.

Systematic Investment Programs

After you make your  initial  investment  of $2,000 or more,  you can arrange to
make additional  payments of $100 or more on a regular basis.  These minimums do
not apply to all systematic  investment  programs.  You decide how often to make
payments - monthly,  quarterly,  or semiannually.  You are not obligated to make
any  payments.  You can omit  payments or  discontinue  the  investment  program
altogether. The Fund also can change the program or end it at any time. If there
is no  obligation,  why do it?  Putting  money  aside  is an  important  part of
financial planning.  With a systematic  investment  program,  you have a goal to
work for.

How does this work?  Your regular  investment  amount will  purchase more shares
when the net asset  value per share  decreases,  and fewer  shares  when the net
asset value per share increases. Each purchase is a separate transaction.  After
each  purchase  your new shares  will be added to your  account.  Shares  bought
through these  programs are exactly the same as any other fund shares.  They can
be bought and sold at any time. A systematic investment program is not an option
or an absolute right to buy shares.

The  systematic  investment  program  itself cannot ensure a profit,  nor can it
protect against a loss in a declining  market.  If you decide to discontinue the
program  and redeem your shares when their net asset value is less than what you
paid for them, you will incur a loss.

For a discussion on dollar-cost averaging, see Appendix E.

Automatic Directed Dividends

   
Dividends, including capital gain distributions, paid by another fund in the IDS
MUTUAL  FUND  GROUP  subject  to a sales  charge,  may be used to  automatically
purchase  shares in the same class of this Fund without  paying a sales  charge.
Dividends may be directed to existing  accounts  only.  Dividends  declared by a
fund are  exchanged to this Fund the following  day.  Dividends can be exchanged
into the same class of another  fund in the IDS MUTUAL  FUND GROUP but cannot be
split to make purchases in two or more funds.  Automatic  directed dividends are
available between accounts of any ownership except:
    

Between a  non-custodial  account and an IRA,  or 401(k)  plan  account or other
qualified  retirement  account of which  American  Express Trust Company acts as
custodian;


                                              -15-

<PAGE>


IDS Discovery Fund

Between two American  Express Trust Company  custodial  accounts with  different
owners (for example,  you may not exchange dividends from your IRA to the IRA of
your spouse);

Between  different  kinds of custodial  accounts  with the same  ownership  (for
example,  you may not  exchange  dividends  from  your IRA to your  401(k)  plan
account, although you may exchange dividends from one IRA to another IRA).

Dividends may be directed from accounts  established  under the Uniform Gifts to
Minors Act (UGMA) or Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA) only into other UGMA
or UTMA accounts with identical ownership.

   
The Fund's  investment  goal is  described  in its  prospectus  along with other
information, including fees and expense ratios. Before exchanging dividends into
another  fund,  you  should  read that  fund's  prospectus.  You will  receive a
confirmation  that the automatic  directed  dividend service has been set up for
your account.
    

REDEEMING SHARES

You have a right to  redeem  your  shares  at any time.  For an  explanation  of
redemption procedures, please see the prospectus.

During an emergency,  the board can suspend the  computation of net asset value,
stop  accepting  payments for purchase of shares or suspend the duty of the Fund
to redeem shares for more than seven days. Such emergency situations would occur
if:

'The Exchange closes for reasons other than the usual weekend and
holiday closings or trading on the Exchange is restricted, or

'Disposal of the Fund's securities is not reasonably practicable or
it is not reasonably practicable for the Fund to determine the fair
value of its net assets, or

   
'The SEC, under the  provisions of the Investment  Company Act of 1940 (the 1940
Act), as amended, declares a period of emergency to exist.
    

Should the Fund stop  selling  shares,  the board may make a deduction  from the
value of the assets held by the Fund to cover the cost of future liquidations of
the assets so as to distribute fairly these costs among all shareholders.

   
The Fund has  elected to be  governed  by Rule 18f-1  under the 1940 Act,  which
obligates the Fund to redeem shares in cash, with respect to any one shareholder
during any 90-day  period,  up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the net assets
of the Fund at the beginning of the period.  Although  redemptions  in excess of
this  limitation  would normally be paid in cash, the Fund reserves the right to
make these payments in whole or in part in securities or other assets in case of
an emergency,  or if the payment of a redemption in cash would be detrimental to
the existing shareholders of the Fund as determined by the board. In these
    

                                              -16-

<PAGE>


IDS Discovery Fund

circumstances,  the securities  distributed  would be valued as set forth in the
prospectus.  Should the Fund  distribute  securities,  a  shareholder  may incur
brokerage fees or other transaction costs in converting the securities to cash.

PAY-OUT PLANS

You can use any of several  pay-out  plans to redeem your  investment in regular
installments.  If you redeem  Class B shares you may be subject to a  contingent
deferred sales charge as discussed in the prospectus.  While the plans differ on
how the  pay-out  is  figured,  they  all are  based on the  redemption  of your
investment.  Net investment income dividends and any capital gain  distributions
will  automatically be reinvested,  unless you elect to receive them in cash. If
you are redeeming a tax-qualified  plan account for which American Express Trust
Company acts as  custodian,  you can elect to receive your  dividends  and other
distributions in cash when permitted by law. If you redeem an IRA or a qualified
retirement  account,  certain  restrictions,  federal tax  penalties and special
federal income tax reporting requirements may apply. You should consult your tax
advisor about this complex area of the tax law.

Applications for a systematic investment in a class of the Fund
subject to a sales charge normally will not be accepted while a
pay-out plan for any of those funds is in effect.  Occasional
investments, however, may be accepted.

   
To start any of these plans, please write American Express Shareholder  Service,
P.O. Box 534,  Minneapolis,  MN 55440-0534,  or call American Express  Financial
Advisors Telephone Transaction Service at 800-437-3133  (National/Minnesota)  or
612-671-3800  (Mpls./St.  Paul).  Your  authorization  must be  received  in the
Minneapolis  headquarters  at least  five  days  before  the date you want  your
payments to begin.  The initial  payment must be at least $50.  Payments will be
made on a monthly, bimonthly, quarterly, semiannual or annual basis. Your choice
is effective until you change or cancel it.
    

The  following  pay-out  plans  are  designed  to take care of the needs of most
shareholders in a way AEFC can handle  efficiently and at a reasonable  cost. If
you need a more irregular  schedule of payments,  it may be necessary for you to
make a series of individual redemptions,  in which case you'll have to send in a
separate  redemption  request for each  pay-out.  The Fund reserves the right to
change or stop any pay-out plan and to stop making such plans available.

Plan #1:  Pay-out for a fixed period of time

If you choose this plan, a varying  number of shares will be redeemed at regular
intervals  during the time  period you  choose.  This plan is designed to end in
complete  redemption  of all  shares  in your  account  by the end of the  fixed
period.


                                              -17-

<PAGE>


IDS Discovery Fund

Plan #2:  Redemption of a fixed number of shares

If you choose this plan,  a fixed  number of shares  will be  redeemed  for each
payment and that amount will be sent to you.  The length of time these  payments
continue is based on the number of shares in your account.

Plan #3:  Redemption of a fixed dollar amount

If you decide on a fixed dollar amount,  whatever  number of shares is necessary
to make the payment will be redeemed in regular  installments  until the account
is closed.

Plan #4:  Redemption of a percentage of net asset value

Payments  are made  based on a fixed  percentage  of the net asset  value of the
shares in the account  computed on the day of each  payment.  Percentages  range
from 0.25% to 0.75%.  For  example,  if you are on this plan and arrange to take
0.5% each month, you will get $50 if the value of your account is $10,000 on the
payment date.

TAXES

If you buy  shares  in the Fund and  then  exchange  into  another  fund,  it is
considered a sale and subsequent purchase of shares. Under the tax laws, if this
exchange is done within 91 days,  any sales charge waived on Class A shares on a
subsequent  purchase  of  shares  applies  to the  new  shares  acquired  in the
exchange.  Therefore,  you  cannot  create  a tax  loss  or  reduce  a tax  gain
attributable to the sales charge when exchanging shares within 91 days.

Retirement Accounts

If you have a  nonqualified  investment in the Fund and you wish to move part or
all of those shares to an IRA or qualified  retirement  account in the Fund, you
can do so without  paying a sales  charge.  However,  this type of  exchange  is
considered  a sale of shares and may result in a gain or loss for tax  purposes.
In addition,  this type of exchange may result in an excess  contribution  under
IRA or qualified plan regulations if the amount exchanged plus the amount of the
initial sales charge applied to the amount exchanged exceeds annual contribution
limitations.  For example: If you were to exchange $2,000 in Class A shares from
a nonqualified account to an IRA without considering the 5% ($100) initial sales
charge applicable to that $2,000, you may be deemed to have exceeded current IRA
annual contribution limitations. You should consult your tax advisor for further
details about this complex subject.

   
Net investment  income  dividends  received should be treated as dividend income
for federal income tax purposes.  Corporate  shareholders are generally entitled
to a  deduction  equal to 70% of that  portion  of the Fund's  dividend  that is
attributable to dividends the Fund received from domestic (U.S.) securities. For
the fiscal year ended July 31, 1997,  5.18% of the Fund's net investment  income
dividends qualified for the corporate deduction.
    

                                              -18-

<PAGE>


IDS Discovery Fund

Capital gain distributions received by individual and corporate shareholders, if
any,  should be treated as long-term  capital gains  regardless of how long they
owned their  shares.  Short-term  capital  gains  earned by the Fund are paid to
shareholders as part of their ordinary income dividend and are taxable.

Under  federal tax law, by the end of a calendar  year the Fund must declare and
pay dividends representing 98% of ordinary income for that calendar year and 98%
of net capital gains (both  long-term and  short-term)  for the 12-month  period
ending Oct. 31 of that calendar year. The Fund is subject to an excise tax equal
to 4% of the excess,  if any, of the amount required to be distributed  over the
amount actually distributed. The Fund intends to comply with federal tax law and
avoid any excise tax.

The Fund may be subject  to U.S.  taxes  resulting  from  holdings  in a passive
foreign investment  company (PFIC). A foreign  corporation is a PFIC when 75% or
more of its gross  income for the  taxable  year is passive  income or if 50% or
more of the average value of its assets consists of assets that produce or could
produce passive income.

This  is  a  brief  summary  that  relates  to  federal  income  taxation  only.
Shareholders  should consult their tax advisor as to the application of federal,
state and local income tax laws to Fund distributions.

AGREEMENTS

Investment Management Services Agreement

The Fund has an Investment  Management  Services  Agreement  with AEFC.  For its
services, AEFC is paid a fee based on the following schedule:

Assets              Annual rate at
(billions)          each asset level

First $0.25             0.640%
Next   0.25             0.615
Next   0.25             0.590
Next   0.25             0.565
Next   1.0              0.540
Over   2.0              0.515

   
On July 31,  1997,  the daily rate applied to the Fund's net assets was equal to
0.598% on an annual basis.  The fee is  calculated  for each calendar day on the
basis of net assets as of the close of business two  business  days prior to the
day for which the calculation is made.

Before the fee based on the asset charge is paid, it is adjusted for  investment
performance.  The adjustment,  determined monthly,  will be calculated using the
percentage  point  difference  between  the change in the net asset value of one
Class A share of the Fund
    

                                              -19-

<PAGE>


IDS Discovery Fund

   
and the change in the Lipper  Small  Company  Growth  Fund  Index  (Index).  The
performance  of one share of the Fund is measured by  computing  the  percentage
difference  between  the opening and closing net asset value of one share of the
Fund,  as of the  last  business  day of the  period  selected  for  comparison,
adjusted  for  dividend  or  capital  gain  distributions  which are  treated as
reinvested at the end of the month during which the  distribution  was made. The
performance  of the Index for the same period is  established  by measuring  the
percentage  difference between the beginning and ending Index for the comparison
period.  The performance is adjusted for dividend or capital gain  distributions
(on the securities which comprise the Index), which are treated as reinvested at
the end of the month  during which the  distribution  was made.  One  percentage
point will be  subtracted  from the  calculation  to help assure that  incentive
adjustments are attributable to AEFC's  management  abilities rather than random
fluctuations and the result  multiplied by 0.01%. That number will be multiplied
times the Fund's average net assets for the  comparison  period and then divided
by the  number of months in the  comparison  period  to  determine  the  monthly
adjustment.

Where the Fund's share performance  exceeds that of the Index, the base fee will
be increased.  Where the performance of the Index exceeds the performance of the
Fund's share,  the base fee will be decreased.  The maximum monthly  increase or
decrease will be 0.12% of the Fund's average net assets on an annual basis.

The 12-month comparison period rolls over with each succeeding month, so that it
always  equals 12  months,  ending  with the  month  for  which the  performance
adjustment is being computed.  The adjustment  increased the fee by $680,977 for
the fiscal year ended July 31, 1997.

The management fee is paid monthly.  Under the agreement,  the total amount paid
was  $6,222,122  for the fiscal year ended July 31, 1997,  $4,068,196 for fiscal
year 1996, and $3,600,724 for fiscal year 1995.

Under the  agreement,  the Fund  also  pays  taxes,  brokerage  commissions  and
nonadvisory  expenses,  which include  custodian  fees;  audit and certain legal
fees;  fidelity bond premiums;  registration  fees for shares;  office expenses;
consultants'  fees;  compensation  of board  members,  officers  and  employees;
corporate filing fees; organizational expenses;  expenses incurred in connection
with lending  securities of the Fund; and expenses properly payable by the Fund,
approved by the board. Under the agreement,  the Fund paid nonadvisory  expenses
of $482,959  for the fiscal year ended July 31,  1997,  $499,808 for fiscal year
1996, and $587,126 for fiscal year 1995.
    



                                              -20-

<PAGE>


IDS Discovery Fund

Administrative Services Agreement

The  Fund  has an  Administrative  Services  Agreement  with  AEFC.  Under  this
agreement,  the Fund  pays  AEFC for  providing  administration  and  accounting
services. The fee is calculated as follows:

     Assets          Annual rate
     (billions)      each asset level

     First $0.25     0.060%
     Next   0.25     0.055
     Next   0.25     0.050
     Next   0.25     0.045
     Next   1.0      0.040
     Over   2.0      0.035

   
On July 31,  1997,  the daily rate applied to the Fund's net assets was equal to
0.052% on an annual basis.  The fee is  calculated  for each calendar day on the
basis of net assets as of the close of business two  business  days prior to the
day for which the calculation is made.  Under the agreement,  the Fund paid fees
of $494,961 for the fiscal year ended July 31, 1997.
    

Transfer Agency Agreement

   
The Fund has a Transfer  Agency  Agreement  with AEFC.  This  agreement  governs
AEFC's   responsibility  for  administering  and/or  performing  transfer  agent
functions,  for  acting  as  service  agent  in  connection  with  dividend  and
distribution  functions and for performing  shareholder  account  administration
agent  functions in  connection  with the issuance,  exchange and  redemption or
repurchase of the Fund's shares. Under the agreement,  AEFC will earn a fee from
the Fund determined by multiplying the number of shareholder accounts at the end
of the day by a rate  determined  for each  class per year and  dividing  by the
number of days in the year. The rate for Class A and Class Y is $15 per year and
for Class B is $16 per year.  The fees paid to AEFC may be changed  from time to
time upon  agreement  of the parties  without  shareholder  approval.  Under the
agreement,  the Fund paid fees of $1,500,668  for the fiscal year ended July 31,
1997.
    

Distribution Agreement

   
Under a Distribution  Agreement,  sales charges deducted for  distributing  Fund
shares are paid to American  Express  Financial  Advisors  daily.  These charges
amounted to  $1,703,437  for the fiscal year ended July 31,  1997.  After paying
commissions  to personal  financial  advisors,  and other  expenses,  the amount
retained was $161,079.  The amounts were $1,896,604 and $296,642 for fiscal year
1996, and $3,249,265 and $1,019,013 for fiscal year 1995.
    


                                              -21-

<PAGE>


IDS Discovery Fund
       

Shareholder Service Agreement

   
The Fund pays a fee for service  provided to shareholders by financial  advisors
and other servicing agents. The fee is calculated at a rate of 0.175% of average
daily net assets for Class A and Class B and 0.10% for Class Y.
    

Plan and Agreement of Distribution

For Class B shares, to help American Express Financial  Advisors defray the cost
of distribution  and servicing,  not covered by the sales charges received under
the Distribution  Agreement,  the Fund and American Express  Financial  Advisors
entered into a Plan and  Agreement  of  Distribution  (Plan).  These costs cover
almost all aspects of distributing the Fund's shares except  compensation to the
sales force. A substantial portion of the costs are not specifically  identified
to any one fund in the IDS MUTUAL FUND GROUP.  Under the Plan,  American Express
Financial  Advisors  is paid a fee at an  annual  rate of  0.75%  of the  Fund's
average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares.

   
The Plan must be  approved  annually  by the board,  including a majority of the
disinterested board members, if it is to continue for more than a year. At least
quarterly, the board must review written reports concerning the amounts expended
under the Plan and the purposes for which such  expenditures were made. The Plan
and any  agreement  related  to it may be  terminated  at any  time by vote of a
majority of board members who are not interested persons of the Fund and have no
direct or indirect  financial  interest in the  operation  of the Plan or in any
agreement  related  to the Plan,  or by vote of a  majority  of the  outstanding
voting  securities of the Fund's Class B shares or by American Express Financial
Advisors.  The Plan (or any agreement related to it) will terminate in the event
of its assignment, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, as amended. The Plan
may not be amended to increase the amount to be spent for  distribution  without
shareholder  approval,  and all material amendments to the Plan must be approved
by a majority of the board  members,  including a majority of the board  members
who are not  interested  persons  of the Fund  and who do not  have a  financial
interest  in the  operation  of the Plan or any  agreement  related  to it.  The
selection and nomination of disinterested board members is the responsibility of
the other  disinterested board members. No board member who is not an interested
person,  has any direct or indirect  financial  interest in the operation of the
Plan or any related  agreement.  For the fiscal year ended July 31, 1997,  under
the agreement, the Fund paid fees of $524,729.

Custodian Agreement

The Fund's securities and cash are held by American Express Trust Company,  1200
Northstar Center West, 625 Marquette Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55402-2307, through a
custodian  agreement.  The  custodian is permitted to deposit some or all of its
securities  in central  depository  systems as allowed by federal  law.  For its
services, the Fund pays the custodian a maintenance charge and a
    

                                              -22-

<PAGE>


IDS Discovery Fund

   
charge per transaction in addition to reimbursing the custodian's
out-of-pocket expenses.

The  custodian  has entered  into a  sub-custodian  arrangement  with the Morgan
Stanley Trust Company  (Morgan  Stanley),  One Pierrepont  Plaza,  Eighth Floor,
Brooklyn,  NY  11201-2775.  As part of this  arrangement,  securities  purchased
outside  the United  States are  maintained  in the  custody of various  foreign
branches of Morgan  Stanley or in such other  financial  institutions  as may be
permitted by law and by the Fund's sub-custodian agreement.
    

Total fees and expenses

   
The Fund paid total fees and nonadvisory  expenses,  net of earnings credits, of
$10,711,290 for the fiscal year ended July 31, 1997.

ORGANIZATIONAL INFORMATION

The Fund is a diversified, open-end management investment company, as defined in
the Investment Company Act of 1940. Originally incorporated on April 29, 1981 in
Nevada,  the Fund changed its state of incorporation on June 13, 1986 by merging
into  a  Minnesota   corporation   incorporated  on  April  7,  1986.  The  Fund
headquarters  are at 901 S. Marquette Ave., Suite 2810,  Minneapolis,  MN 55402-
3268.
    

BOARD MEMBERS AND OFFICERS

   
The following is a list of the Fund's board members.  They serve 15 Master Trust
portfolios and 47 IDS and IDS Life funds (except for William H. Dudley, who does
not serve on the nine IDS Life fund boards.)
    

All shares have  cumulative  voting rights with respect to the election of board
members.

   
H. Brewster Atwater, Jr.
Born in 1931
4900 IDS Tower
Minneapolis, MN

Former chairman and chief executive officer, General Mills, Inc.
Director, Merck & Co., Inc. and Darden Restaurants, Inc.
    

Lynne V. Cheney'
Born in 1941
American Enterprise Institute
for Public Policy Research (AEI)
1150 17th St., N.W.
Washington, D.C.

   
Distinguished Fellow AEI.  Former Chair of National Endowment of
the Humanities.  Director, The Reader's Digest Association Inc.,
Lockheed-Martin, Union Pacific Resources, and FPL Group, Inc.
(holding company for Florida Power and Light).
    


                                              -23-

<PAGE>


IDS Discovery Fund

William H. Dudley**
Born in 1932
2900 IDS Tower
Minneapolis, MN

   
Senior advisor to the chief executive officer, AEFC.
    

Robert F. Froehlke+
Born in 1922
1201 Yale Place
Minneapolis, MN

Former president of all funds in the IDS MUTUAL FUND GROUP.
Director, the ICI Mutual Insurance Co., Institute for Defense
Analyses, Marshall Erdman and Associates, Inc. (architectural
engineering) and Public Oversight Board of the American Institute
of Certified Public Accountants.

David R. Hubers+**
Born in 1943
2900 IDS Tower
Minneapolis, MN

   
President and chief executive officer of AEFC since August 1993, and director of
AEFC. Previously,  senior vice president, finance and chief financial officer of
AEFC.
    

Heinz F. Hutter+'
Born in 1929
P.O. Box 2187
Minneapolis, MN

   
Former president and chief operating officer,  Cargill,  Incorporated (commodity
merchants and processors).
    

Anne P. Jones
Born in 1935
5716 Bent Branch Rd.
Bethesda, MD

Attorney and telecommunications consultant.  Former partner, law
firm of Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan.  Director, Motorola, Inc. and
C-Cor Electronics, Inc.


                                              -24-

<PAGE>


IDS Discovery Fund

Melvin R. Laird
Born in 1922
Reader's Digest Association, Inc.
1730 Rhode Island Ave., N.W.
Washington, D.C.

   
Senior  counsellor for national and international  affairs,  The Reader's Digest
Association,  Inc. Former nine-term U.S. Congressman,  U.S. Secretary of Defense
and  Presidential  Counsellor.  Director,  Metropolitan  Life Insurance Co., The
Reader's Digest Association,  Inc., Science  Applications  International  Corp.,
Wallace Reader's Digest Funds and Public Oversight Board (SEC Practice  Section,
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants).
    

William R. Pearce+*
Born in 1927
901 S. Marquette Ave.
Minneapolis, MN

   
Chairman  of the board,  Board  Services  Corporation  (provides  administrative
services to boards).  Director,  trustee  and officer of  registered  investment
companies  whose boards are served by the company.  Former vice  chairman of the
board, Cargill, Incorporated (commodity merchants and processors).

Alan K. Simpson'
Born in 1931
1201 Sunshine Ave.
Cody, WY

Former three-term United States Senator for Wyoming.  Former
Assistant Republican Leader, U.S. Senate.  Director, PacifiCorp
(electric power).
    

Edson W. Spencer+
Born in 1926
4900 IDS Center
80 S. 8th St.
Minneapolis, MN

   
President, Spencer Associates Inc. (consulting).  Former chairman
of the board and chief executive officer, Honeywell Inc.  Director,
Boise Cascade Corporation (forest products).  Member of
International Advisory Council of NEC (Japan).
    

John R. Thomas**
Born in 1937
2900 IDS Tower
Minneapolis, MN

Senior vice president and director of AEFC.


                                              -25-

<PAGE>


IDS Discovery Fund

Wheelock Whitney+
Born in 1926
1900 Foshay Tower
821 Marquette Ave.
Minneapolis, MN

Chairman, Whitney Management Company (manages family assets).

C. Angus Wurtele'
Born in 1934
Valspar Corporation
Suite 1700
Foshay Tower
Minneapolis, MN

   
Chairman  of  the  board  and  retired  chief  executive  officer,  The  Valspar
Corporation (paints). Director, Bemis Corporation (packaging), Donaldson Company
(air cleaners & mufflers) and
General Mills, Inc. (consumer foods).
    

+ Member of executive committee.
' Member of joint audit committee.
*  Interested  person by reason of being an officer  and  employee  of the Fund.
**Interested person by reason of being an officer, board member, employee and/or
shareholder of AEFC or American Express.

The  board  also has  appointed  officers  who are  responsible  for  day-to-day
business decisions based on policies it has established.

In addition to Mr. Pearce, who is president, the Fund's other officers are:

Leslie L. Ogg
Born in 1938
901 S. Marquette Ave.
Minneapolis, MN

   
President, treasurer and corporate secretary of Board Services Corporation. Vice
president, general counsel and secretary for the Fund.
    

Officers who also are officers and/or employees of AEFC

Peter J. Anderson
Born in 1942
IDS Tower 10
Minneapolis, MN

   
Director    and    senior    vice    president-investments    of   AEFC.    Vice
president-investments for the Fund.
    


                                              -26-

<PAGE>


IDS Discovery Fund

Melinda S. Urion
Born in 1953
IDS Tower 10
Minneapolis, MN

   
Director,  senior vice president and chief financial officer of AEFC.  Director,
executive vice president and controller of IDS Life Insurance Company. Treasurer
for the Fund.

COMPENSATION FOR FUND BOARD MEMBERS

Members of the board who are not  officers of the Fund or AEFC receive an annual
fee of $600,  and the chair of the  Contracts  Committee  receives an additional
$86. Board members receive a $50 per day attendance fee for board meetings.  The
attendance fee for meetings of the Contracts and Investment Review Committees is
$50; for meetings of the Audit  Committee  and  Personnel  Committee $25 and for
traveling from out-of-state $6. Expenses for attending meetings are reimbursed.

During  the  fiscal  year ended July 31,  1997,  the  members of the board,  for
attending up to 32 meetings, received the following compensation:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                               Compensation Table
<S>                       <C>              <C>                  <C>             <C>                                           
                                           Pension or           Estimated       Total cash compensation
                          Aggregate        Retirement           annual          from the IDS MUTUAL FUND
                          compensation     benefits accrued     benefit upon    GROUP and the Preferred
Board member              from the Fund    as Fund expenses     retirement      Master Trust Group
H. Brewster Atwater, Jr.   $1,156           $0                   $0              $78,900
  (part of year)
Lynne V. Cheney             1,406            0                    0               97,400
Robert F. Froehlke          1,539            0                    0              104,600
Heinz F. Hutter             1,574            0                    0              106,300
Anne P. Jones               1,643            0                    0              111,600
Melvin R. Laird             1,422            0                    0               98,600
Alan K. Simpson               830            0                    0               58,200
  (part of year)
Edson W. Spencer            1,935            0                    0              127,800
Wheelock Whitney            1,624            0                    0              109,500
C. Angus Wurtele            1,649            0                    0              110,700
</TABLE>

On July 31, 1997,  the Fund's  board  members and officers as a group owned less
than 1% of the outstanding shares of any class.
    
       

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

   
The financial  statements contained in the Annual Report to shareholders for the
fiscal year ended July 31, 1997, were audited by independent auditors, KPMG Peat
Marwick LLP, 4200 Norwest Center, 90 S. Seventh St., Minneapolis, MN 55402-3900.
The independent  auditors also provide other accounting and tax-related services
as requested by the Fund.
    


                                              -27-

<PAGE>


IDS Discovery Fund

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

   
The Independent Auditors' Report and the Financial  Statements,  including Notes
to the  Financial  Statements  and the Schedule of  Investments  in  Securities,
contained in the Annual  Report to  shareholders  for the fiscal year ended July
31, 1997,  pursuant to Section 30(d) of the  Investment  Company Act of 1940, as
amended,  are hereby incorporated in this SAI by reference.  No other portion of
the Annual Report, however, is incorporated by reference.
    

PROSPECTUS

   
The  prospectus  for IDS  Discovery  Fund,  dated  Sept.  29,  1997,  is  hereby
incorporated in this SAI by reference.
    


                                              -28-

<PAGE>


IDS Discovery Fund

APPENDIX A

DESCRIPTION OF BOND RATINGS

These ratings  concern the quality of the issuing  corporation.  They are not an
opinion of the market  value of the  security.  Such  ratings  are  opinions  on
whether the principal and interest will be repaid when due. A security's  rating
may change which could affect its price.

Ratings by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. are Aaa, Aa, A, Baa, Ba,
B, Caa, Ca, and C.

Bonds rated:

Aaa are  judged to be of the best  quality.  They carry the  smallest  degree of
investment risk and are generally referred to as "gilt edged." Interest payments
are protected by a large or by an  exceptionally  stable margin and principal is
secure. While the various protective elements are likely to change, such changes
as can be  visualized  are most  unlikely  to impair  the  fundamentally  strong
position of such issues.

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

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

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

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

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

                                              -29-

<PAGE>


IDS Discovery Fund

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

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

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

Ratings by Standard & Poor's  Corporation are AAA, AA, A, BBB, BB, B, CCC, CC, C
and D.

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

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

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

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

BB has less near-term  vulnerability to default than other  speculative  issues.
However,  it faces major ongoing  uncertainties or exposure to adverse business,
financial,  or economic  conditions  which could lead to inadequate  capacity to
meet timely interest and principal payments. The BB rating category is also used
for debt  subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied BBB-
rating.

B has a greater  vulnerability to default but currently has the capacity to meet
interest  payments and principal  repayments.  Adverse business,  financial,  or
economic  conditions  will likely impair capacity or willingness to pay interest
and repay principal. The B rating category is also used for debt subordinated to
senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied BB or BB- rating.

CCC has a currently identifiable vulnerability to default, and is dependent upon
favorable business, financial, and economic conditions to meet timely payment of
interest  and  repayment  of  principal.  In  the  event  of  adverse  business,
financial, or economic conditions,  it is not likely to have the capacity to pay
interest  and repay  principal.  The CCC rating  category  is also used for debt
subordinated  to senior  debt  that is  assigned  an  actual or  implied B or B-
rating.

                                              -30-

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IDS Discovery Fund

CC typically is applied to debt  subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an
actual or implied CCC rating.

C typically is applied to debt  subordinated  to senior debt that is assigned an
actual or implied  CCC-  rating.  The C rating may be used to cover a  situation
where a  bankruptcy  petition  has been filed,  but debt  service  payments  are
continued.

D is in payment default. The D rating category is used when interest payments or
principal  payments are not made on the due date,  even if the applicable  grace
period has not expired,  unless S&P  believes  that such  payments  will be made
during  such grace  period.  The D rating also will be used upon the filing of a
bankruptcy petition if debt service payments are jeopardized.

Non-rated  securities will be considered for investment when they possess a risk
comparable to that of rated securities consistent with the Fund's objectives and
policies.  When assessing the risk involved in each non-rated security, the Fund
will consider the financial  condition of the issuer or the protection  afforded
by the terms of the security.


                                              -31-

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APPENDIX B

FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS

Since  investments in foreign  countries  usually involve  currencies of foreign
countries,  and since the Fund may hold cash and cash-equivalent  investments in
foreign  currencies,  the value of the Fund's assets as measured in U.S. dollars
may be affected  favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency  exchange rates
and exchange control  regulations.  Also, the Fund may incur costs in connection
with conversions between various currencies.

Spot  Rates and  Forward  Contracts.  The Fund  conducts  its  foreign  currency
exchange  transactions  either at the spot (cash) rate prevailing in the foreign
currency exchange market or by entering into forward currency exchange contracts
(forward  contracts) as a hedge against  fluctuations in future foreign exchange
rates.  A forward  contract  involves  an  obligation  to buy or sell a specific
currency  at a future  date,  which  may be any  fixed  number  of days from the
contract date, at a price set at the time of the contract.  These  contracts are
traded in the interbank  market  conducted  directly  between  currency  traders
(usually  large  commercial  banks)  and their  customers.  A  forward  contract
generally has no deposit  requirements.  No commissions are charged at any stage
for trades.

The Fund may enter into forward  contracts to settle a security  transaction  or
handle  dividend and interest  collection.  When the Fund enters into a contract
for the purchase or sale of a security  denominated in a foreign currency or has
been  notified of a dividend or interest  payment,  it may desire to lock in the
price of the security or the amount of the payment in dollars.  By entering into
a forward  contract,  the Fund will be able to protect itself against a possible
loss  resulting  from an adverse change in the  relationship  between  different
currencies  from the date the security is purchased or sold to the date on which
payment  is made or  received  or when the  dividend  or  interest  is  actually
received.

The Fund also may enter  into  forward  contracts  when  management  of the Fund
believes the currency of a particular  foreign  country may suffer a substantial
decline against another currency.  It may enter into a forward contract to sell,
for a fixed amount of dollars, the amount of foreign currency  approximating the
value  of some  or all of the  Fund's  securities  denominated  in such  foreign
currency.  The  precise  matching of forward  contract  amounts and the value of
securities  involved  generally  will not be possible  since the future value of
such  securities in foreign  currencies more than likely will change between the
date  the  forward  contract  is  entered  into  and the  date it  matures.  The
projection of short-term  currency market  movements is extremely  difficult and
successful  execution of a short-term hedging strategy is highly uncertain.  The
Fund will not enter into such  forward  contracts  or maintain a net exposure to
such  contracts  when  consummating  the  contracts  would  obligate the Fund to
deliver  an  amount of  foreign  currency  in excess of the value of the  Fund's
securities or other assets denominated in that currency.

                                              -32-

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IDS Discovery Fund

The Fund will  designate  cash or  securities in an amount equal to the value of
the Fund's total assets committed to consummating forward contracts entered into
under the second  circumstance  set forth above.  If the value of the securities
declines,  additional  cash or securities will be designated on a daily basis so
that the value of the cash or  securities  will  equal the  amount of the Fund's
commitments on such contracts.

At maturity of a forward  contract,  the Fund may either sell the  security  and
make  delivery of the foreign  currency or retain the security and terminate its
contractual  obligation  to  deliver  the  foreign  currency  by  purchasing  an
offsetting  contract with the same currency trader  obligating it to buy, on the
same maturity date, the same amount of foreign currency.

If the Fund retains the security and engages in an offsetting  transaction,  the
Fund will incur a gain or a loss (as  described  below) to the extent  there has
been movement in forward contract  prices.  If the Fund engages in an offsetting
transaction,  it may subsequently  enter into a new forward contract to sell the
foreign currency. Should forward prices decline between the date the Fund enters
into a forward contract for selling foreign currency and the date it enters into
an  offsetting  contract  for  purchasing  the foreign  currency,  the Fund will
realize a gain to the  extent  that the price of the  currency  it has agreed to
sell  exceeds  the price of the  currency it has agreed to buy.  Should  forward
prices  increase,  the Fund will  suffer a loss to the  extent  the price of the
currency it has agreed to buy exceeds the price of the currency it has agreed to
sell.

It is impossible to forecast what the market value of securities  will be at the
expiration of a contract.  Accordingly,  it may be necessary for the Fund to buy
additional  foreign  currency  on the spot  market (and bear the expense of such
purchase) if the market value of the security is less than the amount of foreign
currency  the Fund is  obligated  to deliver  and a decision is made to sell the
security  and make  delivery  of the  foreign  currency.  Conversely,  it may be
necessary  to sell on the spot market some of the foreign  currency  received on
the sale of the  portfolio  security if its market  value  exceeds the amount of
foreign currency the Fund is obligated to deliver.

The  Fund's  dealing in forward  contracts  will be limited to the  transactions
described  above.  This method of protecting the value of the Fund's  securities
against a decline in the value of a currency does not eliminate  fluctuations in
the  underlying  prices  of the  securities.  It  simply  establishes  a rate of
exchange  that can be  achieved  at some point in time.  Although  such  forward
contracts  tend to minimize the risk of loss due to a decline in value of hedged
currency,  they tend to limit any  potential  gain that might result  should the
value of such currency increase.

Although the Fund values its assets each business day in terms of
U.S. dollars, it does not intend to convert its foreign currencies
into U.S. dollars on a daily basis.  It will do so from time to
time, and shareholders should be aware of currency conversion

                                              -33-

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IDS Discovery Fund

costs.  Although  foreign  exchange  dealers do not charge a fee for conversion,
they do realize a profit based on the difference  (spread) between the prices at
which they are buying and selling various  currencies.  Thus, a dealer may offer
to sell a foreign currency to the Fund at one rate, while offering a lesser rate
of exchange should the Fund desire to resell that currency to the dealer.

Options  on  Foreign  Currencies.  The Fund may buy put and write  covered  call
options on foreign  currencies for hedging purposes.  For example,  a decline in
the dollar value of a foreign  currency in which securities are denominated will
reduce the dollar value of such  securities,  even if their value in the foreign
currency remains  constant.  In order to protect against such diminutions in the
value of securities,  the Fund may buy put options on the foreign  currency.  If
the value of the  currency  does  decline,  the Fund will have the right to sell
such currency for a fixed amount in dollars and will thereby offset, in whole or
in part,  the  adverse  effect  on its  portfolio  which  otherwise  would  have
resulted.

As in the case of other  types of  options,  however,  the  benefit  to the Fund
derived from purchases of foreign currency options will be reduced by the amount
of the  premium and related  transaction  costs.  In  addition,  where  currency
exchange  rates do not move in the direction or to the extent  anticipated,  the
Fund could sustain  losses on  transactions  in foreign  currency  options which
would  require it to forego a portion  or all of the  benefits  of  advantageous
changes in such rates.

The Fund may write options on foreign  currencies  for the same types of hedging
purposes.  For example,  when the Fund anticipates a decline in the dollar value
of foreign-denominated  securities due to adverse fluctuations in exchange rates
it  could,  instead  of  purchasing  a put  option,  write a call  option on the
relevant  currency.  If the expected decline occurs, the option will most likely
not be exercised  and the  diminution  in value of  securities  will be fully or
partially offset by the amount of the premium received.

As in the case of other  types of  options,  however,  the  writing of a foreign
currency  option will  constitute  only a partial  hedge up to the amount of the
premium,  and only if rates  move in the  expected  direction.  If this does not
occur, the option may be exercised and the Fund would be required to buy or sell
the  underlying  currency at a loss which may not be offset by the amount of the
premium. Through the writing of options on foreign currencies, the Fund also may
be required  to forego all or a portion of the  benefits  which might  otherwise
have been obtained from favorable movements on exchange rates.

All options written on foreign currencies will be covered.  An option written on
foreign currencies is covered if the Fund holds currency sufficient to cover the
option or has an absolute and immediate  right to acquire that currency  without
additional cash

                                              -34-

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IDS Discovery Fund

consideration upon conversion of assets denominated in that currency or exchange
of other  currency  held in its  portfolio.  An option writer could lose amounts
substantially  in excess  of its  initial  investments,  due to the  margin  and
collateral requirements associated with such positions.

Options on foreign currencies are traded through financial  institutions  acting
as  market-makers,  although foreign currency options also are traded on certain
national securities  exchanges,  such as the Philadelphia Stock Exchange and the
Chicago   Board   Options   Exchange,   subject   to  SEC   regulation.   In  an
over-the-counter  trading  environment,  many  of the  protections  afforded  to
exchange  participants  will not be available.  For example,  there are no daily
price fluctuation  limits, and adverse market movements could therefore continue
to an  unlimited  extent over a period of time.  Although  the  purchaser  of an
option cannot lose more than the amount of the premium plus related  transaction
costs, this entire amount could be lost.

Foreign currency option positions entered into on a national securities exchange
are cleared and guaranteed by the Options Clearing  Corporation  (OCC),  thereby
reducing the risk of counterparty default. Further, a liquid secondary market in
options traded on a national  securities  exchange may be more readily available
than  in  the  over-the-counter  market,  potentially  permitting  the  Fund  to
liquidate  open  positions  at a profit prior to exercise or  expiration,  or to
limit losses in the event of adverse market movements.

The purchase and sale of exchange-traded  foreign currency options,  however, is
subject to the risks of  availability  of a liquid  secondary  market  described
above, as well as the risks  regarding  adverse market  movements,  margining of
options  written,   the  nature  of  the  foreign   currency  market,   possible
intervention by governmental  authorities and the effects of other political and
economic  events.  In addition,  exchange-traded  options on foreign  currencies
involve certain risks not presented by the over-the-counter market. For example,
exercise and  settlement  of such options must be made  exclusively  through the
OCC, which has established  banking  relationships in certain foreign  countries
for the  purpose.  As a  result,  the OCC may,  if it  determines  that  foreign
governmental  restrictions  or taxes would  prevent the  orderly  settlement  of
foreign  currency option  exercises,  or would result in undue burdens on OCC or
its clearing member, impose special procedures on exercise and settlement,  such
as technical  changes in the  mechanics  of delivery of currency,  the fixing of
dollar settlement prices or prohibitions on exercise.

Foreign Currency  Futures and Related Options.  The Fund may enter into currency
futures  contracts  to sell  currencies.  It also may buy put  options and write
covered call options on currency futures. Currency futures contracts are similar
to currency  forward  contracts,  except that they are traded on exchanges  (and
have margin  requirements) and are standardized as to contract size and delivery
date. Most currency futures call for payment of delivery

                                              -35-

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IDS Discovery Fund

in U.S. dollars.  The Fund may use currency futures for the same
purposes as currency forward contracts, subject to Commodity
Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) limitations.  All futures
contracts are aggregated for purposes of the percentage
limitations.

Currency futures and options on futures values can be expected to correlate with
exchange rates, but will not reflect other factors that may affect the values of
the  Fund's  investments.  A  currency  hedge,  for  example,  should  protect a
Yen-denominated bond against a decline in the Yen, but will not protect the Fund
against price decline if the issuer's creditworthiness deteriorates. Because the
value of the Fund's  investments  denominated in foreign currency will change in
response to many factors  other than exchange  rates,  it may not be possible to
match the amount of a forward  contract  to the value of the Fund's  investments
denominated in that currency over time.

The Fund will hold securities or other options or futures positions whose values
are expected to offset its  obligations.  The Fund will not enter into an option
or futures  position  that exposes the Fund to an  obligation  to another  party
unless it owns either (i) an  offsetting  position in  securities  or (ii) cash,
receivables and short-term debt securities with a value  sufficient to cover its
potential obligations.


                                              -36-

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IDS Discovery Fund

APPENDIX C

OPTIONS AND STOCK INDEX FUTURES CONTRACTS

The Fund may buy or write options  traded on any U.S. or foreign  exchange or in
the  over-the-counter  market.  The Fund may  enter  into  stock  index  futures
contracts traded on any U.S. or foreign exchange. The Fund also may buy or write
put and call  options  on these  futures  and on stock  indexes.  Options in the
over-the-counter  market  will be  purchased  only when the  investment  manager
believes a liquid  secondary market exists for the options and only from dealers
and institutions the investment  manager believes present a minimal credit risk.
Some options are  exercisable  only on a specific  date.  In that case,  or if a
liquid  secondary  market  does not exist,  the Fund could be required to buy or
sell securities at disadvantageous prices, thereby incurring losses.

OPTIONS. An option is a contract. A person who buys a call option for a security
has the right to buy the security at a set price for the length of the contract.
A person who sells a call option is called a writer. The writer of a call option
agrees to sell the  security  at the set price when the buyer  wants to exercise
the option,  no matter what the market  price of the security is at that time. A
person who buys a put option has the right to sell a security at a set price for
the length of the  contract.  A person who writes a put option agrees to buy the
security  at the set price if the  purchaser  wants to exercise  the option,  no
matter  what the market  price of the  security  is at that  time.  An option is
covered if the writer  owns the  security  (in the case of a call) or sets aside
the cash or securities of equivalent  value (in the case of a put) that would be
required upon exercise.

The price paid by the buyer for an option is called a premium.  In addition  the
buyer generally pays a broker a commission.  The writer receives a premium, less
another  commission,  at the time the option is  written.  The cash  received is
retained  by the writer  whether or not the option is  exercised.  A writer of a
call option may have to sell the security for a below-market price if the market
price rises above the exercise  price.  A writer of a put option may have to pay
an  above-market  price for the security if its market price decreases below the
exercise  price.  The risk of the writer is  potentially  unlimited,  unless the
option is covered.

Options  can  be  used  to  produce  incremental  earnings,  protect  gains  and
facilitate  buying and selling  securities for investment  purposes.  The use of
options  may  benefit  the Fund and its  shareholders  by  improving  the Fund's
liquidity and by helping to stabilize the value of its net assets.

Buying  options.  Put and call  options  may be used as a trading  technique  to
facilitate  buying and selling  securities for investment  reasons.  Options are
used as a trading technique to take advantage of any disparity between the price
of the underlying security in the securities market and its price on the options
market. It is anticipated the trading technique will be utilized

                                              -37-

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IDS Discovery Fund

only to effect a  transaction  when the price of the  security  plus the  option
price will be as good or better  than the price at which the  security  could be
bought or sold directly.  When the option is purchased,  the Fund pays a premium
and a  commission.  It then pays a second  commission on the purchase or sale of
the underlying security when the option is exercised. For record keeping and tax
purposes,  the price obtained on the purchase of the underlying security will be
the combination of the exercise price,  the premium and both  commissions.  When
using options as a trading  technique,  commissions on the option will be set as
if only the underlying securities were traded.

Put and call  options  also may be held by the  Fund  for  investment  purposes.
Options permit the Fund to experience the change in the value of a security with
a relatively small initial cash investment.

The risk the Fund assumes when it buys an option is the loss of the premium.  To
be  beneficial  to the Fund,  the price of the  underlying  security must change
within  the time set by the option  contract.  Furthermore,  the change  must be
sufficient  to  cover  the  premium  paid,  the  commissions  paid  both  in the
acquisition of the option and in a closing transaction or in the exercise of the
option  and sale (in the case of a call) or  purchase  (in the case of a put) of
the underlying  security.  Even then the price change in the underlying security
does not ensure a profit since prices in the option  market may not reflect such
a change.

Writing covered options. The Fund will write covered options when it feels it is
appropriate and will follow these guidelines:

'All options written by the Fund will be covered.  For covered call options if a
decision is made to sell the  security,  the Fund will attempt to terminate  the
option contract through a closing purchase transaction.

'The Fund  will  deal  only in  standard  option  contracts  traded on  national
securities  exchanges  or those  that may be quoted on NASDAQ (a system of price
quotations developed by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.)
       

Net  premiums on call  options  closed or premiums on expired  call  options are
treated as  short-term  capital  gains.  Since the Fund is taxed as a  regulated
investment  company under the Internal  Revenue  Code,  any gains on options and
other securities held less than three months must be limited to less than 30% of
its annual gross income.

If a covered call option is  exercised,  the  security is sold by the Fund.  The
premium received upon writing the option is added to the proceeds  received from
the sale of the security.  The Fund will  recognize a capital gain or loss based
upon the  difference  between the proceeds and the  security's  basis.  Premiums
received from writing outstanding call options are included as a deferred credit
in the  Statement of Assets and  Liabilities  and adjusted  daily to the current
market value.

                                              -38-

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IDS Discovery Fund

Options are valued at the close of the New York Stock Exchange. An option listed
on a national  exchange,  CBOE or NASDAQ will be valued at the last-quoted sales
price or, if such a price is not readily available,  at the mean of the last bid
and asked prices.

STOCK INDEX  FUTURES  CONTRACTS.  Stock index  futures  contracts  are commodity
contracts listed on commodity exchanges. They currently include contracts on the
Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Index (S&P 500 Index) and other  broad stock  market
indexes such as the New York Stock Exchange  Composite Stock Index and the Value
Line Composite Stock Index, as well as narrower  sub-indexes such as the S&P 100
Energy Stock Index and the New York Stock  Exchange  Utilities  Stock  Index.  A
stock index assigns  relative  values to common stocks included in the index and
the index fluctuates with the value of the common stocks so included.

A futures  contract  is a legal  agreement  between  a buyer or  seller  and the
clearinghouse  of a futures  exchange in which the parties  agree to make a cash
settlement on a specified future date in an amount determined by the stock index
on the last trading day of the contract. The amount is a specified dollar amount
(usually $100 or $500)  multiplied by the difference  between the index value on
the last trading day and the value on the day the contract was struck.

For example,  the S&P 500 Index consists of 500 selected common stocks,  most of
which  are  listed on the New York  Stock  Exchange.  The S&P 500 Index  assigns
relative  weightings to the common stocks  included in the Index,  and the Index
fluctuates with changes in the market values of those stocks. In the case of S&P
500 Index futures contracts,  the specified multiple is $500. Thus, if the value
of the S&P 500 Index were 150, the value of one contract would be $75,000 (150 x
$500). Unlike other futures contracts,  a stock index futures contract specifies
that no  delivery  of the actual  stocks  making up the index  will take  place.
Instead, settlement in cash must occur upon the termination of the contract. For
example,  excluding any  transaction  costs, if the Fund enters into one futures
contract to buy the S&P 500 Index at a specified future date at a contract value
of 150 and the S&P 500 Index is at 154 on that future  date,  the Fund will gain
$500 x (154-150) or $2,000. If the Fund enters into one futures contract to sell
the S&P 500 Index at a specified  future date at a contract value of 150 and the
S&P 500 Index is at 152 on that future date, the Fund will lose $500 x (152-150)
or $1,000.

Unlike the  purchase  or sale of an equity  security,  no price would be paid or
received by the Fund upon entering  into futures  contracts.  However,  the Fund
would be required to deposit with its custodian,  in a segregated account in the
name of the futures  broker,  an amount of cash or U.S.  Treasury bills equal to
approximately 5% of the contract value.  This amount is known as initial margin.
The nature of initial margin in futures  transactions  is different from that of
margin in security transactions in that futures contract margin does not involve
borrowing  funds by the Fund to finance the  transactions.  Rather,  the initial
margin is in the nature of a performance bond or

                                              -39-

<PAGE>


IDS Discovery Fund

good-faith deposit on the contract that is returned to the Fund upon termination
of the contract, assuming all contractual obligations have been satisfied.

Subsequent  payments,  called variation  margin, to and from the broker would be
made on a daily basis as the price of the  underlying  stock  index  fluctuates,
making the long and short  positions in the contract  more or less  valuable,  a
process  known as marking to market.  For  example,  when the Fund enters into a
contract in which it benefits from a rise in the value of an index and the price
of the underlying stock index has risen, the Fund will receive from the broker a
variation  margin  payment equal to that increase in value.  Conversely,  if the
price of the underlying stock index declines, the Fund would be required to make
a variation margin payment to the broker equal to the decline in value.

How the Fund Would Use Stock Index  Futures  Contracts.  The Fund intends to use
stock  index  futures  contracts  and  related  options  for hedging and not for
speculation.  Hedging  permits  the Fund to gain  rapid  exposure  to or protect
itself from changes in the market. For example,  the Fund may find itself with a
high cash position at the beginning of a market rally.  Conventional  procedures
of  purchasing a number of  individual  issues  entail the lapse of time and the
possibility  of  missing  a  significant  market  movement.   By  using  futures
contracts, the Fund can obtain immediate exposure to the market and benefit from
the beginning stages of a rally. The buying program can then proceed and once it
is completed (or as it proceeds),  the contracts can be closed.  Conversely,  in
the early stages of a market decline,  market exposure can be promptly offset by
entering  into  stock  index  futures  contracts  to sell  units of an index and
individual  stocks can be sold over a longer period under cover of the resulting
short contract position.

The Fund may enter into  contracts with respect to any stock index or sub-index.
To hedge the Fund's portfolio  successfully,  however,  the Fund must enter into
contracts  with respect to indexes or sub- indexes whose  movements  will have a
significant correlation with movements in the prices of the Fund's securities.

Special Risks of Transactions in Stock Index Futures Contracts

1. Liquidity.  The Fund may elect to close some or all of its contracts prior to
expiration.  The purpose of making  such a move would be to reduce or  eliminate
the hedge  position held by the Fund. The Fund may close its positions by taking
opposite  positions.  Final  determinations  of variation  margin are then made,
additional  cash as required is paid by or to the Fund,  and the Fund realizes a
gain or a loss.

Positions in stock index futures  contracts may be closed only on an exchange or
board of trade  providing a secondary  market for such  futures  contracts.  For
example,  futures  contracts  transactions  can  currently  be entered into with
respect to the S&P 500 Stock Index on the Chicago Mercantile  Exchange,  the New
York Stock Exchange

                                              -40-

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IDS Discovery Fund

Composite  Stock  Index on the New York  Futures  Exchange  and the  Value  Line
Composite  Stock  Index on the  Kansas  City Board of Trade.  Although  the Fund
intends to enter into  futures  contracts  only on  exchanges or boards of trade
where there appears to be an active secondary market, there is no assurance that
a  liquid  secondary  market  will  exist  for any  particular  contract  at any
particular  time.  In such  event,  it may not be  possible  to close a  futures
contract position,  and in the event of adverse price movements,  the Fund would
have to make daily cash  payments of  variation  margin.  Such price  movements,
however,  will be offset all or in part by the price movements of the securities
subject  to the  hedge.  Of  course,  there  is no  guarantee  the  price of the
securities will correlate with the price  movements in the futures  contract and
thus provide an offset to losses on a futures contract.

2. Hedging Risks. There are several risks in using stock index futures contracts
as a hedging device. One risk arises because the prices of futures contracts may
not correlate  perfectly  with  movements in the  underlying  stock index due to
certain market  distortions.  First,  all participants in the futures market are
subject to initial margin and variation margin requirements.  Rather than making
additional variation margin payments,  investors may close the contracts through
offsetting  transactions which could distort the normal relationship between the
index and futures markets. Second, the margin requirements in the futures market
are lower than margin requirements in the securities market, and as a result the
futures market may attract more  speculators  than does the  securities  market.
Increased  participation  by  speculators  in the futures  market also may cause
temporary price  distortions.  Because of price distortion in the futures market
and because of imperfect  correlation  between  movements  in stock  indexes and
movements  in prices of futures  contracts,  even a correct  forecast of general
market trends may not result in a successful  hedging  transaction  over a short
period.

Another risk arises because of imperfect  correlation  between  movements in the
value of the futures contracts and movements in the value of securities  subject
to the hedge.  If this occurred,  the Fund could lose money on the contracts and
also experience a decline in the value of its portfolio  securities.  While this
could occur,  the  investment  manager  believes that over time the value of the
Fund's  portfolio  will tend to move in the same direction as the market indexes
and will attempt to reduce this risk, to the extent  possible,  by entering into
futures contracts on indexes whose movements it believes will have a significant
correlation  with movements in the value of the Fund's  securities  sought to be
hedged. It also is possible that if the Fund has hedged against a decline in the
value of the stocks held in its portfolio and stock prices increase instead, the
Fund will lose part or all of the  benefit of the  increased  value of its stock
which it has  hedged  because  it will have  offsetting  losses  in its  futures
positions.  In addition, in such situations,  if the Fund has insufficient cash,
it may have to sell securities to meet daily variation margin requirements. Such
sales of securities  may be, but will not  necessarily  be, at increased  prices
which reflect the rising

                                              -41-

<PAGE>


IDS Discovery Fund

market.  The Fund may have to sell securities at a time when it may
be disadvantageous to do so.

OPTIONS  ON STOCK  INDEX  FUTURES  CONTRACTS.  Options  on stock  index  futures
contracts  are  similar  to  options  on stock  except  that  options on futures
contracts  give the  purchaser  the right,  in return for the premium  paid,  to
assume a position in a stock  index  futures  contract  (a long  position if the
option is a call and a short  position  if the  option is a put) at a  specified
exercise  price at any time  during the period of the  option.  If the option is
closed  instead of exercised,  the holder of the option  receives an amount that
represents the amount by which the market price of the contract  exceeds (in the
case of a call) or is less than (in the case of a put) the exercise price of the
option on the futures contract. If the option does not appreciate in value prior
to the exercise date, the Fund will suffer a loss of the premium paid.

OPTIONS ON STOCK  INDEXES.  Options on stock  indexes are  securities  traded on
national  securities  exchanges.  An option on a stock  index is  similar  to an
option  on a  futures  contract  except  all  settlements  are in  cash.  A fund
exercising a put, for example, would receive the difference between the exercise
price and the current index level. Such options would be used in the same manner
as options on futures contracts.

SPECIAL RISKS OF  TRANSACTIONS  IN OPTIONS ON STOCK INDEX FUTURES  CONTRACTS AND
OPTIONS ON STOCK INDEXES.  As with options on stocks, the holder of an option on
a futures  contract or on a stock  index may  terminate a position by selling an
option  covering the same contract or index and having the same  exercise  price
and  expiration  date.  The ability to establish and close out positions on such
options will be subject to the development and maintenance of a liquid secondary
market.  The Fund will not purchase  options  unless the market for such options
has developed sufficiently, so that the risks in connection with options are not
greater  than  the  risks in  connection  with  stock  index  futures  contracts
transactions themselves. Compared to using futures contracts, purchasing options
involves less risk to the Fund because the maximum amount at risk is the premium
paid for the  options  (plus  transaction  costs).  There may be  circumstances,
however,  when using an option  would  result in a greater loss to the Fund than
using a futures contract,  such as when there is no movement in the level of the
stock index.

TAX TREATMENT.  As permitted  under federal income tax laws, the Fund intends to
identify futures contracts as mixed straddles and not mark them to market,  that
is, not treat them as having  been sold at the end of the year at market  value.
Such an  election  may result in the Fund being  required  to defer  recognizing
losses  incurred by entering  into futures  contracts  and losses on  underlying
securities identified as being hedged against.



                                              -42-

<PAGE>


IDS Discovery Fund

Federal income tax treatment of gains or losses from  transactions in options on
futures  contracts  and indexes  will depend on whether such option is a section
1256 contract. If the option is a non-equity option, the Fund will either make a
1256(d)  election and treat the option as a mixed straddle or mark to market the
option at fiscal  year end and treat the  gain/loss  as 40%  short-term  and 60%
long-term.  Certain  provisions of the Internal  Revenue Code may also limit the
Fund's ability to engage in futures contracts and related options  transactions.
For example,  at the close of each quarter of the Fund's  taxable year, at least
50% of the value of its assets must consist of cash,  government  securities and
other securities, subject to certain diversification requirements. Less than 30%
of its gross  income  must be derived  from sales of  securities  held less than
three months.

The IRS has ruled publicly that an exchange-traded call option is a security for
purposes  of the  50%-of-assets  test and that its  issuer is the  issuer of the
underlying  security,  not  the  writer  of  the  option,  for  purposes  of the
diversification  requirements.  In order to avoid  realizing  a gain  within the
three-month  period,  the Fund may be required  to defer  closing out a contract
beyond the time when it might  otherwise be advantageous to do so. The Fund also
may be  restricted  in  purchasing  put  options  for  the  purpose  of  hedging
underlying  securities  because of applying the short sale holding  period rules
with respect to such underlying securities.

Accounting  for  futures  contracts  will be  according  to  generally  accepted
accounting principles.  Initial margin deposits will be recognized as assets due
from a broker (the Fund's agent in acquiring the futures  position).  During the
period the futures  contract is open,  changes in value of the contract  will be
recognized as  unrealized  gains or losses by marking to market on a daily basis
to reflect the market  value of the  contract at the end of each day's  trading.
Variation margin payments will be made or received  depending upon whether gains
or  losses  are  incurred.  All  contracts  and  options  will be  valued at the
last-quoted sales price on their primary exchange.


                                              -43-

<PAGE>


IDS Discovery Fund

APPENDIX D

MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES

A mortgage  pass-through  certificate  is one that  represents  an interest in a
pool, or group, of mortgage loans assembled by the Government  National Mortgage
Association  (GNMA),  Federal Home Loan Mortgage  Corporation  (FHLMC),  Federal
National  Mortgage   Association  (FNMA)  or   non-governmental   entities.   In
pass-through  certificates,  both  principal  and interest  payments,  including
prepayments, are passed through to the holder of the certificate. Prepayments on
underlying  mortgages result in a loss of anticipated  interest,  and the actual
yield (or total return) to the Fund, which is influenced by both stated interest
rates  and  market  conditions,  may be  different  than  the  quoted  yield  on
certificates.  Some U.S. government securities may be purchased on a when-issued
basis, which means that it may take as long as 45 days after the purchase before
the securities are delivered to the Fund.

Stripped   Mortgage-Backed   Securities.   The  Fund  may  invest  in   stripped
mortgage-backed  securities.  Generally,  there  are  two  classes  of  stripped
mortgage-backed  securities:  Interest  Only (IO) and Principal  Only (PO).  IOs
entitle the holder to receive  distributions  consisting  of all or a portion of
the  interest  on the  underlying  pool of  mortgage  loans  or  mortgage-backed
securities. POs entitle the holder to receive distributions consisting of all or
a  portion  of the  principal  of the  underlying  pool  of  mortgage  loans  or
mortgage-backed  securities.  The  cash  flows  and  yields  on IOs  and POs are
extremely sensitive to the rate of principal payments (including prepayments) on
the underlying  mortgage loans or  mortgage-backed  securities.  A rapid rate of
principal  payments  may  adversely  affect the yield to maturity of IOs. A slow
rate of principal payments may adversely affect the yield to maturity of POs. On
an IO, if prepayments of principal are greater than anticipated, an investor may
incur   substantial   losses.  If  prepayments  of  principal  are  slower  than
anticipated,  the yield on a PO will be affected more severely than would be the
case with a traditional mortgage-backed security.

Mortgage-Backed  Security Spread Options. The Fund may purchase  mortgage-backed
security (MBS) put spread options and write covered MBS call spread options. MBS
spread  options  are  based  upon the  changes  in the  price  spread  between a
specified  mortgage-backed  security and a like-duration  Treasury security. MBS
spread options are traded in the OTC market and are of short duration, typically
one to two months. The Fund would buy or sell covered MBS call spread options in
situations  where  mortgage-backed   securities  are  expected  to  underperform
like-duration Treasury securities.


                                              -44-

<PAGE>


IDS Discovery Fund
APPENDIX E

DOLLAR-COST AVERAGING

A technique that works well for many investors is one that eliminates random buy
and sell  decisions.  One such  system  is  dollar-cost  averaging.  Dollar-cost
averaging  involves building a portfolio through the investment of fixed amounts
of money on a regular basis  regardless of the price or market  condition.  This
may enable an  investor  to smooth  out the  effects  of the  volatility  of the
financial  markets.  By using this strategy,  more shares will be purchased when
the  price is low and less  when the price is high.  As the  accompanying  chart
illustrates,  dollar-cost averaging tends to keep the average price paid for the
shares lower than the average market price of shares  purchased,  although there
is no guarantee.

   
While this  technique  does not ensure a profit and does not  protect  against a
loss if the market  declines,  it is an effective way for many  shareholders who
can continue  investing on a regular basis through  changing market  conditions,
including times when the price of their shares falls or the market declines,  to
accumulate shares in a fund to meet long-term goals.
    

Dollar-cost averaging

- -------------------------------------------------------------------
Regular             Market Price            Shares
Investment          of a Share              Acquired
 $100                $6.00                    16.7
  100                 4.00                    25.0
  100                 4.00                    25.0
  100                 6.00                    16.7
  100                 5.00                    20.0
 $500               $25.00                   103.4

Average market price of a share over 5 periods:
$5.00 ($25.00 divided by 5).
The average price you paid for each share:
$4.84 ($500 divided by 103.4).


                                              -45-

<PAGE>



      Independent auditors' report


      The board and shareholders 
      IDS Discovery Fund, Inc.:

      We have  audited the  accompanying  statement  of assets and  liabilities,
      including  the schedule of  investments  in  securities,  of IDS Discovery
      Fund,  Inc. as of July 31, 1997,  and the related  statement of operations
      for the year then  ended and the  statements  of changes in net assets for
      each of the years in the  two-year  period then ended,  and the  financial
      highlights  for each of the years in the  ten-year  period  ended July 31,
      1997.  These  financial  statements  and the financial  highlights are the
      responsibility  of fund management.  Our  responsibility  is to express an
      opinion on these financial  statements and the financial  highlights based
      on our audits.

      We conducted our audits in accordance  with  generally  accepted  auditing
      standards.  Those standards  require that we plan and perform the audit to
      obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and the
      financial highlights are free of material misstatement.  An audit includes
      examining,   on  a  test  basis,   evidence  supporting  the  amounts  and
      disclosures in the financial  statements.  Investment  securities  held in
      custody are confirmed to us by the custodian.  As to securities  purchased
      and sold but not  received or  delivered,  we request  confirmations  from
      brokers,  and  where  replies  are  not  received,   we  carry  out  other
      appropriate  auditing  procedures.  An audit also  includes  assessing the
      accounting  principles used and significant  estimates made by management,
      as well as evaluating the overall  financial  statement  presentation.  We
      believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

      In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly,
      in all material  respects,  the financial  position of IDS Discovery Fund,
      Inc. at July 31, 1997, and the results of its  operations,  changes in its
      net assets and the  financial  highlights  for the  periods  stated in the
      first paragraph  above, in conformity with generally  accepted  accounting
      principles.

      KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
      Minneapolis, Minnesota
      September 5, 1997

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

      Financial statements

      Statement of assets and liabilities 
      IDS Discovery Fund, Inc.
      July 31, 1997

                                  Assets

 Investments in securities, at value (Note 1):
 Investments in securities of unaffiliated issuers
<S>                                                                                            <C>            
      (identified cost $807,763,117)                                                           $   998,310,027
 Investments in securities of affiliated issuers
      (identified cost $63,589,910)                                                                 94,203,125
 Dividends and accrued interest receivable                                                              76,500
 Receivable for investment securities sold                                                           4,399,853
                                                                                                     ---------
 Total assets                                                                                    1,096,989,505
                                                                                                 -------------

                                  Liabilities

 Disbursements in excess of cash on demand deposit                                                   5,276,127
 Payable for investment securities purchased                                                         3,033,483
 Accrued investment management services fee                                                            114,757
 Accrued distribution fee                                                                                2,057
 Accrued service fee                                                                                     4,984
 Accrued transfer agency fee                                                                             4,173
 Accrued administrative services fee                                                                     1,515
 Other accrued expenses                                                                                145,849
 Option contracts written, at value
      (premium received $6,991,624) (Note 5)                                                        10,932,969
                                                                                                    ----------
 Total liabilities                                                                                  19,515,914
                                                                                                    ----------
 Net assets applicable to outstanding capital stock                                             $1,077,473,591
                                                                                                ==============

                                  Represented by

 Capital stock-- authorized 10,000,000,000 shares of $.01 par value                             $      828,427
 Additional paid-in capital                                                                        806,510,661
 Undistributed (excess of distributions over) net investment income                                    313,207
 Accumulated net realized gain (loss) (Note 1)                                                      52,602,516
 Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments                                             217,218,780
                                                                                                   -----------
 Total-- representing net assets applicable to outstanding capital stock                        $1,077,473,591
                                                                                                ==============
 Net assets applicable to outstanding shares:             Class A                               $  904,404,070
                                                          Class B                               $  100,912,321
                                                          Class Y                               $   72,157,200
 Net asset value per share of outstanding capital stock:  Class A shares      69,437,141        $        13.02
                                                          Class B shares       7,869,253        $        12.82
                                                          Class Y shares       5,536,301        $        13.03

 See accompanying notes to financial statements.
</TABLE>

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

      Statement of operations
      IDS Discovery Fund, Inc.
      Year ended July 31, 1997

                                  Investment income

 Income:
<S>                                                                                             <C>           
 Dividends                                                                                      $    2,644,059
 Interest                                                                                            4,720,707
                                                                                                     ---------
 Total income                                                                                        7,364,766
                                                                                                     ---------
 Expenses (Note 2):
 Investment management services fee                                                                  6,222,122
 Distribution fee -- Class B                                                                           524,729
 Transfer agency fee                                                                                 1,490,243
 Incremental transfer agency fee-- Class B                                                              10,425
 Service fee
      Class A                                                                                        1,348,371
      Class B                                                                                          122,004
      Class Y                                                                                           15,476
 Administrative services fees and expenses                                                             494,961
 Compensation of board members                                                                          14,412
 Compensation of officers                                                                                3,580
 Custodian fees                                                                                        126,132
 Postage                                                                                               118,485
 Registration fees                                                                                     154,266
 Reports to sharehoders                                                                                 72,991
 Audit fees                                                                                             26,000
 Other                                                                                                  27,387
                                                                                                        ------
 Total expenses                                                                                     10,771,584
      Earnings credits on cash balances (Note 2)                                                       (60,294)
                                                                                                        ------ 
 Total net expenses                                                                                 10,711,290
                                                                                                    ----------
 Investment income (loss) -- net                                                                    (3,346,524)
                                                                                                    ---------- 

                                  Realized and unrealized gain (loss) -- net

 Net realized gain (loss) on:
      Security transactions (including loss of $1,983,375 on sale
           of affiliated issuers) (Note 3)                                                          65,849,489
      Financial futures contracts                                                                    1,848,675
      Options contracts written (Note 5)                                                            (2,919,140)
                                                                                                    ---------- 
 Net realized gain (loss) on investments                                                            64,779,024
 Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments                               244,479,200
                                                                                                   -----------
 Net gain (loss) on investments                                                                    309,258,224
                                                                                                   -----------
 Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations                                  $305,911,700
                                                                                                  ============

 See accompanying notes to financial statements.
</TABLE>

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

      Financial statements

      Statements of changes in net assets 
      IDS Discovery Fund, Inc.
      Year ended July 31,

                                  Operations and distributions                      1997                  1996

<S>                                                                       <C>                     <C>          
 Investment income (loss)-- net                                           $   (3,346,524)         $   3,516,657
 Net realized gain (loss) on investments                                      64,779,024           120,991,863
 Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments         244,479,200           (98,059,098)
                                                                             -----------           ----------- 
 Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations             305,911,700            26,449,422
                                                                             -----------            ----------
 Distributions to shareholders from:
      Net investment income
          Class A                                                             (1,927,449)           (4,817,749)
          Class B                                                                      --              (109,553)
          Class Y                                                               (265,909)             (369,986)
      Net realized gain
          Class A                                                            (99,183,189)         (141,682,931)
          Class B                                                             (8,597,468)           (4,249,927)
          Class Y                                                             (8,324,287)           (9,128,279)
                                                                              ----------            ---------- 
 Total distributions                                                        (118,298,302)         (160,358,425)
                                                                            ------------          ------------ 

                                  Capital share transactions (Note 4)

 Proceeds from sales
      Class A shares (Note 2)                                                736,250,317           423,969,758
      Class B shares                                                          48,300,963            39,614,584
      Class Y shares                                                          38,054,111            30,960,567
 Reinvestment of distributions at net asset value
      Class A shares                                                          98,136,993           145,127,830
      Class B shares                                                           8,547,699             4,297,905
      Class Y shares                                                           8,590,196             9,498,265
 Payments for redemptions
      Class A shares                                                        (773,305,648)         (495,135,942)
      Class B shares (Note 2)                                                (14,227,780)           (5,520,898)
      Class Y shares                                                         (38,438,270)          (19,208,184)
                                                                             -----------           ----------- 
 Increase (decrease) in net assets from capital share transactions           111,908,581           133,603,885
                                                                             -----------           -----------
 Total increase (decrease) in net assets                                     299,521,979              (305,118)
 Net assets at beginning of year                                             777,951,612           778,256,730
                                                                             -----------           -----------
 Net assets at end of year                                                $1,077,473,591          $777,951,612
                                                                          ==============          ============
 Undistributed (excess of distributions over) net investment income       $      313,207          $  2,185,644
                                                                          --------------          ------------

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
</TABLE>

<PAGE>


      Notes to financial statements

      IDS Discovery Fund, Inc.

  1

Summary of
significant
accounting policies

      The  Fund is  registered  under  the  Investment  Company  Act of 1940 (as
      amended) as a diversified,  open-end management  investment  company.  The
      Fund invests  primarily in common stocks of small- and medium-size  growth
      companies.  The Fund offers  Class A, Class B and Class Y shares.  Class A
      shares  are sold with a  front-end  sales  charge.  Class B shares  may be
      subject  to  a   contingent   deferred   sales   charge  and  such  shares
      automatically  convert  to  Class A  during  the  ninth  calendar  year of
      ownership.  Class Y shares have no sales  charge and are  offered  only to
      qualifying institutional investors.

      All classes of shares have identical  voting,  dividend,  liquidation  and
      other rights, and the same terms and conditions,  except that the level of
      distribution  fee,  transfer  agency fee and service  fee (class  specific
      expenses)  differs  among  classes.  Income,  expenses  (other  than class
      specific  expenses)  and  realized  and  unrealized  gains  or  losses  on
      investments  are allocated to each class of shares based upon its relative
      net assets.

      Significant accounting policies followed by the Fund are summarized below:

      Use of estimates

      The  preparation  of financial  statements  in conformity  with  generally
      accepted  accounting  principles requires management to make estimates and
      assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and
      disclosure  of  contingent  assets  and  liabilities  at the  date  of the
      financial  statements and the reported amounts of increase and decrease in
      net assets from operations during the period.  Actual results could differ
      from those estimates.

      Valuation of securities

      All  securities  are valued at the close of each business day.  Securities
      traded on national  securities  exchanges  or included in national  market
      systems are valued at the last quoted  sales price;  securities  for which
      market  quotations  are not  readily  available  are  valued at fair value
      according to methods selected in good faith by the board. Determination of
      fair value  involves,  among other  things,  reference to market  indexes,
      matrixes and data from independent brokers. Short-term securities maturing
      in more  than 60 days from the  valuation  date are  valued at the  market
      price or approximate  market value based on current interest rates;  those
      maturing in 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost.

      Option transactions

      In order to produce  incremental  earnings,  protect gains, and facilitate
      buying and selling of securities for investment purposes, the Fund may buy
      or  write  options  traded  on any  U.S.  or  foreign  exchange  or in the
      over-the-counter   market  where  the  completion  of  the  obligation  is
      dependent upon the credit  standing of the other party.  The Fund also may
      buy and sell put and call  options  and  write  covered  call  options  on
      portfolio  securities and may write cash-secured put options.  The risk in
      writing a call option is that the Fund gives up the  opportunity of profit
      if the market price of the security  increases.  The risk in writing a put
      option  is that  the  Fund  may  incur a loss if the  market  price of the
      security  decreases  and the  option is  exercised.  The risk in buying an
      option  is that the Fund  pays a  premium  whether  or not the  option  is
      exercised.  The Fund also has the  additional  risk of not  being  able to
      enter into a closing  transaction  if a liquid  secondary  market does not
      exist.

      Option  contracts are valued daily at the closing  prices on their primary
      exchanges and unrealized  appreciation or  depreciation  is recorded.  The
      Fund will realize a gain or loss upon  expiration or closing of the option
      transaction.  When an option is  exercised,  the  proceeds  on sales for a
      written  call option,  the  purchase  cost for a written put option or the
      cost of a security  for a purchased  put or call option is adjusted by the
      amount of premium received or paid.

      Futures transactions

      In order to gain exposure to or protect itself from changes in the market,
      the Fund may buy and sell futures  contracts traded on any U.S. or foreign
      exchange.  The Fund  also may buy or write put and call  options  on these
      contracts.  Risks of entering into futures  contracts and related  options
      include the  possibility  that there may be an illiquid  market and that a
      change  in the value of the  contract  or option  may not  correlate  with
      changes in the value of the underlying security.

      Upon  entering  into a futures  contract,  the Fund is required to deposit
      either cash or securities in an amount (initial margin) equal to a certain
      percentage of the contract value.  Subsequent payments (variation margin),
      if any,  are made or received by the Fund each day. The  variation  margin
      payments or market value of the  contracts  are equal to the daily changes
      in the contract value and are recorded as unrealized gains and losses. The
      Fund  recognizes  a realized  gain or loss when the  contract is closed or
      expires.

      Foreign currency translations and
      foreign currency contracts

      Securities  and  other  assets  and  liabilities  denominated  in  foreign
      currencies are translated  daily into U.S.  dollars at the closing rate of
      exchange.  Foreign  currency  amounts  related to the  purchase or sale of
      securities  and income and expenses are translated at the exchange rate on
      the transaction  date. The effect of changes in foreign  exchange rates on
      realized  and  unrealized  security  gains or  losses  is  reflected  as a
      component of such gains or losses.  In the  statement of  operations,  net
      realized gains or losses from foreign currency transactions may arise from
      sales of foreign  currency,  closed forward  contracts,  exchange gains or
      losses realized  between the trade date and settlement dates on securities
      transactions, and other translation gains or losses on dividends, interest
      income and foreign withholding taxes.

      The Fund may enter into forward foreign  currency  exchange  contracts for
      operational   purposes  and  to  protect  against  adverse  exchange  rate
      fluctuation.  The net U.S. dollar value of foreign currency underlying all
      contractual  commitments  held by the  Fund and the  resulting  unrealized
      appreciation  or  depreciation   are  determined  using  foreign  currency
      exchange rates from an independent pricing service. The Fund is subject to
      the credit risk that the other party will not complete the  obligations of
      the contract.

      Federal taxes

      Since the Fund's  policy is to comply with all  sections  of the  Internal
      Revenue  Code  applicable  to  regulated   investment   companies  and  to
      distribute  all of its taxable  income to  shareholders,  no provision for
      income or excise taxes is required.

      Net  investment  income (loss) and net realized  gains (losses) may differ
      for financial statement and tax purposes primarily because of the deferral
      of losses on certain futures contracts, the recognition of certain foreign
      currency  gains  (losses) as ordinary  income  (loss) for tax purposes and
      losses  deferred  due  to  "wash  sale"  transactions.  The  character  of
      distributions  made  during  the year  from net  investment  income or net
      realized gains may differ from their ultimate characterization for federal
      income tax purposes.  Also,  due to the timing of dividend  distributions,
      the fiscal year in which amounts are  distributed may differ from the year
      that the income or realized gains (losses) were recorded by the Fund.

      On the  statement  of assets  and  liabilities,  as a result of  permanent
      book-to-tax differences,  accumulated net realized gain has been decreased
      by $3,667,445 and  undistributed  net investment income has been increased
      by $3,667,445.

      Dividends to shareholders

      An annual dividend  declared and paid at the end of the calendar year from
      net  investment  income is reinvested in additional  shares of the Fund at
      net asset value or payable in cash.  Capital gains,  when  available,  are
      distributed along with the income dividend.

      Other

      Security transactions are accounted for on the
      date  securities are purchased or sold.  Dividend  income is recognized on
      the  ex-dividend   date  and  interest   income,   including   level-yield
      amortization of premium and discount, is accrued daily.

  2

Expenses and
sales charges

      Effective  March 20, 1995, the Fund entered into  agreements with American
      Express Financial Corporation (AEFC) for managing its portfolio, providing
      administrative   services  and  serving  as  transfer  agent.   Under  its
      Investment Management Services Agreement, AEFC determines which securities
      will be purchased, held or sold. The management fee is a percentage of the
      Fund's  daily net  assets in  reducing  percentages  from  0.64% to 0.515%
      annually.  The  fee  is  adjusted  upward  or  downward  by a  performance
      incentive  adjustment  based on the Fund's average daily net assets over a
      rolling 12-month period as measured against the change in the Lipper Small
      Company Growth Fund Index.  The maximum  adjustment is 0.12% of the Fund's
      average  daily  net  assets  after   deducting  1%  from  the  performance
      difference.  If the performance difference is less than 1%, the adjustment
      will be zero.  The  adjustment  increased the fee by $680,977 for the year
      ended July 31, 1997.

      Under its Administrative Services Agreement,  the Fund pays AEFC a fee for
      administration  and  accounting  services  at a  percentage  of the Fund's
      average  daily net  assets in  reducing  percentages  from 0.06% to 0.035%
      annually.  Additional administrative service expenses paid by the Fund are
      office  expenses,  consultants'  fees and  compensation  of  officers  and
      employees.  Under  this  agreement,  the Fund also pays  taxes,  audit and
      certain legal fees,  registration  fees for shares,  compensation of board
      members,  corporate filing fees,  organizational  expenses,  and any other
      expenses properly payable by the Fund and approved by the board.

      Under a separate  Transfer Agency  Agreement,  AEFC maintains  shareholder
      accounts  and  records.  The Fund pays AEFC an annual fee per  shareholder
      account for this service as follows:
    o Class A $15
    o Class B $16
    o Class Y $15

      Also  effective  March 20, 1995,  the Fund entered  into  agreements  with
      American Express Financial  Advisors Inc. for distribution and shareholder
      servicing-related  services.  Under a Plan and Agreement of  Distribution,
      the Fund pays a distribution  fee at an annual rate of 0.75% of the Fund's
      average   daily   net   assets   attributable   to  Class  B  shares   for
      distribution-related services.

      Under a  Shareholder  Service  Agreement,  the Fund pays a fee for service
      provided to shareholders by financial advisors and other servicing agents.
      The fee is calculated at a rate of 0.175% of the Fund's  average daily net
      assets attributable to Class A and Class B shares and commencing on May 9,
      1997, the fee is calculated at a rate of 0.10% of the Fund's average daily
      net assets attributable to Class Y shares.

      Sales charges  received by American  Express  Financial  Advisors Inc. for
      distributing Fund shares were $1,645,427 for Class A and $58,010 for Class
      B for the year ended July 31, 1997.  The Fund also pays  custodian fees to
      American Express Trust Company, an affiliate of AEFC.

      During the year ended July 31,  1997,  the Fund's  custodian  and transfer
      agency fees were  reduced by $60,294 as a result of earnings  credits from
      overnight cash balances.

  3

Securities
transactions

      Cost of  purchases  and  proceeds  from sales of  securities  (other  than
      short-term  obligations)  aggregated  $1,345,252,980  and  $1,329,014,178,
      respectively,  for the year ended July 31, 1997. Realized gains and losses
      are determined on an identified cost basis.

      Brokerage  commissions paid to brokers  affiliated with AEFC were $254,844
      for the year ended July 31, 1997.

      Income from securities lending amounted to $12,589 for the year ended July
      31,  1997.  The  risks  to the  Fund of  securities  lending  are that the
      borrower may not provide additional collateral when required or return the
      securities when due.

  4

Capital share
transactions

      Transactions  in shares of capital  stock for the years  indicated  are as
follows:

                                           Year ended July 31, 1997
                              Class A            Class B               Class Y

  Sold                     62,998,962           4,259,010            3,296,071

  Issued for reinvested     8,966,980             777,346              772,708
    distributions

  Redeemed                (66,170,688)         (1,258,366)          (3,358,084)
                          -----------          ----------           ---------- 

  Net increase (decrease)   5,795,254           3,777,990              710,695
                            ---------           ---------              -------


                                           Year ended July 31, 1996
                              Class A            Class B               Class Y

  Sold                     36,682,783           3,408,482            2,643,673

  Issued for reinvested    14,117,493             419,963              924,046
    distributions

  Redeemed                (42,626,793)           (493,590)          (1,670,645)
                          -----------            --------           ---------- 

  Net increase (decrease)   8,173,483           3,334,855            1,897,074
                            ---------           ---------            ---------
  5

Option contracts
written

      The number of  contracts  and  premium  amounts  associated  with  options
      contracts written (see Summary of significant  accounting  policies) is as
      follows:

                                     Year ended July 31, 1997

                                   Puts                         Calls
                         Contracts         Premium    Contracts         Premium
  Balance July 31, 1996      7,250    $    963,022        6,000    $    853,532
  Opened                   124,100      22,113,438      125,665      41,278,415
  Closed                   (91,350)    (15,498,512)     (44,407)    (24,127,594)
  Exercised                (22,945)     (5,054,293)     (46,768)    (10,331,842)
  Expired                  (11,305)     (1,641,840)      (8,740)     (1,562,702)
                           -------      ----------       ------      ---------- 
  Balance July 31, 1997      5,750    $    881,815       31,750    $  6,109,809
                             -----    ------------       ------    ------------

  6

Financial
highlights

      "Financial  highlights" showing per share data and selected information is
      presented on pages 6 and 7 of the prospectus.

<PAGE>

      Investments in securities

      IDS Discovery Fund, Inc.                 (Percentages represent value of
      July 31, 1997                        investments compared to net assets)


Investments in securities of unaffiliated issuers

Common stocks (87.4%)

 Issuer                      Shares        Value(a)

 Aerospace & defense (0.7%)
 AAR                        225,000    $  8,043,750

 Banks and savings & loans (2.1%)
 TCF Financial              425,000      22,764,062

 Beverages & tobacco (0.2%)
 800-JR CIGAR               100,000       2,462,500

 Building materials & construction (0.9%)
 Apogee Enterprises         475,000(c)   10,153,125

 Chemicals (1.9%)
 Millipore                  475,000      20,989,063

 Communications equipment & services (4.6%)
 Advanced Fibre
    Communications          150,000(b)   10,481,250
 Aspect Telecommunications  525,000(b)   11,098,828
 PairGain Technologies    1,300,000(b,c) 27,950,000
 Total                                   49,530,078

 Computers & office equipment (14.3%)
 Envoy                      275,000(b)    8,215,625
 Fiserv                     475,000(b,c) 22,800,000
 Hyperion Software          400,000(b)   10,750,000
 Medic Computer Systems     500,000(b,c) 13,500,000
 Metzler Group               50,000(b)    1,725,000
 Network General          1,700,000(b,c) 27,625,000
 RWD Technologies            80,000       1,680,000
 Sterling Software          300,000(b)   10,200,000
 Sykes Enterprises          425,000(b)   10,704,687
 Tech Data                  700,000(b,c) 25,987,500
 Technology Solutions       200,000(b)    7,850,000
 Transition Systems         275,000(b)    5,293,750
 Vantive                    100,000(b)    3,125,000
 Viasoft                     70,000(b)    4,235,000
 Total                                  153,691,562

 Electronics (2.6%)
 Credence Systems           150,000(b,c)  5,100,000
 Lattice Semiconductor      200,000(b,c) 13,475,000
 Waters                     275,000(b)    9,848,437
 Total                                   28,423,437

 Energy (6.3%)
 Devon Energy               250,000       9,515,625
 KCS Energy                 500,000      10,875,000
 Nuevo Energy               225,000(b)    9,632,812
 Pogo Producing             200,000(c)    8,175,000
 Rutherford-Moran Oil       415,000(b)    9,648,750
 Stone Energy               375,000(b)   10,898,437
 United Meridian            275,000(b)    8,782,813
 Total                                   67,528,437

 Energy equipment & services (5.9%)
 Atwood Oceanics            100,000(b)    8,500,000
 Camco Intl                 350,000      22,618,750
 Domain Energy              650,000(b)    9,018,750
 Input/Output               550,000(b)   11,893,750
 Pride Intl                 450,000(b)   11,896,875
 Total                                   63,928,125

 Financial services (5.4%)
 CMAC Investment            200,000       9,437,500
 FelCor Suite Hotels REIT   600,000      23,400,000
 Kilroy Realty REIT         300,000       7,537,500
 Storage USA REIT           225,000       9,281,250
 Sun Communities REIT       250,000       9,046,875
 Total                                   58,703,125

 Health care (6.9%)
 Parexel Intl               275,000(b,c) 10,587,500
 Pharmaceutical Product
    Development             150,000(b)    3,506,250
 STERIS                     100,000(b)    3,850,000
 Sybron Intl                650,000(b,c) 26,609,375
 Watson Pharmaceuticals     600,000(b)   29,700,000
 Total                                   74,253,125

 Health care services (6.9%)
 Equity Corporation Intl    325,000(b)    7,820,313
 Express Scripts Cl A       200,000(b)    8,950,000
 Genesis Health Ventures    275,000(b)    9,315,625
 PhyCor                     650,000(b)   21,775,000
 Quorum Health Group        575,000(b)   20,484,375
 Trigon Healthcare          275,000(b)    6,548,438
 Total                                   74,893,751

 Household products (0.2%)
 Amscan Holdings            200,000(b)    2,400,000

 Industrial equipment & services (3.4%)
 Asyst Technologies          52,000(b)    2,795,000
 DT Inds                    275,000       9,521,875
 Integrated Process
    Equipment               575,000(b,c) 15,021,875
 KEMET                      350,000(b)    8,968,750
 Total                                   36,307,500

 Insurance (1.4%)
 PennCorp Financial Group   250,000       9,234,375
 Vesta Insurance Group      100,000       5,325,000
 Total                                   14,559,375

 Media (2.6%)
 Regal Cinemas              300,000(b,c)  9,637,500
 Universal Outdoor Holdings 250,000(b)    9,093,750
 Univision Communications   225,000(b)    9,675,000
 Total                                   28,406,250

 Metals (3.9%)
 Commonwealth Inds          425,000       9,403,125
 Steel Dynamics             450,000(b)   11,925,000
 Stillwater Mining          475,000(b)    9,856,250
 Titanium Metals            325,000      10,400,000
 Total                                   41,584,375

 Multi-industry conglomerates (2.4%)
 AccuStaff                  929,850(b)   25,338,413

 Paper & packaging (0.8%)
 Sealed Air                 175,000(b,c)  8,203,125

 Restaurants & lodging (3.1%)
 La Quinta Inns           1,050,000      22,050,000
 Landry's Seafood
    Restaurants             425,000(b)   10,837,500
 Total                                   32,887,500

 Retail (5.1%)
 CDW Computer Centers       150,000(b)    9,675,000
 Global DirectMail          400,000(b,c) 10,450,000
 OfficeMax                1,750,000(b)   24,500,000
 Quality Food Centers       125,000       5,242,188
 U.S. Office Products       110,000(b)    3,176,250
 Viking Office Products     110,000       2,206,875
 Total                                   55,250,313

 Utilities -- telephone (2.8%)
 ICG Communications         350,000(b)    7,525,000
 LCI Intl                 1,000,000(b)   19,937,500
 West TeleServices          150,000(b)    2,287,500
 Total                                   29,750,000

 Foreign (3.0%)(h)
 CBT Group ADR               50,000(b)    3,312,500
 ECsoft Group ADR           145,000(b)    1,921,250
 Philip Services            675,000(b)   10,040,625
 Mutual Risk Management     275,000      13,509,375
 Saville Systems Ireland ADR 50,000(b)    3,187,500
 Total                                   31,971,250

 Total common stocks of unaffiliated issuers
 (Cost: $754,825,576)                  $942,022,241


 Preferred stock (0.7%)

 Issuer                       Shares        Value(a)

 Intermedia Communications
 7%                         275,000(d)   $7,906,250

 Total preferred stock
 (Cost: $6,875,000)                      $7,906,250


See accompanying notes to investments in securities.
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


Bond (0.8%)

Issuer                                Coupon     Maturity       Principal              Value(a)
                                        rate         year          amount



 Mutual Risk Management
<S>                                     <C>          <C>      <C>                    <C>       
    Zero Coupon Cv with attached put    5.25%        2015     $15,000,000(d,f)       $8,156,250


 Total bond
 (Cost: $5,836,723)                                                                  $8,156,250


See accompanying notes to investments in securities.

</TABLE>
<PAGE>

Investments in securities of affiliated issuers (g)                             

 Short-term securities (3.7%)

Issuer      Annualized          Amount     Value(a)
              yield on      payable at
               date of        maturity
              purchase

 U.S. government agency (0.4%)
 Federal Home Loan Mtge Corp Disc Nts
    08-15-97     5.40%    $1,000,000    $   997,908
    08-28-97     5.44      3,650,000      3,635,163
 Total                                    4,633,071

 Commercial paper (2.9%)
 BBV Finance (Delaware)
    09-04-97     5.52     11,100,000     11,042,342
 Ciesco LP
    09-18-97     5.54      3,748,000      3,720,514
 Ford Motor Credit
    08-08-97     5.49      2,400,000      2,397,442
 General Electric Capital
    08-01-97     5.58      1,600,000      1,600,000
 Paccar Financial
    08-06-97     5.48      2,700,000      2,697,949
 St. Paul Companies
    08-27-97     5.49      8,600,000(e)   8,566,025
 SBC Communications Capital
    08-25-97     5.58      1,600,000(e)   1,593,569
 Total                                   31,617,841

 Letter of credit (0.4%)
 Student Loan Marketing Assn-
 USA Group
    08-25-97     5.52%    $3,989,000     $3,974,374

 Total short-term securities
 (Cost: $40,225,818)                    $40,225,286


 Total investment in securities of unaffiliated issuers
 (Cost: $807,763,117)                  $998,310,027


 Common stocks (8.7%)

 Issuer                       Shares        Value(a)

 ChiRex                     750,000(b,c)$ 12,843,750
 Dura Automotive Systems    300,000(b)    8,137,500
 Gulf South Medical
    Supply                1,200,000(b)   29,700,000
 Intermedia
    Communications          600,000(b,c) 21,825,000
 Project Software &
    Development             550,000(b)   11,618,750
 Transaction Network
    Services                625,000(b)   10,078,125
 Total                                  $94,203,125


 Total investments in securities of affiliated issuers
 (Cost: $63,589,910)                    $94,203,125

 Total investments in securities
 (Cost: $871,353,027)(i)             $1,092,513,152

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


 Notes to investments in securities

(a)  Securities  are valued by  procedures  described in Note 1 to the financial
statements.

(b) Non-income producing.

(c) At July 31, 1997,  securities valued at $100,748,400 were held to cover open
call options written as follows:

Issuer                                     Shares          Exercise            Expiration           Value (a)
                                                              price                  date

<S>                                       <C>                   <C>                  <C>          <C>        
Apogee Enterprises                        150,000               $22             Nov. 1997         $   309,375
ChiRex                                    150,000                20             Nov. 1997             215,625
Credence Systems                          150,000                35            Sept. 1997             389,063
Fiserv                                     25,000                45            Sept. 1997             104,688
Fiserv                                     75,000                50            Sept. 1997             112,500
Global DirectMail                         300,000                30            Sept. 1997             375,000
Integrated Process Equipment              175,000                25             Aug. 1997             388,281
Intermedia Communications                  25,000                40            Sept. 1997              28,125
Lattice Semiconductor                      50,000                70            Sept. 1997             178,125
Medic Computer Systems                    500,000                20             Aug. 1997           3,531,250

Issuer                                     Shares          Exercise            Expiration           Value (a)
                                                              price                  date

Network General                           200,000               $17            Sept. 1997         $   168,750
PairGain Technologies                     200,000                25            Sept. 1997             231,250
Parexel Intl                              275,000                30             Aug. 1997           2,440,625
Pogo Producing                            125,000                45            Sept. 1997             109,375
Regal Cinemas                             250,000                35             Aug. 1997              78,125
Sealed Air                                125,000                50             Oct. 1997             117,188
Sybron Intl                                75,000                40             Aug. 1997             126,562
Tech Data                                 325,000                35            Sept. 1997           1,279,687
                                                                                                    ---------
Total                                                                                             $10,183,594

At July 31, 1997, cash or short-term securities were designated to cover open put options written
as follows:

Issuer                                     Shares          Exercise            Expiration           Value (a)
                                                              price                  date

ICG Communications                         50,000               $20             Aug. 1997            $ 28,125
LCI Intl                                  100,000                22             Aug. 1997             275,000
Pharmaceutical Product Development        100,000                22             Aug. 1997              50,000
STERIS                                    125,000                40             Aug. 1997             214,844
Sykes Enterprises                         100,000                22             Aug. 1997              50,000
Technology Solutions                       75,000                35             Aug. 1997              53,906
Technology Solutions                       25,000                40             Aug. 1997              77,500
                                                                                                       ------
Total                                                                                                $749,375

(d)  Represents a security  sold under 144A,  which is exempt from  registration
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.  This security has been determined
to be liquid under guidelines established by the board.

(e) Commercial paper sold within terms of a private placement memorandum, exempt
from registration  under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
and may be sold only to dealers in that program or other "accredited investors."
This security has been determined to be liquid under  guidelines  established by
the board.

(f) For zero coupon bonds, the interest rate disclosed represents the annualized
effective yield on the date of acquisition.

</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

(g) Investments  representing 5% or more of the outstanding voting securities of
the issuer.  Transactions  with companies that are or were affiliates during the
year ended July 31, 1997 are as follows:

Issuer                                      Beginning        Purchase          Sales         Ending   Dividend
                                                 cost            cost           cost           cost     income

<S>                                       <C>            <C>             <C>            <C>                <C>
Career Horizon*                           $17,192,843    $  2,540,215    $19,733,058    $        --        $--
ChiRex*                                            --       8,577,739        506,250      8,071,489         --
Dura Automotive Systems*                           --       8,051,235        615,625      7,435,610         --
Gulf South Medical Supply*                         --      19,561,945             --     19,561,945         --
Intermedia Communications*                  3,626,875      15,935,685      9,890,000      9,672,560         --
Physician Support Systems*                  7,862,127       3,540,458     11,402,585             --         --
Project Software & Development*                    --      11,316,073        968,751     10,347,322         --
Transaction Network Services*              10,790,786       6,348,270      8,638,072      8,500,984         --
                                           ----------       ---------      ---------      ---------           

Total                                     $39,472,631     $75,871,620    $51,754,341    $63,589,910        $--
                                          -----------     -----------    -----------    -----------        -  

*Issuer was not an affiliate for the entire year.

(h) Foreign security values are stated in U.S. dollars.

(i) At July 31, 1997, the cost of securities for federal income tax purposes was
$883,227,302  and the aggregate gross  unrealized  appreciation and depreciation
based on that cost was:

</TABLE>
<PAGE>


Unrealized appreciation...........................................$210,274,512  
Unrealized depreciation.. ............................................(988,662)
                                                                      -------- 
Net unrealized appreciation.......................................$209,285,850



<PAGE>


PART C. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 24.  (a) Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(a)     FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

        List of  financial  statements  filed  as  part  of this  Post-Effective
        Amendment to the Registration statement:
               - Independent Auditors' Report dated Sept. 5, 1997
               - Statement of assets and liabilities, July 31, 1997
               - Statement of operations, year ended July 31, 1997
               - Statements of changes in net assets, year ended July
                 31, 1996 and July 31, 1997 - Notes to  financial  statements  -
               Investments in  securities,  July 31, 1997 - Notes to investments
               in securities

(b)     EXHIBITS:

1. Articles of Incorporation, as amended October 17, 1988, filed as Exhibit 1 to
Post-Effective  Amendment  No. 16 to  Registration  Statement  No.  2-72174,  is
incorporated herein by reference.

2. By-laws,  as amended January 12, 1989,  filed as Exhibit 3 to  Post-Effective
Amendment No. 16 to Registration  Statement No. 2-72174,  is incorporated herein
by reference.

3. Not Applicable.

4.  Stock  certificate,  filed  as  Exhibit  No.4 to  Registrant's  Registration
Statement No. 2-72174 on April 28, 1981, is incorporated herein by reference.

5. Form of Investment  Management and Services  Agreement between Registrant and
American   Express   Financial   Corporation,   dated  March  20,  1995,   filed
electronically as Exhibit 5 to Registrant's  Post-Effective  Amendment No. 29 to
Registration Statement No. 2-72174 is incorporated herein by reference.

6. Form of  Distribution  Agreement  between  Registrant  and  American  Express
Financial Advisors Inc., dated March 20, 1995, filed electronically as Exhibit 6
to Registrant's  Post-Effective  Amendment No. 29 to Registration  Statement No.
2-72174 is incorporated herein by reference.

7. All employees are eligible to  participate  in a profit  sharing plan.  Entry
into  the plan is Jan.  1 or July 1. The  Registrant  contributes  each  year an
amount up to 15 percent of their annual salaries,  the maximum deductible amount
permitted under Section 404(a) of the Internal Revenue Code.

8(a). Form of Custodian  Agreement between Registrant and American Express Trust
Company,  dated  March  20,  1995,  filed  electronically  as  Exhibit  8(a)  to
Registrant's  Post-Effective  Amendment  No. 29 to  Registration  Statement  No.
2-72174 is incorporated herein by reference.



<PAGE>



8(b).  Form of Custody  Agreement  between  Morgan Stanley Trust Company and IDS
Bank  &  Trust  dated  May,  1993,  filed  electronically  as  Exhibit  8(b)  to
Post-Effective  Amendment  No. 30 to  Registration  Statement  No.  2-72174,  is
incorporated herein by reference.

9(a).  Copy of Plan and  Agreement  of Merger  dated  April 10,  1986,  filed as
Exhibit 9 to  Post-Effective  Amendment  No. 10 to  Registration  Statement  No.
2-72174, is incorporated herein by reference.

9(b). Form of Transfer Agency Agreement between  Registrant and American Express
Financial  Corporation,  dated March 20, 1995, filed  electronically  as Exhibit
9(b) to Registrant's  Post-Effective  Amendment No. 29 to Registration Statement
No. 2-72174 is incorporated herein by reference.

9(c).  Copy of License  Agreement,  dated  January  25,  1988,  between  IDS and
Registrant,  filed  as  Exhibit  9(c)  to  Post-Effective  Amendment  No.  16 to
Registration Statement No. 2-72174, is incorporated herein by reference.

9(d).  Form of Shareholder  Service  Agreement  between  Registrant and American
Express Financial  Advisors Inc., dated March 20, 1995, filed  electronically as
Exhibit 9(d) to  Registrant's  Post-Effective  Amendment No. 29 to  Registration
Statement No. 2-72174 is incorporated herein by reference.

9(e). Form of Administrative  Services Agreement between Registrant and American
Express  Financial  Corporation,  dated March 20, 1995, filed  electronically as
Exhibit 9(e) to  Registrant's  Post-Effective  Amendment No. 29 to  Registration
Statement No. 2-72174 is incorporated herein by reference.

9(f). Copy of Class Y Shareholder  Service Agreement between IDS Precious Metals
Fund, Inc. and American Express Financial Advisors Inc. dated May 9, 1997, filed
electronically  on or about May 27, as Exhibit 9(e) to IDS Precious Metals Fund,
Inc.'s Amendment No. 30 to Registration Statement,  No-2-93745,  is incorporated
herein by reference.  Registrant's Class Y Shareholder Service Agreement differs
from the one  incorporated  by reference only by the fact that Registrant is one
executing party.

10.  Opinion and consent of counsel as to the legality of the  securities  being
registered is filed with Registrant's most recent 24f-2 Notice.

11.  Consent of Independent Auditors is filed electronically herewith.

12.  Schedule III, Investments in Affiliates

13.  Not Applicable.

14. Forms of Keogh,  IRA and other  retirement  plans,  filed as Exhibits  14(a)
through  14(n) to IDS Growth  Fund,  Inc.,  Post-Effective  Amendment  No. 34 to
Registration Statement No. 2-38355, are incorporated herein by reference.



<PAGE>



15. Form of Plan and Agreement of Distribution  between  Registrant and American
Express Financial  Advisors Inc., dated March 20, 1995, filed  electronically as
Exhibit  15 to  Registrant's  Post-Effective  Amendment  No. 29 to  Registration
Statement No. 2-72174 is incorporated herein by reference.

16.  Schedule for  computation  of each  performance  quotation  provided in the
Registration   Statement  in  response  to  Item  22  filed  as  Exhibit  16  to
Post-Effective  Amendment  No. 23 to  Registration  Statement  No.  2-72174,  is
incorporated herein by reference.

17.  Financial Data Schedules are filed electronically herewith.

18. Copy of plan pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act, filed electronically
as Exhibit 18 to Post-Effective  Amendment No. 30 to Registration  Statement No.
2-72174 is incorporated herein by reference.

19(a).  Directors' Power of Attorney,  dated Jan. 8, 1997, to sign Amendments to
this Registration Statement is filed electronically herewith.

19(b).  Officers'  Power of Attorney  to sign  Amendments  to this  Registration
Statement, dated Nov. 1, 1995, is filed electronically herewith.

Item 25. Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with Registrant.

         None.

Item 26. Number of Holders of Securities.

               (1)                                   (2)

                                               Number of Record
                                                Holders as of
Title of Class                                  Sept. 11, 1997

Common Stock
Class A shares                                      76,396
Class B shares                                      13,043
Class C shares                                      11,753

Item 27.  Indemnification

The  Articles of  Incorporation  of the  registrant  provide that the Fund shall
indemnify  any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party,
by reason of the fact that she or he is or was a director,  officer, employee or
agent  of the  Fund,  or is or was  serving  at the  request  of the  Fund  as a
director,  officer,  employee or agent of another  company,  partnership,  joint
venture,  trust or other  enterprise,  to any  threatened,  pending or completed
action,  suit or  proceeding,  wherever  brought,  and  the  Fund  may  purchase
liability  insurance  and advance  legal  expenses,  all to the  fullest  extent
permitted  by the laws of the State of  Minnesota,  as now existing or hereafter
amended.  The By-laws of the registrant provide that present or former directors
or  officers  of the Fund made or  threatened  to be made a party to or involved
(including as a witness) in an actual or threatened  action,  suit or proceeding
shall be indemnified by the Fund to the full extent authorized by


<PAGE>



the  Minnesota  Business  Corporation  Act,  all as more  fully set forth in the
By-laws filed as an exhibit to this registration statement.

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

Any  indemnification  hereunder  shall not be  exclusive  of any other rights of
indemnification  to which the  directors,  officers,  employees  or agents might
otherwise  be  entitled.  No  indemnification  shall be made in violation of the
Investment Company Act of 1940.

<PAGE>


<PAGE>
PAGE 1
<PAGE>
Item 29(c).  Not applicable.

Item 30.     Location of Accounts and Records

             American Express Financial Corporation
             IDS Tower 10
             Minneapolis, MN  55440

Item 31.     Management Services

             Not Applicable.

Item 32.     Undertakings

             (a)  Not Applicable.
             (b)  Not Applicable.
             (c)  The Registrant undertakes to furnish each person  
                  to whom a prospectus is delivered with a copy of
                  the Registrant's latest annual report to          
                  shareholders, upon request and without charge.






<PAGE>



                                             SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment
Company Act of 1940, the Registrant, IDS Discovery Fund, Inc., certifies that it
meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this  Registration  Statement
pursuant to Rule  485(b)  under the  Securities  Act of 1933 and has duly caused
this Amendment to its  Registration  Statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned,  thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Minneapolis and State of
Minnesota on the 25th day of September, 1997.

IDS DISCOVERY FUND, INC.


By /s/ William R. Pearce**
       William R. Pearce, President


By /s/ Melinda S. Urion**
       Melinda S. Urion, Treasurer

Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities Act of 1933,  this Amendment to
its Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the
capacities indicated on the 25th day of September, 1997.


Signature                                             Capacity


/s/   William R. Pearce**                    President, Principal
      William R. Pearce                      Executive Officer
                                             and Director


/s/   H. Brewster Atwater, Jr.*              Director
      H. Brewster Atwater, Jr.


/s/   Leslie L. Ogg**                        Vice President,
      Leslie L. Ogg                          General Counsel and
                                             Secretary


/s/   Lynne V. Cheney*                       Director
      Lynne V. Cheney


/s/   William H. Dudley*                     Director
      William H. Dudley


/s/   Robert F. Froehlke*                    Director
      Robert F. Froehlke


/s/   David R. Hubers*                       Director
      David R. Hubers



<PAGE>



Signature                                     Capacity

/s/   Heinz F. Hutter *                       Director
      Heinz F. Hutter

/s/   Anne P. Jones*                          Director
      Anne P. Jones


/s/   Melvin R. Laird*                        Director
      Melvin R. Laird


/s/   Alan K. Simpson*                        Director
      Alan K. Simpson


/s/   Edson W. Spencer*                       Director
      Edson W. Spencer


/s/   John R. Thomas*                         Director
      John R. Thomas


/s/   Wheelock Whitney*                       Director
      Wheelock Whitney


/s/   C. Angus Wurtele *                      Director
      C. Angus Wurtele


Signed pursuant to Directors' Power of Attorney filed electronically herewith as
Exhibit 19(a) to Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 34, by:





________________________
William R. Pearce

**Signed pursuant to Officers' Power of Attorney filed electronically herewith 
as Exhibit 19(b) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 34 to Registration Statement
No. 2-72174, by:




________________________
William R. Pearce



<PAGE>



CONTENTS OF THIS
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 34
TO REGISTRATION STATEMENT NO. 2-72174


This post-effective amendment comprises the following papers and documents:

The facing sheet.

The cross reference sheet.

Part A.

        The prospectus.

Part B.

        Statement of Additional Information.
        Financial statements

Part C.

        Other information.

The signatures.






IDS Discovery Fund, Inc.
File No. 2-72174/811-3178

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit 11:                   Independent Auditors' Consent.

Exhibit 17:                   Financial Data Schedules.

Exhibit 19(a):                Directors' Power of Attorney.

Exhibit 19(b):                Officers' Power of Attorney.














Independent auditors' consent

The board and shareholders IDS Discovery Fund, Inc.:


We consent to the use of our report  incorporated herein by reference and to the
references to our Firm under the headings  "Financial  highlights" in Part A and
"INDEPENDENT AUDITORS" in Part B of the Registration Statement.



KPMG Peat Marwick LLP

Minneapolis, Minnesota
September 26, 1997


<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER>  1
   <NAME>  IDS DISCOVERY FUND CLASS A
       
<S>                                           <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                             JUL-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                  JUL-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                           871353027
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                         1092513152
<RECEIVABLES>                                     4476353
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                          0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                    0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 1096989505
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                          3033483
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                                 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                        16482431
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                              19515914
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                         0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                        807339088
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                            69437141
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                            63641887
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                          313207
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                                  0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                          52602516
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                                0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                        217218780
<NET-ASSETS>                                    904404070
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                 2644059
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                 4720707
<OTHER-INCOME>                                          0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                   10711290
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                          (3346524)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                         64779024
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                       244479200
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                           305911700
<EQUALIZATION>                                          0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                        (1927449)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                        (99183189)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                   0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                          62998962
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                     (66170688)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                               8966980
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                          299521979
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                           2185644
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                       107595881
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                                 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                              0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                             6222122
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                      0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                  10771584
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                            782042392
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                               10.73
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                      (.04)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                              3.95
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                 (.03)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                           (1.59)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                    0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                                 13.02
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                      1.13
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                                  0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                    0
        

</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER>  2
   <NAME>  IDS DISCOVERY FUND CLASS B
       
<S>                                          <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                            JUL-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                 JUL-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                          871353027
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                        1092513152
<RECEIVABLES>                                    4476353
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                         0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                   0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                1096989505
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                         3033483
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                                0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                       16482431
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                             19515914
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                        0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                       807339088
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                            7869253
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                            4091263
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                         313207
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                                 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                         52602516
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                               0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                       217218780
<NET-ASSETS>                                   100912321
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                2644059
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                4720707
<OTHER-INCOME>                                         0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                  10711290
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                         (3346524)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                        64779024
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                      244479200
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                          305911700
<EQUALIZATION>                                         0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                              0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                        (8597468)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                  0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                          4259010
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                     (1258366)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                               777346
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                         299521979
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                          2185644
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                      107595881
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                                0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                             0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                            6222122
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                     0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                 10771584
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                            70031595
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                              10.63
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                     (.11)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                             3.89
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                   0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                          (1.59)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                   0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                                12.82
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                     1.90
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                                 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                   0
        

</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER>  3
   <NAME>  IDS DISCOVERY FUND CLASS Y
       
<S>                                          <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                            JUL-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                 JUL-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                          871353027
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                        1092513152
<RECEIVABLES>                                    4476353
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                         0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                   0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                1096989505
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                         3033483
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                                0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                       16482431
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                             19515914
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                        0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                       807339088
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                            5536301
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                            4825606
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                         313207
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                                 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                         52602516
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                               0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                       217218780
<NET-ASSETS>                                    72157200
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                2644059
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                4720707
<OTHER-INCOME>                                         0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                  10711290
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                         (3346524)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                        64779024
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                      244479200
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                          305911700
<EQUALIZATION>                                         0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                        (265909)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                        (8324287)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                  0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                          3296071
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                     (3358084)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                               772708
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                         299521979
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                          2185644
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                      107595881
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                                0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                             0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                            6222122
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                     0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                 10771584
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                            63549875
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                              10.73
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                     (.01)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                             3.95
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                (.05)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                          (1.59)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                   0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                                13.03
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                      .98
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                                 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                   0
        

</TABLE>



                               DIRECTORS/TRUSTEES POWER OF ATTORNEY

City of Minneapolis

State of Minnesota

     Each of the undersigned, as directors and trustees of the
below listed open-end, diversified investment companies that
previously have filed registration statements and amendments
thereto pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933
and the Investment Company Act of 1940 with the Securities and
Exchange Commission:

                                         1933 Act     1940 Act
                                        Reg. Number  Reg. Number

IDS Bond Fund, Inc.                       2-51586      811-2503
IDS California Tax-Exempt Trust           33-5103      811-4646
IDS Discovery Fund, Inc.                  2-72174      811-3178
IDS Equity Select Fund, Inc.              2-13188      811-772
IDS Extra Income Fund, Inc.               2-86637      811-3848
IDS Federal Income Fund, Inc.             2-96512      811-4260
IDS Global Series, Inc.                   33-25824     811-5696
IDS Growth Fund, Inc.                     2-38355      811-2111
IDS High Yield Tax-Exempt Fund, Inc.      2-63552      811-2901
IDS International Fund, Inc.              2-92309      811-4075
IDS Investment Series, Inc.               2-11328      811-54
IDS Managed Retirement Fund, Inc.         2-93801      811-4133
IDS Market Advantage Series, Inc.         33-30770     811-5897
IDS Money Market Series, Inc.             2-54516      811-2591
IDS New Dimensions Fund, Inc.             2-28529      811-1629
IDS Precious Metals Fund, Inc.            2-93745      811-4132
IDS Progressive Fund, Inc.                2-30059      811-1714
IDS Selective Fund, Inc.                  2-10700      811-499
IDS Special Tax-Exempt Series Trust       33-5102      811-4647
IDS Stock Fund, Inc.                      2-11358      811-498
IDS Strategy Fund, Inc.                   2-89288      811-3956
IDS Tax-Exempt Bond Fund, Inc.            2-57328      811-2686
IDS Tax-Free Money Fund, Inc.             2-66868      811-3003
IDS Utilities Income Fund, Inc.           33-20872     811-5522

hereby constitutes and appoints William R. Pearce and Leslie L. Ogg
or either one of them, as her or his attorney-in-fact and agent, to
sign for her or him in her or his name, place and stead any and all
further amendments to said registration statements filed pursuant
to said Acts and any rules and regulations thereunder, and to file
such amendments with all exhibits thereto and other documents in
connection therewith with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
granting to either of them the full power and authority to do and
perform each and every act required and necessary to be done in
connection therewith.

<PAGE>

                                Dated the 8th day of January, 1997.


/s/ H. Brewster Atwater, Jr.            /s/ Melvin R. Laird        
    H. Brewster Atwater, Jr.                Melvin R. Laird


/s/ Lynne V. Cheney                     /s/ William R. Pearce      
    Lynne V. Cheney                         William R. Pearce


/s/ William H. Dudley                   /s/ Alan K. Simpson        
    William H. Dudley                       Alan K. Simpson


/s/ Robert F. Froehlke                  /s/ Edson W. Spencer       
    Robert F. Froehlke                      Edson W. Spencer


/s/ David R. Hubers                     /s/ John R. Thomas         
    David R. Hubers                         John R. Thomas


/s/ Heinz F. Hutter                     /s/ Wheelock Whitney       
    Heinz F. Hutter                         Wheelock Whitney


/s/ Anne P. Jones                       /s/ C. Angus Wurtele       
    Anne P. Jones                           C. Angus Wurtele




                    OFFICERS POWER OF ATTORNEY


City of Minneapolis

State of Minnesota

      Each of the undersigned, as officers of the below listed
open-end, diversified investment companies that previously have
filed registration statements and amendments thereto pursuant to
the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment
Company Act of 1940 with the Securities and Exchange Commission:

                                          1933 Act       1940 Act
                                         Reg. Number    Reg. Number
IDS Bond Fund, Inc.                        2-51586       811-2503
IDS California Tax-Exempt Trust           33-5103        811-4646
IDS Discovery Fund, Inc.                   2-72174       811-3178
IDS Equity Select Fund, Inc.               2-13188       811-772
IDS Extra Income Fund, Inc.                2-86637       811-3848
IDS Federal Income Fund, Inc.              2-96512       811-4260
IDS Global Series, Inc.                   33-25824       811-5696
IDS Growth Fund, Inc.                      2-38355       811-2111
IDS High Yield Tax-Exempt Fund, Inc.       2-63552       811-2901
IDS International Fund, Inc.               2-92309       811-4075
IDS Investment Series, Inc.                2-11328       811-54
IDS Life Investment Series, Inc.           2-73115       811-3218
IDS Life Managed Fund, Inc.                2-96367       811-4252
IDS Life Moneyshare Fund, Inc.             2-72584       811-3190
IDS Life Special Income Fund, Inc.         2-73113       811-3219
IDS Managed Retirement Fund, Inc.          2-93801       811-4133
IDS Market Advantage Series, Inc.         33-30770       811-5897
IDS Money Market Series, Inc.              2-54516       811-2591
IDS New Dimensions Fund, Inc.              2-28529       811-1629
IDS Precious Metals Fund, Inc.             2-93745       811-4132
IDS Progressive Fund, Inc.                 2-30059       811-1714
IDS Selective Fund, Inc.                   2-10700       811-499
IDS Special Tax-Exempt Series Trust       33-5102        811-4647
IDS Stock Fund, Inc.                       2-11358       811-498
IDS Strategy Fund, Inc.                    2-89288       811-3956
IDS Tax-Exempt Bond Fund, Inc.             2-57328       811-2686
IDS Tax-Free Money Fund, Inc.              2-66868       811-3003
IDS Utilities Income Fund, Inc.           33-20872       811-5522

hereby constitutes and appoints William R. Pearce and Leslie L. Ogg
or either one of them, as her or his attorney-in-fact and agent, to
sign for her or him in her or his name, place and stead, as an
officer, any and all further amendments to said registration
statements filed pursuant to said Acts and any rules and
regulations thereunder, and to file such amendments with all
exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith with

<PAGE>

the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting to either of them
the full power and authority to do and perform each and every act
required and necessary to be done in connection therewith.

     Dated the 1st day of November, 1995.



  /s/ William R. Pearce     
      William R. Pearce


  /s/ Melinda S. Urion      
      Melinda S. Urion



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