STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Federated American Leaders Fund, Inc.
CLASS A SHARES
CLASS B SHARES
CLASS C SHARES
CLASS F SHARES
This Statement of Additional Information (SAI) is not a prospectus. Read this
SAI in conjunction with the prospectus for Class A Shares, Class B Shares and
Class C Shares and the prospectus for Class F Shares of Federated American
Leaders Fund, Inc. (Fund), dated May 31, 1999. This SAI incorporates by
reference the Fund's Annual Report. Obtain the prospectuses or the Annual Report
without charge by calling 1-800-341- 7400.
MAY 31, 1999
REVISED MARCH 28, 2000
[Graphic]
Federated
World-Class Investment Manager
Federated American Leaders Fund, Inc.
Federated Investors Funds
5800 Corporate Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15237-7000
1-800-341-7400
WWW.FEDERATEDINVESTORS.COM
Federated Securities Corp., Distributor
8062802B (3/00)
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CONTENTS
How is the Fund Organized? 1
Securities in Which the Fund Invests 1
What Do Shares Cost? 7
How is the Fund Sold? 8
Exchanging Securities for Shares 9
Subaccounting Services 9
Redemption in Kind 9
Account and Share Information 9
Tax Information 9
Who Manages and Provides Services to the Fund? 10
How Does the Fund Measure Performance? 13
Who is Federated Investors, Inc.? 14
Financial Information 15
Investment Ratings 16
Addresses 18
How is the Fund Organized?
The Fund is a diversified open-end, management investment company that was
established under the laws of the State of Maryland on July 22, 1968. The
Fund changed its name from American Leaders Fund, Inc. to Federated
American Leaders Fund, Inc. on February 26, 1996.
The Board of Directors (the Board) has established four classes of shares of the
Fund, known as Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares and Class F
Shares. This SAI relates to all classes of the above-mentioned Shares. The
Fund's investment adviser is Federated Investment Management Company (Adviser).
The Adviser, formerly know as Federated Advisers, changed its name effective
March 31, 1999.
Securities in Which the Fund Invests
In pursuing its investment strategy, the Fund may invest in the following
securities for any purpose that is consistent with its investment objective.
SECURITIES DESCRIPTIONS AND TECHNIQUES
EQUITY SECURITIES
Equity securities represent a share of an issuer's earnings and assets, after
the issuer pays its liabilities. The Fund cannot predict the income it will
receive from equity securities because issuers generally have discretion as to
the payment of any dividends or distributions. However, equity securities offer
greater potential for appreciation than many other types of securities, because
their value increases directly with the value of the issuer's business. The
following describes the types of equity securities in which the Fund invests.
COMMON STOCKS
Common stocks are the most prevalent type of equity security. Common stocks
receive the issuer's earnings after the issuer pays its creditors and any
preferred stockholders. As a result, changes in an issuer's earnings directly
influence the value of its common stock.
PREFERRED STOCKS
Preferred stocks have the right to receive specified dividends or distributions
before the issuer makes payments on its common stock. Some preferred stocks also
participate in dividends and distributions paid on common stock. Preferred
stocks may also permit the issuer to redeem the stock. The Fund may also treat
such redeemable preferred stock as a fixed income security.
INTERESTS IN OTHER LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANIES
Entities such as limited partnerships, limited liability companies, business
trusts and companies organized outside the United States may issue securities
comparable to common or preferred stock.
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS (REITS)
REITs are real estate investment trusts that lease, operate and finance
commercial real estate. REITs are exempt from federal corporate income tax if
they limit their operations and distribute most of their income. Such tax
requirements limit a REIT's ability to respond to changes in the commercial real
estate market.
WARRANTS
Warrants give the Fund the option to buy the issuer's equity securities at a
specified price (the exercise price) at a specified future date (the expiration
date). The Fund may buy the designated securities by paying the exercise price
before the expiration date. Warrants may become worthless if the price of the
stock does not rise above the exercise price by the expiration date. This
increases the market risks of warrants as compared to the underlying security.
Rights are the same as warrants, except companies typically issue rights to
existing stockholders.
FIXED INCOME SECURITIES
Fixed income securities pay interest, dividends or distributions at a specified
rate. The rate may be a fixed percentage of the principal or adjusted
periodically. In addition, the issuer of a fixed income security must repay the
principal amount of the security, normally within a specified time. Fixed income
securities provide more regular income than equity securities. However, the
returns on fixed income securities are limited and normally do not increase with
the issuer's earnings. This limits the potential appreciation of fixed income
securities as compared to equity securities.
A security's yield measures the annual income earned on a security as a
percentage of its price. A security's yield will increase or decrease depending
upon whether it costs less (a discount) or more (a premium) than the principal
amount. If the issuer may redeem the security before its scheduled maturity, the
price and yield on a discount or premium security may change based upon the
probability of an early redemption. Securities with higher risks generally have
higher yields.
The following describes the types of fixed income securities in which the Fund
invests.
TREASURY SECURITIES
Treasury securities are direct obligations of the federal government of the
United States. Treasury securities are generally regarded as having the lowest
credit risks.
AGENCY SECURITIES
Agency securities are issued or guaranteed by a federal agency or other
government sponsored entity acting under federal authority (a GSE). The United
States supports some GSEs with its full faith and credit. Other GSEs receive
support through federal subsidies, loans or other benefits. A few GSEs have no
explicit financial support, but are regarded as having implied support because
the federal government sponsors their activities. Agency securities are
generally regarded as having low credit risks, but not as low as treasury
securities.
CORPORATE DEBT SECURITIES
Corporate debt securities are fixed income securities issued by businesses.
Notes, bonds, debentures and commercial paper are the most prevalent types of
corporate debt securities. The Fund may also purchase interests in bank loans to
companies. The credit risks of corporate debt securities vary widely among
issuers.
In addition, the credit risk of an issuer's debt security may vary based on its
priority for repayment. For example, higher ranking (senior) debt securities
have a higher priority than lower ranking (subordinated) securities. This means
that the issuer might not make payments on subordinated securities while
continuing to make payments on senior securities. In addition, in the event of
bankruptcy, holders of senior securities may receive amounts otherwise payable
to the holders of subordinated securities. Some subordinated securities, such as
trust preferred and capital securities notes, also permit the issuer to defer
payments under certain circumstances. For example, insurance companies issue
securities known as surplus notes that permit the insurance company to defer any
payment that would reduce its capital below regulatory requirements.
Commercial Paper
Commercial paper is an issuer's obligation with a maturity of less than nine
months. Companies typically issue commercial paper to pay for current
expenditures. Most issuers constantly reissue their commercial paper and use the
proceeds (or bank loans) to repay maturing paper. If the issuer cannot continue
to obtain liquidity in this fashion, its commercial paper may default. The short
maturity of commercial paper reduces both the market and credit risks as
compared to other debt securities of the same issuer.
Demand Instruments
Demand instruments are corporate debt securities that the issuer must repay upon
demand. Other demand instruments require a third party, such as a dealer or
bank, to repurchase the security for its face value upon demand. The Fund treats
demand instruments as short-term securities, even though their stated maturity
may extend beyond one year.
ZERO COUPON SECURITIES
Zero coupon securities do not pay interest or principal until final maturity
unlike debt securities that provide periodic payments of interest (referred to
as a coupon payment). Investors buy zero coupon securities at a price below the
amount payable at maturity. The difference between the purchase price and the
amount paid at maturity represents interest on the zero coupon security.
Investors must wait until maturity to receive interest and principal, which
increases the market and credit risks of a zero coupon security.
There are many forms of zero coupon securities. Some are issued at a discount
and are referred to as zero coupon or capital appreciation bonds. Others are
created from interest bearing bonds by separating the right to receive the
bond's coupon payments from the right to receive the bond's principal due at
maturity, a process known as coupon stripping. Treasury STRIPs, IOs and POs are
the most common forms of stripped zero coupon securities. In addition, some
securities give the issuer the option to deliver additional securities in place
of cash interest payments, thereby increasing the amount payable at maturity.
These are referred to as pay-in- kind or PIK securities.
CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES
Convertible securities are fixed income securities that the Fund has the option
to exchange for equity securities at a specified conversion price. The option
allows the Fund to realize additional returns if the market price of the equity
securities exceeds the conversion price. For example, the Fund may hold fixed
income securities that are convertible into shares of common stock at a
conversion price of $10 per share. If the market value of the shares of common
stock reached $12, the Fund could realize an additional $2 per share by
converting its fixed income securities.
Convertible securities have lower yields than comparable fixed income
securities. In addition, at the time a convertible security is issued the
conversion price exceeds the market value of the underlying equity securities.
Thus, convertible securities may provide lower returns than non-convertible
fixed income securities or equity securities depending upon changes in the price
of the underlying equity securities. However, convertible securities permit the
Fund to realize some of the potential appreciation of the underlying equity
securities with less risk of losing its initial investment.
The Fund treats convertible securities as both fixed income and equity
securities for purposes of its investment policies and limitations, because of
their unique characteristics.
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS
American Depositary Receipts represent interests in underlying securities issued
by a foreign company. Depositary receipts are not traded in the same market as
the underlying security. The foreign securities underlying American Depositary
Receipts (ADRs) are not traded in the United States. ADRs provide a way to buy
shares of foreign-based companies in the U.S. rather than in overseas markets.
ADRs are also traded in U.S. dollars, eliminating the need for foreign exchange
transactions. Moreover, the Fund invests primarily in the ADRs of companies with
significant operations within the U.S.
DERIVATIVE CONTRACTS
Derivative contracts are financial instruments that require payments based upon
changes in the values of designated (or underlying) securities, currencies,
commodities, financial indices or other assets. Some derivative contracts (such
as futures, forwards and options) require payments relating to a future trade
involving the underlying asset. Other derivative contracts (such as swaps)
require payments relating to the income or returns from the underlying asset.
The other party to a derivative contract is referred to as a counterparty.
Many derivative contracts are traded on securities or commodities exchanges. In
this case, the exchange sets all the terms of the contract except for the price.
Investors make payments due under their contracts through the exchange. Most
exchanges require investors to maintain margin accounts through their brokers to
cover their potential obligations to the exchange. Parties to the contract make
(or collect) daily payments to the margin accounts to reflect losses (or gains)
in the value of their contracts. This protects investors against potential
defaults by the counterparty. Trading contracts on an exchange also allows
investors to close out their contracts by entering into offsetting contracts.
For example, the Fund could close out an open contract to buy an asset at a
future date by entering into an offsetting contract to sell the same asset on
the same date. If the offsetting sale price is more than the original purchase
price, the Fund realizes a gain; if it is less, the Fund realizes a loss.
Exchanges may limit the amount of open contracts permitted at any one time. Such
limits may prevent the Fund from closing out a position. If this happens, the
Fund will be required to keep the contract open (even if it is losing money on
the contract), and to make any payments required under the contract (even if it
has to sell portfolio securities at unfavorable prices to do so). Inability to
close out a contract could also harm the Fund by preventing it from disposing of
or trading any assets it has been using to secure its obligations under the
contract.
Depending upon how the Fund uses derivative contracts and the relationships
between the market value of a derivative contract and the underlying asset,
derivative contracts may increase or decrease the Fund's exposure to market and
currency risks, and may also expose the Fund to liquidity and leverage risks.
The Fund may trade in the following types of derivative contracts:
FUTURES CONTRACTS
Futures contracts provide for the future sale by one party and purchase by
another party of a specified amount of an underlying asset at a specified price,
date, and time. Entering into a contract to buy an underlying asset is commonly
referred to as buying a contract or holding a long position in the asset.
Entering into a contract to sell an underlying asset is commonly referred to as
selling a contract or holding a short position in the asset. Futures contracts
are considered to be commodity contracts. Futures contracts traded OTC are
frequently referred to as forward contracts.
The Fund may buy and sell stock index futures.
OPTIONS
Options are rights to buy or sell an underlying asset for a specified price (the
exercise price) during, or at the end of, a specified period. A call option
gives the holder (buyer) the right to buy the underlying asset from the seller
(writer) of the option. A put option gives the holder the right to sell the
underlying asset to the writer of the option. The writer of the option receives
a payment, or premium, from the buyer, which the writer keeps regardless of
whether the buyer uses (or exercises) the option.
The Fund may:
* Buy call options on portfolio securities in anticipation of an increase
in the value of the underlying asset;
* Buy put options on portfolio securities in anticipation of a decrease in
the value of the underlying asset; and
* Buy or write options to close out existing options positions.
The Fund may also write call options on portfolio securities to generate income
from premiums, and in anticipation of a decrease or only limited increase in the
value of the underlying asset. If a call written by the Fund is exercised, the
Fund foregoes any possible profit from an increase in the market price of the
underlying asset over the exercise price plus the premium received.
The Fund may also write put options on portfolio securities to generate income
from premiums, and in anticipation of an increase or only limited decrease in
the value of the underlying asset. In writing puts, there is a risk that the
Fund may be required to take delivery of the underlying asset when its current
market price is lower than the exercise price.
SPECIAL TRANSACTIONS
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS
Repurchase Agreements are transactions in which a Fund buys a security from a
dealer or bank and agrees to sell the security back at a mutually agreed upon
time and price. The repurchase price exceeds the sale price, reflecting an
agreed upon interest rate effective for the period the Fund owns the security
subject to repurchase. The agreed upon interest rate is unrelated to the
interest rate on the underlying security. The Funds will only enter into
repurchase agreements with banks and other recognized financial institutions,
such as broker/dealers, which are deemed by the Adviser to be creditworthy.
A Fund's custodian or subcustodian is required to take possession of the
securities subject to repurchase agreements. The Adviser or subcustodian will
monitor the value of the underlying security each day to ensure that the value
of the security always equals or exceeds the repurchase price.
Repurchase Agreements are subject to credit risk.
REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS
Reverse repurchase agreements are repurchase agreements in which the Fund is the
seller (rather than the buyer) of the securities, and agrees to repurchase them
at an agreed upon time and price. A reverse repurchase agreement may be viewed
as a type of borrowing by the Fund. Reverse repurchase agreements are subject to
credit risks. In addition, reverse repurchase agreements create leverage risks
because the Fund must repurchase the underlying security at a higher price,
regardless of the market value of the security at the time of repurchase.
SECURITIES LENDING
The Fund may lend portfolio securities to borrowers that the Adviser deems
creditworthy. In return, the Fund receives cash or liquid securities from the
borrower as collateral. The borrower must furnish additional collateral if the
market value of the loaned securities increases. Also, the borrower must pay the
Fund the equivalent of any dividends or interest received on the loaned
securities.
The Fund will reinvest cash collateral in securities that qualify as an
acceptable investment for the Fund. However, the Fund must pay interest to the
borrower for the use of cash collateral.
Loans are subject to termination at the option of the Fund or the borrower. The
Fund will not have the right to vote on securities while they are on loan, but
it will terminate a loan in anticipation of any important vote. The Fund may pay
administrative and custodial fees in connection with a loan and may pay a
negotiated portion of the interest earned on the cash collateral to a securities
lending agent or broker.
Securities lending activities are subject to market risks and credit risks.
ASSET COVERAGE
In order to secure its obligations in connection with special transactions, the
Fund will either own the underlying assets, enter into an offsetting transaction
or set aside readily marketable securities with a value that equals or exceeds
the Fund's obligations. Unless the Fund has other readily marketable assets to
set aside, it cannot trade assets used to secure such obligations. This may
cause the Fund to miss favorable trading opportunities or to realize losses on
derivative contracts or special transactions.
INVESTING IN SECURITIES OF OTHER INVESTMENT COMPANIES
The Fund may invest its assets in securities of other investment companies,
including the securities of affiliated money market funds, as an efficient means
of carrying out its investment policies and managing its uninvested cash.
INVESTMENT RISKS
There are many factors that may affect an investment in the Fund. The Fund's
principal risks are described in the prospectus. Additional risk factors are
outlined below.
EQUITY SECURITIES INVESTMENT RISKS
STOCK MARKET RISKS
* The value of equity securities in the Fund's portfolio will rise and fall.
These fluctuations could be a sustained trend or a drastic movement. The Fund's
portfolio will reflect changes in prices of individual portfolio stocks or
general changes in stock valuations. Consequently, the Fund's share price may
decline.
* The Adviser attempts to manage market risk by limiting the amount the Fund
invests in each company's equity securities. However, diversification will not
protect the Fund against widespread or prolonged declines in the stock market.
SECTOR RISKS
* Companies with similar characteristics may be grouped together in broad
categories called sectors. Sector risk is the possibility that a certain sector
may underperform other sectors or the market as a whole. As the Adviser
allocates more of the Fund's portfolio holdings to a particular sector, the
Fund's performance will be more susceptible to any economic, business or other
developments which generally affect that sector.
LIQUIDITY RISKS
* Trading opportunities are more limited for equity securities that are not
widely held. This may make it more difficult to sell or buy a security at a
favorable price or time. Consequently, the Fund may have to accept a lower price
to sell a security, sell other securities to raise cash or give up an investment
opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on the Fund's
performance. Infrequent trading of securities may also lead to an increase in
their price volatility.
* Liquidity risk also refers to the possibility that the Fund may not be able to
sell a security when it wants to. If this happens, the Fund will be required to
continue to hold the security, and the Fund could incur losses.
RISKS RELATED TO INVESTING FOR VALUE
* Due to their relatively low valuations, value stocks are typically less
volatile than growth stocks. For instance, the price of a value stock may
experience a smaller increase on a forecast of higher earnings, a positive
fundamental development, or positive market development. Further, value stocks
tend to have higher dividends than growth stocks. This means they depend less on
price changes for returns and may lag behind growth stocks in an up market.
RISKS OF INVESTING IN AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS
* Because the Fund may invest in American Depositary Receipts issued by foreign
companies, the Fund's share price may be more affected by foreign economic and
political conditions, taxation policies, and accounting and auditing standards,
than would otherwise be the case.
CREDIT RISKS
* Credit risk includes the possibility that a party to a transaction involving
the Fund will fail to meet its obligations. This could cause the Fund to lose
the benefit of the transaction or prevent the Fund from selling or buying other
securities to implement its investment strategy.
FIXED INCOME SECURITIES INVESTMENT RISKS
INTEREST RATE RISKS
* Prices of fixed income securities rise and fall in response to interest rate
changes in the interest rate paid by similar securities. Generally, when
interest rates rise, prices of fixed income securities fall. However, market
factors, such as the demand for particular fixed income securities, may cause
the price of certain fixed income securities to fall while the prices of other
securities rise or remain unchanged.
* Interest rate changes have a greater effect on the price of fixed income
securities with longer durations. Duration measures the price sensitivity of a
fixed income security to changes in interest rates.
CREDIT RISKS
* Credit risk is the possibility that an issuer will default on a security by
failing to pay interest or principal when due. If an issuer defaults, the Fund
will lose money.
* Many fixed income securities receive credit ratings from services such as
Standard & Poor's and Moody's Investor Services, Inc. These services assign
ratings to securities by assessing the likelihood of issuer default. Lower
credit ratings correspond to higher credit risk. If a security has not received
a rating, the Fund must rely entirely upon the Adviser's credit assessment.
* Fixed income securities generally compensate for greater credit risk by paying
interest at a higher rate. The difference between the yield of a security and
the yield of a U.S. Treasury security with a comparable maturity (the spread)
measures the additional interest paid for risk. Spreads may increase generally
in response to adverse economic or market conditions. A security's spread may
also increase if the security's rating is lowered, or the security is perceived
to have an increased credit risk. An increase in the spread will cause the price
of the security to decline.
* Credit risk includes the possibility that a party to a transaction involving
the Fund will fail to meet its obligations. This could cause the Fund to lose
the benefit of the transaction or prevent the Fund from selling or buying other
securities to implement its investment strategy.
LIQUIDITY RISKS
* Trading opportunities are more limited for fixed income securities that have
not received any credit ratings, have received ratings below investment grade or
are not widely held. These features may make it more difficult to sell or buy a
security at a favorable price or time. Consequently, the Fund may have to accept
a lower price to sell a security, sell other securities to raise cash or give up
an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on the
Fund's performance. Infrequent trading of securities may also lead to an
increase in their price volatility.
* Liquidity risk also refers to the possibility that the Fund may not be able to
sell a security when it wants to. If this happens, the Fund will be required to
continue to hold the security and the Fund could incur losses.
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH NONINVESTMENT GRADE SECURITIES
* The Fund may invest in convertible securities rated below investment grade,
also known as junk bonds. Such convertible securities generally entail greater
market, credit and liquidity risks than investment grade securities. For
example, their prices are more volatile, economic downturns and financial
setbacks may affect their prices more negatively, and their trading market may
be more limited.
CALL RISKS
* Call risk is the possibility that an issuer may redeem a fixed income security
before maturity (a call) at a price below its current market price. An increase
in the likelihood of a call may reduce the security's price.
* If a fixed income security is called, the Fund may have to reinvest the
proceeds in other fixed income securities with lower interest rates, higher
credit risks, or other less favorable characteristics.
SECTOR RISKS
A substantial part of the Fund's portfolio may be comprised of securities issued
or credit enhanced by companies in similar businesses, or with other similar
characteristics. As a result, the Fund will be more susceptible to any economic,
business, political, or other developments which generally affect these issuers.
INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS
The Fund will not change any of the investment limitations described below
without approval of shareholders.
SELLING SHORT AND BUYING ON MARGIN
The Fund will not sell any securities short or purchase any securities on
margin.
BORROWING MONEY
The Fund will not borrow money except as a temporary measure for extraordinary
or emergency purposes and then only in amounts not in excess of 5% of the value
of its total assets. In addition, the Fund may enter into reverse repurchase
agreements and otherwise borrow up to one-third of the value of its total
assets, including the amount borrowed, in order to meet redemption requests
without immediately selling portfolio instruments. This latter practice is not
for investment leverage but solely to facilitate management of the portfolio by
enabling the Fund to meet redemption requests when the liquidation of portfolio
instruments would be inconvenient or disadvantageous.
Interest paid on borrowed funds will not be available for investment and will
reduce net income. The Fund will liquidate any such borrowings as soon as
possible. However, during the period any reverse repurchase agreements are
outstanding, but only to the extent necessary to assure completion of the
reverse repurchase agreements, the Fund will restrict the purchase
of portfolio instruments to money market instruments maturing on or before
the expiration date of the reverse repurchase agreements.
PLEDGING ASSETS
The Fund will not mortgage, pledge, or hypothecate its securities.
DIVERSIFICATION OF INVESTMENTS
With respect to securities comprising 75% of the value of its total assets, the
Fund will not purchase securities of any one issuer (other than cash, cash
items, securities issued or guaranteed by the government of the United States or
its agencies or instrumentalities and repurchase agreements collateralized by
such U.S. government securities, and securities of other investment companies)
if as a result more than 5% of the value of its total assets would be invested
in the securities of that issuer, or it would own more than 10% of the
outstanding voting securities of that issuer.
UNDERWRITING
The Fund will not underwrite or engage in agency distribution of securities,
except as it may be deemed to be an underwriter, if it purchases and sells
restricted securities as permitted.
INVESTING IN COMMODITIES OR REAL ESTATE
The Fund will not invest in commodities, commodity contracts, or real estate,
provided that the Fund may acquire securities of real estate investment trusts,
and marketable securities of companies which may represent indirect interests in
real estate, and any investment security which derives its value from real
estate.
LENDING CASH OR SECURITIES
The Fund will not lend any of its assets except portfolio securities. (This
shall not prevent the purchase or holding of bonds, debentures, notes,
certificates of indebtedness or other debt securities of an issuer, repurchase
agreements, or other transactions which are permitted by the Fund's investment
objective and policies or Articles of Incorporation.)
CONCENTRATION OF INVESTMENTS
The Fund will not invest more than 25% of the value of its total assets in any
one industry.
ISSUING SENIOR SECURITIES
The Fund will not issue senior securities.
The above limitations cannot be changed unless authorized by the "vote of a
majority of its outstanding voting securities," as defined by the Investment
Company Act. The following limitations, however, may be changed by the Board
without shareholder approval. Shareholders will be notified before any material
change in these limitations becomes effective.
INVESTING IN SECURITIES OF OTHER INVESTMENT COMPANIES
The Fund may invest in the securities of affiliated money market funds as an
efficient means of managing the Fund's uninvested cash.
INVESTING IN RESTRICTED SECURITIES
The Fund may invest in restricted securities. Restricted securities are any
securities that are subject to restrictions on resale under federal securities
law. Under criteria established by the Directors certain restricted securities
are determined to be liquid. To the extent that restricted securities are not
determined to be liquid, the Fund will limit their purchase, together with other
illiquid securities, to 15% of its net assets.
ACQUIRING SECURITIES
The Fund will not purchase securities of a company for the purpose of exercising
control or management. However, the Fund may invest in up to 10% of the voting
securities of any one issuer and may exercise its voting powers consistent with
the best interests of the Fund. In addition, the Fund, other companies advised
by the Fund's investment adviser, and other affiliated companies may together
buy and hold substantial amounts of voting stock of a company and may vote
together in regard to such company's affairs. In some such cases, the Fund and
its affiliates might collectively be considered to be in control of such
company. In some cases, the Directors and other persons associated with the Fund
and its affiliates might possibly become directors of companies in which the
Fund holds stock.
In addition, in order to comply with certain state restrictions, the Fund will
not invest in real estate limited partnerships or oil, gas, or other mineral
leases. Also, the Fund will not invest more than 5% of its net assets in
warrants. No more than 2% of the Fund's net assets, to be included within the
overall 5% limit on investments in warrants, may be warrants which are not
listed on the New York Stock Exchange or the American Stock Exchange. If state
requirements change, these restrictions may be revised without notice to
shareholders. Except when borrowing money, if a percentage limitation is adhered
to at the time of investment, a later increase or decrease in percentage
resulting from any change in value or net assets will not result in a violation
of such restriction.
The Fund did not borrow money, invest in reverse repurchase agreements, or
purchase restricted securities in excess of 5% of the value of its total or net
assets during the last fiscal year and has no present intent to do so in the
coming fiscal year. Restricted securities are generally not available from
companies comprising "The Leader's List."
DETERMINING MARKET VALUE OF SECURITIES
Market values of the Fund's portfolio securities are determined as follows:
* for equity securities, according to the last sale price in the market in which
they are primarily traded (either a national securities exchange or the
over-the-counter market), if available;
* in the absence of recorded sales for equity securities, according to the
mean between the last closing bid and asked prices;
* for bonds and other fixed income securities, at the last sale price on a
national securities exchange, if available, otherwise, as determined by an
independent pricing service;
* for short-term obligations, according to the mean between bid and asked prices
as furnished by an independent pricing service, except that short- term
obligations with remaining maturities of less than 60 days at the time of
purchase may be valued at amortized cost or at fair market value as determined
in good faith by the Board; and
* for all other securities at fair value as determined in good faith by the
Board.
Prices provided by independent pricing services may be determined without
relying exclusively on quoted prices and may consider institutional trading in
similar groups of securities, yield, quality, stability, risk, coupon rate,
maturity, type of issue, trading characteristics, and other market data or
factors. From time to time, when prices cannot be obtained from an independent
pricing service, securities may be valued based on quotes from broker-dealers or
other financial institutions that trade the securities.
What Do Shares Cost?
The Fund's net asset value (NAV) per Share fluctuates and is based on the market
value of all securities and other assets of the Fund.
The NAV for each class of Shares may differ due to the variance in daily net
income realized by each class. Such variance will reflect only accrued net
income to which the shareholders of a particular class are entitled.
REDUCING OR ELIMINATING THE FRONT-END SALES CHARGE
You can reduce or eliminate the applicable front-end sales charge, as follows:
QUANTITY DISCOUNTS
Larger purchases of the same Share class reduce or eliminate the sales charge
you pay. You can combine purchases of Shares made on the same day by you, your
spouse and your children under age 21. In addition, purchases made at one time
by a trustee or fiduciary for a single trust estate or a single fiduciary
account can be combined.
ACCUMULATED PURCHASES
If you make an additional purchase of Shares, you can count previous Share
purchases still invested in the Fund in calculating the applicable sales charge
on the additional purchase.
CONCURRENT PURCHASES
You can combine concurrent purchases of the same share class of two or more
Federated Funds in calculating the applicable sales charge.
LETTER OF INTENT- CLASS A SHARES AND CLASS F SHARES
You can sign a Letter of Intent committing to purchase a certain amount of the
same class of Shares within a 13-month period to combine such purchases in
calculating the sales charge. The Fund's custodian will hold Shares in escrow
equal to the maximum applicable sales charge. If you complete the Letter of
Intent, the Custodian will release the Shares in escrow to your account. If you
do not fulfill the Letter of Intent, the Custodian will redeem the appropriate
amount from the Shares held in escrow to pay the sales charges that were not
applied to your purchases.
REINVESTMENT PRIVILEGE
You may reinvest, within 120 days, your Share redemption proceeds at the next
determined NAV without any sales charge.
PURCHASES BY AFFILIATES OF THE FUND
The following individuals and their immediate family members may buy Shares at
NAV without any sales charge because there are nominal sales efforts associated
with their purchases:
* the Directors, employees and sales representatives of the Fund, the
Adviser, the Distributor and their affiliates;
* Employees of State Street Bank Pittsburgh who started their employment on
January 1, 1998, and were employees of Federated Investors, Inc. (Federated) on
December 31, 1997;
* any associated person of an investment dealer who has a sales agreement
with the Distributor; and
* trusts, pension or profit-sharing plans for these individuals.
FEDERATED LIFE MEMBERS
Shareholders of the Fund known as "Federated Life Members" are exempt from
paying any front-end sales charge. These shareholders joined the Fund
originally:
* through the "Liberty Account," an account for Liberty Family of Funds
shareholders on February 28, 1987 (the Liberty Account and Liberty Family of
Funds are no longer marketed); or
* as Liberty Account shareholders by investing through an affinity group prior
to August 1, 1987.
REDUCING OR ELIMINATING THE CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE
These reductions or eliminations are offered because: no sales commissions have
been advanced to the investment professional selling Shares; the shareholder has
already paid a Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (CDSC); or nominal sales efforts
are associated with the original purchase of Shares.
Upon notification to the Distributor or the Fund's transfer agent, no CDSC will
be imposed on redemptions:
* following the death or post-purchase disability, as defined in Section
72(m)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, of the last surviving
shareholder;
* representing minimum required distributions from an Individual Retirement
Account or other retirement plan to a shareholder who has attained the age of
70-1/2;
* representing a total or partial distribution from a qualified plan. A total or
partial distribution does not include an account transfer, rollover or other
redemption made for purposes of reinvestment. A qualified plan does not include
an Individual Retirement Account, Keogh Plan, or a custodial account, following
retirement;
* which are involuntary redemptions processed by the Fund because the
accounts do not meet the minimum balance requirements;
* which are qualifying redemptions of Class B Shares under a Systematic
Withdrawal Program;
* of Shares that represent a reinvestment within 120 days of a
previous redemption;
* of Shares held by the Directors, employees, and sales representatives of the
Fund, the Adviser, the Distributor and their affiliates; employees of any
investment professional that sells Shares according to a sales agreement with
the Distributor; and the immediate family members of the above persons; and
* of Shares originally purchased through a bank trust department, a registered
investment adviser or retirement plans where the third party administrator has
entered into certain arrangements with the Distributor or its affiliates, or any
other investment professional, to the extent that no payments were advanced for
purchases made through these entities.
How is the Fund Sold?
Under the Distributor's Contract with the Fund, the Distributor (Federated
Securities Corp.) offers Shares on a continuous, best-efforts basis.
FRONT-END SALES CHARGE REALLOWANCES
The Distributor receives a front-end sales charge on certain Share sales. The
Distributor generally pays up to 90% (and as much as 100%) of this charge to
investment professionals for sales and/or administrative services. Any payments
to investment professionals in excess of 90% of the front-end sales charge are
considered supplemental payments. The Distributor retains any portion not paid
to an investment professional.
RULE 12B-1 PLAN (CLASS B SHARES AND CLASS C SHARES)
As a compensation-type plan, the Rule 12b-1 Plan is designed to pay the
Distributor (who may then pay investment professionals such as banks,
broker/dealers, trust departments of banks, and registered investment advisers)
for marketing activities (such as advertising, printing and distributing
prospectuses, and providing incentives to investment professionals) to promote
sales of Shares so that overall Fund assets are maintained or increased. This
helps the Fund achieve economies of scale, reduce per share expenses, and
provide cash for orderly portfolio management and Share redemptions. In
addition, the Fund's service providers that receive asset-based fees also
benefit from stable or increasing Fund assets.
The Fund may compensate the Distributor more or less than its actual marketing
expenses. In no event will the Fund pay for any expenses of the Distributor that
exceed the maximum Rule 12b-1 Plan fee.
For some classes of Shares, the maximum Rule 12b-1 Plan fee that can be paid in
any one year may not be sufficient to cover the marketing-related expenses the
Distributor has incurred. Therefore, it may take the Distributor a number of
years to recoup these expenses.
Federated and its subsidiaries may benefit from arrangements where the Rule
12b-1 Plan fees related to Class B Shares may be paid to third parties who have
advanced commissions to investment professionals.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
The Fund may pay Federated Shareholder Services Company, a subsidiary of
Federated, for providing shareholder services and maintaining shareholder
accounts. Federated Shareholder Services Company may select others to perform
these services for their customers and may pay them fees.
SUPPLEMENTAL PAYMENTS
Investment professionals may be paid fees out of the assets of the Distributor
and/or Federated Shareholder Services Company (but not out of Fund assets). The
Distributor and/or Federated Shareholder Services Company may be reimbursed by
the Adviser or its affiliates.
Investment professionals receive such fees for providing distribution- related
or shareholder services such as sponsoring sales, providing sales literature,
conducting training seminars for employees, and engineering sales-related
computer software programs and systems. Also, investment professionals may be
paid cash or promotional incentives, such as reimbursement of certain expenses
relating to attendance at informational meetings about the Fund or other special
events at recreational-type facilities, or items of material value. These
payments will be based upon the amount of Shares the investment professional
sells or may sell and/or upon the type and nature of sales or marketing support
furnished by the investment professional.
When an investment professional's customer purchases shares, the investment
professional may receive:
* an amount up to 5.50% and 1.00%, respectively, of the NAV of Class B and C
Shares.
* an amount on the NAV of Class F Shares purchased as follows: up to 1% on
purchases below $2 million; 0.50% on purchases from $2 million but below $5
million; and 0.25% on purchases of $5 million or more.
In addition, the Distributor may pay investment professionals 0.25% of the
purchase price of $1 million or more of Class A and Class F Shares that its
customer has not redeemed over the first year.
CLASS A SHARES
Investment professionals purchasing Class A Shares for their customers are
eligible to receive an advance payment from the Distributor based on the
following breakpoints:
ADVANCE PAYMENTS AS A
PERCENTAGE OF PUBLIC
AMOUNT OFFERING PRICE First $1 - $5 million 0.75% Next $5 - $20 million 0.50%
Over $20 million 0.25%
For accounts with assets over $1 million, the dealer advance payments reset
annually to the first breakpoint on the anniversary of the first purchase.
Class A Share purchases under this program may be made by Letter of Intent or by
combining concurrent purchases. The above advance payments will be paid only on
those purchases that were not previously subject to a front- end sales charge
and dealer advance payments. Certain retirement accounts may not be eligible for
this program.
A contingent deferred sales charge of 0.75% of the redemption amount applies to
Class A Shares redeemed up to 24 months after purchase. The CDSC does not apply
under certain investment programs where the investment professional does not
receive an advance payment on the transaction including, but not limited to,
trust accounts and wrap programs where the investor pays an account level fee
for investment management.
CLASS F SHARES
Investment professionals purchasing Class F Shares for their customers are
eligible to receive an advance payment from the distributor of 0.25% of the
purchase price.
Exchanging Securities for Shares
You may contact the Distributor to request a purchase of Shares in exchange for
securities you own. The Fund reserves the right to determine whether to accept
your securities and the minimum market value to accept. The Fund will value your
securities in the same manner as it values its assets. This exchange is treated
as a sale of your securities for federal tax purposes.
Subaccounting Services
Certain investment professionals may wish to use the transfer agent's
subaccounting system to minimize their internal recordkeeping requirements. The
transfer agent may charge a fee based on the level of subaccounting services
rendered. Investment professionals holding Shares in a fiduciary, agency,
custodial, or similar capacity may charge or pass through subaccounting fees as
part of or in addition to normal trust or agency account fees. They may also
charge fees for other services that may be related to the ownership of Shares.
This information should, therefore, be read together with any agreement between
the customer and the investment professional about the services provided, the
fees charged for those services, and any restrictions and limitations imposed.
Redemption in Kind
Although the Fund intends to pay Share redemptions in cash, it reserves the
right, as described below, to pay the redemption price in whole or in part by a
distribution of the Fund's portfolio securities.
Because the Fund has elected to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, the Fund is obligated to pay Share redemptions to any one
shareholder in cash only up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the net assets
represented by such Share class during any 90-day period.
Any Share redemption payment greater than this amount will also be in cash
unless the Fund's Board determines that payment should be in kind. In such a
case, the Fund will pay all or a portion of the remainder of the redemption in
portfolio securities, valued in the same way as the Fund determines its NAV. The
portfolio securities will be selected in a manner that the Fund's Board deems
fair and equitable and, to the extent available, such securities will be readily
marketable.
Redemption in kind is not as liquid as a cash redemption. If redemption is made
in kind, shareholders receiving the portfolio securities and selling them before
their maturity could receive less than the redemption value of the securities
and could incur certain transaction costs.
Account and Share Information
VOTING RIGHTS
Each share of the Fund gives the shareholder one vote in Director elections and
other matters submitted to shareholders for vote.
All Shares of the Fund have equal voting rights, except that in matters
affecting only a particular class, only Shares of that class are entitled to
vote.
Directors may be removed by the Board or by shareholders at a special meeting. A
special meeting of shareholders will be called by the Board upon the written
request of shareholders who own at least 10% of the Fund's outstanding shares of
all series entitled to vote.
As of May 7, 1999, the following shareholders owned of record, beneficially, or
both, 5% or more of outstanding Shares: Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith,
Jacksonville, FL, 23.34% of Class C Shares and Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner &
Smith, Jacksonville, FL, 21.32% of Class F Shares.
Tax Information
FEDERAL INCOME TAX
The Fund intends to meet requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue
Code applicable to regulated investment companies. If these requirements are not
met, it will not receive special tax treatment and will pay federal income tax.
Who Manages and Provides Services to the Fund?
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board is responsible for managing the Fund's business affairs and for
exercising all the Fund's powers except those reserved for the shareholders.
Information about each Board member is provided below and includes each
person's: name, address, birth date, present position(s) held with the Fund's,
principal occupations for the past five years and positions held prior to the
past five years, total compensation received as a Director from the Fund for its
most recent fiscal year, and the total compensation received from the Federated
Fund Complex for the most recent calendar year. The Federated Fund Complex is
comprised of 54 investment companies, whose investment advisers are affiliated
with the Fund's Adviser.
As of May 7, 1999, the Fund's Board and Officers as a group owned less than 1%
of the Fund's outstanding Class A, B, C and F Shares.
An asterisk (*) denotes a Director who is deemed to be an interested person as
defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940. The following symbol (#) denotes
a Member of the Board's Executive Committee, which handles the Board's
responsibilities between its meetings.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME
BIRTH
DATE
AGGREGATE TOTAL
ADDRESS PRINCIPAL
OCCUPATIONS COMPENSATION COMPENSATION FROM
POSITION WITH FUND FOR PAST FIVE
YEARS FROM FUND FUND AND FUND COMPLEX
<S>
<C> <C>
<C>
JOHN F. DONAHUE*#+ Chief Executive
Officer $0 $0 for the Fund and
Birth date: July 28, 1924 and Director or
Trustee 54 other investment
Federated Investors Tower of the Federated
Fund companies in the
1001 Liberty Avenue Complex; Chairman
and Fund Complex
Pittsburgh, PA Director,
Federated
PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR Investors, Inc.;
Chairman and Trustee,
Federated
Investment
Management Company;
Chairman and Director,
Federated
Investment
Counseling.,
and
Federated
Global
Investment
Management
Corp.; Chairman,
Passport Research, Ltd.
THOMAS G. BIGLEY Director or Trustee of the Federated
Fund $2,847.89 $113,860.22 for the Fund
Birth date: February 3, 1934 Complex; Director, Member of
Executive and 54 other investment
15 Old Timber Trail Committee, Children's Hospital
of companies in the
Pittsburgh, PA Pittsburgh; formerly: Senior Partner, Ernst
& Fund Complex
DIRECTOR Young LLP; Director, MED 3000 Group, Inc.;
Director, Member of Executive Committee,
University of Pittsburgh.
JOHN T. CONROY, JR. Director or Trustee of the Federated
Fund $3,133.16 $125,264.48 for the Fund
Birth date: June 23, 1937 Complex; President, Investment
Properties and 54 other investment
Wood/IPC Commercial Dept. Corporation; Senior Vice
President, companies in the
John R. Wood Associates, Inc. Realtors John R. Wood and Associates, Inc.,
Realtors; Fund Complex
3255 Tamiami Trail North Partner or Trustee in private real
estate
Naples, FL ventures in Southwest Florida; formerly:
DIRECTOR President, Naples Property Management,
Inc. and Northgate Village
Development
Corporation.
JOHN F. CUNNINGHAM++ Director or Trustee of some of the
Federated $0 $0 for the Fund and
Birth date: March 5, 1943 Fund Complex; Chairman, President
and 26 other investment
353 El Brillo Way Chief Executive Officer, Cunningham &
Co., companies in the
Palm Beach, FL Inc.; Trustee Associate, Boston
College; Fund Complex
DIRECTOR Director, EMC Corporation; formerly:
Director, Redgate Communications.
Previous Positions: Chairman of the
Board
and Chief Executive Officer,
Computer
Consoles, Inc.; President and
Chief
Operating Officer, Wang Laboratories;
Director, First National Bank of Boston;
Director, Apollo Computer, Inc.
LAWRENCE D. ELLIS, M.D.* Director or Trustee of the Federated
Fund $2,847.89 $113,860.22 for the
Birth date: October 11, 1932 Complex; Professor of Medicine,
University Fund and
3471 Fifth Avenue of Pittsburgh; Medical Director, University
of 54 other investment
Suite 1111 Pittsburgh Medical Center -
Downtown; companies in the
Pittsburgh, PA Hematologist, Oncologist, and
Internist, Fund Complex
DIRECTOR University of Pittsburgh Medical Center;
Member, National Board of Trustees,
Leukemia Society of America.
PETER E. MADDEN Director or Trustee of the Federated
Fund $2,919.25 $113,860.22 for the
Birth date: March 16, 1942 Complex; formerly:
Representative, Fund and
One Royal Palm Way Commonwealth of Massachusetts
General 54 other investment
100 Royal Palm Way Court; President, State Street Bank and
Trust companies in the
Palm Beach, FL Company and State Street
Corporation. Fund Complex
DIRECTOR Previous Positions: Director, VISA USA
and
VISA International; Chairman and Director,
Massachusetts Bankers Association;
Director, Depository Trust Corporation.
CHARLES F. MANSFIELD, JR. ++ Director or Trustee of some of the
Federated $0 $0 for the Fund and
Birth date: April 10, 1945 Fund Complex; Management
Consultant. 26 other investment
80 South Road Previous Positions: Chief Executive
Officer, companies in the
Westhampton Beach, NY PBTC International Bank; Chief
Financial Fund Complex
DIRECTOR Officer of Retail Banking Sector,
Chase
Manhattan Bank; Senior Vice President,
Marine Midland Bank; Vice President,
Citibank; Assistant Professor of
Banking
and Finance, Frank G. Zarb School
of
Business, Hofstra University.
<CAPTION>
NAME
BIRTH
DATE
AGGREGATE TOTAL
ADDRESS PRINCIPAL
OCCUPATIONS COMPENSATION COMPENSATION FROM
POSITION WITH FUND FOR PAST FIVE
YEARS FROM FUND FUND AND FUND COMPLEX
<S>
<C> <C>
<C>
JOHN E. MURRAY, JR., J.D., S.J.D. # Director or Trustee
of $2,919.25 $113,860.22 for the
Birth date: December 20, 1932 the Federated
Fund Fund and
President, Duquesne University Complex; President,
Law 54 other investment
Pittsburgh, PA Professor,
Duquesne companies in the
DIRECTOR University;
Consulting Fund Complex
Partner, Mollica
&
Murray.
Previous Positions:
Dean
and Professor of Law,
University of
Pittsburgh
School of Law; Dean
and
Professor of Law,
Villanova
University
School of Law.
MARJORIE P. SMUTS Director or Trustee of the Federated
Fund $2,847.89 $113,860.22 for the
Birth date: June 21, 1935 Complex; Public
Relations/Marketing/ Fund and
4905 Bayard Street Conference
Planning. 54 other investment
Pittsburgh, PA Previous Positions: National
Spokesperson, companies in the
DIRECTOR Aluminum Company of America;
business Fund Complex
owner.
JOHN S. WALSH++ Director or Trustee of some of the
Federated $0 $0 for the Fund and
Birth date: November 28, 1957 Fund Complex; President and Director,
Heat 23 other investment
2007 Sherwood Drive Wagon, Inc.; President and
Director, companies in the
Valparaiso, IN Manufacturers Products, Inc.;
President, Fund Complex
DIRECTOR Portable Heater Parts, a division
of
Manufacturers Products, Inc.; Director,
Walsh & Kelly, Inc.; formerly: Vice
President,
Walsh & Kelly, Inc.
J. CHRISTOPHER DONAHUE+* President or Executive Vice President of
the $0 $0 for the Fund and
Birth Date: April 11, 1949 Federated Fund Complex; Director
or 16 other investment
Federated Investors Tower Trustee of some of the Funds in
the companies in the
1001 Liberty Avenue Federated Fund Complex; President
and Fund Complex
Pittsburgh, PA Director, Federated Investors, Inc.;
President
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT and Trustee, Federated
Investment
Management Company; President
and
Director, Federated Investment
Counseling
and Federated Global
Investment
Management Corp.; President,
Passport
Research, Ltd.; Trustee,
Federated
Shareholder Services Company; Director,
Federated Services Company.
EDWARD C. GONZALES Trustee or Director of some of the Funds
in $0 $0 for the Fund and
Birth date: October 22, 1930 the Federated Fund Complex;
President, 1 other investment
Federated Investors Tower Executive Vice President and Treasurer
of company in the
1001 Liberty Avenue some of the Funds in the Federated
Fund Fund Complex
Pittsburgh, PA Complex; Vice Chairman,
Federated
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Investors, Inc.; Vice President,
Federated
Investment Management Company,
Federated Investment Counseling,
Federated Global Investment
Management
Corp. and Passport Research, Ltd.;
Executive
Vice President and Director,
Federated
Securities Corp.; Trustee,
Federated
Shareholder Services Company.
JOHN W. MCGONIGLE Executive Vice President and Secretary
of $0 $0 for the Fund and
Birth date: October 26, 1938 the Federated Fund Complex; Executive
Vice 54 other investment
Federated Investors Tower President, Secretary, and Director,
Federated companies in the
1001 Liberty Avenue Investors, Inc.; Trustee,
Federated Fund Complex
Pittsburgh, PA Investment Management Company;
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Director, Federated Investment
Counseling
AND SECRETARY and Federated Global
Investment
Management Corp.; Director,
Federated
Services Company; Director,
Federated
Securities Corp.
RICHARD J. THOMAS Treasurer of the Federated Fund
Complex; $0 $0 for the Fund and
Birth date: June 17, 1954 Vice President - Funds Financial
Services 54 other investment
Federated Investors Tower Division, Federated Investors, Inc.;
Formerly: companies in the
1001 Liberty Avenue various management positions within
Funds Fund Complex
Pittsburgh, PA Financial Services Division of
Federated
TREASURER Investors, Inc.
RICHARD B. FISHER President or Vice President of some of
the $0 $0 for the Fund and
Birth date: May 17, 1923 Funds in the Federated Fund
Complex; 6 other investment
Federated Investors Tower Director or Trustee of some of the Funds
in companies in the
1001 Liberty Avenue the Federated Fund Complex; Executive
Vice Fund Complex
Pittsburgh, PA President, Federated Investors, Inc.;
VICE PRESIDENT Chairman and Director, Federated
Securities
Corp.
<CAPTION>
NAME
BIRTH
DATE
AGGREGATE TOTAL
ADDRESS PRINCIPAL
OCCUPATIONS COMPENSATION COMPENSATION FROM
POSITION WITH FUND FOR PAST FIVE
YEARS FROM FUND FUND AND FUND COMPLEX
<S>
<C> <C>
<C>
J. THOMAS MADDEN Chief Investment
Officer $0 $0 for the Fund and
Birth date: October 22, 1945 of this Fund and
various 12 other investment
Federated Investors Tower other Funds in
the companies in the
1001 Liberty Avenue Federated Fund
Complex; Fund Complex
Pittsburgh, PA Executive
Vice
CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER President,
Federated
Investment Counseling,
Federated
Global
Investment
Management
Corp.,
Federated
Investment
Management
Company, and
Passport
Research, Ltd.;
Vice
President,
Federated
Investors, Inc.;
Formerly: Executive
Vice
President and
Senior
Vice President,
Federated
Investment
Counseling
Institutional
Portfolio
Management
Services Division;
Senior Vice President,
Federated
Investment
Management Company
and
Passport Research, Ltd.
MICHAEL P. DONNELLY Michael P. Donnelly has been the
Fund's $0 $0 for the Fund and
Birth date: November 26, 1961 portfolio manager since July 1996. He
is 1 other investment
Federated Investors Tower Vice President of the Fund. Mr.
Donnelly company in the
1001 Liberty Avenue joined Federated in 1989 as an
Investment Fund Complex
Pittsburgh, PA Analyst and has been a Portfolio
Manager
VICE PRESIDENT and a Vice President of the Fund's
Adviser
since 1994. Mr. Donnelly is a
Chartered
Financial Analyst and received his M.B.A.
from the University of Virginia.
</TABLE>
+ Mr. Donahue is the father of J. Christopher Donahue, Executive Vice
President of the Fund.
++ Messrs. Cunningham, Mansfield and Walsh became members of the Board of
Directors on April 1, 1999. They did not earn any fees for serving the Fund
Complex since these fees are reported as of the end of the last calendar year.
They did not receive any fees as of the fiscal year end of the Fund.
INVESTMENT ADVISER
The Adviser conducts investment research and makes investment decisions for the
Fund.
The Adviser is a wholly owned subsidiary of Federated.
The Adviser shall not be liable to the Fundor any Fund shareholder for any
losses that may be sustained in the purchase, holding, or sale of any security
or for anything done or omitted by it, except acts or omissions involving
willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the
duties imposed upon it by its contract with the Fund.
OTHER RELATED SERVICES
Affiliates of the Adviser may, from time to time, provide certain electronic
equipment and software to institutional customers in order to facilitate the
purchase of Fund Shares offered by the Distributor.
CODE OF ETHICS RESTRICTIONS ON PERSONAL TRADING
As required by SEC rules, the Fund, its Adviser, and its Distributor have
adopted codes of ethics. These codes govern securities trading activities of
investment personnel, Fund Directors, and certain other employees. Although they
do permit these people to trade in securities, including those that the Fund
could buy, they also contain significant safeguards designed to protect the Fund
and its shareholders from abuses in this area, such as requirements to obtain
prior approval for, and to report, particular transactions.
BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS
When selecting brokers and dealers to handle the purchase and sale of portfolio
instruments, the Adviser looks for prompt execution of the order at a favorable
price. The Adviser will generally use those who are recognized dealers in
specific portfolio instruments, except when a better price and execution of the
order can be obtained elsewhere. The Adviser may select brokers and dealers
based on whether they also offer research services (as described below). In
selecting among firms believed to meet these criteria, the Adviser may give
consideration to those firms which have sold or are selling Shares of the Fund
and other funds distributed by the Distributor and its affiliates. The Adviser
makes decisions on portfolio transactions and selects brokers and dealers
subject to review by the Fund's Board.
RESEARCH SERVICES
Research services may include advice as to the advisability of investing in
securities; security analysis and reports; economic studies; industry studies;
receipt of quotations for portfolio evaluations; and similar services. Research
services may be used by the Adviser or by affiliates of Federated in advising
other accounts. To the extent that receipt of these services may replace
services for which the Adviser or its affiliates might otherwise have paid, it
would tend to reduce their expenses. The Adviser and its affiliates exercise
reasonable business judgment in selecting those brokers who offer brokerage and
research services to execute securities transactions. They determine in good
faith that commissions charged by such persons are reasonable in relationship to
the value of the brokerage and research services provided.
For the fiscal year ended March 31, 1999, the Fund's Adviser directed brokerage
transactions to certain brokers due to research services they provided. The
total amount of these transactions was $2,586,461,135.57 for which the Fund paid
$3,688,709.08 in brokerage commissions.
On March 31, 1999 the Fund owned securities of the following regular
broker/dealer: Bear Stearns Cos., Inc., $44,006,000.
Investment decisions for the Fund are made independently from those of other
accounts managed by the Adviser. When the Fund and one or more of those accounts
invests in, or disposes of, the same security, available investments or
opportunities for sales will be allocated among the Fund and the account(s) in a
manner believed by the Adviser to be equitable. While the coordination and
ability to participate in volume transactions may benefit the Fund, it is
possible that this procedure could adversely impact the price paid or received
and/or the position obtained or disposed of by the Fund.
ADMINISTRATOR
Federated Services Company, a subsidiary of Federated, provides administrative
personnel and services (including certain legal and financial reporting
services) necessary to operate the Fund. Federated Services Company provides
these at the following annual rate of the average aggregate daily net assets of
all Federated Funds as specified below:
AVERAGE AGGREGATE DAILY
MAXIMUM ADMINISTRATIVE FEE NET ASSETS OF THE FEDERATED FUNDS 0.150 of 1% on the
first $250 million 0.125 of 1% on the next $250 million 0.100 of 1% on the next
$250 million 0.075 of 1% on assets in excess of $750 million
The administrative fee received during any fiscal year shall be at least
$125,000 per portfolio and $30,000 per each additional class of Shares.
Federated Services Company may voluntarily waive a portion of its fee and may
reimburse the Fund for expenses.
Federated Services Company also provides certain accounting and recordkeeping
services with respect to the Fund's portfolio investments for a fee based on
Fund assets plus out-of-pocket expenses.
CUSTODIAN
State Street Bank and Trust Company, Boston, Massachusetts, is custodian for the
securities and cash of the Fund. Foreign instruments purchased by the Fund are
held by foreign banks participating in a network coordinated by State Street
Bank.
TRANSFER AGENT AND DIVIDEND DISBURSING AGENT
Federated Services Company, through its registered transfer agent subsidiary,
Federated Shareholder Services Company, maintains all necessary shareholder
records. The Fund pays the transfer agent a fee based on the size, type, and
number of accounts and transactions made by shareholders.
INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
Arthur Andersen LLP is the independent public accountant for the Fund.
FEES PAID BY THE FUND FOR SERVICES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31 1999 1998 1997
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Advisory Fee Earned $20,575,888 $13,813,557 $6,915,061
Advisory Fee Reduction 0 0 0
Brokerage Commissions 4,360,009 3,824,071 2,449,369
Administrative Fee 2,424,668 1,630,734 809,285
12B-1 FEE:
Class B Shares 10,850,463 - -
Class C Shares 1,156,234 - -
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES FEE:
Class A Shares 3,714,740 - -
Class B Shares 3,616,821 - -
Class C Shares 385,411 - -
Class F Shares 322,379
</TABLE>
Fees are allocated among classes based on their pro rata share of Fund assets,
except for marketing (Rule 12b-1) fees and shareholder services fees, which are
borne only by the applicable class of Shares.
How Does the Fund Measure Performance?
The Fund may advertise Share performance by using the Securities and Exchange
Commission's (SEC) standard method for calculating performance applicable to all
mutual funds. The SEC also permits this standard performance information to be
accompanied by non-standard performance information.
Share performance reflects the effect of non-recurring charges, such as maximum
sales charges, which, if excluded, would increase the total return and yield.
The performance of Shares depends upon such variables as: portfolio quality;
average portfolio maturity; type and value of portfolio securities; changes in
interest rates; changes or differences in the Fund's or any class of Shares'
expenses; and various other factors.
Share performance fluctuates on a daily basis largely because net earnings
fluctuate daily. Both net earnings and offering price per Share are factors in
the computation of yield and total return.
AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS AND YIELD
Total returns given for the one-year, five-year and ten-year or since inception
periods ended March 31, 1999.
Yield given for the 30-day period ended March 31, 1999.
30-DAY
SHARE CLASS PERIOD 1 YEAR 5 YEARS 10 YEARS
CKASS A
Total Return N/A 0.46% 20.18% 15.42%
Yield 4.14% N/A N/A N/A
SINCE
30-DAY INCEPTION
SHARE CLASS PERIOD 1 YEAR 5 YEARS 10 YEARS ON 7/25/94
CLASS B
Total Return N/A 0.40% N/A N/A 21.08%
Yield 3.47% N/A N/A N/A N/A
SINCE
30-DAY INCEPTION
SHARE CLASS PERIOD 1 YEAR 5 YEARS 10 YEARS ON 4/21/93
CLASS C
Total Return N/A 4.62% 20.67% N/A 17.83%
Yield 3.43% N/A N/A N/A N/A
SINCE
30-DAY INCEPTION
SHARE CLASS PERIOD 1 YEAR 5 YEARS 10 YEARS ON 7/27/93
CLASS F
Total Return N/A 4.36% 21.26% N/A 18.45%
Yield 4.15% N/A N/A N/A N/A
TOTAL RETURN
Total return represents the change (expressed as a percentage) in the value of
Shares over a specific period of time, and includes the investment of income and
capital gains distributions.
The average annual total return for Shares is the average compounded rate of
return for a given period that would equate a $1,000 initial investment to the
ending redeemable value of that investment. The ending redeemable value is
computed by multiplying the number of Shares owned at the end of the period by
the NAV per Share at the end of the period. The number of Shares owned at the
end of the period is based on the number of Shares purchased at the beginning of
the period with $1,000, less any applicable sales charge, adjusted over the
period by any additional Shares, assuming the annual reinvestment of all
dividends and distributions.
YIELD
The yield of Shares is calculated by dividing: (i) the net investment income per
Share earned by the Shares over a 30-day period; by (ii) the maximum offering
price per Share on the last day of the period. This number is then annualized
using semi-annual compounding. This means that the amount of income generated
during the 30-day period is assumed to be generated each month over a 12-month
period and is reinvested every six months. The yield does not necessarily
reflect income actually earned by Shares because of certain adjustments required
by the SEC and, therefore, may not correlate to the dividends or other
distributions paid to shareholders.
To the extent investment professionals and broker/dealers charge fees in
connection with services provided in conjunction with an investment in Shares,
the Share performance is lower for shareholders paying those fees.
PERFORMANCE COMPARISONS
Advertising and sales literature may include:
* references to ratings, rankings, and financial publications and/or
performance comparisons of Shares to certain indices;
* charts, graphs and illustrations using the Fund's returns, or returns in
general, that demonstrate investment concepts such as tax-deferred compounding,
dollar-cost averaging and systematic investment;
* discussions of economic, financial and political developments and their impact
on the securities market, including the portfolio manager's views on how such
developments could impact the Funds; and
* information about the mutual fund industry from sources such as the Investment
Company Institute.
The Fund may compare its performance, or performance for the types of securities
in which it invests, to a variety of other investments, including federally
insured bank products such as bank savings accounts, certificates of deposit,
and Treasury bills.
The Fund may quote information from reliable sources regarding individual
countries and regions, world stock exchanges, and economic and demographic
statistics.
You may use financial publications and/or indices to obtain a more complete view
of Share performance. When comparing performance, you should consider all
relevant factors such as the composition of the index used, prevailing market
conditions, portfolio compositions of other funds, and methods used to value
portfolio securities and compute offering price. The financial publications
and/or indices which the Fund uses in advertising may include:
LIPPER ANALYTICAL SERVICES, INC.
Lipper Analytical Services, Inc.-ranks funds in various fund categories by
making comparative calculations using total return. Total return assumes the
reinvestment of all capital gains distributions and income dividends and takes
into account any change in net asset value over a specific period of time. From
time to time, the Fund will quote its Lipper ranking in the growth and income
funds category in advertising and sales literature.
STANDARD AND POOR'S RATINGS GROUP DAILY STOCK PRICE INDEX OF 500
COMMON STOCKS
Standard and Poor's Ratings Group Daily Stock Price Index of 500 Common Stocks-a
composite index of common stocks in industry, transportation, and financial and
public utility companies, compares total returns of funds whose portfolios are
invested primarily in common stocks. In addition, the Standard & Poor's index
assumes reinvestment of all dividends paid by stocks listed on the index. Taxes
due on any of these distributions are not included, nor are brokerage or other
fees calculated in the Standard and Poor's figures.
MORNINGSTAR, INC.
Morningstar, Inc.-an independent rating service, is the publisher of the
bi-weekly Mutual Fund Values. Mutual Fund Values rates more than 1,000
NASDAQ-listed mutual funds of all types, according to their risk-adjusted
returns. The maximum rating is five stars, and ratings are effective for two
weeks.
Who is Federated Investors, Inc.?
Federated is dedicated to meeting investor needs by making structured,
straightforward and consistent investment decisions. Federated investment
products have a history of competitive performance and have gained the
confidence of thousands of financial institutions and individual investors.
Federated's disciplined investment selection process is rooted in sound
methodologies backed by fundamental and technical research. At Federated,
success in investment management does not depend solely on the skill of a single
portfolio manager. It is a fusion of individual talents and state- of-the-art
industry tools and resources. Federated's investment process involves teams of
portfolio managers and analysts, and investment decisions are executed by
traders who are dedicated to specific market sectors and who handle trillions of
dollars in annual trading volume.
FEDERATED FUNDS OVERVIEW
MUNICIPAL FUNDS
In the municipal sector, as of December 31, 1998, Federated managed 10 bond
funds with approximately $2.2 billion in assets and 23 money market funds with
approximately $12.5 billion in total assets. In 1976, Federated introduced one
of the first municipal bond mutual funds in the industry and is now one of the
largest institutional buyers of municipal securities. The Funds may quote
statistics from organizations including The Tax Foundation and the National
Taxpayers Union regarding the tax obligations of Americans.
EQUITY FUNDS
In the equity sector, Federated has more than 28 years' experience. As of
December 31, 1998, Federated managed 27 equity funds totaling approximately
$14.9 billion in assets across growth, value, equity income, international,
index and sector (i.e. utility) styles. Federated's value- oriented management
style combines quantitative and qualitative analysis and features a structured,
computer-assisted composite modeling system that was developed in the 1970s.
CORPORATE BOND FUNDS
In the corporate bond sector, as of December 31, 1998, Federated managed 9 money
market funds and 15 bond funds with assets approximating $22.8 billion and $7.1
billion, respectively. Federated's corporate bond decision making-based on
intensive, diligent credit analysis-is backed by over 26 years of experience in
the corporate bond sector. In 1972, Federated introduced one of the first
high-yield bond funds in the industry. In 1983, Federated was one of the first
fund managers to participate in the asset-backed securities market, a market
totaling more than $209 billion.
GOVERNMENT FUNDS
In the government sector, as of December 31, 1998, Federated manages 9
mortgage-backed, 5 government/ agency and 19 government money market mutual
funds, with assets approximating $5.3 billion, $1.8 billion and $41.6 billion,
respectively. Federated trades approximately $425 million in U.S. government and
mortgage-backed securities daily and places approximately $25 billion in
repurchase agreements each day. Federated introduced the first U.S. government
fund to invest in U.S. government bond securities in 1969. Federated has been a
major force in the short- and intermediate-term government markets since 1982
and currently manages approximately $43.2 billion in government funds within
these maturity ranges.
MONEY MARKET FUNDS
In the money market sector, Federated gained prominence in the mutual fund
industry in 1974 with the creation of the first institutional money market fund.
Simultaneously, the company pioneered the use of the amortized cost method of
accounting for valuing shares of money market funds, a principal means used by
money managers today to value money market fund shares. Other innovations
include the first institutional tax-free money market fund. As of December 31,
1998, Federated managed more than $76.7 billion in assets across 52 money market
funds, including 19 government, 9 prime and 23 municipal with assets
approximating $41.6 billion, $22.8 billion and $12.5 billion, respectively.
The Chief Investment Officers responsible for oversight of the various
investment sectors within Federated are: U.S. equity and high yield-
J. Thomas Madden; U.S. fixed income-William D. Dawson, III; and global
equities and fixed income-Henry A. Frantzen. The Chief Investment Officers
are Executive Vice Presidents of the Federated advisory companies.
MUTUAL FUND MARKET
Thirty-seven percent of American households are pursuing their financial goals
through mutual funds. These investors, as well as businesses and institutions,
have entrusted over $5 trillion to the more than 7,300 funds available,
according to the Investment Company Institute.
FEDERATED CLIENTS OVERVIEW
Federated distributes mutual funds through its subsidiaries for a variety of
investment purposes. Specific markets include:
INSTITUTIONAL CLIENTS
Federated meets the needs of approximately 900 institutional clients nationwide
by managing and servicing separate accounts and mutual funds for a variety of
purposes, including defined benefit and defined contribution programs, cash
management, and asset/liability management. Institutional clients include
corporations, pension funds, tax-exempt entities, foundations/endowments,
insurance companies, and investment and financial advisers. The marketing effort
to these institutional clients is headed by John B. Fisher, President,
Institutional Sales Division, Federated Securities Corp.
BANK MARKETING
Other institutional clients include more than 1,600 banks and trust
organizations. Virtually all of the trust divisions of the top 100 bank holding
companies use Federated Funds in their clients' portfolios. The marketing effort
to trust clients is headed by Timothy C. Pillion, Senior Vice President, Bank
Marketing & Sales.
BROKER/DEALERS AND BANK BROKER/DEALER SUBSIDIARIES
Federated Funds are available to consumers through major brokerage firms
nationwide-we have over 2,200 broker/dealer and bank broker/dealer relationships
across the country-supported by more wholesalers than any other mutual fund
distributor. Federated's service to financial professionals and institutions has
earned it high ratings in several surveys performed by DALBAR, Inc. DALBAR is
recognized as the industry benchmark for service quality measurement. The
marketing effort to these firms is headed by James F. Getz, President,
Broker/Dealer Sales Division, Federated Securities Corp.
Financial Information
The Financial Statements for the Fund for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1999
are incorporated herein by reference to the Annual Report to Shareholders of
Federated American Leaders Fund, Inc. dated March 31, 1999.
Investment Ratings
STANDARD AND POOR'S LONG-TERM DEBT RATING DEFINITIONS
AAA-Debt rated AAA has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor's.
Capacity to pay interest and repay principal is extremely strong.
AA-Debt rated AA has a very strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal
and differs from the higher rated issues only in small degree.
A-Debt rated A has a strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal
although it is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in
circumstances and economic conditions than debt in higher rated categories.
BBB-Debt rated BBB is regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay interest
and repay principal. Whereas it normally exhibits adequate protection
parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more
likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay interest and repay principal for
debt in this category than in higher rated categories.
BB-Debt rated BB has less near-term, vulnerability to default than other
speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to
adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to
inadequate capacity to meet timely interest and principal payments. The BB
rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is
assigned an actual or implied BBB- rating.
B-Debt rated B has a greater vulnerability to default but currently has the
capacity to meet interest payments and principal repayments. Adverse business,
financial, or economic conditions will likely impair capacity or willingness to
pay interest and repay principal. The B rating category is also used for debt
subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied BB or BB-
rating.
CCC-Debt rated CCC has a currently identifiable vulnerability to default, and is
dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions to meet
timely payment of interest and repayment of principal. In the event of adverse
business, financial, or economic conditions, it is not likely to have the
capacity to pay interest and repay principal. The CCC rating category is also
used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied
B or B- rating.
CC-The rating CC typically is applied to debt subordinated to senior debt that
is assigned an actual or implied CCC debt rating.
C-The rating C typically is applied to debt subordinated to senior debt which is
assigned an actual or implied CCC- debt rating. The C rating may be used to
cover a situation where a bankruptcy petition has been filed, but debt service
payments are continued.
MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE, INC. LONG-TERM BOND RATING DEFINITIONS
AAA-Bonds which are rated AAA are judged to be of the best quality. They carry
the smallest degree of investment risk and are generally referred to as gilt
edged. Interest payments are protected by a large or by an exceptionally stable
margin and principal is secure. While the various protective elements are likely
to change, such changes as can be visualized are most unlikely to impair the
fundamentally strong position of such issues.
AA-Bonds which are rated AA are judged to be of high quality by all standards.
Together with the AAA group, they comprise what are generally known as high
grade bonds. They are rated lower than the best bonds because margins of
protection may not be as large as in AAA securities or fluctuation of protective
elements may be of greater amplitude or there may be other elements present
which make the long-term risks appear somewhat larger than in AAA securities.
A-Bonds which are rated A possess many favorable investment attributes and are
to be considered as upper medium grade obligations. Factors giving security to
principal and interest are considered adequate but elements may be present which
suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future.
BAA-Bonds which are rated BAA are considered as medium grade obligations, (i.e.,
they are neither highly protected nor poorly secured). Interest payments and
principal security appear adequate for the present but certain protective
elements may be lacking or may be characteristically unreliable over any great
length of time. Such bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics and in
fact have speculative characteristics as well.
BA-Bonds which are BA are judged to have speculative elements; their future
cannot be considered as well assured. Often the protection of interest and
principal payments may be very moderate and thereby not well safeguarded during
both good and bad times over the future. Uncertainty of position characterizes
bonds in this class.
B-Bonds which are rated B generally lack characteristics of the desirable
investment. Assurance of interest and principal payments or of maintenance of
other terms of the contract over any long period of time may be small.
CAA-Bonds which are rated CAA are of poor standing. Such issues may be in
default or there may be present elements of danger with respect to principal or
interest.
CA-Bonds which are rated CA represent obligations which are speculative in a
high degree. Such issues are often in default or have other marked shortcomings.
C-Bonds which are rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds, and issues so
rated can be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of ever attaining any
real investment standing.
FITCH IBCA, INC. LONG-TERM DEBT RATING DEFINITIONS
AAA-Bonds considered to be investment grade and of the highest credit quality.
The obligor has an exceptionally strong ability to pay interest and repay
principal, which is unlikely to be affected by reasonably foreseeable events.
AA-Bonds considered to be investment grade and of very high credit quality. The
obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal is very strong, although
not quite as strong as bonds rated AAA. Because bonds rated in the AAA and AA
categories are not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable future developments,
short-term debt of these issuers is generally rated F- 1+.
A-Bonds considered to be investment grade and of high credit quality. The
obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal is considered to be
strong, but may be more vulnerable to adverse changes in economic conditions and
circumstances than bonds with higher ratings.
BBB-Bonds considered to be investment grade and of satisfactory credit quality.
The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal is considered to be
adequate. Adverse changes in economic conditions and circumstances, however, are
more likely to have adverse impact on these bonds, and therefore impair timely
payment. The likelihood that the ratings of these bonds will fall below
investment grade is higher than for bonds with higher ratings.
BB-Bonds are considered speculative. The obligor's ability to pay interest and
repay principal may be affected over time by adverse economic changes. However,
business and financial alternatives can be identified which could assist the
obligor in satisfying its debt service requirements.
B-Bonds are considered highly speculative. While bonds in this class are
currently meeting debt service requirements, the probability of continued timely
payment of principal and interest reflects the obligor's limited margin of
safety and the need for reasonable business and economic activity throughout the
life of the issue.
CCC-Bonds have certain identifiable characteristics which, if not remedied, may
lead to default. The ability to meet obligations requires an advantageous
business and economic environment.
CC-Bonds are minimally protected. Default in payment of interest and/or
principal seems probable over time.
C-Bonds are imminent default in payment of interest or principal.
MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE, INC. COMMERCIAL PAPER RATINGS
PRIME-1-Issuers rated Prime-1 (or related supporting institutions) have a
superior capacity for repayment of short-term promissory obligations. Prime-1
repayment capacity will normally be evidenced by the following characteristics:
* Leading market positions in well established industries.
* High rates of return on funds employed.
* Conservative capitalization structure with moderate reliance on debt and ample
asset protection.
* Broad margins in earning coverage of fixed financial charges and high internal
cash generation.
* Well established access to a range of financial markets and assured sources of
alternate liquidity.
PRIME-2-Issuers rated Prime-1 (or related supporting institutions) have a strong
capacity for repayment of short-term promissory obligations. This will normally
be evidenced by many of the characteristics cited above but to a lesser degree.
Earnings trends and coverage ratios, while sound, will be more subject to
variation. Capitalization characteristics, while still appropriate, may be more
affected by external conditions. Ample alternate liquidity is maintained.
STANDARD AND POOR'S COMMERCIAL PAPER RATINGS
A-1-This designation indicates that the degree of safety regarding timely
payment is strong. Those issues determined to possess extremely strong safety
characteristics are denoted with a plus sign (+) designation.
A-2-Capacity for timely payment on issues with this designation is satisfactory.
However, the relative degree of safety is not as high as for issues designated
A-1.
FITCH IBCA, INC. COMMERCIAL PAPER RATING DEFINITIONS
FITCH-1-(Highest Grade) Commercial paper assigned this rating is regarded as
having the strongest degree of assurance for timely payment.
FITCH-2-(Very Good Grade) Issues assigned this rating reflect an assurance of
timely payment only slightly less in degree than the strongest issues.
Addresses
FEDERATED AMERICAN LEADERS FUND, INC.
Class A Shares
Class B Shares
Class C Shares
Class F Shares
Federated Investors Funds
5800 Corporate Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15237-7000
DISTRIBUTOR
Federated Securities Corp.
Federated Investors Tower
1001 Liberty Avenue,
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
INVESTMENT ADVISER
Federated Investment Management Company
Federated Investors Tower
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
CUSTODIAN
State Street Bank and Trust Company
P.O. Box 8600
Boston, MA 02266-8600
TRANSFER AGENT AND DIVIDEND DISBURSING AGENT
Federated Shareholder Services Company
P.O. Box 8600
Boston, MA 02266-8600
INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
Arthur Andersen LLP
225 Franklin Street
Boston, MA 02110-2812
