File Nos. 2-28274; 811-1604-3
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 25, 1996
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 /_X__/
Pre-Effective Amendment No. ___ / __ /
Post-Effective Amendment No. _55 /__X_/
and/or
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT
OF 1940 / X /
Amendment No. 26 / X _/
(Check appropriate box or boxes)
PIONEER GROWTH SHARES
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
60 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109
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(Address of principal executive office) Zip Code
Registrant's Telephone Number, including Area Code: (617) 742-7825
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Joseph P. Barri, Hale and Dorr, 60 State Street, Boston, MA 02109
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(Name and address of agent for service)
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate
box):
___ immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
_X_ on April 29, 1996 pursuant to paragraph (b)
___ 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)
___ on [date] pursuant to paragraph (a) of Rule 485
Pioneer Growth Shares registered an indefinite amount of securities under the
Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to Section 24(f) of the Investment Company Act
of 1940. Pioneer Growth Shares filed the Notice required by Rule 24f-2 for its
most recent fiscal year on February 29, 1996.
<PAGE>
PIONEER GROWTH SHARES
Cross-Reference Sheet Showing Location in Prospectus and
Statement of Additional Information of Information Required by
Items of the Registration Form
Location in Prospectus
Form N-1A Item Number or Statement of
and Caption Additional Information
----------- ----------------------
1. Cover Page Prospectus - Cover Page
2. Synopsis Prospectus - Expense
Information
3. Condensed Financial
Information Prospectus - Financial
Highlights
4. General Description of
Registrant Prospectus - Investment
Objective, Policies and Risks;
Management of the Fund
5. Management of the Fund Prospectus - Management of the
Fund
6. Capital Stock and Other
Securities Prospectus - Investment
Objective, Policies and Risks;
Fund Share Alternatives; Share
Price; Dividends, Distribution
and Taxation
7. Purchase of Securities
Being Offered Prospectus - Distribution
Plans; How to Buy Fund Shares
8. Redemption or Repurchase Prospectus - How to Sell Fund
Shares; Shareholder Services
9. Pending Legal
Proceedings Not Applicable
10. Cover Page Statement of Additional
Information - Cover Page
11. Table of Contents Statement of Additional
Information - Cover Page
12. General Information
and History Statement of Additional
Information - Cover Page;
Management of the Fund; Shares
of the Fund
<PAGE>
Location in Prospectus
Form N-1A Item Number or Statement of
and Caption Additional Information
----------- ----------------------
13. Investment Objectives
and Policy Statement of Additional
Information - Investment
Objective and Policies;
Investment Restrictions
14. Management of the Fund Statement of Additional
Information - Management of
the Fund; Investment Adviser
15. Control Persons and
Principal Holders
of Securities Statement of Additional
Information - Management of
the Fund
16. Investment Advisory and
Other Services Statement of Additional
Information - Management of
the Fund; Investment Adviser;
Shareholder Servicing/Transfer
Agent; Underwriting Agreement
and Distribution Plans;
Principal Underwriter;
Custodian; Independent Public
Accountant
17. Brokerage Allocation and
Other Practices Statement of Additional
Information - Portfolio
Transactions
18. Capital Stock and Other
Securities Statement of Additional
Information - Shares of the
Fund
19. Purchase Redemption and
Pricing of Securities
Being Offered Statement of Additional
Information - Determination of
Net Asset Value; Letter of
Intention; Systematic
Withdrawal Plan
20. Tax Status Statement of Additional
Information - Tax Status and
Dividends
21.. Underwriters Statement of Additional
Information - Principal
Underwriter
22. Calculation of Performance
Data Statement of Additional
Information - Investment
Results
23. Financial Statements Statement of Additional
Information - Financial
Statements
<PAGE>
Pioneer
Fund
Class A, Class B and Class C Shares
Prospectus
May 1, 1996
The investment objectives of Pioneer Fund ("the Fund") are reasonable income
and growth of capital. The Fund seeks to achieve these objectives by investing
in a broad list of carefully selected, reasonably priced securities.
Fund returns and share prices fluctuate and the value of your account upon
redemption may be more or less than your purchase price. Shares in the Fund are
not deposits or obligations of, or guaranteed or endorsed by, any bank or other
depository institution, and the shares are not federally insured by the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board or any other government
agency.
This Prospectus provides the information about the Fund that you should know
before investing in the Fund. Please read and retain it for your future
reference. More information about the Fund is included in the Statement of
Additional Information, dated May 1, 1996, which is incorporated into this
Prospectus by reference. A copy of the Statement of Additional Information and
the Fund's Annual Report may be obtained free of charge by calling Shareholder
Services at 1-800-225-6292 or by written request to the Fund at 60 State Street,
Boston, Massachusetts 02109. Other information about the Fund has been filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and is available upon
request and without charge.
TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE
- -------- ---------------------------------------------- -----
I. EXPENSE INFORMATION 2
II. FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS 3
III. INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES 3
IV. MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND 4
V. FUND SHARE ALTERNATIVES 5
VI. SHARE PRICE 6
VII. HOW TO BUY FUND SHARES 6
VIII. HOW TO SELL FUND SHARES 9
IX. HOW TO EXCHANGE FUND SHARES 10
X. DISTRIBUTION PLANS 11
XI. DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXATION 12
XII. SHAREHOLDER SERVICES 12
Account and Confirmation Statements 12
Additional Investments 12
Automatic Investment Plans 12
Financial Reports and Tax Information 13
Distribution Options 13
Directed Dividends 13
Direct Deposit 13
Voluntary Tax Withholding 13
Telephone Transactions and Related
Liabilities 13
FactFone((SM)) 13
Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) 13
Retirement Plans 13
Systematic Withdrawal Plans 13
Reinstatement Privilege (Class A Shares Only) 14
XIII. THE FUND 14
XIV. INVESTMENT RESULTS 14
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE COMMISSION
OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF
THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
<PAGE>
I. EXPENSE INFORMATION
This table is designed to help you understand the charges and expenses that
you, as a shareholder, will bear directly or indirectly when you invest in
the Fund. The table reflects expenses based on actual Class A expenses for
the fiscal year December 31, 1995. Management fees have been restated to
reflect the maximum, basic and minimum fees payable to Pioneering Management
Corporation ("PMC") under the most recently approved management contract. See
"Management of the Fund." Actual management fees and total operating expenses
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995 were 0.46% and 0.94%,
respectively, under a management contract previously in effect. For Class B
and Class C shares, operating expenses are based on estimated expenses that
would have been incurred if such shares had been outstanding for the entire
fiscal year ended December 31, 1995.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Shareholder Transaction Expenses: Class A Class B+ Class C+
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Maximum Sales Charge on Purchases 5.75% None None
Maximum Sales Charge on Reinvestment
of Dividends None None None
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge None((1)) 4.00% 1.00%
Redemption Fee((2)) None None None
Exchange Fee None None None
</TABLE>
Annual Operating Expenses (as a
percentage of average net assets):
Management Fee
--------------------------
Class A Shares Basic Maximum Minimum
Management Fee 0.60% 0.70% 0.50%
12b-1 Fees 0.18% 0.18% 0.18%
Other Expenses (including accounting
and transfer agent fees, custodian
fees and printing expenses) 0.31% 0.31% 0.31%
-- ---- ------
Total Operating Expenses 1.09% 1.19% 0.99%
== ==== ======
Management Fee
--------------------------
Class B Shares Basic Maximum Minimum
Management Fee 0.60% 0.70% 0.50%
12b-1 Fees 1.00% 1.00% 1.00%
Other Expenses (including transfer agent
fee, custodian fees and accounting and
printing expenses) 0.33% 0.33% 0.33%
-- ---- ------
Total Operating Expenses 1.93% 2.03% 1.83%
== ==== ======
Management Fee
--------------------------
Class C Shares Basic Maximum Minimum
Management Fee 0.60% 0.70% 0.50%
12b-1 Fees 1.00% 1.00% 1.00%
Other Expenses (including transfer agent
fee, custodian fees and accounting and
printing expenses) 0.33% 0.33% 0.33%
-- ---- ------
Total Operating Expenses 1.93% 2.03% 1.83%
== ==== ======
+ Class B and Class C shares will first be offered on July 1, 1996.
1 Purchases of $1,000,000 or more and purchases by participants in certain
group plans are not subject to an initial sales charge. A contingent
deferred sales charge ("CDSC") of 1% may, however, be charged on
redemptions by such accounts of shares held less than one year, as further
described under "How to Sell Fund Shares."
2 Separate fees (currently $10 and $20, respectively) apply to domestic or
international bank wire transfers of redemption proceeds.
Example
You would pay the following expenses on a $1,000 investment, assuming a 5%
annual return and constant expenses, with or without redemption at the end of
each time period:
1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years
------- ------- ------- ---------
Class A Shares
Management Fee
Basic $68 $90 $114 $183
Maximum $69 $93 $119 $194
Minimum $67 $87 $109 $172
Class B Shares*
- --Assuming complete redemption at end of period
Management Fee
Basic $60 $91 $124 $204
Maximum $61 $94 $129 $215
Minimum $58 $98 $119 $193
- --Assuming no redemption
Management Fee
Basic $20 $61 $104 $204
Maximum $21 $64 $109 $215
Minimum $18 $58 $ 99 $193
Class C shares**
- --Assuming complete redemption at end of period
Management Fee
Basic $30 $61 $104 $225
Maximum $31 $64 $109 $235
Minimum $29 $58 $ 99 $215
- --Assuming no redemption
Management Fee
Basic $20 $61 $104 $225
Maximum $21 $64 $109 $235
Minimum $20 $58 $ 99 $215
*Class B shares convert to Class A shares eight years after purchase;
therefore, Class A expenses are used after year eight.
**Class C shares redeemed during the first year after purchase are subject to
a 1% contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC").
The example above assumes reinvestment of all dividends and distributions
and that the percentage amounts listed under "Annual Operating Expenses"
remain the same each year.
The example is designed for informational purposes only, and should not be
considered a representation of past or future expenses or return. Actual Fund
expenses and return vary from year to year and may be higher or lower than
those shown.
For further information regarding management fees, 12b-1 fees and other
expenses of the Fund, see "Management of the Fund," "Distribution Plans" and
"How To Buy Fund Shares" in this Prospectus and "Management of the Fund" and
"Underwriting Agreement and Distribution Plans" in the Statement of
Additional Information. The Fund's payment of a 12b-1 fee may result in
long-term shareholders indirectly paying more than the economic equivalent of
the maximum sales charge permitted under the Rules of Fair Practice of the
National Association of Securities Dealers Inc. ("NASD").
The maximum sales charge is reduced on purchases of specified amounts of
Class A Shares and the value of shares owned in other Pioneer mutual funds is
taken into account in determining the applicable sales charge. See "How to
Buy Fund Shares." No sales charge is applied to exchanges of shares of the
Fund for shares of other publicly available Pioneer mutual funds. See "How to
Exchange Fund Shares."
2
<PAGE>
II. FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The following information has been audited by Arthur Andersen LLP,
independent public accountants. Arthur Andersen LLP's report on the Fund's
financial statements as of December 31, 1995 appears in the Fund's Annual
Report which is incorporated by reference into the Statement of Additional
Information. The information listed below should be read in conjunction with
the financial statements contained in the Fund's Annual Report. Class B and
Class C shares are new classes of shares; no financial highlights exist for
either Class B or Class C shares. The Annual Report includes more information
about the Fund's performance and is available free of charge by calling
Shareholder Services at 1-800-225-6292.
Pioneer Fund
Financial Highlights for Each Class A Share Outstanding throughout Each Year:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year Ended December 31,
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net asset value,
beginning of year $21.32 $23.25 $21.51 $20.24 $18.79 $23.28
Increase/decrease from
investment operations--
Net investment income $ 0.49 $ 0.49 $ 0.47 $ 0.50 $ 0.61 $ 0.67
Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on
investments 5.13 (0.63) 2.57 2.22 3.49 (3.10)
Total increase/decrease
from investment
operations $ 5.62 $(0.14) $ 3.04 $ 2.72 $ 4.10 $(2.43)
Distribution to
shareholders from--
Net investment income (0.49) (0.49) (0.47) (0.50) (0.61) (0.67)
Net realized capital gains (2.09) (1.30) (0.83) (0.95) (2.04) (1.39)
Net increase (decrease) in
net asset value $ 3.04 $(1.93) $ 1.74 $ 1.27 $ 1.45 $(4.49)
Net asset value, end of
year $24.36 $21.32 $23.25 $21.51 $20.24 $18.79
Total return* 26.64% (0.57%) 14.23% 13.60% 22.76% (10.52%)
Ratio of net operating
expenses to average net
assets 0.95%+ 0.94% 0.95% 0.98% 0.87% 0.78%
Ratio of net investment
income to average net
assets 2.01%+ 2.13% 2.04% 2.33% 2.87% 3.15%
Portfolio turnover rate 31% 20% 12% 13% 22% 17%
Net assets, end of year
(in thousands) $2,466,098 $2,011,051 $2,042,945 $1,786,031 $1,614,567 $1,395,520
Ratios assuming reduction
for fees paid indirectly:
Net operating expenses 0.94%
Net investment income 2.02%
</TABLE>
Year Ended December 31,
----------------------------------------
1989 1988 1987 1986
----- ----- ----- -----
Net asset value,
beginning of year $20.34 $18.48 $19.72 $23.13
Increase/decrease from
investment operations--
Net investment income $0.61 $0.63 $0.62 $0.56
Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on
investments 4.09 2.72 0.41 1.95
Total increase/decrease
from investment
operations $4.70 $3.35 $1.03 $2.51
Distribution to
shareholders from--
Net investment income (0.68) (0.62) (0.61) (0.67)
Net realized capital gains (1.08) (0.87) (1.66) (5.25)
Net increase (decrease) in
net asset value $2.94 $1.86 $(1.24) $(3.41)
Net asset value, end of
year $23.28 $20.34 $18.48 $19.72
Total return* 23.39% 18.33% 5.44% 11.49%
Ratio of net operating
expenses to average net
assets 0.75% 0.76% 0.70% 0.70%
Ratio of net investment
income to average net
assets 2.60% 3.03% 2.75% 2.44%
Portfolio turnover rate 6% 11% 14% 31%
Net assets, end of year
(in thousands) $1,618,320 $1,409,755 $1,272,118 $1,302,120
Ratios assuming reduction
for fees paid indirectly:
Net operating expenses
Net investment income
+Ratios assuming no reduction for fees paid indirectly.
*Assumes initial investment at net asset value at the beginning of each year,
reinvestment of all dividends and distributions, and the complete redemption
of the investment at the net asset value at the end of each year and no
sales charges. Total return would be reduced if sales charges were taken
into account.
III. INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES
The investment objectives of the Fund are reasonable income and growth of
capital. The Fund seeks these objectives by investing in a broad list of
carefully selected, reasonably priced securities rather than investing in
securities whose prices reflect a premium from their current market
popularity. Most of the Fund's assets are invested in common stocks and other
equity securities such as preferred stocks and securities convertible into
common stock, but the Fund may also invest in debt securities and cash
equivalent investments.
The largest portions of the Fund's portfolio are invested in securities that
have paid dividends within the preceding twelve months, but some non-income
producing securities are held for anticipated increases in value. Assets of
the Fund are substantially fully invested at all times because management
avoids speculating on broad changes in the level of the market.
Whenever the Fund wishes to obtain funds not otherwise available for the
purchase of an attractive security, it pursues the policy of selling that
security in its portfolio which seems the least attractive security owned.
The resulting rate of turnover of the portfolio is not considered an
important factor. See "Financial Highlights" for the Fund's actual turnover
rate. The Fund does not purchase and sell securities for short-term profits;
however, securities are sold without regard to the time they have been held
whenever selling seems advisable.
The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with banks, generally not
exceeding seven days. Such repurchase agreements will be fully collateralized
with United States ("U.S.") Treasury and/or Agency obligations with a market
value of not less than 100% of the obligation, valued daily. Collateral will
be held in a segregated, safekeeping account for the benefit of the Fund. In
the event that a repurchase agreement is not fulfilled, the Fund could suffer
a loss to the extent that the value of the collateral falls below the
repurchase price.
The Fund may write (sell) covered call options in standard contracts traded
on national securities exchanges or those which may be quoted on the Nasdaq
market, provided that it continues to own the securities covering each call
until the
3
<PAGE>
call has been exercised or has expired, or until the Fund has purchased a
closing call to offset the obligation to deliver securities for the call it
has written. The Fund does not expect to write (sell) covered call options
with an aggregate market value exceeding 5% of the Fund's total assets in the
foreseeable future. See the Statement of Additional Information for
information regarding the Fund's ability to write (sell) covered call
options.
The Fund may invest in foreign securities if purchases of such securities are
otherwise consistent with the fundamental policies of the Fund. As a matter of
practice, however, the Fund does not invest in foreign securities if there
appears to be a substantial risk to the issuer of such securities of
nationalization, confiscation or other national restrictions. In connection with
its investments in foreign securities and in order to protect itself against
uncertainty in future exchange rates, the Fund may engage in foreign currency
exchange transactions.
The Fund's fundamental investment objectives and the fundamental investment
restrictions set forth in the Statement of Additional Information may not be
changed without shareowner approval. Certain other investment policies,
strategies and restrictions on investment are noted throughout the Prospectus
and are set forth in the Statement of Additional Information. These
non-fundamental investment policies, strategies and restrictions may be changed
at any time by a vote of the Board of Trustees. Other investment policies and
restrictions on investments are described in the Statement of Additional
Information include a policy on lending portfolio securities, and a restriction
that the Fund will not invest more than 5% of its net assets in debt securities,
including convertible securities, which are rated less than investment grade or
the equivalent. Since all investments are subject to inherent market risks and
fluctuations in value due to earnings, economic conditions and other factors,
the Fund, of course, cannot assure that its investment objectives will be
achieved.
IV. MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
The Fund's Board of Trustees has overall responsibility for management and
supervision of the Fund. There are currently eight Trustees of the Fund, six of
whom are not "interested persons" of the Fund as defined in the Investment
Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act"), as amended. The Board meets at least
quarterly. By virtue of the functions performed by PMC as investment adviser,
the Fund requires no employees other than its executive officers, all of whom
receive their compensation from PMC or other sources. The Statement of
Additional Information contains the names of and general background information
regarding each Trustee and executive officer of the Fund.
The Fund is managed under a contract with PMC. PMC serves as investment
adviser to the Fund and is responsible for the overall management of the Fund's
business affairs, subject only to the authority of the Fund's Board of Trustees.
PMC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Pioneer Group, Inc. ("PGI"), a Delaware
corporation. PGI's indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, Pioneer Funds Distributor,
Inc. ("PFD"), is the principal underwriter of shares of the Fund.
Each domestic equity portfolio managed by PMC, including the Fund, is overseen
by the Domestic Equity Portfolio Management Committee, which consists of PMC's
most senior domestic equity professionals. The Committee is chaired by Mr. David
Tripple, PMC's President and Chief Investment Officer and Executive Vice
President of each of the Funds. Mr. Tripple joined PMC in 1974 and has had
general responsibility for PMC's investment operations and specific portfolio
assignments for over five years. Day-to-day management of the Fund has been the
responsibility of John A. Carey, Vice President of the Fund and PMC, since
February 1987. Mr. Carey joined PMC in 1979.
John F. Cogan, Jr., Chairman and President of the Fund, Chairman of PFD, and
President and a Director of PGI and Chairman of PMC, owned approximately 14% of
the outstanding capital stock of PGI as of the date of this Prospectus.
In addition to the Fund, PMC also manages and serves as the investment adviser
for other mutual funds and is an investment adviser to certain other
institutional accounts. PMC's and PFD's executive offices are located at 60
State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109.
Under the terms of its contract with the Fund, PMC assists in the management
of the Fund and is authorized in its discretion to buy and sell securities for
the account of the Fund. PMC pays all the ordinary operating expenses, including
executive salaries and the rental of office space relating to its services for
the Fund, with the exception of the following, which are paid by the Fund: (a)
charges and expenses for fund accounting, pricing and appraisal services and
related overhead, including, to the extent such services are performed by
personnel of PMC or its affiliates, office space and facilities and personnel
compensation, training and benefits; (b) the charges and expenses of auditors;
(c) the charges and expenses of any custodian, transfer agent, plan agent,
dividend disbursing agent and registrar appointed by the Trust with respect to
the Fund; (d) issue and transfer taxes, chargeable to the Fund in connection
with securities transactions to which the Fund is a party; (e) insurance
premiums, interest charges, dues and fees for membership in trade associations,
and all taxes and corporate fees payable by the Fund to federal, state or other
governmental agencies; (f) fees and expenses involved in registering and
maintaining registrations of the Fund and/or its shares with the SEC, individual
states or blue sky securities agencies, territories and foreign countries,
including the preparation of Prospectuses and Statements of Additional
Information for filing with regulatory agencies; (g) all expenses of
shareholders' and Trustees' meetings and of preparing, printing and distributing
prospectuses, notices, proxy statements and all reports to shareholders and to
governmental agencies; (h) charges and expenses of legal counsel to the Fund and
the Trustees; (i) distribution fees paid by the Fund in accordance with Rule
12b-1 promulgated by the SEC pursuant to the 1940 Act; (j) compensation of those
Trustees of the Trust who are not affiliated with or interested persons of PMC,
the Trust (other than as Trustees), PGI or PFD; (k) the cost of preparing and
printing share certificates; and (l) interest on borrowed money, if any. The
Fund also pays all brokers' and underwriting commissions chargeable to the Fund
in connection with its portfolio transactions.
Orders for the Fund's portfolio securities transactions are placed by PMC,
which strives to obtain the best price and execution for each transaction. In
circumstances where two or more broker-dealers are in a position to offer
comparable prices and execution, consideration may be given to whether the
broker-dealer provides brokerage or research services or sells shares of the
Pioneer mutual funds. See the Statement of Additional Information for a further
description of PMC's brokerage allocation practices.
Management Fee
As compensation for its management services and certain expenses which PMC
incurs on behalf of the Fund, the Fund pays PMC a management fee that is
comprised of two components. The first component is a basic fee equal to 0.60%
per annum of the Fund's average daily net assets (the "Basic Fee"). The second
component is a performance fee adjustment.
4
<PAGE>
Computing the Performance Fee Adjustment. The Basic Fee is subject to an
upward or downward adjustment, depending on whether, and to what extent, the
investment performance of the Fund for the performance period exceeds, or is
exceeded by, the record of the index determined by the Fund to be appropriate
over the same period. The Trustees have designated the Lipper Growth and
Income Funds Index (the "Index") for this purpose. The Index represents the
arithmetic mean performance (i.e., equally weighted) of the thirty largest
funds with a growth and income investment objective.
The performance period consists of the current month and the prior 35 months
("performance period"). Each percentage point of difference (up to a maximum
of \+10) is multiplied by a performance adjustment rate of 0.01%. Thus, the
maximum annualized adjustment rate is \+0.10%. This performance comparison is
made at the end of each month. An appropriate percentage of this rate (based
upon the number of days in the current month) is then multiplied by the
Fund's average net assets for the entire performance period, giving a dollar
amount that will be added to (or subtracted from) the Basic Fee.
The Fund's performance is calculated based on its net asset value per share.
For purposes of calculating the performance adjustment, any dividends or
capital gains distributions paid by the Fund are treated as if reinvested in
Fund shares at the net asset value per share as of the record date for
payment. The record for the Index is based on change in value and is adjusted
for any cash distributions from the companies whose securities comprise the
Index.
Because the adjustment to the Basic Fee is based on the comparative
performance of the Fund and the record of the Index, the controlling factor
is not whether Fund performance is up or down, but whether it is up or down
more or less than the record of the Index. Moreover, the comparative
investment record of the Fund is based solely on the relevant performance
period without regard to the cumulative performance over a longer or shorter
period of time.
From time to time, the Trustees may determine that another securities index
is a more appropriate benchmark than the Index for purposes of evaluating the
performance of the Fund. In such event, a successor index may be substituted
for the Index. However, the calculation of the performance adjustment for any
portion of the performance period prior to the adoption of the successor
index would still be based upon the Fund's performance compared to the Index.
The Fund's current management contract with PMC became effective May 1,
1996. Under the terms of the contract, beginning on May 1, 1996 the Fund will
pay management fees at a rate equal to the Basic Fee plus or minus the amount
of the performance adjustment for the current month and the preceding 35
months. At the end of each succeeding month, the performance period will roll
forward one month so that it is always a 36-month period consisting of the
current month and the prior 35 months as described above. If including the
initial rolling performance period (that is, the period prior to the
effectiveness of the management contract), has the effect of increasing the
Basic Fee for any month, such aggregate prior results will be treated as
Index neutral for purposes of calculating the performance adjustment for such
month. Otherwise, the performance adjustment will be made as described above.
The Basic Fee is computed daily, the performance fee adjustment is
calculated once per month and the entire management fee is normally paid
monthly.
Until May 1, 1996, as compensation for its management services and certain
expenses which PMC incurred, PMC was entitled to a management fee equal to
0.50% per annum of the Fund's average daily net assets up to $250 million,
0.48% of the next $50 million and 0.45% of the excess over $300 million. The
fee was normally computed daily and paid monthly. During the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1995, the Fund incurred expenses of approximately
$21,453,000, including management fees paid or payable to PMC of
approximately $10,330,000.
V. FUND SHARE ALTERNATIVES
The Fund continuously offers three Classes of shares designated as Class A,
Class B and Class C shares, as described more fully in "How to Buy Fund
Shares." If you do not specify in your instructions to the Fund which Class
of shares you wish to purchase, exchange or redeem, the Fund will assume that
your instructions apply to Class A shares.
Class A Shares. If you invest less than $1 million in Class A shares, you
will pay an initial sales charge. Certain purchases may qualify for reduced
initial sales charges. If you invest $1 million or more in Class A shares, no
sales charge will be imposed at the time of purchase, however, shares
redeemed within 12 months of purchase may be subject to a CDSC. Class A
shares are subject to distribution and service fees at a combined annual rate
of up to 0.25% of the Fund's average daily net assets attributable to Class A
shares.
Class B Shares. If you plan to invest up to $250,000, Class B shares are
available to you. Class B shares are sold without an initial sales charge,
but are subject to a CDSC of up to 4% if redeemed within six years. Class B
shares are subject to distribution and service fees at a combined annual rate
of 1.00% of the Fund's average daily net assets attributable to Class B
shares. Your entire investment in Class B shares is available to work for you
from the time you make your investment, but the higher distribution fee paid
by Class B shares will cause your Class B shares (until conversion) to have a
higher expense ratio and to pay lower dividends, to the extent dividends are
paid, than Class A shares. Class B shares will automatically convert to Class
A shares, based on relative net asset value, eight years after the initial
purchase.
Class C Shares. Class C shares are sold without an initial sales charge, but
are subject to a 1% CDSC if they are redeemed within the first year after
purchase. Class C shares are subject to distribution and service fees at a
combined annual rate of up to 1.00% of the Fund's average daily net assets
attributable to Class C shares. Your entire investment in Class C shares is
available to work for you from the time you make your investment, but the
higher distribution fee paid by Class C shares will cause your Class C shares
to have a higher expense ratio and to pay lower dividends, to the
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<PAGE>
extent dividends are paid, than Class A shares. Class C shares have no
conversion feature.
Selecting a Class of Shares. The decision as to which Class to purchase
depends on the amount you invest, the intended length of the investment and
your personal situation. If you are making an investment that qualifies for
reduced sales charges, you might consider Class A shares. If you prefer not
to pay an initial sales charge on an investment of $250,000 or less and you
plan to hold the investment for at least six years, you might consider Class
B shares. If you prefer not to pay an initial sales charge and you plan to
hold your investment for one to eight years, you may prefer Class C shares.
Investment dealers or their representatives may receive different
compensation depending on which Class of shares they sell. Shares may be
exchanged only for shares of the same Class of another Pioneer mutual fund
and shares acquired in the exchange will continue to be subject to any CDSC
applicable to the shares of the Fund originally purchased. Shares sold
outside the U.S. to persons who are not U.S. citizens may be subject to
different sales charges, CDSCs and dealer compensation arrangements in
accordance with local laws and business practices.
VI. SHARE PRICE
Shares of the Fund are sold at the public offering price, which is the net
asset value per share, plus any applicable sales charge. The net asset value
per share of each Class of the Fund shares is determined by dividing the
value of its assets, less liabilities attributable to that Class, by the
number of shares of that Class outstanding. The net asset value is computed
once daily, on each day the New York Stock Exchange (the "Exchange") is open,
as of the close of regular trading on the Exchange.
Securities are valued at the last sale price on the principal exchange or
market where they are traded. Securities which have not traded on the date of
valuation or securities for which sales prices are not generally reported are
valued at the mean between the current bid and asked prices. Securities
quoted in foreign currencies are converted to U.S. dollars utilizing foreign
exchange rates employed by the Fund's independent pricing services.
Generally, trading in foreign securities is substantially completed each day
at various times prior to the close of the Exchange. The values of such
securities used in computing the net asset value of the Fund's shares are
determined as of such times. Foreign currency exchange rates are also
generally determined prior to the close of the Exchange. Occasionally, events
which affect the values of such securities and such exchange rates may occur
between the times at which they are determined and the close of the Exchange
and will therefore 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, then these securities are valued at their fair
value as determined in good faith by the Trustees. All assets of the Fund for
which there is no other readily available valuation method are valued at
their fair value as determined in good faith by the Trustees.
VII. HOW TO BUY FUND SHARES
You may buy Fund shares from any securities broker-dealer which has a sales
agreement with PFD. If you do not have a securities broker-dealer, please
call 1-800-225-6292. Shares will be purchased at the public offering price,
that is, the net asset value per share plus any applicable sales charge, next
computed after receipt of a purchase order, except as set forth below.
The minimum initial investment is $50 for Class A share accounts and $1,000
for Class B and Class C share accounts, except as specified below. Separate
minimum investment requirements apply to retirement plans and to telephone
and wire orders placed by broker-dealers; no sales charge or minimum
investment requirements apply to the reinvestment of dividends or capital
gains distributions. The minimum subsequent investment is $50 for Class A
shares and $500 for Class B and Class C shares except that the subsequent
minimum investment for Class B and Class C shares may be as little as $50 if
an automatic investment plan (see "Automatic Investment Plans") is
established.
The Fund has a minimum Class A account requirement of $500. As a new
purchaser, you will be given at least 24 months from your initial purchase to
increase the value of the Class A account to $500. See "How to Sell Fund
Shares."
Telephone Purchases. Your account is automatically authorized to have the
telephone purchase privilege unless you indicated otherwise on your Account
Application or by writing to Pioneering Services Corporation ("PSC"). The
telephone purchase option may be used to purchase additional shares for an
existing mutual fund account; it may not be used to establish a new account.
Proper account identification will be required for each telephone purchase. A
maximum of $25,000 per account may be purchased by telephone each day. The
telephone purchase privilege is available to Individual Retirement Accounts
("IRAs") but may not be available to other types of retirement plan accounts.
Call PSC for more information.
You are strongly urged to consult with your financial representative prior
to requesting a telephone purchase. To purchase shares by telephone, you must
establish your bank account of record by completing the appropriate section
of your Account Application or an Account Options Form. PSC will
electronically debit the amount of each purchase from this pre-designated
bank account. Telephone purchases may not be made for 30 days after the
establishment of your bank of record or any change to your bank information.
Telephone purchases will be priced at the net asset value plus any
applicable sales charge next determined after PSC's receipt of a telephone
purchase instruction and receipt of good funds (usually three days after the
purchase instruction). You may always elect to deliver purchases to PSC by
mail. See "Telephone Transactions and Related Liabilities" for additional
information.
Class A Shares
You may buy Class A shares at the public offering price, that is, at the net
asset value per share next computed after receipt of a purchase order, plus a
sales charge as follows:
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Sales Charge as % of Dealer
-------------------- Allowance
Net as a % of
Offering Amount Offering
Amount of Purchase Price Invested Price
- --------------------- ------- --------- -------------
Less than $50,000 5.75% 6.10% 5.00%
$50,000 but less than
$100,000 4.50 4.71 4.00
$100,000 but less
than $250,000 3.50 3.63 3.00
$250,000 but less
than $500,000 2.50 2.56 2.00
$500,000 but less
than $1,000,000 2.00 2.04 1.75
$1,000,000 or more -0- -0- see below
No sales charge is payable at the time of purchase on investments of
$1,000,000 or more or on purchases by certain group plans (discussed below),
but for such investments a CDSC of 1% is imposed in the event of a redemption
of Class A shares within one year of purchase. See "How to Sell Fund Shares."
PFD may, in its discretion, pay a commission to broker-dealers who initiate
and are responsible for such purchases as follows: 1% on the first $5 million
invested; 0.50% on the next $45 million; and 0.25% on the excess over $50
million. These commissions will not be paid if the purchaser is affiliated
with the broker-dealer or if the purchase represents the reinvestment of a
redemption made during the previous 12 calendar months. Broker-dealers who
receive a commission in connection with Class A share purchases at net asset
value by 401(a) or 401(k) retirement plans with 1,000 or more eligible
participants or with at least $10 million in plan assets will be required to
return any commission paid or a pro rata portion thereof if the retirement
plan redeems its shares within 12 months of purchase. See also "How to Sell
Fund Shares." In connection with PGI's acquisition of Mutual of Omaha Fund
Management Company and contingent upon the achievement of certain sales
objectives, PFD may pay to Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. 50% of
PFD's retention of any sales commission on sales of the Fund's Class A shares
through such dealer.
The schedule of sales charges above is applicable to purchases of Class A
shares of the Fund by (i) an individual, (ii) an individual, his or her
spouse and children under the age of 21 and (iii) a trustee or other
fiduciary of a trust estate or fiduciary account or related trusts or
accounts including pension, profit-sharing and other employee benefit trusts
qualified under Section 401 or 408 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code"), although more than one beneficiary is involved. The
sales charge applicable to a current purchase of Class A shares of the Fund
by a person listed above is determined by adding the value of shares to be
purchased to the aggregate value (at current offering price) of shares of any
of the other Pioneer mutual funds previously purchased and then owned,
provided PFD is notified by such person or his or her broker-dealer each time
a purchase is made which would qualify.
Qualifying for a Reduced Sales Charge. Class A shares of the Fund may be
sold at a reduced or eliminated sales charge to certain group plans ("Group
Plans") under which a sponsoring organization makes recommendations to,
permits group solicitation of, or otherwise facilitates purchases by, its
employees, members or participants. Class A shares of the Fund may be sold to
401(k) retirement plans with 100 or more participants or at least $500,000 in
plan assets. Information about such arrangements is available from PFD.
Class A shares of the Fund may also be sold at net asset value per share
without a sales charge to: (a) current or former Trustees and officers of the
Fund and partners and employees of its legal counsel; (b) current or former
directors, officers, employees or sales representatives of PGI or its
subsidiaries; (c) current or former directors, officers, employees or sales
representatives of any subadviser or predecessor investment adviser to any
investment company for which PMC serves as investment adviser, and the
subsidiaries or affiliates of such persons; (d) current or former officers,
partners, employees or registered representatives of broker-dealers which
have entered into sales agreements with PFD; (e) members of the immediate
families of any of the persons above; (f) any trust, custodian, pension,
profit-sharing or other benefit plan of the foregoing persons; (g) insurance
company separate accounts; (h) certain "wrap accounts" for the benefit of
clients of financial planners adhering to standards established by PFD; (i)
other funds and accounts for which PMC or any of its affiliates serves as
investment adviser or manager; and (j) certain unit investment trusts. Shares
so purchased are purchased for investment purposes only and may not be resold
except through redemption or repurchase by or on behalf of the Fund. The
availability of this privilege depends upon the receipt by PFD of written
notification of eligibility. Class A shares of the Fund may be sold at net
asset value per share without a sales charge to Optional Retirement Program
(the "Program") participants if (i) the employer has authorized a limited
number of investment company providers for the Program, (ii) all authorized
investment company providers offer their shares to Program participants at
net asset value, (iii) the employer has agreed in writing to actively promote
the authorized investment providers to Program participants and (iv) the
Program provides for a matching contribution for each participant
contribution. Class A shares of the Fund may also be sold at net asset value
without a sales charge in connection with certain reorganization, liquidation
or acquisition transactions involving other investment companies or personal
holding companies.
Class A share sales charges may also be reduced through an agreement to
purchase a specified quantity of shares over a designated 13-month period by
completing the "Letter of Intention" section of the Account Application.
Information about the Letter of Intention procedure, including its terms, is
contained in the Account Application as well as in the Statement of
Additional Information.
Investors who are clients of a broker-dealer with a current sales
agreement with PFD may purchase Class A shares of the Fund at net asset
value, without a sales charge, to the extent that the purchase price is paid
out of proceeds from one or more redemptions by the investor of shares of
certain other mutual funds. In order for a purchase to qualify for this
privilege, the investor must document to the broker-dealer that the
redemption occurred within 60 days immediately preceding the purchase of
shares of the Fund; that the client paid a sales charge on the original
purchase of the shares redeemed; and that the mutual fund whose shares were
redeemed also offers
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<PAGE>
net asset value purchases to redeeming shareholders of any of the Pioneer
mutual funds. Further details may be obtained from PFD.
Class B Shares
You may buy Class B shares at net asset value without the imposition of an
initial sales charge; however, Class B shares redeemed within six years of
purchase will be subject to a CDSC at the rates shown in the table below. The
charge will be assessed on the amount equal to the lesser of the current
market value or the original purchase cost of the shares being redeemed. No
CDSC will be imposed on increases in account value above the initial purchase
price, including shares derived from the reinvestment of dividends or capital
gains distributions.
The amount of the CDSC, if any, will vary depending on the number of years
from the time of purchase until the time of redemption of Class B shares. For
the purpose of determining the number of years from the time of any purchase,
all payments during a quarter will be aggregated and deemed to have been made
on the first day of that quarter. In processing redemptions of Class B
shares, the Fund will first redeem shares not subject to any CDSC, and then
shares held longest during the six-year period. As a result, you will pay the
lowest possible CDSC.
Year Since CDSC as a Percentage of Dollar
Purchase Amount Subject to CDSC
- -------------------------- --------------------------------
First 4.0%
Second 4.0%
Third 3.0%
Fourth 3.0%
Fifth 2.0%
Sixth 1.0%
Seventh and thereafter none
Proceeds from the CDSC are paid to PFD and are used in whole or in part to
defray PFD's expenses related to providing distribution-related services to
the Fund in connection with the sale of Class B shares, including the payment
of compensation to broker-dealers.
Class B shares will automatically convert into Class A shares at the end of
the calendar quarter that is eight years after the purchase date, except as
noted below. Class B shares acquired by exchange from Class B shares of
another Pioneer fund will convert into Class A shares based on the date of
the initial purchase and the applicable CDSC. Class B shares acquired through
reinvestment of distributions will convert into Class A shares based on the
date of the initial purchase to which such shares relate. For this purpose,
Class B shares acquired through reinvestment of distributions will be
attributed to particular purchases of Class B shares in accordance with such
procedures as the Trustees may determine from time to time. The conversion of
Class B shares to Class A shares is subject to the continuing availability of
a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") that such conversions will
not constitute taxable events for federal tax purposes. The conversion of
Class B shares to Class A shares will not occur if such ruling is not
available and, therefore, Class B shares would continue to be subject to
higher expenses than Class A shares for an indeterminate period.
Class C Shares
You may buy Class C shares at net asset value without the imposition of an
initial sales charge; however, Class C shares redeemed within one year of
purchase will be subject to a CDSC of 1.00%. The charge will be assessed on
the amount equal to the lesser of the current market value or the original
purchase cost of the shares being redeemed. No CDSC will be imposed on
increases in account value above the initial purchase price, including shares
derived from the reinvestment of dividends or capital gains distributions.
Class C shares do not convert to any other Class of Fund shares.
For the purpose of determining the time of any purchase, all payments during
a quarter will be aggregated and deemed to have been made on the first day of
that quarter. In processing redemptions of Class C shares, the Fund will
first redeem shares not subject to any CDSC, and then shares held for the
shortest period of time during the one-year period. As a result, you will pay
the lowest possible CDSC.
Proceeds from the CDSC are paid to PFD and are used in whole or in part to
defray PFD's expenses related to providing distribution-related services to
the Fund in connection with the sale of Class C shares, including the payment
of compensation to broker-dealers.
Waiver or Reduction of Contingent Deferred Sales Charge. The CDSC on Class B
shares may be waived or reduced for non-retirement accounts if: (a) the
redemption results from the death of all registered owners of an account (in
the case of UGMAs, UTMAs and trust accounts, waiver applies upon the death of
all beneficial owners) or a total and permanent disability (as defined in
Section 72 of the Code) of all registered owners occurring after the purchase
of the shares being redeemed or (b) the redemption is made in connection with
limited automatic redemptions as set forth in "Systematic Withdrawal Plans"
(limited in any year to 10% of the value of the account in the Fund at the
time the withdrawal plan is established).
The CDSC on Class B shares may be waived or reduced for retirement plan
accounts if: (a) the redemption results from the death or a total and
permanent disability (as defined in Section 72 of the Code) occurring after
the purchase of the shares being redeemed of a shareowner or participant in
an employer-sponsored retirement plan; (b) the distribution is to a
participant in an Individual Retirement Account ("IRA"), 403(b) or
employer-sponsored retirement plan, is part of a series of substantially
equal payments made over the life expectancy of the participant or the joint
life expectancy of the participant and his or her beneficiary or as scheduled
periodic payments to a participant (limited in any year to 10% of the value
of the participant's account at the time the distribution amount is
established; a required minimum distribution due to the participant's
attainment of age 70-1/2 may exceed the 10% limit only if the distribution
amount is based on plan assets held by Pioneer); (c) the distribution is from
a 401(a) or 401(k) retirement plan and is a return of excess employee
deferrals or employee contributions or a qualifying hardship distribution as
defined by the Code or results from a termination of employment (limited with
respect to a termina-
8
<PAGE>
tion to 10% per year of the value of the plan's assets in the Fund as of the
later of the prior December 31 or the date the account was established unless
the plan's assets are being rolled over to or reinvested in the same class of
shares of a Pioneer mutual fund subject to the CDSC of the shares originally
held); (d) the distribution is from an IRA, 403(b) or employer-sponsored
retirement plan and is to be rolled over to or reinvested in the same class
of shares in a Pioneer mutual fund and which will be subject to the
applicable CDSC upon redemption; (e) the distribution is in the form of a
loan to a participant in a plan which permits loans (each repayment of the
loan will constitute a new sale which will be subject to the applicable CDSC
upon redemption); or (f) the distribution is from a qualified defined
contribution plan and represents a participant's directed transfer (provided
that this privilege has been pre-authorized through a prior agreement with
PFD regarding participant directed transfers).
The CDSC on Class C shares and on any Class A shares subject to a CDSC may
be waived or reduced as follows: (a) for automatic redemptions as described
in "Systematic Withdrawal Plans" (limited to 10% of the value of the
account); (b) if the redemption results from the death or a total and
permanent disability (as defined in Section 72 of the Code) occurring after
the purchase of the shares being redeemed of a shareowner or participant in
an employer-sponsored retirement plan; (c) if the distribution is part of a
series of substantially equal payments made over the life expectancy of the
participant or the joint life expectancy of the participant and his or her
beneficiary; or (d) if the distribution is to a participant in an
employer-sponsored retirement plan and is (i) a return of excess employee
deferrals or contributions, (ii) a qualifying hardship distribution as
defined by the Code, (iii) from a termination of employment, (iv) in the form
of a loan to a participant in a plan which permits loans, or (v) from a
qualified defined contribution plan and represents a participant's directed
transfer (provided that this privilege has been pre- authorized through a
prior agreement with PFD regarding participant directed transfers).
Broker-Dealers. An order for any Class of Fund shares received by PFD from a
broker-dealer prior to the close of regular trading on the Exchange is
confirmed at the price appropriate for that Class as determined at the close
of regular trading on the Exchange on the day the order is received, provided
the order is received prior to PFD's close of business (usually, 5:30 p.m.
Eastern Time). It is the responsibility of broker-dealers to transmit orders
so that they will be received by PFD prior to its close of business.
General. The Fund reserves the right in its sole discretion to withdraw all
or any part of the offering of shares when, in the judgment of the Fund's
management, such withdrawal is in the best interest of the Fund. An order to
purchase shares is not binding on, and may be rejected by, PFD until it has
been confirmed in writing by PFD and payment has been received.
VIII. HOW TO SELL FUND SHARES
You can arrange to sell (redeem) Fund shares on any day the Exchange is open
by selling either some or all of your shares to the Fund.
You may sell your shares either through your broker-dealer or directly to
the Fund. Please note the following:
(bullet) If you are selling shares from a retirement account, you must make
your request in writing (except for exchanges to other Pioneer
mutual funds which can be requested by phone or in writing). Call
1-800-622-0176 for more information.
(bullet) If you are selling shares from a non-retirement account, you may
use any of the methods described below.
Your shares will be sold at the share price next calculated after your order
is received in good order less any applicable CDSC. Sale proceeds generally
will be sent to you in cash, normally within seven days after your order is
received in good order. The Fund reserves the right to withhold payment of
the sale proceeds until checks received by the Fund in payment for the shares
being sold have cleared, which may take up to 15 calendar days from the
purchase date.
In Writing. You may sell your shares by delivering a written request, signed
by all registered owners, in good order to PSC, however, you must use a
written request, including a signature guarantee, to sell your shares if any
of the following situations applies:
(bullet) you wish to sell over $50,000 worth of shares,
(bullet) your account registration or address has changed within the last 30
days,
(bullet) the check is not being mailed to the address on your account
(address of record),
(bullet) the check is not being made out to the account owners, or
(bullet) the sale proceeds are being transferred to a Pioneer mutual fund
account with a different registration.
Your request should include your name, the Fund's name, your Fund account
number, the Class of shares to be redeemed, the dollar amount or number of
shares to be redeemed, and any other applicable requirements as described
below. Unless instructed otherwise, PSC will send the proceeds of the sale to
the address of record. Fiduciaries or corporations are required to submit
additional documents. For more information, contact PSC at 1-800-225-6292.
Written requests will not be processed until they are received in good order
and accepted by PSC. Good order means that there are no outstanding claims or
requests to hold redemptions on the account, any certificates are endorsed by
the record owner(s) exactly as the shares are registered and the signature(s)
are guaranteed by eligible guarantor. You should be able to obtain a
signature guarantee from a bank, broker, dealer, credit union (if authorized
under state law), securities exchange or association, clearing agency or
savings association. A notary public cannot provide a signature guarantee.
Signature guarantees are not accepted by facsimile ("fax"). For additional
information about the necessary documentation for redemption by mail, please
contact PSC at 1-800-225-6292.
By Telephone or Fax. Your account is automatically authorized to have the
telephone redemption privilege unless you indicated otherwise on your Account
Application or by writing to PSC. Proper account identification will be
required for each tele-
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<PAGE>
phone redemption. The telephone redemption option is not available to
retirement plan accounts. A maximum of $50,000 may be redeemed by telephone
or fax and the proceeds may be received by check or by bank wire or
electronic funds transfer. To receive the proceeds by check: the check must
be made payable exactly as the account is registered and the check must be
sent to the address of record which must not have changed in the last 30
days. To receive the proceeds by bank wire or by electronic funds transfer:
the proceeds must be sent to your bank address of record which must have been
properly pre-designated either on your Account Application or on an Account
Options Form and which must not have changed in the last 30 days. To redeem
by fax, send your redemption request to 1-800-225-4240. You may always elect
to deliver redemption instructions to PSC by mail. See "Telephone
Transactions and Related Liabilities" below. Telephone redemptions will be
priced as described above. You are strongly urged to consult with your
financial representative prior to requesting a telephone redemption.
Selling Shares Through Your Broker-Dealer. The Fund has authorized PFD to
act as its agent in the repurchase of shares of the Fund from qualified
broker-dealers and reserves the right to terminate this procedure at any
time. Your broker-dealer must receive your request before the close of
business on the Exchange and transmit it to PFD before PFD's close of
business to receive that day's redemption price. Your broker-dealer is
responsible for providing all necessary documentation to PFD and may charge
you for its services.
Small Accounts. As a new shareholder, you have a minimum of 24 months
(including the six months following the mailing of the notice described
below) to increase the value of your account to the minimum account value of
$500. If you hold shares of the Fund in an account with a net asset value of
less than the minimum required amount due to redemptions or exchanges or
failure to meet the initial minimum account requirement set forth above, the
Fund may redeem the shares held in this account at net asset value if you
have not increased the net asset value of the account to at least the minimum
required amount within six months of notice by the Fund to you of the Fund's
intention to redeem the shares.
CDSC on Class A Shares. Purchases of Class A shares of $1,000,000 or more,
or by participants in a Group Plan which were not subject to an initial sales
charge, may be subject to a CDSC upon redemption. A CDSC is payable to PFD on
these investments in the event of a share redemption within 12 months
following the share purchase, at the rate of 1% of the lesser of the value of
the shares redeemed (exclusive of reinvested dividend and capital gain
distributions) or the total cost of such shares. Shares subject to the CDSC
which are exchanged into another Pioneer mutual fund will continue to be
subject to the CDSC until the original 12-month period expires. However, no
CDSC is payable upon redemption with respect to Class A shares purchased by
401(a) or 401(k) retirement plans with 1,000 or more eligible participants or
with at least $10 million in plan assets.
General. Redemptions may be suspended or payment postponed during any period
in which any of the following conditions exist: the Exchange is closed or
trading on the Exchange is restricted; an emergency exists as a result of
which disposal by the Fund of securities owned by it is not reasonably
practicable or it is not reasonably practicable for the Fund to fairly
determine the value of the net assets of its portfolio; or the SEC, by order,
so permits.
Redemptions and repurchases are taxable transactions to shareholders. The
net asset value per share received upon redemption or repurchase may be more
or less than the cost of shares to an investor, depending on the market value
of the portfolio at the time of redemption or repurchase.
IX. HOW TO EXCHANGE FUND SHARES
Written Exchanges. You may exchange your shares by sending a letter of
instruction to PSC. Your letter should include your name, the name of the
Fund out of which you wish to exchange and the name of the Pioneer mutual
fund into which you wish to exchange, your fund account number(s), the Class
of shares to be exchanged and the dollar amount or number of shares to be
exchanged. Written exchange requests must be signed by all record owner(s)
exactly as the shares are registered.
Telephone Exchanges. Your account is automatically authorized to have the
telephone exchange privilege unless you indicated otherwise on your Account
Application or by writing to PSC. Proper account identification will be
required for each telephone exchange. Telephone exchanges may not exceed
$500,000 per account per day. Each voice-requested or FactFone((SM)) telephone
exchange request will be recorded. You are strongly urged to consult with
your financial representative prior to requesting a telephone exchange. See
"Telephone Transactions and Related Liabilities" below.
Automatic Exchanges. You may automatically exchange shares from one Pioneer
account for shares of the same Class in another Pioneer account on a monthly
or quarterly basis. The accounts must have identical registrations and the
originating account must have a minimum balance of $5,000. The exchange will
be effective on the day of the month designated on your Account Application
or Account Options Form.
General. Exchanges must be at least $1,000. You may exchange your investment
from one Class of Fund shares at net asset value, without a sales charge, for
shares of the same Class of any other Pioneer mutual fund. Not all Pioneer
mutual funds offer more than one Class of shares. A new Pioneer account
opened through an exchange must have a registration identical to that on the
original account.
Shares which would normally be subject to a CDSC upon redemption will not be
charged the applicable CDSC at the time of an exchange. Shares acquired in an
exchange will be subject to the CDSC of the shares originally held. For
purposes of determining the amount of any applicable CDSC, the length of time
you have owned shares acquired by exchange will be measured from the date you
acquired the original shares and will not be affected by any subsequent
exchange.
Exchange requests received by PSC before 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time will be
effective on that day if the requirements above have been met, otherwise,
they will be effective on the next business day. PSC will process exchanges
only after receiving an exchange request in good order. There are cur-
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<PAGE>
rently no fees or sales charges imposed at the time of an exchange. An
exchange of shares may be made only in states where legally permitted. For
federal and (generally) state income tax purposes, an exchange is considered
to be a sale of the shares of the Fund exchanged and a purchase of shares in
another Pioneer mutual fund. Therefore, an exchange could result in a gain or
loss on the shares sold, depending on the tax basis of these shares and the
timing of the transaction, and special tax rules may apply.
You should consider the differences in objectives and policies of the
Pioneer mutual funds, as described in each fund's current prospectus, before
making any exchange. For the protection of the Fund's performance and
shareholders, the Fund and PFD reserve the right to refuse any exchange
request or restrict, at any time without notice, the number and/or frequency
of exchanges to prevent abuses of the exchange privilege. Such abuses may
arise from frequent trading in response to short-term market fluctuations, a
pattern of trading by an individual or group that appears to be an attempt to
"time the market," or any other exchange request which, in the view of
management, will have a detrimental effect on the Fund's portfolio management
strategy or its operations. In addition, the Fund and PFD reserve the right
to charge a fee for exchanges or to modify, limit, suspend or discontinue the
exchange privilege with notice to shareholders as required by law.
X. DISTRIBUTION PLANS
The Fund has adopted a Plan of Distribution for each Class of shares (the
"Class A Plan," the "Class B Plan" and the "Class C Plan") in accordance with
Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act pursuant to which certain distribution fees are
paid to PFD.
Pursuant to the Class A Plan, the Fund reimburses PFD for its actual
expenditures to finance any activity primarily intended to result in the sale
of the Class A shares of the Fund or to provide services to holders of Class
A shares, provided the categories of expenses for which reimbursement is made
are approved by the Fund's Board of Trustees. As of the date of this
Prospectus, the Board of Trustees has approved the following categories of
expenses for the Class A shares of the Fund: (i) a service fee to be paid to
qualified broker-dealers in an amount not to exceed 0.25% per annum of the
Fund's daily net assets attributable to Class A shares; (ii) reimbursement to
PFD for its expenditures for broker-dealer commissions and employee
compensation on certain sales of the Fund's Class A shares with no initial
sales charge (see "How to Buy Fund Shares"); and (iii) reimbursement to PFD
for expenses incurred in providing services to Class A shareholders and
supporting broker-dealers and other organizations (such as banks and trust
companies) in their efforts to provide such services. Banks are currently
prohibited under the Glass-Steagall Act from providing certain underwriting
or distribution services. If a bank was prohibited from acting in any
capacity or providing any of the described services, management would
consider what action, if any, would be appropriate.
Expenditures of the Fund pursuant to the Class A Plan are accrued daily and
may not exceed 0.25% of average daily net assets attributable to Class A
shares. Distribution expenses of PFD are expected to substantially exceed the
distribution fees paid by the Fund in a given year. The Class A Plan does not
provide for the carryover of reimbursable expenses beyond 12 months from the
time the Fund is first invoiced for an expense. The limited carryover
provision in the Class A Plan may result in an expense invoiced to the Fund
in one fiscal year being paid in the subsequent fiscal year and thus being
treated for purposes of calculating the maximum expenditures of the Fund as
having been incurred in the subsequent fiscal year. In the event of
termination or non-continuance of the Class A Plan, the Fund has 12 months to
reimburse any expense which it incurs prior to such termination or
non-continuance, provided that payments by the Fund during such 12-month
period shall not exceed 0.25% of the Fund's average net daily assets
attributable to Class A shares during such period. The Class A Plan may not
be amended to increase materially the annual percentage limitation of average
net assets which may be spent for the services described therein without
approval of the Class A shareholders of the Fund.
Both the Class B Plan and the Class C Plan provide that the Fund will
compensate PFD by paying a distribution fee at the annual rate of 0.75% of
the Fund's average daily net assets attributable to the applicable Class of
shares and a service fee at the annual rate of 0.25% of the Fund's average
daily net assets attributable to that Class of shares. The distribution fee
is intended to compensate PFD for its Class B and Class C distribution
services to the Fund. The service fee is intended to be additional
compensation for personal services and/or account maintenance services with
respect to Class B or Class C shares. PFD also receives the proceeds of any
CDSC imposed on the redemption of Class B or Class C shares.
Commissions of 4% of the amount invested in Class B shares, equal to 3.75%
of the amount invested and a first year's service fee equal to 0.25% of the
amount invested, are paid to broker-dealers who have selling agreements with
PFD. PFD may advance to dealers the first year service fee at a rate up to
0.25% of the purchase price of such shares and, as compensation therefore,
PFD may retain the service fee paid by the Fund with respect to such shares
for the first year after purchase. Commencing in the 13th month following the
purchase of Class B shares, dealers will become eligible for additional
annual service fees of up to 0.25% of the net asset value of such shares.
Commissions of up to 1% of the amount invested in Class C shares, consisting
of 0.75% of the amount invested and a first year's service fee of 0.25% of
the amount invested, are paid to broker-dealers who have selling agreements
with PFD. PFD may advance to dealers the first year service fee at a rate up
to 0.25% of the purchase price of such shares and, as compensation therefore,
PFD may retain the service fee paid by the Fund with respect to such shares
for the first year after purchase. Commencing in the 13th month following the
purchase of Class C shares, dealers will become eligible for additional
annual distribution fees and services fees of up to 0.75% and 0.25%,
respectively, of the average net asset value of such shares.
Dealers may from time to time be required to meet certain criteria in order
to receive service fees. PFD or its affiliates are entitled to retain all
service fees payable under the Class
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<PAGE>
B Plan or the Class C Plan for which there is no dealer of record or for
which qualification standards have not been met as partial consideration for
personal services and/or account maintenance services performed by PFD or its
affiliates for shareowner accounts.
XI. DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXATION
The Fund has elected to be treated, has qualified, and intends to qualify
each year as a "regulated investment company" under Subchapter M of the Code,
so that it will not pay federal income taxes on income and capital gains
distributed to shareholders at least annually.
Under the Code, the Fund will be subject to a nondeductible 4% federal
excise tax on a portion of its undistributed ordinary income and capital
gains if it fails to meet certain distribution requirements with respect to
each calendar year. The Fund intends to make distributions in a timely manner
and accordingly does not expect to be subject to the excise tax.
The Fund's policy is to pay to shareholders dividends from net investment
income, if any, quarterly during the months of March, June, September and
December and to make distributions from net long term capital gains, if any,
in December. Distributions from net short-term capital gains, if any, may be
paid with such dividends, and other distributions from income and/or capital
gains may also be made at such other times as may be necessary to avoid
federal income or excise tax. Dividends from the Fund's net investment
income, net short-term capital gains and certain net foreign exchange gains
are taxable as ordinary income. Dividends from the Fund's net long-term
capital gains are taxable as long-term capital gains.
Unless shareholders specify otherwise, all distributions will be
automatically reinvested in additional full and fractional shares of the
Fund. For federal income tax purposes, all distributions are taxable as
described above whether a shareholder takes them in cash or reinvests them in
additional shares of the Fund. Information as to the federal tax status of
distributions will be provided to shareholders annually. For further
information on the distribution options available to shareholders, see
"Distribution Options" and "Directed Dividends" below.
Distributions by the Fund of dividend income it receives from U.S. domestic
corporations may qualify for the dividends-received deduction for corporate
shareholders, subject to certain minimum holding period requirements and
debt-financing restrictions under the Code.
Dividends and other distributions and the proceeds of redemptions, exchanges
or repurchases of Fund shares paid to individuals and other non-exempt payees
will be subject to a 31% backup withholding of federal income tax if the Fund
is not provided with the shareholder's correct taxpayer identification number
and certification that the number is correct and that the shareholder is not
subject to such backup withholding or if the Fund receives notice from the
Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") or a broker that such withholding applies.
Please refer to the Account Application for additional information.
The description above relates only to U.S. federal income tax consequences
for shareholders who are U.S. persons, i.e. U.S. citizens or residents, or
U.S. corporations, partnerships, trusts or estates and who are subject to
U.S. federal income tax. Non-U.S. shareholders and tax-exempt shareholders
are subject to different tax treatment that is not described above. You
should consult your own tax adviser regarding state, local and other
applicable tax laws.
XII. SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
PSC is the shareholder services and transfer agent for shares of the Fund.
PSC, a Massachusetts corporation, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of PGI. PSC's
offices are located at 60 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109, and
inquiries to PSC should be mailed to Shareholder Services, Pioneering
Services Corporation, P.O. Box 9014, Boston, Massachusetts 02205-9014. Brown
Brothers Harriman & Co. ("the Custodian") serves as custodian of the Fund's
portfolio securities. The principal business address of the mutual fund
division of the Custodian is 40 Water Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109.
Account and Confirmation Statements
PSC maintains an account for each shareholder and all transactions of the
shareholder are recorded in this account. Confirmation statements showing the
details of transactions are sent to shareholders as transactions occur,
except Automatic Investment Plan transactions which are confirmed quarterly.
The Pioneer Combined Account Statement, mailed quarterly, is available to all
shareholders who have more than one Pioneer account.
Shareholders whose shares are held in the name of an investment
broker-dealer or other party will not normally have an account with the Fund
and might not be able to utilize some of the services available to
shareholders of record. Examples of services which might not be available are
investment or redemption of shares by mail, automatic reinvestment of
dividends and capital gains distributions, withdrawal plans, Letters of
Intention, Rights of Accumulation, telephone exchanges and redemptions,
newsletters and other informational mailings.
Additional Investments
You may add to your account by sending a check ($50 minimum for Class A
shares and $500 for Class B and C shares) to PSC (account number and Class of
shares should be clearly indicated). The bottom portion of a confirmation
statement may be used as a remittance slip to make additional investments.
Additions to your account, whether by check or through a Pioneer Investomatic
Plan, are invested in full and fractional shares of the Fund at the
applicable offering price in effect as of the close of regular trading on the
Exchange on the day of receipt.
Automatic Investment Plans
You may arrange for regular automatic investments of $50 or more through
government/military allotments or through a Pioneer Investomatic Plan. A
Pioneer Investomatic Plan provides for a monthly or quarterly investment by
means of a preauthorized draft drawn on a checking account. Pioneer
Investomatic Plan investments are voluntary and you may discontinue the plan
without penalty upon 30 days' written notice to PSC. PSC acts as agent for
the purchaser, the broker-dealer, and PFD in maintaining these plans.
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<PAGE>
Financial Reports and Tax Information
As a shareholder, you will receive financial reports at least semi-annually.
In January of each year, the Fund will mail you information about the tax
status of dividends and other distributions.
Distribution Options
Dividends and capital gains distributions, if any, will automatically be
invested in additional shares of the Fund, at the applicable net asset value
per share, unless you indicate another option on the Account Application.
Two other available options are (a) dividends in cash and capital gains
distributions in additional shares; and (b) all dividends and distributions
in cash. These two options are not available, however, for retirement plans
or an account with a net asset value of less than $500. Changes in the
distribution options may be made by written request to PSC.
Directed Dividends
You may elect (in writing) to have the dividends paid by one Pioneer mutual
fund account invested in a second Pioneer mutual fund account. The value of
this second account must be at least $1,000 ($500 for the Fund or Pioneer
II). Invested dividends may be in any amount, and there are no fees or
charges for this service. Retirement plan shareholders may only direct
dividends to accounts with identical registrations i.e., PGI IRA Cust for
John Smith may only go into another account registered PGI IRA Cust for John
Smith.
Direct Deposit
If you have elected to take distributions, whether dividends or dividends
and capital gains, in cash, or have established a Systematic Withdrawal Plan,
you may choose to have those cash payments deposited directly into your
savings, checking or NOW bank account. You may establish this service by
completing the appropriate section on the Account Application when opening a
new account or the Account Options Form for an existing account.
Voluntary Tax Withholding
You may request (in writing) that PSC withhold 28% of the dividends and
capital gains distribution paid from your account (before any reinvestment)
and forward the amount withheld to the IRS as a credit against your federal
income taxes. This option is not available for retirement plan accounts or
for accounts subject to backup withholding.
Telephone Transactions and Related Liabilities
Your account is automatically authorized to have telephone transaction
privileges unless you indicated otherwise on your Account Application or by
writing to PSC. You may purchase, sell or exchange Fund shares by telephone.
See "Net Asset Value and Pricing of Orders" for more information. For
personal assistance, call 1-800-225-6292 between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.
Eastern Time on weekdays. Computer-assisted transactions may be available to
shareholders who have pre-recorded certain bank information (see
"FactFone((SM))"). You are strongly urged to consult with your financial
representative prior to requesting any telephone transaction. See "Share
Price," "How to Sell Fund Shares" and "How to Exchange Fund Shares" for more
information.
To confirm that each transaction instruction received by telephone is
genuine, PSC will record each telephone transaction, require the caller to
provide the personal identification number ("PIN") for the account and send
you a written confirmation of each telephone transaction. Different
procedures may apply to accounts that are registered to non-U.S. citizens or
that are held in the name of an institution or in the name of an investment
broker-dealer or other third-party. If reasonable procedures, such as those
described above, are not followed, the Fund may be liable for any loss due to
unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. The Fund may implement other
procedures from time to time. In all other cases, neither the Fund, PSC or
PFD will be responsible for the authenticity of instructions received by
telephone, therefore, you bear the risk of loss for unauthorized or
fraudulent telephone transactions.
During times of economic turmoil or market volatility or as a result of
severe weather or a natural disaster, it may be difficult to contact the Fund
by telephone to institute a redemption or exchange. You should communicate
with the Fund in writing if you are unable to reach the Fund by telephone.
FactFone((SM))
FactFone((SM)) is an automated inquiry and telephone transaction system
available to Pioneer shareholders by dialing 1-800- 225-4321. FactFone((SM))
allows you to obtain current information on your Pioneer mutual fund accounts
and to inquire about the prices and yields of all publicly available Pioneer
mutual funds. In addition, you may use FactFone((SM)) to make computer-
assisted telephone purchases, exchanges and redemptions from your Pioneer
accounts if you have activated your PIN. Telephone purchases and redemptions
require the establishment of a bank account of record. You are strongly urged
to consult with your financial representative prior to requesting any
telephone transaction. Shareholders whose accounts are registered in the name
of a broker-dealer or other third party may not be able to use
FactFone((SM)). See "How to Buy Fund Shares," "How to Exchange Fund Shares,"
"How to Sell Fund Shares" and "Telephone Transactions and Related
Liabilities." Call PSC for assistance.
Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD)
If you have a hearing disability and your own TDD keyboard equipment, you
can call our TDD number toll-free at 1-800-225-1997, weekdays from 8:30 a.m.
to 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time, to contact our telephone representatives with
questions about your account.
Retirement Plans
You should contact the Retirement Plans Department of PSC at 1-800-622-0176
for information on retirement plans for businesses, Simplified Employee
Pensions Plans, IRAs, and Section 403(b) retirement plans for employees of
certain non-profit organizations and public school systems, all of which are
available in conjunction with investments in the Fund. The Account
Application accompanying this Prospectus should not be used to establish any
of these plans. Separate applications are required.
Systematic Withdrawal Plans
If your account has a total value of at least $10,000, you may establish a
Systematic Withdrawal Plan ("SWP") providing for fixed payments at regular
intervals. Withdrawals from
13
<PAGE>
Class B and Class C shares accounts will be limited to 10% of the value of
the account at the time the SWP is implemented. See "Waiver of Contingent
Deferred Sales Charges" for more information. Periodic checks of $50 or more
will be sent to you monthly or quarterly and your periodic redemptions of
shares may be taxable to you. You may also direct that withdrawal checks be
paid to another person, although if you make this designation after you have
opened your account, a signature guarantee must accompany your instructions.
Purchases of shares of the Fund at a time when you have a SWP in effect may
result in the payment of unnecessary sales charges and may therefore be
disadvantageous.
You may obtain additional information by calling PSC at 1-800-225-6292 or by
referring to the Statement of Additional Information.
Reinstatement Privilege (Class A Shares Only)
If you redeem all or part of your Class A shares of the Fund, you may
reinvest all or part of the redemption proceeds without a sales commission in
Class A shares of the Fund if you send a written request to PSC not more than
90 days after your shares were redeemed. Your redemption proceeds will be
reinvested at the next determined net asset value of the Class A shares of
the Fund after receipt of the written request for reinstatement. You may
realize a gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of the
redemption, and special tax rules may apply if a reinstatement occurs.
Subject to the provisions outlined under "How to Exchange Fund Shares" above,
you may also reinvest in Class A shares of any other Pioneer mutual funds; in
this case you must meet the minimum investment requirement for each fund you
enter.
The 90-day reinstatement period may be extended by PFD for periods of up to
one year for shareholders living in areas that have experienced a natural
disaster, such as a flood, hurricane, tornado, or earthquake.
The options and services available to shareholders, including the terms of
the Exchange Privilege and the Pioneer Investomatic Plan, may be revised,
suspended, or terminated at any time by PFD or by the Fund. You may establish
the services described in this section when you open your account. You may
also establish or revise many of them on an existing account by filling out
an Account Options Form, which you may request by calling 1-800-225-6292.
XIII. THE FUND
The Fund is a diversified open-end management investment company (commonly
referred to as a mutual fund) which was originally organized as a Delaware
corporation in 1928 and reorganized as a Massachusetts corporation in 1967,
and as a Massachusetts business trust in 1985 and as a Delaware business
trust on May 1, 1996. The Fund has authorized an unlimited number of shares
of beneficial interest. As an open-end investment company, the Fund
continuously offers its shares to the public and under normal conditions must
redeem its shares upon the demand of any shareholder at the then current net
asset value per share. See "How to Sell Fund Shares" above. The Fund is not
required, and does not intend, to hold annual shareowner meetings although
special meetings may be called for the purpose of electing or removing
Trustees, changing fundamental investment restrictions or approving a
management contract.
The Fund reserves the right to create and issue additional series of shares.
The Trustees have the authority, without further shareowner approval, to
classify and reclassify the shares of the Fund, or any additional series of
the Fund, into one or more classes. As of the date of this Prospectus, the
Trustees have authorized the issuance of three classes of shares, designated
Class A, Class B and Class C. The shares of each class represent an interest
in the same portfolio of investments of the Fund. Each class has equal rights
as to voting, redemption, dividends and liquidation, except that each class
bears different distribution and transfer agent fees and may bear other
expenses properly attributable to the particular class. Class A, Class B and
Class C shareholders have exclusive voting rights with respect to the Rule
12b-1 distribution plans adopted by holders of those shares in connection
with the distribution of shares.
In addition to the requirements under Delaware law, the Declaration of Trust
provides that a shareowner of the Fund may bring a derivative action on
behalf of the Fund only if the following conditions are met: (a) shareholders
eligible to bring such derivative action under Delaware law who hold at least
10% of the outstanding shares of the Fund, or 10% of the outstanding shares
of the series or class to which such action relates, shall join in the
request for the Trustees to commence such action; and (b) the Trustees must
be afforded a reasonable amount of time to consider such shareowner request
and investigate the basis of such claim. The Trustees shall be entitled to
retain counsel or other advisers in considering the merits of the request and
shall require an undertaking by the shareholders making such request to
reimburse the Fund for the expense of any such advisers in the event that the
Trustees determine not to bring such action.
When issued and paid for in accordance with the terms of the Prospectus and
Statement of Additional Information, shares of the Fund are fully-paid and
non-assessable. Shares will remain on deposit with the Fund's transfer agent
and certificates will not normally be issued. The Fund reserves the right to
charge a fee for the issuance of certificates.
XIV. INVESTMENT RESULTS
The average annual total return (for a designated period of time) on an
investment in the Fund may be included in advertisements, and furnished to
existing or prospective shareholders. The average annual total return for
each Class is computed in accordance with the SEC's standardized formula. The
calculation for all Classes assumes the reinvestment of all dividends and
distributions at net asset value and does not reflect the impact of federal
or state income taxes. In addition, for Class A shares the calculation
assumes the deduction of the maximum sales charge of 5.75%; for Class B and
Class C shares the calculation reflects the deduction of any applicable CDSC.
The periods illustrated would normally include one, five and ten years (or
since the commencement of the public offering of the shares of a Class, if
shorter) through the most recent calendar quarter.
14
<PAGE>
One or more additional measures and assumptions, including but not limited
to historical total returns; distribution returns; results of actual or
hypothetical investments; changes in dividends, distributions or share
values; or any graphic illustration of such data may also be used. These data
may cover any period of the Fund's existence and may or may not include the
impact of sales charges, taxes or other factors.
Other investments or savings vehicles and/or unmanaged market indexes,
indicators of economic activity or averages of mutual fund results may be
cited or compared with the investment results of the Fund. Rankings or
listings by magazines, newspapers or independent statistical or rating
services, such as Lipper Analytical Services, Inc., may also be referenced.
The Fund may also include securities industry, real estate industry or
comparative performance information in advertising or materials marketing the
Fund's shares. Such performance information may include rankings or listings
by magazines, newspapers, or independent statistical or ratings services,
such as Lipper Analytical Services, Inc. or Ibbotson Associates.
The Fund's investment results will vary from time to time depending on
market conditions, the composition of the Fund's portfolio and operating
expenses of the Fund. All quoted investment results are historical and should
not be considered representative of what an investment in the Fund may earn
in any future period. For further information about the calculation methods
and uses of the Fund's investment results, see the Statement of Additional
Information.
For more information about the calculation methods used to compute the
Fund's investment results, see the Statement of Additional Information.
15
<PAGE>
[Pioneer logo]
Pioneer
Fund
60 State Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02109
OFFICERS
JOHN F. COGAN, JR., Chairman and President
DAVID D. TRIPPLE, Executive Vice President
JOHN A. CAREY, Vice President
WILLIAM H. KEOUGH, Treasurer
JOSEPH P. BARRI, Secretary
INVESTMENT ADVISER
PIONEERING MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
CUSTODIAN
BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO.
INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
LEGAL COUNSEL
HALE AND DORR
0596-3270
(C) Pioneer Funds Distributor, Inc.
PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER
PIONEER FUNDS DISTRIBUTOR, INC.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES AND TRANSFER AGENT
PIONEERING SERVICES CORPORATION
60 State Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02109
Telephone: 1-800-225-6292
SERVICE INFORMATION
If you would like information on the following, please call:
Existing and new accounts, prospectuses,
applications, service forms and
telephone transactions ....................................... 1-800-225-6292
FactFone((SM))
Automated fund yields, automated prices
and account information.........................................1-800-225-4321
Retirement plans ............................................... 1-800-622-0176
Toll-free fax .................................................. 1-800-225-4240
Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) ................... 1-800-225-1997
<PAGE>
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
PIONEER GROWTH SHARES
60 State Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02109
Class A, Class B and Class C Shares
April 29, 1996
This Statement of Additional Information is not a Prospectus, but
should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus dated April 29, 1996 of
Pioneer Growth Shares (the "Fund"). A copy of the Prospectus can be obtained
free of charge by calling Shareholder Services at 1-800-225-6292 or by written
request to the Fund at 60 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109. The most
recent Annual Report to Shareholders is attached to this Statement of Additional
Information and is hereby incorporated by reference.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
1. Investment Objective and Policies.................................. 2
2. Investment Restrictions............................................ 5
3. Management of the Fund............................................. 7
4. Investment Adviser................................................. 12
5. Underwriting Agreement and Distribution Plans...................... 14
6. Shareholder Servicing/Transfer Agent............................... 18
7. Custodian.......................................................... 19
8. Principal Underwriter.............................................. 19
9. Independent Public Accountant...................................... 20
10. Portfolio Transactions............................................. 20
11. Dividends and Tax Status........................................... 22
12. Shares of the Fund................................................. 26
13. Determination of Net Asset Value................................... 28
14. Systematic Withdrawal Plan......................................... 29
15. Letter of Intention................................................ 30
16. Investment Results................................................. 30
17. General Information................................................ 34
18. Financial Statements............................................... 34
Appendix A......................................................... 35
Appendix B......................................................... 51
THIS STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS NOT A PROSPECTUS AND IS AUTHORIZED
FOR DISTRIBUTION TO PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS ONLY IF PRECEDED OR ACCOMPANIED BY AN
EFFECTIVE PROSPECTUS.
<PAGE>
1. INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES
See "Investment Objective and Policies" in the Prospectus for more
information concerning the investment objective and policies of the Fund.
Restricted and Illiquid Securities
With respect to liquidity determinations generally, the Board of
Trustees has the ultimate responsibility for determining whether specific
securities, including Rule 144A securities, are liquid or illiquid. The Board
has delegated the function of making day to day determinations of liquidity to
PMC, pursuant to guidelines reviewed by the Trustees. PMC takes into account a
number of factors in reaching liquidity decisions. These factors may include but
are not limited to: (i) the frequency of trading in the security; (ii) the
number of dealers who make quotes in the securities; (iii) the number of dealers
who have undertaken to make a market in the security; (iv) the number of
potential purchasers; and (v) the nature of the security and how trading is
effected (e.g., the time needed to sell the security, how offers are solicited
and the mechanics of transfer). PMC will monitor the liquidity of securities in
the Fund's portfolio and report periodically on such decisions to the Trustees.
Since it is not possible to predict with assurance exactly how the
market for restricted securities sold and offered under Rule 144A will develop,
the Board will carefully monitor the Fund's investments in these securities,
focusing on such important factors, among others, as valuation, liquidity and
availability of information. This investment practice could have the effect of
increasing the level of illiquidity in the Fund to the extent that qualified
institutional buyers become for a time uninterested in purchasing these
restricted securities.
Lower Quality Debt Obligations
The Fund may invest up to 5% of its net assets in debt securities which
are rated in the lowest rating categories by Standard & Poor's Ratings Group
("Standard & Poor's") or by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") (i.e.,
ratings of BB or lower by Standard & Poor's or Ba or lower by Moody's) or, if
unrated by such rating organizations, determined to be of comparable quality by
the Fund's investment adviser, Pioneering Management Corporation ("PMC"). In
addition, the Fund may invest in medium quality debt securities (i.e.,
securities rated BBB by Standard & Poor's or Baa by Moody's, or unrated
securities determined by PMC to be of comparable quality).
-2-
<PAGE>
Bonds rated BB or Ba or below or comparable unrated securities are
commonly referred to as "junk bonds" and are considered speculative and may be
questionable as to principal and interest payments. In some cases, such bonds
may be highly speculative, have poor prospects for reaching investment standing
and be in default. As a result, investment in such bonds will entail greater
speculative risks than those associated with investment in investment grade
bonds (i.e., bonds rated BBB or better by Standard & Poor's or Baa or better by
Moody's or, if unrated by such rating organizations, determined to be of
comparable quality by PMC).
The amount of junk bond securities outstanding has proliferated in
conjunction with the increase in merger and acquisition and leveraged buyout
activity. An economic downturn could severely affect the ability of highly
leveraged issuers to service their debt obligations or to repay their
obligations upon maturity. Factors having an adverse impact on the market value
of lower quality securities will have an adverse effect on the Fund's net asset
value to the extent that it invests in such securities. In addition, the Fund
may incur additional expenses to the extent it is required to seek recovery upon
a default in payment of principal or interest on its portfolio holdings.
The secondary market for junk bond securities, which is concentrated in
relatively few market makers, may not be as liquid as the secondary market for
more highly rated securities, a factor which may have an adverse effect on the
Fund's ability to dispose of a particular security when necessary to meet its
liquidity needs. Under adverse market or economic conditions, the secondary
market for junk bond securities could contract further, independent of any
specific adverse changes in the condition of a particular issuer. As a result,
the Fund could find it more difficult to sell these securities or may be able to
sell the securities only at prices lower than if such securities were widely
traded. Prices realized upon the sale of such lower rated or unrated securities,
under these circumstances, may be less than the prices used in calculating the
Fund's net asset value.
Certain proposed and recently enacted federal laws including the
required divestiture by federally insured savings and loan associations of their
investments in junk bonds and proposals designed to limit the use, or tax and
other advantages, of junk bond securities could adversely affect the Fund's net
asset value and investment practices. Such proposals could also adversely affect
the secondary market for junk bond securities, the financial condition of
issuers of these securities and the value of outstanding junk bond securities.
The form of such proposed legislation and the possibility of such legislation
being passed are uncertain.
-3-
<PAGE>
Since investors generally perceive that there are greater risks
associated with the medium to lower quality debt securities of the type in which
the Fund may invest a portion of its assets, the yields and prices of such
securities may tend to fluctuate more than those for higher rated securities. In
the lower quality segments of the debt securities market, changes in perceptions
of issuers' creditworthiness tend to occur more frequently and in a more
pronounced manner than do changes in higher quality segments of the debt
securities market, resulting in greater yield and price volatility.
Medium to lower rated and comparable unrated debt securities tend to
offer higher yields than higher rated securities with the same maturities
because the historical financial condition of the issuers of such securities may
not have been as strong as that of other issuers. Since medium to lower rated
securities generally involve greater risks of loss of income and principal than
higher rated securities, investors should consider carefully the relative risks
associated with investment in securities which carry medium to lower ratings and
in comparable unrated securities. In addition to the risk of default, there are
the related costs of recovery on defaulted issues. PMC will attempt to reduce
these risks through portfolio diversification and by analysis of each issuer and
its ability to make timely payments of income and principal, as well as broad
economic trends and corporate developments.
The prices of all debt securities generally fluctuate in response to
the general level of interest rates. Another factor which causes fluctuations in
the prices of debt securities is the supply and demand for similarly rated
securities. Fluctuations in the prices of portfolio securities subsequent to
their acquisition will not affect any cash income from such securities but will
be reflected in the Fund's net asset value.
Portfolio Turnover Rate
The Fund will limit portfolio turnover to the extent practicable and
consistent with its investment objective and policies. In any event, the Fund
does not consider the rate of portfolio turnover a limiting factor where
management considers changes necessary and as the Fund may deem it advisable to
take advantage of short-term trends by purchases and sales of securities. The
Fund's investment policy from time to time may result in the portfolio turnover
being higher than that of investment companies with investment objectives
different from that of the Fund. A higher portfolio turnover rate may result in
correspondingly higher transaction costs.
-4-
<PAGE>
2. INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
Fundamental Investment Restrictions. The Fund considers the investment
objective, the investment policy under the caption "Restricted and Illiquid
Securities", and the following restrictions as fundamental policies which cannot
be changed without approval by a "majority" of the Fund's outstanding voting
securities (as defined in Section 2(a)(42) of the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended (the "1940 Act")) which means: (a) 67% or more of the voting
securities present at a special or annual meeting if the holders of more than
50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund are present or represented
by proxy; or (b) more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund,
whichever is less. All other investment policies are considered non-fundamental
and may be changed by approval of the Trustees without the vote of shareholders.
The Fund may not:
1. Concentrate the investment of its assets in any one industry or group of
industries and therefore will not invest more than 25% of its assets in any
one industry;
2. Purchase securities on margin, but it may obtain such short-term credits as
may be necessary for the clearance of purchases and sales of securities;
3. Make short sales of securities unless at the time of such sale it owns or
has the right to acquire as a result of the ownership of convertible or
exchangeable securities, and without the payment of further consideration,
an equal amount of such securities which it will retain so long as it is in
a short position. At no time will more than 10% of the value of the Fund's
assets be committed to short sales;
4. Make loans of its assets, except that the Fund may purchase a portion of an
issue of bonds or other obligations of types commonly distributed publicly
to financial institutions, may purchase repurchase agreements in accordance
with its investment objective, policies and restrictions, and may make both
short-term (nine months or less) and long-term loans of its portfolio
securities to the extent of 40% of the value of the Fund's total assets
computed at the time of making such loans;
5. Borrow money except for temporary or emergency purposes in an amount up to
5% of the value of the Fund's assets;
6. Act as a securities underwriter or invest in real estate, commodities or
commodity contracts;
-5-
<PAGE>
7. Participate on a joint or joint-and-several basis in any securities trading
account;
8. Purchase any security (other than obligations of the U.S. Government, its
agencies or instrumentalities), if as a result: (a) more than 25% of the
value of the Fund's total assets would then be invested in securities of
any single issuer, or (b) as to 75% of the value of the Fund's total
assets: (i) more than 5% of the value of the Fund's total assets would then
be invested in securities of any single issuer, or (ii) the Fund would own
more than 10% of the voting securities of any single issuer;
9. Purchase securities of any company with a record of less than three years
continuous operation (including that of predecessors) if such purchase
would cause the Fund's investments in such companies taken at cost to
exceed 5% of the value of the Fund's assets, except holding companies or
companies formed by merger, where the operating companies have had at least
three years of continuous operation;
10. Purchase or retain the securities of any issuer if the officers and
trustees of the Fund or of its Investment Adviser who own individually or
beneficially more than 1/2 of 1% of the securities of such issuer together
own more than 5% of the securities of such issuer;
11. Purchase the securities of any other investment company, except that it may
make such a purchase as part of a merger, consolidation or acquisition of
assets; or
12. Enter into transactions with officers, trustees or other affiliated persons
of the Fund or its Investment Adviser or Underwriter, or any organization
affiliated with such persons, except securities transactions on an agency
basis at standard commission rates, as limited by the provisions of the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act").
Non-Fundamental Investment Restrictions. In addition to the foregoing
restrictions, the Fund may not purchase warrants of any issuer, if, as a result
of such purchases, more than 2% of the value of the Fund's total assets would be
invested in warrants which are not listed on the New York Stock Exchange or the
American Stock Exchange or more than 5% of the value of the total assets of the
Fund would be invested in warrants generally, whether or not so listed. For
these purposes, warrants are to be valued at the lesser of cost or market, but
warrants acquired by the Fund in units with or attached to debt securities shall
be deemed to be without value.
-6-
<PAGE>
The Fund will not invest in puts, calls, straddles, spreads or any
combination thereof, nor will it invest in oil, gas or other mineral exploration
or development programs or leases or purchase or sell real estate, including
real estate limited partnerships. It is not the policy of the Fund to invest in
any company for the purpose of acquiring or exercising management or control of
such company. In view of the risks of loss inherent in investing in equity
securities, there is no assurance that the investment objective of the Fund will
be achieved or that shareholders will be protected from incurring any losses on
their investments.
If a percentage restriction on investment or utilization of assets set
forth in any of the above is adhered to at the time an investment is made, a
later change in percentage resulting from changing values or a change in the
rating of a portfolio security will not be considered a violation of policy.
3. MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
The Fund's Board of Trustees provides broad supervision over the
affairs of the Fund. The officers of the Fund are responsible for the Fund's
operations. The Trustees and executive officers of the Fund are listed below,
together with their principal occupations during the past five years. An
asterisk indicates those Trustees who are interested persons of the Fund within
the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act").
JOHN F. COGAN, JR.*, Chairman of the Board, President and Trustee, DOB: June
1926
President, Chief Executive Officer and a Director of The Pioneer Group,
Inc. ("PGI"); Chairman and a Director of Pioneering Management Corporation
("PMC") and Pioneer Funds Distributor, Inc. ("PFD"); Director of Pioneering
Services Corporation ("PSC"), Pioneer Capital Corporation ("PCC") and
Forest-Starma (Russian timber joint venture); President and Director of Pioneer
Plans Corporation ("PPC"), Pioneer Investment Corp. ("PIC"), Pioneer Metals and
Technology, Inc. ("PMT"), Pioneer International Corp. ("PIntl"), Pioneer First
Russia, Inc. ("First Russia") and Pioneer Omega, Inc. ("Omega"); Chairman of the
Board and Director of Pioneer Goldfields Limited ("PGL") and Teberebie
Goldfields Limited; Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Pioneer Fonds
Marketing, GmbH ("Pioneer GmbH"); Member of the Supervisory Board of Pioneer
First Polish Trust Fund Joint Stock Company ("PFPT"); Chairman, President and
Trustee of all of the Pioneer mutual funds and Partner, Hale and Dorr (counsel
to the Fund).
-7-
<PAGE>
RICHARD H. EGDAHL, M.D., Trustee, DOB: December 1926
Boston University Health Policy Institute, 53 Bay State Rd., Boston, MA 02115
Professor of Management, Boston University School of Management;
Professor of Public Health, Boston University School of Public Health; Professor
of Surgery, Boston University School of Medicine; Director, Boston University
Health Policy Institute and Boston University Medical Center; Executive Vice
President and Vice Chairman of the Board, University Hospital; Academic Vice
President for Health Affairs, Boston University; Director, Essex Investment
Management Company, Inc. (investment adviser), Health Payment Review, Inc.
(health care containment software firm), Mediplex Group, Inc. (nursing care
facilities firm), Peer Review Analysis, Inc. (health care facilities firm) and
Springer-Verlag New York, Inc. (publisher); Honorary Trustee, Franciscan
Children's Hospital and Trustee of all of the Pioneer mutual funds.
MARGARET B.W. GRAHAM, Trustee, DOB: May 1947
The Keep, P.O. Box 110. Little Deer Isle, ME 04650
Founding Director, Winthrop Group, Inc (consulting firm) since 1982;
Manager of Research Operations, Xerox Palo Alto Research Center, from 1991 to
1994; Professor of Operations Management and Management of Technology, Boston
University School of Management ("BUSM"), from 1989 to 1993 and Trustee of all
of the Pioneer mutual funds, except Pioneer Variable Contracts Trust.
JOHN W. KENDRICK, Trustee, DOB: July 1917
6363 Waterway Drive, Falls Church, VA 22044
Professor Emeritus and Adjunct Scholar, George Washington University;
Economic Consultant and Director, American Productivity and Quality Center;
American Enterprise Institute and Trustee of all of the Pioneer mutual funds,
except Pioneer Variable Contracts Trust.
MARGUERITE A. PIRET, Trustee, DOB: May 1948
One Boston Place, Suite 2635, Boston, MA 02108
President, Newbury, Piret & Company, Inc. (merchant banking firm) and
Trustee of all of the Pioneer mutual funds.
DAVID D. TRIPPLE*, Trustee and Executive Vice President, DOB: February 1944
Executive Vice President and a Director of PGI; President, Chief
Investment Officer and a Director of PMC; Director of PFD, PCC, PIC, PIntl ,
First Russia, Omega and Pioneer SBIC Corporation, Executive Vice President and
Trustee of all of the Pioneer mutual funds.
-8-
<PAGE>
STEPHEN K. WEST, Trustee, DOB: September 1928
125 Broad Street, New York, NY 10004
Partner, Sullivan & Cromwell (law firm); Trustee, The Winthrop Focus
Funds (mutual funds) and Trustee of all of the Pioneer mutual funds.
JOHN WINTHROP, Trustee, DOB: June 1936
One North Adgers Wharf, Charleston, SC 29401
President, John Winthrop & Co., Inc. (private investment firm);
Director of NUI Corp.; Trustee of Alliance Capital Reserves, Alliance Government
Reserves and Alliance Tax Exempt Reserves and Trustee of all of the Pioneer
mutual funds, except Pioneer Variable Contracts Trust.
WILLIAM H. KEOUGH, Treasurer, DOB: April 1937
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of PGI;
Treasurer of PFD, PMC, PSC, PCC, PIC, PIntl, PMT, PGL, First Russia, Omega and
Pioneer SBIC Corporation; Treasurer and Director of PPC and Treasurer of all of
the Pioneer mutual funds.
JOSEPH P. BARRI, Secretary, DOB: August 1946
Secretary of PGI, PMC, PPC, PIC, PIntl, PMT, First Russia, Omega and
PCC; Clerk of PFD and PSC; Partner, Hale and Dorr (counsel to the Fund) and
Secretary of all of the Pioneer mutual funds.
ERIC W. RECKARD, Assistant Treasurer, DOB: June 1956
Manager of Fund Accounting of PMC since May 1994, Manager of
Auditing, Compliance and Business Analysis for PGI prior to May 1994 and
Assistant Treasurer of all of the Pioneer mutual funds.
ROBERT P. NAULT, Assistant Secretary, DOB: March 1964
General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of PGI since 1995; Assistant
Secretary of PMC, PIntl, PGL, First Russia, Omega and all of the Pioneer mutual
funds; Assistant Clerk of PFD and PSC; and formerly of Hale and Dorr (counsel to
the Fund) where he most recently served as junior partner.
JEFFREY B. POPPENHAGEN, Vice President, DOB: March 1962
Vice President of PMC since February 1996; formerly a portfolio
manager for a number of equity portfolios.
The Fund's Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust (the
"Declaration of Trust") provides that the holders of two-thirds of its
outstanding shares may vote to remove a Trustee of the Fund at any meeting of
shareholders. See "Description of Shares" below. The business address of all
officers is 60 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109.
-9-
<PAGE>
All of the outstanding capital stock of PFD, PMC and PSC is owned,
directly or indirectly, by PGI, a publicly-owned Delaware corporation. PMC, the
Fund's investment adviser, serves as the investment adviser for the Pioneer
mutual funds listed below and manages the investments of certain institutional
accounts.
The table below lists all the Pioneer mutual funds currently offered
to the public and the investment adviser and principal underwriter for each
fund.
Investment Principal
Fund Name Adviser Underwriter
Pioneer International Growth Fund PMC PFD
Pioneer Europe Fund PMC PFD
Pioneer Emerging Markets Fund PMC PFD
Pioneer India Fund PMC PFD
Pioneer Capital Growth Fund PMC PFD
Pioneer Mid-Cap Fund PMC PFD
Pioneer Growth Shares PMC PFD
Pioneer Small Company Fund PMC PFD
Pioneer Gold Shares PMC PFD
Pioneer Equity-Income Fund PMC PFD
Pioneer Fund PMC PFD
Pioneer II PMC PFD
Pioneer Real Estate Shares PMC PFD
Pioneer Short-Term Income Trust PMC PFD
Pioneer America Income Trust PMC PFD
Pioneer Bond Fund PMC PFD
Pioneer Income Fund PMC PFD
Pioneer Intermediate Tax-Free Fund PMC PFD
Pioneer Tax-Free Income Fund PMC PFD
Pioneer Cash Reserves Fund PMC PFD
Pioneer Interest Shares, Inc. PMC Note 1
Pioneer Variable Contracts Trust PMC Note 2
Note 1 This fund is a closed-end fund.
Note 2 This is a series of eight separate portfolios designed to provide
investment vehicles for the variable annuity and variable life insurance
contracts of various insurance companies or for certain qualified pension plans.
PMC, the Fund's investment adviser, also manages the investments of
certain institutional private accounts. Messrs. Cogan, Tripple, Keough and
Barri, officers and/or Trustees of the Fund, are also officers and/or directors
of PFD, PMC, PSC and PGI. As of March 29, 1996, to the knowledge of the Fund, no
officer or Trustee of the Fund owned 5% or more of the issued and
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<PAGE>
outstanding shares of PGI, except Mr. Cogan who then owned approximately 14% of
such shares. As of March 29, 1996 the officers and Trustees held in aggregate
less than 1% of the outstanding shares of the Fund. As of March 29, 1996, John
A. Sturgeon as Trustee of the Mutual of Omaha 401(k) Long-Term Savings Plan
owned approximately 9.52% (2,069,129) of the outstanding Class A shares of the
Fund. PFD, 60 State Street, Boston, MA 02109 owned approximately 63.04% (10,030)
of the outstanding Class C shares of the Fund;. Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner &
Smith Inc., 4800 Deer Lake Drive East 3rd Fl, Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484 owned
approximately 19.41% (3,089) of the outstanding Class C shares of the Fund; Mack
Wattenburger & Marjorie E. Wattenburger JTWROS, 3904 Deann Dr., Amarillo, TX
79121 owned approximately 15.05% (2,395) of the outstanding Class C shares of
the Fund,
Compensation of Officers and Trustees. The Fund pays no salaries or
compensation to any of its officers. Commencing on January 1, 1996, the Fund
will pay an annual trustees' fee to each Trustee who is not affiliated with PGI,
PMC, PFD or PSC consisting of two components: (a) a base fee of $500 and (b) a
variable fee, calculated on the basis of the average net assets of each series,
estimated to be approximately $190 for 1996. In addition, the Fund will pay a
per meeting fee of $120 to each Trustee who is not affiliated with PGI, PMC, PFD
or PSC. The Fund also will pay an annual committee participation fee to Trustees
who serve as members of committees established to act on behalf of one or more
of the Pioneer mutual funds. Committee fees will be allocated to the Fund on the
basis of the Fund's average net assets. Each Trustee who is a member of the
Audit Committee for the Pioneer mutual funds will receive an annual fee equal to
10% of the aggregate annual trustees' fee, except the Committee Chair who will
receive an annual trustees' fee equal to 20% of the aggregate annual trustees'
fee. The 1996 fees for Audit Committee members and the Audit Committee Chair are
expected to be approximately $6,000 and $12,000, respectively. Members of the
Pricing Committee for the Pioneer mutual funds, as well as any other committee
which renders material functional services to the Board of Trustees for the
Pioneer mutual funds, will receive an annual fee equal to 5% of the annual
trustees' fee, except the Committee Chair who will receive an annual trustees'
fee equal to 10% of the annual trustees' fee. The 1996 fees for Pricing
Committee members and the Pricing Committee Chair are expected to be
approximately $3,000 and $6,000, respectively. Any such fees paid to affiliates
or interested persons of PGI, PMC, PFD or PSC are reimbursed to the Fund under
its management contract. The Fund paid an annual fee of $1,000, plus $100 per
meeting attended, to each Trustee who was not affiliated with PGI, PMC, PFD or
PSC. Fees paid to affiliated Trustees were reimbursed to the Fund by PMC. The
Fund pays the Chairman of the Audit Committee an annual fee of $250 and
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<PAGE>
pays each member of the Audit Committee an annual fee of $200. All Trustees are
reimbursed for expenses incurred in attending Trustee and committee meetings.
The Fund also paid an annual trustees' fee of $500 plus expenses to each Trustee
affiliated with PGI, PMC, PSC or PFD. Any such fees and expenses paid to
affiliates or interested persons of PGI, PMC, PFD or PSC are reimbursed to the
Fund under its Management Contract.
The following table provides information regarding the compensation
paid by the Fund and other Pioneer Funds to the Trustees for their services.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Pension or
Retirement Total Compensa-
Benefits tion from the
Aggregate Accrued Fund all
Compensation as Part of the other Pioneer
Trustee From the Fund* Fund's Expenses Mutual Funds**
<S> <C> <C> <C>
John F. Cogan, Jr. $ 833 $0 $11,000*
Richard H. Egdahl, M.D. 5,333 0 63,315
Margaret B.W. Graham 5,333 0 62,398
John W. Kendrick 5,333 0 62,398
Marguerite A. Piret 6,509 0 76,704
David D. Tripple 833 0 11,000
Stephen K. West 5,693 0 68,180
John Winthrop 6,014 0 71,199
-------------------------------------------------------
Totals $35,881 $0 $426,694
======= === ========
- -----------------------------
</TABLE>
* PMC fully reimbursed the Trust and the other funds in the Pioneer Family of
Mutual Funds for compensation paid to Messrs. Cogan and Tripple.
** For the calendar year ended December 31, 1995. As of such date, there were
22 Pioneer mutual funds.
4. INVESTMENT ADVISER
As stated in the Prospectus, PMC, 60 State Street, Boston,
Massachusetts, serves as the Fund's investment adviser. PMC became the Fund's
investment adviser on December 1, 1993. Prior to that date, Mutual of Omaha Fund
Management Company ("FMC") served as the Fund's investment adviser. The
management contract is renewable annually by the vote of a majority of the Board
of Trustees of the Fund (including a majority of the Board of Trustees who are
not parties to the contract or interested persons of any such parties) cast in
person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such renewal. This
contract terminates if assigned and may be terminated without penalty by either
party by vote of its Board of Trustees or a majority of its outstanding voting
securities and the giving of 60 days' written notice.
As compensation for its management services and expenses incurred, PMC
is entitled to a management fee at the following
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<PAGE>
rates per annum of the Fund's average daily net assets. The fee is computed and
accrued daily and paid monthly.
Net Assets Annual Rate
For assets up to $250,000,000............................0.50%
For assets in excess of $250,000,000
to $300,000,000........................................0.48%
Over $300,000,000........................................0.45%
PMC had agreed that, until December 1, 1995, its fee would not exceed
the fee that would have been payable under the previous management contact with
FMC, without giving effect to any expense limitation. Under the previous
management contract with FMC, which was terminated on December 1, 1993, the Fund
paid FMC a management fee at an annual rate equal to the following percentages
of the Fund's average daily net assets:
Net Assets Annual Rate
For assets up to and including $100,000,000................50%
For assets over $100,000,000 but not
over $200,000,0000.......................................48%
For assets over $200,000,000 but not
over $300,000,000........................................46%
For assets over $300,000,000 but not
over $400,000,000........................................44%
For assets over $400,000,000 but not
over $500,000,000........................................42%
For assets over $500,000,000 ..............................40%
In addition, PMC has agreed that if in any fiscal year the aggregate
expenses of the Fund exceed the expense limitation established by any state
having jurisdiction over the Fund, PMC will reduce its management fee to the
extent required by state law. The most restrictive state expense limit currently
applicable to the Fund provides that the Fund's expenses in any fiscal year may
not exceed 2.5% of the first $30 million of average daily net assets, 2.0% of
the next $70 million of such assets and 1.5% of such assets in excess of $100
million.
The Fund paid $579,249 in management fees to FMC for the period January
1 to November 30, 1993. The Fund paid $55,956 in management fees to PMC for the
period December 1 through December
-13-
<PAGE>
31, 1993. The Fund paid $619,571 and $879,379 in management fees to PMC for the
fiscal years ended December 31, 1994 and December 31, 1995, respectively.
Under the previous management contract with FMC, FMC agreed to
reimburse the Fund quarterly for all expenses (excluding interest, brokerage
commissions, taxes and extraordinary expenses) incurred in each year by the Fund
in excess of 1.50% of the first $30,000,000 of the Fund's average daily net
assets plus 1.00% of any additional net assets, up to an amount not exceeding
its management fees for the period for which reimbursements, if any, were made.
5. UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT AND DISTRIBUTION PLANS
The Fund entered into an Underwriting Agreement with PFD. The
Underwriting Agreement will continue from year to year if annually approved by
the Trustees. The Underwriting Agreement provides that PFD will bear certain
distribution expenses not borne by the Fund.
PFD bears all expenses it incurs in providing services under the
Underwriting Agreement. Such expenses include compensation to its employees and
representatives and to securities dealers for distribution related services
performed for the Fund. PFD also pays certain expenses in connection with the
distribution of the Fund's shares, including the cost of preparing, printing and
distributing advertising or promotional materials, and the cost of printing and
distributing prospectuses and supplements to prospective shareholders. The Fund
bears the cost of registering its shares under federal and state securities law.
The Fund and PFD have agreed to indemnify each other against certain
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Under the Underwriting Agreement, PFD will use its best efforts in rendering
services to the Fund.
The Fund has adopted a plan of distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1
under the 1940 Act with respect to Class A, Class B and Class C shares (the
"Class A Plan," the "Class B Plan" and the "Class C Plan") (together, the
"Plans").
Class A Plan
Pursuant to the Class A Plan, the Fund may reimburse PFD for its
expenditures in financing any activity primarily intended to result in the sale
of Fund shares. Certain categories of such expenditures have been approved by
the Board of Trustees and are set forth in the Prospectus under the caption
"Distribution Plans." The expenses of the Fund pursuant to the Class A Plan are
accrued on a fiscal year basis and may not exceed, with respect to
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<PAGE>
the Class A shares, the annual rate of 0.25% of the Fund's average daily net
assets attributable to Class A shares.
The Class A Plan does not provide for the carryover of reimbursable
expenses beyond 12 months from the time the Fund is first invoiced for an
expense. The limited carryover provision in the Class A Plan may result in an
expense invoiced to the Fund in one fiscal year being paid in the subsequent
fiscal year and thus being treated for purposes of calculating the maximum
expenditures of the Fund as having been incurred in the subsequent fiscal year.
In the event of termination or non-continuance of the Class A Plan, the Fund has
12 months to reimburse any expense which it incurs prior to such termination or
non-continuance, provided that payments by the Fund during such 12-month period
shall not exceed 0.25% of the Fund's average daily net assets attributable to
the Class A shares during such period.
Class B Plan
The Class B Plan provides that the Fund shall pay PFD, as the Fund's
distributor for its Class B shares, a daily distribution fee equal on an annual
basis to 0.75% of the Fund's average daily net assets attributable to Class B
shares and will pay PFD a service fee equal to 0.25% of the Fund's average daily
net assets attributable to Class B shares (which PFD will in turn pay to
securities dealers which enter into a sales agreement with PFD at a rate of up
to 0.25% of the Fund's average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares
owned by investors for whom that securities dealer is the holder or dealer of
record). This service fee is intended to be in consideration for personal
services and/or account maintenance services rendered by the dealer with respect
to Class B shares. PFD will advance to dealers the first-year service fee at a
rate equal to 0.25% of the amount invested. As compensation therefor, PFD may
retain the service fee paid by the Fund with respect to such shares for the
first year after purchase. Dealers will become eligible for additional service
fees with respect to such shares commencing in the thirteenth month following
purchase. Dealers may from time to time be required to meet certain other
criteria in order to receive service fees. PFD or its affiliates are entitled to
retain all service fees payable under the Class B Plan for which there is no
dealer of record or for which qualification standards have not been met as
partial consideration for personal services and/or account maintenance services
performed by PFD or its affiliates for shareholder accounts.
The purpose of distribution payments to PFD under the Class B Plan is
to compensate PFD for its distribution services to the Fund. PFD pays
commissions to dealers as well as expenses of printing prospectuses and reports
used for sales purposes,
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<PAGE>
expenses with respect to the preparation and printing of sales literature and
other distribution-related expenses, including, without limitation, the cost
necessary to provide distribution-related services or personnel, travel office
expenses and equipment. The Class B Plan also provides that PFD will receive all
contingent deferred sales charges ("CDSCs") attributable to Class B shares. (See
"Distribution Plans" in the Prospectus.)
Class C Plan
The Class C Plan provides that the Fund will pay PFD, as the Fund's
distributor for its Class C shares, a distribution fee accrued daily and paid
quarterly, equal on an annual basis to 0.75% of the Fund's average daily net
assets attributable to Class C shares and will pay PFD a service fee equal to
0.25% of the Fund's average daily net assets attributable to Class C shares. PFD
will in turn pay to securities dealers which enter into a sales agreement with
PFD a distribution fee and a service fee at rates of up to 0.75% and 0.25%,
respectively, of the Fund's average daily net assets attributable to Class C
shares owned by investors for whom that securities dealer is the holder or
dealer of record. The service fee is intended to be in consideration of personal
services and/or account maintenance services rendered by the dealer with respect
to Class C shares. PFD will advance to dealers the first-year service fee at a
rate equal to 0.25% of the amount invested. As compensation therefor, PFD may
retain the service fee paid by the Fund with respect to such shares for the
first year after purchase. Commencing in the thirteenth month following a
purchase of Class C shares, dealers will become eligible for additional service
fees at a rate of up to 0.25% of the amount invested and additional compensation
at a rate of up to 0.75% of the net asset value of such shares. Dealers may from
time to time be required to meet certain other criteria in order to receive
service fees. PFD or its affiliates are entitled to retain all service fees
payable under the Class C Plan for which there is no dealer of record or for
which qualification standards have not been met as partial consideration for
personal services and/or account maintenance services performed by PFD or its
affiliates for shareholder accounts.
The purpose of distribution payments to PFD under the Class C Plan is
to compensate PFD for its distribution services with respect to the Class C
shares of the Fund. PFD pays commissions to dealers as well as expenses of
printing prospectuses and reports used for sales purposes, expenses with respect
to the preparation and printing of sales literature and other
distribution-related expenses, including, without limitation, the cost necessary
to provide distribution-related services, or personnel, travel office expenses
and equipment. The Class C Plan
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also provides that PFD will receive all CDSCs attributable to Class C shares.
(See "Distribution Plans" in the Prospectus.)
General
In accordance with the terms of the Plans, PFD provides to the Fund for
review by the Trustees a quarterly written report of the amounts expended under
the respective Plans and the purpose for which such expenditures were made. In
the Trustees' quarterly review of the Plans, they will consider the continued
appropriateness and the level of reimbursement or compensation the Plans
provide.
No interested person of the Fund, nor any Trustee of the Fund who is
not an interested person of the Fund, has any direct or indirect financial
interest in the operation of the Plans except to the extent that PFD and certain
of its employees may be deemed to have such an interest as a result of receiving
a portion of the amounts expended under the Plans by the Fund and except to the
extent certain officers may have an interest in PFD's ultimate parent, PGI.
The Plans were adopted by a majority vote of the Board of Trustees,
including all of the Trustees who are not, and were not at the time they voted,
"interested persons" of the Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act (none of whom had
or have any direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the
Plans), cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the
Plans. In approving the Plans, the Trustees identified and considered a number
of potential benefits which the Plans may provide. The Board of Trustees
believes that there is a reasonable likelihood that the Plans will benefit the
Fund and its current and future shareholders. Under their terms, the Plans
remain in effect from year to year provided such continuance is approved
annually by vote of the Trustees in the manner described above. The Plans may
not be amended to increase materially the annual percentage limitation of
average net assets which may be spent for the services described therein without
approval of the shareholders of the Fund affected thereby, and material
amendments to the Plans must also be approved by the Trustees in the manner
described above. A Plan may be terminated at any time, without payment of any
penalty, by vote of the majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons
of the Fund and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operations
of the Plan, or by a vote of a majority (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the
outstanding voting securities of the respective Class of the Fund. Each Plan
will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment (as defined in the
1940 Act). In the Trustees' quarterly review of the Plans, they will consider a
Plan's continued appropriateness and the level of compensation it provides.
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During the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995, the Fund incurred total
distribution fees pursuant to the Fund's Class A Plan and Class B Plan of
$544,268 and $12,154, respectively. The distribution fees were paid by the Fund
to PFD in reimbursement of expenses related to servicing of shareholder accounts
and to compensating dealers and sales personnel. The Fund had not incurred any
distribution fees pursuant to the Class C Plan. Class C shares were first
offered January 31, 1996.
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995, CDSCs, at a rate
declining from a maximum of 4.0% of the lower of the cost or market value of the
shares being redeemed, of $2,023 were charged to redemptions of Class B shares
made within 6 years of purchase (as described in ^How to Buy Fund Sharesy in the
Prospectus). Such CDSCs are paid to PFD in reimbursement of expenses related to
servicing of shareholder accounts and compensation paid to dealers and sales
personnel.
6. SHAREHOLDER SERVICING/TRANSFER AGENT
The Fund has contracted with PSC, 60 State Street, Boston,
Massachusetts, to act as shareholder servicing agent and transfer agent for the
Fund. This contract terminates if assigned and may be terminated without penalty
by either party by vote of its Board of Trustees or a majority of its
outstanding voting securities and the giving of ninety days' written notice.
Under the terms of its contract with the Fund, PSC will service
shareholder accounts, and its duties will include: (i) processing sales,
redemptions and exchanges of shares of the Fund; (ii) distributing dividends and
capital gains associated with Fund portfolio accounts; and (iii) maintaining
account records and responding to routine shareholder inquiries.
PSC receives an annual fee of $22.00 per shareholder account from the
Fund as compensation for the services described above. This fee is set at an
amount determined by vote of a majority of the Trustees (including a majority of
the Trustees who are not parties to the contract with PSC or interested persons
of any such parties) to be comparable to fees for such services being paid by
other investment companies.
7. CUSTODIAN
Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (the "Custodian"), 40 Water Street,
Boston, Massachusetts 02109, is the custodian of the Fund's assets. The
Custodian's responsibilities include safekeeping and controlling the Fund's cash
and securities, handling the receipt and delivery of securities, and collecting
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interest and dividends on the Fund's investments. The Custodian also provides
fund accounting, bookkeeping and pricing assistance to the Fund.
The Custodian does not determine the investment policies of the Fund or
decide which securities it will buy or sell. The Fund may invest in securities
issued by the Custodian, deposit cash in the Custodian and deal with the
Custodian as a principal in securities transactions. Portfolio securities may be
deposited into the Federal Reserve-Treasury Department Book Entry System or the
Depository Trust Company.
8. PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER
PFD, 60 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts, serves as the principal
underwriter for the Fund in connection with the continuous offering of its
shares. Under the Fund's previous underwriting agreement with FMC, FMC received
aggregate underwriting commissions of $836,000 for the period from January 1,
1993 through November 30, 1993, of which $106,542 was retained by FMC. Under the
Fund's current Underwriting Agreement with PFD, PFD received $60,000 for the
period December 1 through December 31, 1993, of which $7,872 was retained, and
$626,814 and $2,465,663 for the fiscal years ended December 31, 1994 and
December 31, 1995, of which $78,601 and $152,621.11, respectively, were
retained.
The Fund will not generally issue Fund shares for consideration other
than cash. At the Fund's sole discretion, however, it may issue Fund shares for
consideration other than cash in connection with a bona fide reorganization,
statutory merger, or other acquisition of portfolio securities (other than
municipal debt securities issued by state political subdivisions or their
agencies or instrumentalities) provided (i) the securities meet the investment
objectives and policies of the Fund; (ii) the securities are acquired by the
Fund for investment and not for resale; (iii) the securities are not restricted
as to transfer either by law or liquidity of market; and (iv) the securities
have a value which is readily ascertainable (and not established only by
evaluation procedures) as evidenced by a listing on the American Stock Exchange
or the New York Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq National Market.
9. INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT
Effective January 1, 1994, Arthur Andersen LLP, One International
Place, Boston, MA 02110 was selected as the independent public accountant for
the Fund. Previously, Coopers & Lybrand had served as independent public
accountant to the Fund. Arthur Andersen's election as independent public
accountant was
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approved, at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, by the
vote of a majority of those Trustees on the Board of Trustees who are not
interested persons of the Fund.
10. PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS
All orders for the purchase or sale of portfolio securities are placed
on behalf of the Fund by PMC pursuant to authority contained in the Fund's
management contract. In selecting brokers or dealers, PMC will consider various
relevant factors, including, but not limited to, the size and type of the
transaction; the nature and character of the markets for the security to be
purchased or sold; the execution efficiency, settlement capability, and
financial condition of the dealer; the dealer's execution services rendered on a
continuing basis; and the reasonableness of any dealer spreads.
PMC may select broker-dealers which provide brokerage and/or research
services to the Fund and/or other investment companies managed by PMC or who
sell shares of the Pioneer mutual funds. In addition, if PMC determines in good
faith that the amount of commissions charged by a broker-dealer is reasonable in
relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such
broker-dealer, the Fund may pay commissions to such broker-dealer in an amount
greater than the amount another firm may charge. Such services may include
advice concerning the value of securities; the advisability of investing in,
purchasing or selling securities; the availability of securities or the
purchasers or sellers of securities; furnishing analyses and reports concerning
issuers, industries, securities, economic factors and trends, portfolio strategy
and performance of accounts; and effecting securities transactions and
performing functions incidental thereto (such as clearance and settlement). PMC
maintains a listing of broker-dealers who provide such services on a regular
basis. However, because it is anticipated that many transactions on behalf of
the Fund and other investment companies managed by PMC are placed with
broker-dealers (including broker-dealers on the listing) without regard to the
furnishing of such services, it is not possible to estimate the proportion of
such transactions directed to such dealers solely because such services were
provided.
The research received from broker-dealers may be useful to PMC in
rendering investment management services to the Fund as well as other investment
companies managed by PMC, although not all such research may be useful to the
Fund. Conversely, such information provided by brokers or dealers who have
executed transaction orders on behalf of such other PMC clients may be useful to
PMC in carrying out its obligations to the Fund. The receipt of such research
has not reduced PMC's normal independent
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research activities; however, it enables PMC to avoid the additional expenses
which might otherwise be incurred if it were to attempt to develop comparable
information through its own staff.
In circumstances where two or more broker-dealers offer comparable
prices and executions, preference may be given to a broker-dealer which has sold
shares of the Fund as well as shares of other investment companies or accounts
managed by PMC. This policy does not imply a commitment to execute all portfolio
transactions through all broker-dealers that sell shares of the Fund.
The Board of Trustees periodically reviews PMC's performance of its
responsibilities in connection with the placement of portfolio transactions on
behalf of the Fund.
In addition to the Fund, PMC acts as investment adviser or subadviser
to the other Pioneer mutual funds, Pioneer Interest Shares, Inc. and certain
private accounts with investment objectives similar to that of the Fund.
Securities frequently meet the investment objective of the Fund, such other
funds and such private accounts. In such cases, the decision to recommend a
purchase to one fund or account rather than another is based on a number of
factors. The determining factors in most cases are the amount of securities of
the issuer then outstanding, the value of those securities and the market for
them. Other factors considered in the investment recommendations include other
investments which each fund or account presently has in a particular industry
and the availability of investment funds in each fund or account.
It is possible that at times identical securities will be held by more
than one fund and/or account. However, positions in the same issue may vary and
the length of time that any fund or account may choose to hold its investment in
the same issue may likewise vary. To the extent that the Fund, another Pioneer
mutual fund, Pioneer Interest Shares, Inc. or a private account managed by PMC
may not be able to acquire as large a position in such security as it desires,
it may have to pay a higher price for the security. Similarly, the Fund may not
be able to obtain as large an execution of an order to sell or as high a price
for any particular portfolio security if PMC decides to sell on behalf of
another account the same portfolio security at the same time. On the other hand,
if the same securities are bought or sold at the same time by more than one fund
or account, the resulting participation in volume transactions could produce
better executions for the Fund or the account. In the event more than one
account purchases or sells the same security on a given date, the purchases and
sales will normally be made as nearly as practicable on a pro rata basis in
proportion to the amounts desired to be purchased or sold by each.
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The Fund paid brokerage or underwriting commissions of approximately
$131,000, $343,317 and $682,232, respectively, for the fiscal years ended
December 31, 1993, 1994 and 1995.
11. DIVIDENDS AND TAX STATUS
The Fund's policy is to pay dividends from net investment income at
least once a year and distributions of net realized capital gains, if any, once
a year. Additional distributions may be made for the purpose of avoiding
liability for federal income or excise tax.
It is the Fund's policy to meet the requirements of Subchapter M of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), for qualification as a
regulated investment company. These requirements relate to the sources of its
income, the diversification of its assets, and the timing of its distributions
to shareholders. If the Fund meets all such requirements and distributes to its
shareholders, in accordance with the Code's timing requirements, all investment
company taxable income and net capital gain, if any, which it receives, the Fund
will be relieved of the necessity of paying federal income tax.
Dividends from investment company taxable income, which includes net
investment income, net short-term capital gain in excess of net long-term
capital loss, and certain net foreign exchange gains are taxable as ordinary
income, whether received in cash or in additional shares. Dividends from net
long-term capital gain in excess of net short-term capital loss, if any, whether
received in cash or additional shares, are taxable to the Fund's shareholders as
long-term capital gains for federal income tax purposes without regard to the
length of time shares of the Fund have been held. The federal income tax status
of all distributions will be reported to shareholders annually.
Any dividend declared by the Fund in October, November or December as
of a record date in such a month and paid during the following January will be
treated for federal income tax purposes as received by shareholders on December
31 of the calendar year in which it is declared.
Foreign exchange gains and losses realized by the Fund in connection
with certain transactions involving foreign currency-denominated debt
securities, foreign currencies, or payables or receivables denominated in a
foreign currency are subject to Section 988 of the Code, which generally causes
such gains and losses to be treated as ordinary income and losses and may affect
the amount, timing and character of distributions to shareholders.
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If the Fund acquires stock in certain non-U.S. corporations that
receive at least 75% of their annual gross income from passive sources (such as
interest, dividends, rents, royalties or capital gain) or hold at least 50% of
their assets in investments producing such passive income ("passive foreign
investment companies"), the Fund could be subject to federal income tax and
additional interest charges on "excess distributions" received from such
companies or gain from the sale of stock in such companies, even if all income
or gain actually received by the Fund is timely distributed to its shareholders.
The Fund would not be able to pass through to its shareholders any credit or
deduction for such a tax. Certain elections may, if available, ameliorate these
adverse tax consequences, but any such election would require the Fund to
recognize taxable income or gain without the concurrent receipt of cash. The
Fund may limit and/or manage its holdings in passive foreign investment
companies to minimize its tax liability or maximize its return from these
investments.
The Fund may invest in debt obligations that are in the lower rating
categories or are unrated. Investments in debt obligations that are at risk of
default present special tax issues for the Fund. Tax rules are not entirely
clear about issues such as when the Fund may cease to accrue interest, original
issue discount, or market discount, when and to what extent deductions may be
taken for bad debts or worthless securities, how payments received on
obligations in default should be allocated between principal and income, and
whether exchanges of debt obligations in a workout context are taxable. These
and other issues will be addressed by the Fund, in the event it invests in such
securities, in order to seek to ensure that it distributes sufficient income to
preserve its status as a regulated investment company and to avoid becoming
subject to federal income or excise tax.
If the Fund invests in certain PIKs, zero coupon securities, or, in
general, any other securities with original issue discount (or with market
discount if the Fund elects to include market discount in income currently), the
Fund must accrue income on such investments prior to the receipt of the
corresponding cash payments. However, the Fund must distribute, at least
annually, all or substantially all of its net income, including such accrued
income, to shareholders to qualify as a regulated investment company under the
Code and avoid Federal income and excise taxes. Therefore, the Fund may have to
dispose of its portfolio securities under disadvantageous circumstances to
generate cash, or may have to leverage itself by borrowing the cash, to satisfy
distribution requirements.
At the time of an investor's purchase of Fund shares, a portion of the
purchase price is often attributable to realized or unrealized appreciation in
the Fund's portfolio or undistributed
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taxable income of the Fund. Consequently, subsequent distributions from such
appreciation or income may be taxable to such investor even if the net asset
value of the investor's shares is, as a result of the distributions, reduced
below the investor's cost for such shares and the distributions in reality
represent a return of a portion of the investment.
Redemptions and exchanges are taxable events. Any loss realized upon
the redemption or other disposition of shares with a tax holding period of six
months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any
amounts treated as distributions of long-term capital gain with respect to such
shares.
In addition, if Class A shares redeemed or exchanged have been held for
less than 91 days, (1) in the case of a reinvestment at net asset value pursuant
to the reinvestment privilege, the sales charge paid on such shares is not
included in their tax basis under the Code, and (2) in the case of an exchange,
all or a portion of the sales charge paid on such shares is not included in
their tax basis under the Code, to the extent a sales charge that would
otherwise apply to the shares received is reduced pursuant to the exchange
privilege. In either case, the portion of the sales charge not included in the
tax basis of the shares redeemed or surrendered in an exchange is included in
the tax basis of the shares acquired in the reinvestment or exchange. Losses on
certain redemptions may be disallowed under "wash sale" rules in the event of
other investments in the Fund (including pursuant to automatic dividend
reinvestments) within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30
days after a redemption or other sale of shares.
For federal income tax purposes, the Fund is permitted to carry forward
a net capital loss in any year to offset capital gains, if any, during the eight
years following the year of the loss. To the extent subsequent capital gains are
offset by such losses, they would not result in federal income tax liability to
the Fund and are not expected to be distributed as such to shareholders.
For purposes of the 70% dividends-received deduction available to
corporations, dividends received by the Fund, if any, from U.S. domestic
corporations in respect of any share of stock with a tax holding period of at
least 46 days (91 days in the case of certain preferred stock) in an unleveraged
position and distributed and designated by the Fund may be treated as qualifying
dividends. Any corporate shareholder should consult its tax adviser regarding
the possibility that its tax basis in its shares may be reduced, for federal
income tax purposes, by reason of "extraordinary dividends" received with
respect to the shares.
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Corporate shareholders must meet the minimum holding period requirement stated
above (46 or 91 days), taking into account any holding-period reductions from
certain hedging or other transactions that diminish risk of loss, with respect
to their Fund shares in order to qualify for the deduction and, if they borrow
to acquire Fund shares, may be denied a portion of the dividends-received
deduction. The entire qualifying dividend, including the otherwise deductible
amount, will be included in determining the excess (if any) of a corporation's
adjusted current earnings over its alternative minimum taxable income, which may
increase a corporation's alternative minimum tax liability.
The Fund may be subject to withholding and other taxes imposed by
foreign countries with respect to its investments in those countries. Tax
conventions between certain countries and the U.S. may reduce or eliminate such
taxes in some cases. The Fund will not satisfy the requirements for passing
through to shareholders their pro rata shares of foreign taxes paid by the Fund,
with the result that its shareholders will not include such taxes in their gross
incomes and will not be entitled to a tax deduction or credit for such taxes on
their own tax returns.
Different tax treatment, including penalties on certain excess
contributions and deferrals, certain pre-retirement and post-retirement
distributions, and certain prohibited transactions is accorded to accounts
maintained as qualified retirement plans. Shareholders should consult their tax
advisers for more information.
Federal law requires that the Fund withhold (as "backup withholding")
31% of reportable payments, including dividends, capital gain dividends, and the
proceeds of redemptions (including exchanges) and repurchases, to shareholders
who have not complied with IRS regulations. In order to avoid this withholding
requirement, shareholders must certify on their Account Applications, or on
separate W-9 Forms, that the Social Security Number or other Taxpayer
Identification Number they provide is their correct number and that they are not
currently subject to backup withholding, or that they are exempt from backup
withholding. The Fund may nevertheless be required to withhold if it receives
notice from the IRS or a broker that the number provided is incorrect or backup
withholding is applicable as a result of previous underreporting of interest or
dividend income.
Provided that the Fund qualifies as a regulated investment company
under the Code, it will not be required to pay any Massachusetts income,
corporate excise or franchise taxes, and it should also not be required to pay
Delaware corporation income tax.
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The description above relates only to U.S. federal income tax
consequences for shareholders who are U.S. persons, i.e., U.S. citizens or
residents and U.S. domestic corporations, partnerships, trusts or estates, and
who are subject to U.S. federal income tax. The description does not address the
special tax rules applicable to certain classes of investors, such as banks,
insurance companies, or tax-exempt entities. Investors other than U.S. persons
may be subject to different U.S. tax treatment, including a possible 30% U.S.
nonresident alien withholding tax (or nonresident alien withholding tax at a
lower treaty rate) on amounts treated as ordinary dividends from the Fund and,
unless an effective IRS Form W-8 or authorized substitute is on file, to 31%
backup withholding on certain other payments from the Fund. Shareholders should
consult their own tax advisors on these matters and on state, local and other
applicable tax laws.
12. SHARES OF THE FUND
General
The Fund is an open-end investment company established as a Nebraska
corporation in 1968 and reorganized as a Delaware business trust in June 1994.
Prior to December 1, 1993, the Fund was called Mutual of Omaha Growth Fund, Inc.
and prior to June 30, 1994, the Fund was called Pioneer Growth Shares, Inc.
Reference to the Fund includes both the Delaware business trust and the Nebraska
corporation. The Board of Trustees, as of the date of this Statement of
Additional Information, has authorized the issuance of three classes of shares:
Class A, Class B and Class C.
Unless otherwise required by the 1940 Act or the Agreement and
Declaration of Trust (the "Declaration of Trust"), the Fund has no intention of
holding annual meetings of shareholders. Shareholders may remove a Trustee by
the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the Fund's outstanding shares and
the Trustees shall promptly call a meeting for such purpose when requested to do
so in writing by the record holders of not less than 10% of the outstanding
shares of the Trust. Shareholders may, under certain circumstances communicate
with other shareholders in connection with requesting a special meeting of
shareholders. However, at any time that less than a majority of the Trustees
holding office were elected by the shareholders, the Trustees will call a
special meeting of shareholders for the purpose of electing Trustees.
The Declaration of Trust permits the issuance of series of shares in
addition to the Fund which would represent interests in separate portfolios of
investments. No series would be entitled to share in the assets of any other
series or be liable for the expenses or liabilities of any other series.
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In addition to the requirements under Delaware law, the Declaration of
Trust provides that shareholders of the Fund may bring a derivative action on
behalf of the Fund only if the following conditions are met: (a) shareholders
eligible to bring such derivative action under Delaware law who hold at least
10% of the outstanding shares of the Fund, or 10% of the outstanding shares of
the series or class to which such action relates, shall join in the request for
the Trustees to commence such action; and (b) the Trustees must be afforded a
reasonable amount of time to consider such shareholder request and to
investigate the basis of such claim. The Trustees shall be entitled to retain
counsel or other advisers in considering the merits of the request and shall
require an undertaking by the shareholders making such request to reimburse the
Fund for the expense of any such advisers in the event that the Trustees
determine not to bring such action.
Shareholder and Trustee Liability
The Fund is organized as a Delaware business trust, and, under Delaware
law, the shareholders of such a trust are not generally subject to liability for
the debts or obligations of the trust. Similarly, Delaware law provides that the
Fund will not be liable for the debts or obligations of any other series of the
trust. However, no similar statutory or other authority limiting business trust
shareholder liability exists in many other states. As a result, to the extent
that a Delaware business trust or a shareholder is subject to the jurisdiction
of courts in such other states, the courts may not apply Delaware law and may
thereby subject the Delaware business trust shareholders to liability. To guard
against this risk, the Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer of
shareholder liability for acts or obligations of the Fund. Notice of such
disclaimer will normally be given in each agreement, obligation or instrument
entered into or executed by the Fund or a Trustee. The Declaration of Trust
provides for indemnification by the Fund for any loss suffered by a shareholder
as a result of an obligation of the Fund. The Declaration of Trust also provides
that the Fund shall, upon request, assume the defense of any claim made against
any shareholder for any act or obligation of the Fund and satisfy any judgment
thereon. The Trustees believe that, in view of the above, the risk of personal
liability of shareholders is remote.
The Declaration of Trust further provides that the Trustees will not be
liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law, but nothing in the
Declaration of Trust protects a Trustee against any liability to which he or she
would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross
negligence, or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his
or her office.
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13. DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
The net asset value per share of each class of the Fund is determined
as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the
"Exchange") (currently 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time) on each day the Exchange is open
for business. As of the date of this Statement of Additional Information, the
Exchange is open for trading every weekday except for the following holidays:
New Year's Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day,
Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. The net asset value per share of
each class of the Fund is also determined on any other day in which the level of
trading in its portfolio securities is sufficiently high that the current net
asset value per share might be materially affected by changes in the value of
its portfolio securities. On any day in which no purchase orders for the shares
of the Fund become effective and no shares are tendered for redemption, the
Fund's net asset value per share may not be determined.
The net asset value per share of each class of the Fund is computed by
taking the value of all of the Fund's assets attributable to a class, less the
Fund's liabilities attributable to that class, and dividing it by the number of
outstanding shares of the class. For purposes of determining net asset value,
expenses of the classes of the Fund are accrued daily and taken into account.
In determining the value of the assets of the Fund for the purpose of
obtaining the net asset value, securities listed or traded on a national or
foreign securities exchange shall be valued at their last sales price on the day
of valuation or, if there are no sales on that day, at the latest bid quotation.
Equity securities traded over-the-counter for which the last sales price on the
day of valuation is available shall be valued at that price. All other
over-the-counter equity securities for which reliable quotations are readily
available shall be valued at their latest bid quotation. Convertible securities
traded over-the-counter for which reliable quotations are readily available
shall be valued on the basis of valuations furnished by pricing services which
utilize electronic data processing techniques to determine the valuations for
normal institutional-size trading units of such securities. Securities not
valued by the pricing service for which reliable quotations are readily
available, shall be valued at market values furnished by recognized dealers in
such securities. Short-term obligations with remaining maturities of 60 days or
less shall be valued at amortized cost. Securities and other assets for which
reliable quotations are not readily available, shall be valued at their fair
value as determined in good faith under consistently applied guidelines
established by and under the general supervision of the Board of Trustees of the
Fund, although
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the actual calculations may be made by persons acting pursuant to the direction
of the Board.
The Fund's maximum offering price per Class A share is determined by
adding the maximum sales charge to the net asset value per Class A share. Class
B and Class C shares are offered at net asset value without the imposition of an
initial sales charge.
14. SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN
The Systematic Withdrawal Plan ("SWP") is designed to provide a
convenient method of receiving fixed payments at regular intervals from shares
of the Fund deposited by the applicant under the SWP. The applicant must deposit
or purchase for deposit with PSC shares of the Fund having a total value of not
less than $10,000. Periodic checks of $50 or more will be sent to the applicant,
or any person designated by him, monthly or quarterly. A designation of a third
party to receive checks requires an acceptable signature guarantee. Withdrawals
from Class B and Class C share accounts are limited to 10% of the value of the
account at the withdrawal plan is implemented
Any income dividends or capital gains distributions on shares under the
SWP will be credited to the SWP account on the payment date in full and
fractional shares at the net asset value per share in effect on the record date.
SWP payments are made from the proceeds of the redemption of shares
deposited under the SWP in a SWP account. Redemptions are taxable transactions
to shareholders. To the extent that such redemptions for periodic withdrawals
exceed dividend income reinvested in the SWP account, such redemptions will
reduce and may ultimately exhaust the number of shares deposited in the SWP
account. In addition, the amounts received by a shareholder cannot be considered
as an actual yield or income on his or her investment because part of such
payments may be a return of his or her investment.
The SWP may be terminated at any time (1) by written notice to PSC or
from PSC to the shareholder; (2) upon receipt by PSC of appropriate evidence of
the shareholder's death; or (3) when all shares under the Plan have been
redeemed.
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<PAGE>
15. LETTER OF INTENTION
Purchases in the Fund of $50,000 or over of Class A Shares (excluding
any reinvestments of dividends and capital gains distributions) made within a
13-month period pursuant to a Letter of Intention provided by PFD will qualify
for a reduced sales charge. Such reduced sales charge will be the charge that
would be applicable to the purchase of all Class A Shares purchased during such
13-month period pursuant to a Letter of Intention had such shares been purchased
all at once. See "How to Buy Fund Shares" in the Prospectus. For example, a
person who signs a Letter of Intention providing for a total investment in Fund
Class A Shares of $50,000 over a 13-month period would be charged at the 4.50%
sales charge rate with respect to all purchases during that period. Should the
amount actually purchased during the 13-month period be more or less than that
indicated in the Letter, an adjustment in the sales charge will be made. A
purchase not made pursuant to a Letter of Intention may be included thereafter
if the Letter is filed within 90 days of such purchase. Any shareholder may also
obtain the reduced sales charge by including the value (at current offering
price) of all the Class A Shares of record he holds in the Fund and in all other
Pioneer mutual funds, except direct purchases of the Class A shares of Pioneer
Money Market Trust, as of the date of the Letter of Intention as a credit toward
determining the applicable scale of sales charge for the Class A Shares to be
purchased under the Letter of Intention.
The Letter of Intention authorizes PSC to escrow Class A Shares having
a purchase price equal to 5% of the stated investment specified in the Letter of
Intention. A Letter of Intention is not a binding obligation upon the investor
to purchase, or the Fund to sell, the full amount indicated and the investor
should carefully read the provisions of the Letter of Intention set forth in the
Account Application before signing.
16. INVESTMENT RESULTS
Quotations, Comparisons, and General Information
From time to time, in advertisements, in sales literature, or in
reports to shareholders, the past performance of the Fund may be illustrated
and/or compared with that of other mutual funds with similar investment
objectives, and to stock or other relevant indices. For example, total return of
the Fund's classes may be compared to rankings prepared by Lipper Analytical
Services, Inc., a widely recognized independent service which monitors mutual
fund performance; the Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Index ("S&P 500"), an index of
unmanaged groups of common stock; the Dow Jones Industrial Average, a recognized
unmanaged index of common stocks
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<PAGE>
of 30 industrial companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange; or The Frank
Russell Indexes ("Russell 1000," "2000," "2500," "3000,") or the Wilshire Total
Market Value Index ("Wilshire 5000"), two recognized unmanaged indices of broad
based common stocks.
In addition, the performance of the classes of the Fund may be compared
to alternative investment or savings vehicles and/or to indices or indicators of
economic activity, e.g., inflation or interest rates. Performance rankings and
listings reported in newspapers or national business and financial publications,
such as Barron's, Business Week, Consumers Digest, Consumer Reports, Financial
World, Forbes, Fortune, Investors Business Daily, Kiplinger's Personal Finance
Magazine, Money Magazine, New York Times, Smart Money, USA Today, U.S. News and
World Report, The Wall Street Journal, and Worth may also be cited (if the Fund
is listed in any such publication) or used for comparison, as well as
performance listings and rankings from various other sources including Bloomberg
Financial Markets, CDA/Wiesenberger, Donoghue's Mutual Fund Almanac, Investment
Company Data, Inc., Johnson's Charts, Kanon Bloch Carre and Co., Lipper
Analytical Services, Inc., Micropal, Inc., Morningstar, Inc., Schabacker
Investment Management and Towers Data Systems, Inc.
In addition, from time to time quotations from articles from financial
publications such as those listed above may be used in advertisements in sales
literature, or in reports to shareholders of the Fund.
The Fund may also present, from time to time, historical information
depicting the value of a hypothetical account in one or more classes of the Fund
since the Fund's inception.
In presenting investment results, the Fund may also include references
to certain financial planning concepts, including (a) an investor's need to
evaluate his financial assets and obligations to determine how much to invest;
(b) his need to analyze the objectives of various investments to determine where
to invest; and (c) his need to analyze his time frame for future capital needs
to determine how long to invest. The investor controls these three factors, all
of which affect the use of investments in building assets.
Standardized Average Annual Total Return Quotations
One of the primary methods used to measure the performance of a class
of the Fund is "total return." "Total return" will normally represent the
percentage change in value of an account, or of a hypothetical investment in a
class of the Fund, over any period up to the lifetime of that class of the Fund.
Total return
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<PAGE>
calculations will usually assume the reinvestment of all dividends and capital
gains distributions and will be expressed as a percentage increase or decrease
from an initial value, for the entire period or for one or more specified
periods within the entire period. Total return percentages for periods of less
than one year will usually be annualized; total return percentages for periods
longer than one year will usually be accompanied by total return percentages for
each year within the period and/or by the average annual compounded total return
for the period. The income and capital components of a given return may be
separated and portrayed in a variety of ways in order to illustrate their
relative significance. Performance may also be portrayed in terms of cash or
investment values, without percentages. Past performance cannot guarantee any
particular future result.
The Fund's average annual total return quotations for each of its
classes as that information may appear in the Fund's Prospectus or in
advertising are calculated by standard methods prescribed by the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "SEC").
Average annual total return quotations for each Class of Fund shares
are computed by finding the average annual compounded rates of return that would
cause a hypothetical investment in the class made on the first day of a
designated period (assuming all dividends and distributions are reinvested) to
equal the ending redeemable value of such hypothetical investment on the last
day of the designated period in accordance with the following formula:
P(1+T)n = ERV
Where: P = a hypothetical initial payment of $1000 (less the maximum
sales load for Class A Shares or the deduction of the CDSC
on Class B or Class C Shares at the end of the period)
T = average annual total return
n = number of years
ERV = ending redeemable value of the hypothetical $1000 initial
payment made at the beginning of the designated period (or
fractional portion thereof)
For purposes of the above computation, it is assumed that all dividends and
distributions made by the Fund are reinvested at net asset value during the
designated period. The average annual total return quotation is determined to
the nearest 1/100 of 1%.
The total returns for each Class of shares of the Fund as of December
31, 1995 were as follows:
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<PAGE>
Average Annual Total Return (%)
One Year Five Years Ten Years Commencement*
Class A Shares 22.36 16.28 13.60 8.35
Class B Shares N/A N/A N/A 14.26
Class C Shares N/A N/A N/A N/A
*Commencement was 5/17/68 for Class A shares and 4/28/95 for Class B shares.
Class C Shares were first offered January 31, 1996.
In determining the average annual total return (calculated as provided
above), recurring fees, if any, that are charged to all shareholder accounts of
a particular class are taken into consideration. For any account fees that vary
with the size of the account, the account fee used for purposes of the above
computation is assumed to be the fee that would be charged to the Fund's mean
account size.
Automated Information Line (FactFone)
FactFone, Pioneer's 24-hour automated information line, allows
shareholders to dial toll-free 1-800-225-4321 and hear recorded fund
information, including:
o net asset value prices for all Pioneer mutual funds;
o annualized 30-day yields on Pioneer's fixed income funds;
o annualized 7-day yields and 7-day effective (compound) yields
for Pioneer money market funds; and
o dividends and capital gains distributions for all Pioneer
mutual funds.
Yields are calculated in accordance with SEC mandated standard
formulas.
In addition, by using a personal identification number (PIN),
shareholders may access their account balance and last three transactions and
may order a duplicate statement.
All performance numbers communicated through FactFone represent past
performance, and figures for all bond funds include the maximum applicable sales
charge. A shareholder's actual yield and total return will vary with changing
market conditions. The value of Class A, Class B and Class C Shares (except for
Pioneer money market funds, which seek a stable $1.00 share price) will
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<PAGE>
also vary, and such shares may be worth more or less at redemption than their
original cost.
17. GENERAL INFORMATION
The Fund is registered with the SEC as a diversified, open-end
management investment company. Such registration does not involve supervision by
the SEC of the management or policies of the Fund. For further information with
respect to the Fund and the securities offered hereby, reference is made to the
registration statement filed with the SEC, including all exhibits thereto.
Annual and semiannual reports of the Fund are mailed to each shareholder.
18. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The Fund's financial statements for the year ended December 31, 1995
are included in the Fund's Annual Report to Shareholders, which report is
incorporated by reference into and is attached to this Statement of Additional
Information. The Fund's Annual Report to Shareholders is so incorporated and
attached in reliance upon the report of Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public
accountants, as experts in accounting and auditing. A copy of the Fund's Annual
Report may be obtained without charge by calling Shareholder Services at
1-800-225-6292 or by written request to the Fund at 60 State Street, Boston,
Massachusetts 02109.
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<PAGE>
APPENDIX A
MOODY'S CORPORATE BOND RATINGS
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 edge."
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 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 posses many favorable investment attributes 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 rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements; their future
cannot be considered as well assured. Often the protection of interest and
principal payments may be very moderate and thereby not well safeguarded during
other good and bad times
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<PAGE>
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.
Note: Moody's applies numerical modifiers 1, 2 and 3 in each generic rating
classification from Aa through B in its corporate bond rating system. The
modifier 1 indicated that the security ranks in the higher end of its generic
rating category; the modifier 2 indicated a mid-range ranking and the modifier 3
indicates that the issue ranks in the lower end of its generic rating category.
STANDARD AND POOR'S RATINGS GROUP CORPORATE BOND RATINGS
AAA
Debt rated AAA has the highest rating assigned by Standard and 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.
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<PAGE>
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 of 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 is typically applied to debt subordinated to senior debt that is
assigned an actual or implied CCC rating.
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<PAGE>
C
The C rating is typically applied to debt subordinated to senior debt which is
assigned an actual or implied CCC- debt rating. The C rating may be used to
cover a situation where a bankruptcy petition has been filed, but debt service
payments are continued.
CI
The rating CI is reserved for income bonds on which no interest is being paid.
D
Debt rated D is in payment default. The D rating category is used when interest
payments or principal payments are not made on the date due even if the
applicable grace period has not expired, unless S&P believes that such payments
will be made during such grace period. The D rating also will be used upon the
filing of a bankruptcy petition if debt service payments are jeopardized.
PLUS (+) OR MINUS (-)
The rating from AAA to CCC may be modified by the addition of a plus or minus
sign to show relative standing within the major categories.
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<PAGE>
Pioneer Growth Shares A
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Date Initial Offering Price Sales Charge Shares Net Asset Initial Net
Investment Purchased Value Asset
Included Per Share Value
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
12/31/85 $10,000 $6.9600 5.75% 1,436.782 $6.5600 $9,425
</TABLE>
Dividends and Capital Gains Reinvested
Value of Shares
Date From From Cap. From Dividends Total Value
Investment Gains
Reinvested Reinvested
12/31/86 $10,186 $596 $135 $10,917
12/31/87 $9,009 $1,311 $222 $10,542
12/31/88 $10,617 $1,977 $373 $12,967
12/31/89 $12,859 $3,867 $602 $17,328
12/31/90 $10,876 $4,338 $663 $15,877
12/31/91 $17,629 $7,031 $1,120 $25,780
12/31/92 $17,845 $7,117 $1,133 $26,095
12/31/93 $18,132 $9,033 $1,152 $28,317
12/31/94 $12,715 $14,059 $808 $27,582
12/31/95 $14,541 $20,263 $1,003 $35,807
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<PAGE>
Pioneer Growth Shares B
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Date Initial Offering Price Sales Charge Shares Net Asset Initial Net
Investment Purchased Value Asset
Included Per Share Value
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
4/28/95 $10,000 $9.6800 0.00% 1,033.058 $9.6800 $10,000
</TABLE>
Dividends and Capital Gains Reinvested
Value of Shares
Date From From Cap. From Dividends Total Value
Investment Gains
Reinvested Reinvested
12/31/95 $10,403 $1,388 $35 $11,826
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<PAGE>
COMPARATIVE PERFORMANCE
INDEX DESCRIPTIONS
The following securities indices are well-known, unmanaged measures of market
performance. Advertisements and sales literature for the Fund may refer to these
indices or may present comparisons between the performance of the Fund and one
or more of the indices. Other indices may be used, if appropriate. The indices
are not available for direct investment. The data presented is not meant to be
indicative of the performance of the Fund, reflects past performance and does
not guarantee future results.
S&P 500
This index is a readily available, carefully constructed, market value weighted
benchmark of common stock performance. Currently, the S&P Composite Index
includes 500 of the largest stocks (in terms of stock market value) in the
United States; prior to March 1957 it consisted of 90 of the largest stocks.
DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE
This is a total return index based on the performance of 30 blue chip stocks.
U.S. SMALL STOCK INDEX
This index is a market value weighted index of the ninth and tenth deciles of
the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), plus stocks listed on the American Stock
Exchange (AMEX) and over-the-counter (OTC) with the same or less capitalization
as the upper bound of the NYSE ninth decile.
U.S. INFLATION
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), not seasonally
adjusted, is used to measure inflation, which is the rate of change of consumer
goods prices. Unfortunately, the inflation rate as derived by the CPI is not
measured over the same period as the other asset returns. All of the security
returns are measured from one month-end to the next month-end. CPI commodity
prices are collected during the month. Thus, measured inflation rates lag the
other series by about one-half month. Prior to January 1978, the CPI (as
compared with CPI-U) was used. Both inflation measures are constructed by the
U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Washington, DC.
S&P/BARRA INDEXES
The S&P/BARRA Growth and Value Indexes are constructed by dividing the stocks in
the S&P 500 Index according to price-to-book ratios. The Growth Index contains
stocks with higher price-to-book ratios, and the Value Index contains stocks
with lower price-to-book ratios. Both indexes are market capitalization
weighted.
LONG-TERM U.S. GOVERNMENT BONDS
The total returns on long-term government bonds from 1977 to 1991 are
constructed with data from The Wall Street Journal. Over 1926-1976, data are
obtained from the Government bond file at the Center for Research in Security
Prices (CRSP), Graduate School of Business, University of Chicago. Each year, a
one-bond portfolio with a term of approximately 20 years and a reasonably
current coupon was used, and whose returns did not reflect potential tax
benefits, impaired negotiability, or special redemption or call privileges.
Where callable bonds had to be used, the term of the bond was assumed to be a
simple average of the maturity and first call dates
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<PAGE>
COMPARATIVE PERFORMANCE
INDEX DESCRIPTIONS
minus the current date. The bond was "held" for the calendar year and returns
were computed. Total returns for 1977-1991 are calculated as the change in the
flat price or and-interest price.
INTERMEDIATE-TERM U.S. GOVERNMENT BONDS
Total returns of the intermediate-term government bonds for 1977-1991 are
calculated from The Wall Street Journal prices, using the change in flat price.
Returns from 1934-1986 are obtained from the CRSP Government Bond File.
Each year, one-bond portfolios are formed, the bond chosen is the shortest
noncallable bond with a maturity not less than 5 years, and this bond is "held"
for the calendar year. Monthly returns are computed. (Bonds with impaired
negotiability or special redemption privileges are omitted, as are partially or
fully tax-exempt bonds starting with 1943.) From 1934-1942, almost all bonds
with maturities near 5 years were partially or full tax-exempt and were selected
using the rules described above. Personal tax rates were generally low in that
period, so that yields on tax-exempt bonds were similar to yields on taxable
bonds. From 1926-1933, there are few bonds suitable for construction of a series
with a 5-year maturity. For this period, five year bond yield estimates are
used.
MSCI
Morgan Stanley Capital International Indices, developed by the Capital
International S.A., are based on share prices of some 1470 companies listed on
the stock exchanges around the world.
Countries in the MSCI EAFE Portfolio are:
Australia; Austria; Belgium; Denmark; Finland; France; Germany; Hong Kong;
Italy; Japan; Netherlands; N. Zealand; Norway; Singapore/Malaysia; Spain;
Sweden; Switzerland; United Kingdom.
6 MONTH CDs
Data sources include the Federal Reserve Bulletin and The Wall Street Journal.
LONG-TERM U.S. CORPORATE BONDS
For 1969-1991, corporate bond total returns are represented by the Salomon
Brothers Long-Term High-Grade Corporate Bond Index. Since most large corporate
bond transactions take place over the counter, a major dealer is the natural
source of these data. The index includes nearly all Aaa- and Aa-rated bonds. If
a bond is downgraded during a particular month, its return for the month is
included in the index before removing the bond from future portfolios.
Over 1926-1968 the total returns were calculated by summing the capital
appreciation returns and the income returns. For the period 1946-1968, Ibbotson
and Sinquefield backdated the Salomon Brothers' index, using Salomon Brothers'
monthly yield data with a methodology similar to that used by Salomon for
1969-1991. Capital appreciation returns were calculated from yields assuming (at
the beginning of each monthly holding period) a 20-year maturity, a bond price
equal to par, and a coupon equal to the beginning-of-period yield. For the
period 1926-1945, the Standard and Poor's monthly High-Grade Corporate Composite
yield data were used, assuming a 4 percent coupon and a 20-year maturity. The
conventional present-value formula for bond price for the beginning and
end-of-month prices was used. (This formula is presented in Ross, Stephen A.,
and Randolph W. Westerfield, Corporate Finance, Times
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<PAGE>
COMPARATIVE PERFORMANCE
INDEX DESCRIPTIONS
Mirror/Mosby, St. Louis, 1990, p. 97 ["Level-Coupon Bonds"].) The monthly income
return was assumed to be one-twelfth the coupon.
U.S. (30 DAY) TREASURY BILLS
For the U.S. Treasury bill index, data from The Wall Street Journal are used for
1977-1991; the CRSP U.S. Government Bond File is the source until 1976. Each
month a one-bill portfolio containing the shortest-term bill having not less
than one month to maturity is constructed. (The bill's original term to maturity
is not relevant.) To measure holding period returns for the one-bill portfolio,
the bill is priced as of the last trading day of the previous month-end and as
of the last trading day of the current month.
NAREIT-EQUITY INDEX
All of the data is based upon the last closing price of the month for all
tax-qualified REITs listed on the NYSE, AMSE and the NASDAQ. The data is
market-value-weighted. Prior to 1987 REITs were added to the index the January
following their listing. Since 1987 Newly formed or listed REITs are added to
the total shares outstanding figure in the month that the shares are issued.
Only common shares issued by the REIT are included in the index. The total
return calculation is based upon the weighing at the beginning of the period.
Only those REITs listed for the entire period are used in the total return
calculation. Dividends are included in the month based upon their payment date.
There is no smoothing of income. Liquidating dividends, whether full or partial,
are treated as income.
RUSSELL 2000 SMALL STOCK INDEX
The Russell 2000 measures the stock performance of the 2,000 smallest US
companies. The Russell Indexes (TM) are reconstituted annually as of June 1st,
based on May 31 market capitalization rankings.
WILSHIRE REAL ESTATE SECURITIES INDEX
The Wilshire Real Estate Securities Index is a market capitalization-weighted
index which measures the performance of more than 85 securities.
The index contains performance data on five major categories of property;
office, retail, industrial, apartment and miscellaneous. Additionally, the Index
has real estate portfolio encumbered by 16% third party mortgages. The companies
in the WRESEC are 79% equity and hybrid REIT's and 21% real estate operating
companies. The capitalization is 47% NYSE, 33% AMEX and 20% OTC."
STANDARD & POOR'S MIDCAP 400 INDEX
The Standard and Poor's MidCap 400 Index is a market-value-weighted index. The
performance data for the MidCap 400 Index were calculated by taking the stocks
presently in the MidCap 400 Index and tracking them backwards in time as long as
there were prices reported. No attempt was made to determine what stocks "might
have been" in the MidCap 400 Index five or ten years ago had it existed.
Dividends are reinvested on a monthly basis prior to June 30, 1991, and are
reinvested daily thereafter.
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<PAGE>
COMPARATIVE PERFORMANCE
INDEX DESCRIPTIONS
The S&P MidCap 400 Index and the S&P 500 together represent approximately 85% of
the total market capitalization of stocks traded in the United States.
BANK SAVINGS ACCOUNT
Data sources include the U.S. League of Savings Institutions Sourcebook; average
annual yield on savings deposits in FSLIC [FDIC] insured savings institutions
for the years 1963-1987 and The Wall Street Journal for the years 1988-1994.
Source: Ibbotson Associates
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<PAGE>
PERFORMANCE STATISTICS - TOTAL RETURN PERCENT
S&P 500 Dow U.S. Small S&P/ S&P/
Jones Stock U.S. BARRA BARRA
Industrials Index Inflation Growth Value
Dec 1928 43.61 55.38 39.69 -0.97 N/A N/A
Dec 1929 -8.42 -13.64 -51.36 0.20 N/A N/A
Dec 1930 -24.90 -30.22 -38.15 -6.03 N/A N/A
Dec 1931 -43.34 -49.03 -49.75 -9.52 N/A N/A
Dec 1932 -8.19 -16.88 -5.39 -10.30 N/A N/A
Dec 1933 53.99 73.71 142.87 0.51 N/A N/A
Dec 1934 -1.44 8.07 24.22 2.03 N/A N/A
Dec 1935 47.67 43.77 40.19 2.99 N/A N/A
Dec 1936 33.92 30.23 64.80 1.21 N/A N/A
Dec 1937 -35.03 -28.88 -58.01 3.10 N/A N/A
Dec 1938 31.12 33.16 32.80 -2.78 N/A N/A
Dec 1939 -0.41 1.31 0.35 -0.48 N/A N/A
Dec 1940 -9.78 -7.96 -5.16 0.96 N/A N/A
Dec 1941 -11.59 -9.88 -9.00 9.72 N/A N/A
Dec 1942 20.34 14.12 44.51 9.29 N/A N/A
Dec 1943 25.90 19.06 88.37 3.16 N/A N/A
Dec 1944 19.75 17.19 53.72 2.11 N/A N/A
Dec 1945 36.44 31.60 73.61 2.25 N/A N/A
Dec 1946 -8.07 -4.40 -11.63 18.16 N/A N/A
Dec 1947 5.71 7.61 0.92 9.01 N/A N/A
Dec 1948 5.50 4.27 -2.11 2.71 N/A N/A
Dec 1949 18.79 20.92 19.75 -1.80 N/A N/A
Dec 1950 31.71 26.40 38.75 5.79 N/A N/A
Dec 1951 24.02 21.77 7.80 5.87 N/A N/A
Dec 1952 18.37 14.58 3.03 0.88 N/A N/A
Dec 1953 -0.99 2.02 -6.49 0.62 N/A N/A
Dec 1954 52.62 51.25 60.58 -0.50 N/A N/A
Dec 1955 31.56 26.58 20.44 0.37 N/A N/A
Dec 1956 6.56 7.10 4.28 2.86 N/A N/A
Dec 1957 -10.78 -8.63 -14.57 3.02 N/A N/A
Dec 1958 43.36 39.31 64.89 1.76 N/A N/A
Dec 1959 11.96 20.21 16.40 1.50 N/A N/A
Dec 1960 0.47 -6.14 -3.29 1.48 N/A N/A
Dec 1961 26.89 22.60 32.09 0.67 N/A N/A
Dec 1962 -8.73 -7.43 -11.90 1.22 N/A N/A
Dec 1963 22.80 20.83 23.57 1.65 N/A N/A
Dec 1964 16.48 18.85 23.52 1.19 N/A N/A
Dec 1965 12.45 14.39 41.75 1.92 N/A N/A
Dec 1966 -10.06 -15.78 -7.01 3.35 N/A N/A
Dec 1967 23.98 19.16 83.57 3.04 N/A N/A
Dec 1968 11.06 7.93 35.97 4.72 N/A N/A
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<PAGE>
PERFORMANCE STATISTICS - TOTAL RETURN PERCENT
S&P 500 Dow U.S. Small S&P/ S&P/
Jones Stock U.S. BARRA BARRA
Industrials Index Inflation Growth Value
Dec 1969 -8.50 -11.78 -25.05 6.11 N/A N/A
Dec 1970 4.01 9.21 -17.43 5.49 N/A N/A
Dec 1971 14.31 9.83 16.50 3.36 N/A N/A
Dec 1972 18.98 18.48 4.43 3.41 N/A N/A
Dec 1973 -14.66 -13.28 -30.90 8.80 N/A N/A
Dec 1974 -26.47 -23.58 -19.95 12.20 N/A N/A
Dec 1975 37.20 44.75 52.82 7.01 31.72 43.38
Dec 1976 23.84 22.82 57.38 4.81 13.84 34.93
Dec 1977 -7.18 -12.84 25.38 6.77 -11.82 -2.57
Dec 1978 6.56 2.79 23.46 9.03 6.78 6.16
Dec 1979 18.44 10.55 43.46 13.31 15.72 21.16
Dec 1980 32.42 22.17 39.88 12.40 39.40 23.59
Dec 1981 -4.91 -3.57 13.88 8.94 -9.81 0.02
Dec 1982 21.41 27.11 28.01 3.87 22.03 21.04
Dec 1983 22.51 25.97 39.67 3.80 16.24 28.89
Dec 1984 6.27 1.31 -6.67 3.95 2.33 10.52
Dec 1985 32.16 33.55 24.66 3.77 33.31 29.68
Dec 1986 18.47 27.10 6.85 1.13 14.50 21.67
Dec 1987 5.23 5.48 -9.30 4.41 6.50 3.68
Dec 1988 16.81 16.14 22.87 4.42 11.95 21.67
Dec 1989 31.49 32.19 10.18 4.65 36.40 26.13
Dec 1990 -3.17 -0.56 -21.56 6.11 0.20 -6.85
Dec 1991 30.55 24.19 44.63 3.06 38.37 22.56
Dec 1992 7.67 7.41 23.35 2.90 5.07 10.53
Dec 1993 9.99 16.94 20.98 2.75 1.68 18.60
Dec 1994 1.31 5.06 3.11 2.78 3.13 -0.64
Dec 1995 37.43 36.84 34.46 2.74 38.13 36.99
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<PAGE>
PERFORMANCE STATISTICS - TOTAL RETURN PERCENT
Intermediate MSCI Long-
Long-Term -Term U.S. EAFE 6 Term U.S. U.S.
U.S. Gov't Government - Net of MONTH Corporate (30 Day)
Bonds Bonds Taxes CDs Bonds T- Bill
Dec 1925 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Dec 1926 7.77 5.38 N/A N/A 7.37 3.27
Dec 1927 8.93 4.52 N/A N/A 7.44 3.12
Dec 1928 0.1 0.92 N/A N/A 2.84 3.56
Dec 1929 3.42 6.01 N/A N/A 3.27 4.75
Dec 1930 4.66 6.72 N/A N/A 7.98 2.41
Dec 1931 -5.31 -2.32 N/A N/A -1.85 1.07
Dec 1932 16.84 8.81 N/A N/A 10.82 0.96
Dec 1933 -0.07 1.83 N/A N/A 10.38 0.30
Dec 1934 10.03 9.00 N/A N/A 13.84 0.16
Dec 1935 4.98 7.01 N/A N/A 9.61 0.17
Dec 1936 7.52 3.06 N/A N/A 6.74 0.18
Dec 1937 0.23 1.56 N/A N/A 2.75 0.31
Dec 1938 5.53 6.23 N/A N/A 6.13 -0.02
Dec 1939 5.94 4.52 N/A N/A 3.97 0.02
Dec 1940 6.09 2.96 N/A N/A 3.39 0.00
Dec 1941 0.93 0.50 N/A N/A 2.73 0.06
Dec 1942 3.22 1.94 N/A N/A 2.60 0.27
Dec 1943 2.08 2.81 N/A N/A 2.83 0.35
Dec 1944 2.81 1.80 N/A N/A 4.73 0.33
Dec 1945 10.73 2.22 N/A N/A 4.08 0.33
Dec 1946 -0.10 1.00 N/A N/A 1.72 0.35
Dec 1947 -2.62 0.91 N/A N/A -2.34 0.50
Dec 1948 3.40 1.85 N/A N/A 4.14 0.81
Dec 1949 6.45 2.32 N/A N/A 3.31 1.10
Dec 1950 0.06 0.70 N/A N/A 2.12 1.20
Dec 1951 -3.93 0.36 N/A N/A -2.69 1.49
Dec 1952 1.16 1.63 N/A N/A 3.52 1.66
Dec 1953 3.64 3.23 N/A N/A 3.41 1.82
Dec 1954 7.19 2.68 N/A N/A 5.39 0.86
Dec 1955 -1.29 -0.65 N/A N/A 0.48 1.57
Dec 1956 -5.59 -0.42 N/A N/A -6.81 2.46
Dec 1957 7.46 7.84 N/A N/A 8.71 3.14
Dec 1958 -6.09 -1.29 N/A N/A -2.22 1.54
Dec 1959 -2.26 -0.39 N/A N/A -0.97 2.95
Dec 1960 13.78 11.76 N/A N/A 9.07 2.66
Dec 1961 0.97 1.85 N/A N/A 4.82 2.13
Dec 1962 6.89 5.56 N/A N/A 7.95 2.73
Dec 1963 1.21 1.64 N/A N/A 2.19 3.12
Dec 1964 3.51 4.04 N/A 4.18 4.77 3.54
Dec 1965 0.71 1.02 N/A 4.68 -0.46 3.93
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<PAGE>
PERFORMANCE STATISTICS - TOTAL RETURN PERCENT
Intermediate MSCI Long-
Long-Term -Term U.S. EAFE 6 Term U.S. U.S.
U.S. Gov't Government - Net of MONTH Corporate (30 Day)
Bonds Bonds Taxes CDs Bonds T- Bill
Dec 1966 3.65 4.69 N/A 5.75 0.20 4.76
Dec 1967 -9.18 1.01 N/A 5.48 -4.95 4.21
Dec 1968 -0.26 4.54 N/A 6.44 2.57 5.21
Dec 1969 -5.07 -0.74 N/A 8.71 -8.09 6.58
Dec 1970 12.11 16.86 -11.66 7.06 18.37 6.52
Dec 1971 13.23 8.72 29.59 5.36 11.01 4.39
Dec 1972 5.69 5.16 36.35 5.38 7.26 3.84
Dec 1973 -1.11 4.61 -14.92 8.60 1.14 6.93
Dec 1974 4.35 5.69 -23.16 10.20 -3.06 8.00
Dec 1975 9.20 7.83 35.39 6.51 14.64 5.80
Dec 1976 16.75 12.87 2.54 5.22 18.65 5.08
Dec 1977 -0.69 1.41 18.06 6.12 1.71 5.12
Dec 1978 -1.18 3.49 32.62 10.21 -0.07 7.18
Dec 1979 -1.23 4.09 4.75 11.90 -4.18 10.38
Dec 1980 -3.95 3.91 22.58 12.33 -2.76 11.24
Dec 1981 1.86 9.45 -2.28 15.50 -1.24 14.71
Dec 1982 40.36 29.1 -1.86 12.18 42.56 10.54
Dec 1983 0.65 7.41 23.69 9.65 6.26 8.80
Dec 1984 15.48 14.02 7.38 10.65 16.86 9.85
Dec 1985 30.97 20.33 56.16 7.82 30.09 7.72
Dec 1986 24.53 15.14 69.44 6.30 19.85 6.16
Dec 1987 -2.71 2.90 24.63 6.58 -0.27 5.47
Dec 1988 9.67 6.10 28.27 8.15 10.70 6.35
Dec 1989 18.11 13.29 10.54 8.27 16.23 8.37
Dec 1990 6.18 9.73 -23.45 7.85 6.78 7.81
Dec 1991 19.3 15.46 12.13 4.95 19.89 5.60
Dec 1992 8.05 7.19 -12.17 3.27 9.39 3.51
Dec 1993 18.24 11.24 32.56 2.88 13.19 2.90
Dec 1994 -7.77 -5.14 7.78 5.40 -5.76 3.90
Dec 1995 31.67 16.8 11.21 5.21 26.39 5.60
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<PAGE>
PERFORMANCE STATISTICS - TOTAL RETURN PERCENT
S & P Bank
NAREIT - Russell Wilshire Midcap Savings
Equity 2000 Real Estate 400 Account
Dec 1925 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Dec 1926 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Dec 1927 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Dec 1928 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Dec 1929 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Dec 1930 N/A N/A N/A N/A 5.30
Dec 1931 N/A N/A N/A N/A 5.10
Dec 1932 N/A N/A N/A N/A 4.10
Dec 1933 N/A N/A N/A N/A 3.40
Dec 1934 N/A N/A N/A N/A 3.50
Dec 1935 N/A N/A N/A N/A 3.10
Dec 1936 N/A N/A N/A N/A 3.20
Dec 1937 N/A N/A N/A N/A 3.50
Dec 1938 N/A N/A N/A N/A 3.50
Dec 1939 N/A N/A N/A N/A 3.40
Dec 1940 N/A N/A N/A N/A 3.30
Dec 1941 N/A N/A N/A N/A 3.10
Dec 1942 N/A N/A N/A N/A 3.00
Dec 1943 N/A N/A N/A N/A 2.90
Dec 1944 N/A N/A N/A N/A 2.80
Dec 1945 N/A N/A N/A N/A 2.50
Dec 1946 N/A N/A N/A N/A 2.20
Dec 1947 N/A N/A N/A N/A 2.30
Dec 1948 N/A N/A N/A N/A 2.30
Dec 1949 N/A N/A N/A N/A 2.40
Dec 1950 N/A N/A N/A N/A 2.50
Dec 1951 N/A N/A N/A N/A 2.60
Dec 1952 N/A N/A N/A N/A 2.70
Dec 1953 N/A N/A N/A N/A 2.80
Dec 1954 N/A N/A N/A N/A 2.90
Dec 1955 N/A N/A N/A N/A 2.90
Dec 1956 N/A N/A N/A N/A 3.00
Dec 1957 N/A N/A N/A N/A 3.30
Dec 1958 N/A N/A N/A N/A 3.38
Dec 1959 N/A N/A N/A N/A 3.53
Dec 1960 N/A N/A N/A N/A 3.86
Dec 1961 N/A N/A N/A N/A 3.90
Dec 1962 N/A N/A N/A N/A 4.08
Dec 1963 N/A N/A N/A N/A 4.17
Dec 1964 N/A N/A N/A N/A 4.19
Dec 1965 N/A N/A N/A N/A 4.23
Dec 1966 N/A N/A N/A N/A 4.45
Dec 1967 N/A N/A N/A N/A 4.67
Dec 1968 N/A N/A N/A N/A 4.68
Dec 1969 N/A N/A N/A N/A 4.80
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<PAGE>
PERFORMANCE STATISTICS - TOTAL RETURN PERCENT
S & P Bank
NAREIT - Russell Wilshire Midcap Savings
Equity 2000 Real Estate 400 Account
Bank Savings Account
Dec 1970 N/A N/A N/A N/A 5.14
Dec 1971 N/A N/A N/A N/A 5.30
Dec 1972 8.01 N/A N/A N/A 5.37
Dec 1973 -15.52 N/A N/A N/A 5.51
Dec 1974 -21.40 N/A N/A N/A 5.96
Dec 1975 19.30 N/A N/A N/A 6.21
Dec 1976 47.59 N/A N/A N/A 6.23
Dec 1977 22.42 N/A N/A N/A 6.39
Dec 1978 10.34 N/A 13.04 N/A 6.56
Dec 1979 35.86 43.09 70.81 N/A 7.29
Dec 1980 24.37 38.58 22.08 N/A 8.78
Dec 1981 6.00 2.03 7.18 N/A 10.71
Dec 1982 21.60 24.95 24.47 22.68 11.19
Dec 1983 30.64 29.13 27.61 26.10 9.71
Dec 1984 20.93 -7.30 20.64 1.18 9.92
Dec 1985 19.10 31.05 22.20 35.58 9.02
Dec 1986 19.16 5.68 20.30 16.21 7.84
Dec 1987 -3.64 -8.77 -7.86 -2.03 6.92
Dec 1988 13.49 24.89 24.18 20.87 7.20
Dec 1989 8.84 16.24 2.37 35.54 7.91
Dec 1990 -15.35 -19.51 -33.46 -5.12 7.80
Dec 1991 35.7 46.05 20.03 50.1 4.61
Dec 1992 14.59 18.41 7.36 11.91 2.89
Dec 1993 19.65 18.91 15.24 13.96 2.73
Dec 1994 3.17 -1.82 1.64 -3.57 4.96
Dec 1995 15.27 28.44 13.65 30.94 5.24
Source: Ibbotson Associates
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<PAGE>
APPENDIX B
Other Pioneer Information
The Pioneer group of mutual funds was established in 1928 with the
creation of Pioneer Fund. Pioneer is one of the oldest and most experienced
money managers in the United States.
As of December 31, 1995, PMC employed a professional investment staff
of 44, with a combined average of 15 years' experience in the financial services
industry.
Total assets of all Pioneer mutual funds at December 31, 1995, were
approximately $12 billion representing 982,369 shareholder accounts - 637,060
non-retirement accounts and 345,309 retirement accounts.
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<PAGE>
PIONEER GROWTH SHARES
PART C
OTHER INFORMATION
Item 24. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(a) The financial highlights of the Registrant are included in
Part A of the Registration Statement and the financial
statements of the Registrant are incorporated by reference
into Part B of the Registration Statement from the 1995 Annual
Report to Shareholders for the year ended December 31, 1995
(filed electronically on February 28, 1996; file no.
811-1604-3; accession number 0000069404-96-000004).
(b) Exhibits:
(1)(a) Form of Agreement and Declaration of Trust.*
(b) Establishment and Designation of Class A, Class B
and Class C shares of beneficial interest - filed
herewith.
(2) By-Laws.*
(3) Inapplicable.
(4) Inapplicable.
(5) Management Contract with Pioneering Management
Corporation.*
(6)(a)Underwriting Agreement with Pioneer Funds Distributor,
Inc.*
(6)(b) Form of Dealer Sales Agreement - filed herewith.
(7) Inapplicable.
(8) Custodian Agreement with Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. -
filed herewith.
(9) Service Agreement with Pioneering Services Corporation.*
(10) Inapplicable.
(11) Consent of Independent Public Accountants (Arthur
Andersen LLP) - filed herewith.
(12) Inapplicable
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<PAGE>
(13) Inapplicable
(14) Inapplicable.
(15)(a) Class A Distribution Plan.*
(b) Class B Distribution Plan.*
(c) Class C Distribution Plan - filed herewith.
(16) None.
(17) Financial Data Schedules - filed herewith.
(18)(a) Rule 18f-3 Plan Covering Two Classes of Shares - filed
herewith.
(b) Rule 18f-3 Plan Covering Three Classes of Shares filed
herewith.
(19) Powers of Attorney - filed herewith.
Item 25. Persons Controlled By or Under Common Control With Registrant.
Percent State/Country
of of
Company Owned By Shares Incorporation
Pioneering Management Corp. (PMC) PGI 100% DE
Pioneering Services Corp. (PSC) PGI 100% MA
Pioneer Capital Corp. (PCC) PGI 100% MA
Pioneer Fonds Marketing GmbH (GmbH) PGI 100% MA
Pioneer SBIC Corp. (SBIC) PGI 100% MA
Pioneer Associates, Inc. (PAI) PGI 100% MA
Pioneer International Corp. (PInt) PGI 100% MA
Pioneer Plans Corp. (PPC) PGI 100% MA
Pioneer Goldfields Ltd (PGL) PGI 100% MA
Pioneer Investments Corp. (PIC) PGI 100% MA
Pioneer Metals and Technology,
Inc. (PMT) PGI 100% DE
Pioneer First Polish Trust Fund
Joint Stock Co. (First Polish) PGI 100% Poland
Teberebie Goldfields Ltd. (TGL) PGI 90% Ghana
Pioneer Funds Distributor, Inc.
(PFD) PMC 100% MA
SBIC's outstanding capital stock PCC 100% MA
THE FUNDS: All are parties to management contracts with PMC.
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<PAGE>
BUSINESS
FUND TRUST
Pioneer International Growth Fund MA
Pioneer Europe Fund MA
Pioneer Emerging Markets Fund DE
Pioneer India Fund DE
Pioneer Growth Trust MA
Pioneer Mid-Cap Fund DE
Pioneer Growth Shares DE
Pioneer Small Company Fund DE
Pioneer Fund MA
Pioneer II MA
Pioneer Real Estate Shares DE
Pioneer Short-Term Income Fund MA
Pioneer America Income Trust MA
Pioneer Bond Fund MA
Pioneer Income Fund DE
Pioneer Intermediate Tax-Free Fund MA
Pioneer Tax-Free Income Fund DE
Pioneer Tax-Free State Series Trust MA
Pioneer Money Market Trust DE
Pioneer Variable Contracts Trust DE
Pioneer Interest Shares, Inc. NE Corporation
OTHER:
. SBIC is the sole general partner of Pioneer Ventures Limited Partnership, a
Massachusetts limited partnership.
. ITI Pioneer AMC Ltd. (ITI Pioneer) (Indian Corp.), is a joint venture
between PMC and Investment Trust of India Ltd. (ITI) (Indian Corp.)
. ITI and PMC own approximately 54% and 45%, respectively, of the total
equity capital of ITI Pioneer.
JOHN F. COGAN, JR.
Owns approximately 14% of the outstanding shares of PGI.
TRUSTEE/
ENTITY CHAIRMAN PRESIDENT DIRECTOR OTHER
Pioneer Family of
Mutual Funds X X X
PGL X X X
PGI X X X
PPC X X
PIC X X
Pintl X X
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<PAGE>
PMT X X
PCC X
PSC X
PMC X X
PFD X X
TGL X X
First Polish X Member of
Supervisory Board
Hale and Dorr Partner
GmbH Chairman of
Supervisory Board
Item 26. Number of Holders of Securities
Number of Record Holders
Title of Class as of March 31, 1996
-------------- ---------------------
Class A shares of 24,309
beneficial interest
Class B shares of 1,624
beneficial interest
Item 27. Indemnification
Except for the Agreement and Declaration of Trust establishing the
Registrant as a Trust under Delaware law, there is no contract, arrangement or
statute under which any trustee, officer, underwriter or affiliated person of
the Registrant is insured or indemnified. The Agreement and Declaration of Trust
provides that no Trustee or officer will be indemnified against any liability to
which the Registrant would otherwise be subject by reason of or for willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of such person's
duties.
Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), may be available 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 of the
Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
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<PAGE>
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.
Item 28. Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser
All of the information required by this item is set forth in
the Form ADV, as amended, of Pioneering Management Corporation. The following
sections of such Form ADV are incorporated herein by reference:
(a) Items 1 and 2 of Part 2;
(b) Section IV, Business Background, of each Schedule D.
Item 29. Principal Underwriter
(a) See Item 25 above.
(b) Trustees and Officers of PFD:
Positions and Offices Positions and Offices
Name with Underwriter with Registrant
John F. Cogan, Jr. Director and Chairman Chairman of the Board,
President and Trustee
Robert L. Butler Director and President None
David D. Tripple Director Executive Vice
President and Trustee
Steven M. Graziano Senior None
Vice President
Stephen W. Long Senior None
Vice President
John W. Drachman Vice President None
Barry G. Knight Vice President None
William A. Misata Vice President None
Anne W. Patenaude Vice President None
Gail A. Smyth Vice President None
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<PAGE>
Constance D. Spiros Vice President None
Marcy L. Supovitz Vice President None
Mary Kleeman Vice President None
Steven R. Berke Assistant None
Vice President
Mary Sue Hoban Assistant None
Vice President
William H. Keough Treasurer Treasurer
Roy P. Rossi Assistant Treasurer None
Joseph P. Barri Clerk Secretary
Robert P. Nault Assistant Clerk Assistant Secretary
(c) Not applicable.
Item 30. Location of Accounts and Records
The accounts and records are maintained at the Registrant's office at
60 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts; contact the Treasurer.
Item 31. Management Services
The Registrant is a party to only one contract, described in
the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information, under which
it receives services from Pioneering Management Corporation.
Item 32. Undertakings
(a) Not Applicable.
(b) Not Applicable.
(c) The Registrant undertakes to deliver, or cause to
be delivered with the Prospectus, to each person to
whom the Prospectus is sent or given a copy of the
Registrant's report to shareholders furnished
pursuant to and meeting the requirements of Rule
30d-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 from
which the specified information is incorporated by
reference, unless such person currently holds
securities of the Registrant and otherwise has
received a copy of such report, in which case the
Registrant shall state in the Prospectus that it will
furnish, without charge, a copy of such report on
request, and the name, address and telephone number
of the person to whom such a request should be
directed.
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<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and
the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant 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 Post-Effective Amendment No. 55 to its
Registration Statement (the "Amendment") to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Boston and
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on the 23rd day of April, 1996.
PIONEER GROWTH SHARES
By:/s/ John F. Cogan, Jr.
John F. Cogan, Jr.
Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,
this Amendment has been signed below by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated:
Title and Signature Date
Principal Executive Officer: )
)
)
/s/ John F. Cogan, Jr. )
John F. Cogan, Jr., Chairman )
and Chief Executive Officer ) April 23, 1996
)
Principal Financial and )
Accounting Officer: )
)
)
/s/William H. Keough )
William H. Keough, Treasurer* )
A MAJORITY OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES:
/s/ John F. Cogan, Jr. )
John F. Cogan, Jr., Trustee )
<PAGE>
)
/s/Richard H. Egdahl, M.D. )
Richard H. Egdahl, Trustee* )
)
/s/Margaret B.W. Graham )
Margaret B.W. Graham, Trustee* )
)
/s/John W. Kendrick )
John W. Kendrick, Trustee* )
)
/s/Marguerite A. Piret )
Marguerite A. Piret, Trustee* )
)
/s/David D. Tripple )
David D. Tripple, Trustee* )
)
/s/Stephen K. West )
Stephen K. West, Trustee* )
)
/s/John Winthrop )
John Winthrop, Trustee* )
*By /s/ John F. Cogan, April 23, 1996
John F. Cogan, Jr.
Attorney-in-fact
<PAGE>
Exhibit Index
Exhibit
Number Document Title
(1)(b) Establishment and Designation of Class A, Class B and Class C shares of
beneficial interest.
(6)(b) Form of Dealer Sales Agreement.
(8) Custodian Agreement with Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.
(11) Consent of Independent Public Accountants (Arthur Andersen LLP).
(15)(c) Class C Distribution Plan.
(17) Financial Data Schedules.
(18)(a) Rule 18f-3 Plan Covering Two Classes of Shares.
(18)(b) Rule 18f-3 Plan Covering Three Classes of Shares.
(19) Powers of Attorney.
PIONEER GROWTH SHARES
Establishment and Designation
of
Class A Shares, Class B Shares and Class C Shares
of Beneficial Interest of
Pioneer Growth Shares
The undersigned, being a majority of the Trustees of Pioneer Growth Shares,
a Delaware business trust (the "Fund"), acting pursuant to Article V, Section 1
of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated June 16, 1994 of the Fund (the
"Declaration"), do hereby divide the shares of beneficial interest of the Fund
(the "Shares") to create three classes of Shares of the Fund as follows:
1. The three classes of Shares established and designated hereby are
"Class A Shares," "Class B Shares" and "Class C Shares," respectively.
2. Class A Shares, Class B Shares and Class C Shares shall each be
entitled to all of the rights and preferences accorded to Shares under
the Declaration.
3. The purchase price of Class A Shares, Class B Shares and Class C
Shares, the method of determining the net asset value of Class A
Shares, Class B Shares and Class C Shares and the relative dividend
rights of holders of Class A Shares, Class B Shares and Class C Shares
shall be established by the Trustees of the Trust in accordance with
the provisions of the Declaration and shall be set forth in the
Trust's Registration Statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act
of 1933 and/or the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended and as
in effect at the time of issuing such Shares.
4. The Trustees, acting in their sole discretion, may determine that any
Shares of the Fund issued are Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C
Shares or Shares of any other class of the Fund hereinafter
established and designated by the Trustees.
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this instrument this 4th
day of October, 1995.
/s/John F. Cogan, Jr. /s/Marguerite A. Piret
John F. Cogan, Jr. Marguerite A. Piret
as Trustee and not individually as Trustee and not individually
975 Memorial Drive, #802 162 Washington Street
Cambridge, MA 02138 Belmont, MA 02178
/s/Richard H. Egdahl /s/David D. Tripple
Richard H. Egdahl, M.D. David D. Tripple
as Trustee and not individually as Trustee and not individually
Health Policy Institute 6 Woodbine Road
53 Bay State Road Belmont, MA 02178
Boston, MA 02215
/s/Margaret B.W. Graham /s/Stephen K. West
Margaret B.W. Graham Stephen K. West, Esq.
as Trustee and not individually as Trustee and not individually
The Keep Sullivan & Cromwell
P.O. Box 110 125 Broad Street
Little Deer Isle, ME 04650 New York, NY 10004
/s/John W. Kendrick /s/John Winthrop
John W. Kendrick John Winthrop
as Trustee and not individually as Trustee and not individually
6363 Waterway Drive One North Adgers Wharf
Falls Church, VA 22044 Charleston, SC 29401
PIONEER FUNDS DISTRIBUTOR, INC.
60 State Street
Boston, MA 02109
(617) 742-7825
SALES AGREEMENT
Gentlemen:
Pioneer Funds Distributor, Inc. (PFD), acts as principal underwriter, as
defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, for the registered investment
companies (the "Funds") listed on Appendix A attached (as amended from time to
time by PFD.) Acting as a principal, PFD offers to sell shares of the Funds
subject to the conditions set forth in this agreement and subsequent amendments
thereto.
1. Shares purchased from PFD for sale to the public shall be offered and
sold at the price or prices, and on the terms and conditions, set forth in the
currently effective prospectus of the Funds, as amended or supplemented from
time to time (the "Prospectus" or "Prospectuses"). In the sale of such shares to
the public you shall act as dealer for your own account or as agent for your
customer and in no transaction shall you have any authority to act or hold
yourself out as agent for PFD, any of the Funds, the Funds' Custodians, the
Funds' Transfer agent, or any other party, and nothing in this agreement shall
constitute you a partner, employee or agent of ours or give you any authority to
act for PFD. Neither PFD nor the funds shall be liable for any of your acts or
obligations as a broker-dealer under this agreement. Nothing herein shall be
construed to prohibit your acting as agent for one or both customers in the sale
of shares by one customer to another and charging such customer(s) a reasonable
commission.
2. Shares purchased from PFD for sale to the public shall be purchased
only to cover orders previously received by you from your customers. Shares
purchased for your own bona fide investment shall not be reoffered or sold
except to the applicable Fund or to PFD. PFD also agrees to purchase shares only
for investment or to cover orders received.
3. If you purchase shares from your customers, you agree to pay such
customers not less than the redemption price in effect on the date of purchase,
as defined in the prospectus of the applicable Fund. Sales of shares at prices
reflecting a discount, concession, commission or other reallowance shall be made
only to registered broker-dealers which are members of the National Association
of Securities Dealers Inc. (NASD) and who also have entered into sales
agreements with PFD.
4. Only unconditional orders for a designated number of shares or dollar
amount of investment shall be accepted. Procedures relating to handling orders
shall be conveyed to you from time to time. All orders are subject to acceptance
or rejection by PFD in our sole discretion.
5. If any shares sold to or through you under the terms of this agreement
are repurchased by PFD or by the issuer or are tendered for redemption within
seven business days after the date of our confirmation of the original purchase
by you, we both agree to pay to the Fund all commissions on such shares.
6. Sales by you to the public shall earn a commission computed as a
percentage of the applicable offering price and which varies with the size and
nature of each such purchase. The terms and conditions affecting the applicable
offering prices on shares sold with a front-end sales charge , including
features such as combined purchase, rights of accumulation, Letters of Intention
and net asset value purchases, are described in the prospectuses. The schedules
of commissions generally payable with respect to sales of the Funds are outlined
on Appendix A to this agreement. Commission checks for less than $1 will not be
issued.
PFD may, from time to time, offer additional commissions or bonuses on
sales by you or your representatives without otherwise revising this agreement.
Any such additional commissions or bonuses shall take effect in accordance with
the terms and conditions contained in written notification to you.
7. Remittance of the net amount due for shares purchased from PFD shall
be made payable to Pioneering Services Corporation (PSC) Agent for the
Underwriter, in New York or Boston funds, within three days of our confirmation
of sale to you, or within such shorter time as specified by the rules of the
NASD or of a registered clearing agent through which the transaction is settled.
Payments made to PSC should be sent to Post Office Box 9014, Boston, MA 02205
(or wired to an account designated by PSC), along with your transfer
instructions on the appropriate copy of our confirmation of sale to you. If such
payment is not received by PSC, we reserve the right to liquidate the shares
purchased for your account and risk. Promptly upon receipt of payment, shares
sold to you shall be deposited by PSC to an account on the books of the Fund(s)
in accordance with your instructions. Certificates will not be issued unless
specifically requested and we reserve the right to levy a charge for issuance of
certificates.
8. You represent that you are and, at the time of purchasing any shares
of the Funds, will be registered as a broker-dealer with the US. Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC) or are exempt from such registration; if required to
be registered as a broker-dealer you are a member in good standing of the NASD;
you are qualified to act as a broker-dealer in the states or jurisdictions in
which you intend to offer shares of the Funds; you will abide by all applicable
federal and state statutes and the rules of the NASD; and when making sales to
citizens or residents of foreign countries, that you will abide by all
applicable laws and regulations of that country. Expulsion or suspension from
the NASD or revocation or suspension of SEC registration shall act as an
immediate cancellation of this agreement.
9. No person is authorized to make any representations concerning shares
of any of the Funds except those contained in the then current Prospectus or
Statement of Additional Information for such Fund. In purchasing shares from PFD
you shall rely solely on the representations contained in such Prospectuses and
Statements of Additional Information.
10. Additional copies of the current prospectuses, Statements of
Additional Information (SAI), and other literature will be supplied in
reasonable quantities upon request.
<PAGE>
11. We reserve the right in our discretion to suspend sales or withdraw
the offering of shares of any Fund entirely. Either party hereto has the right
to cancel this agreement upon five days' written notice to the other party. We
reserve the right to amend this agreement at any time and you agree that an
order to purchase shares of any one of the Funds placed by you after notice of
such amendment has been sent to you shall constitute your agreement to any such
amendment.
12. All written communications to PFD should be sent to the above address.
All written communications to you will be sent to your address listed below.
13. This agreement shall become effective upon receipt by us of your
acceptance hereof and supersedes any prior agreement between us with respect to
the sales of Shares of any of the Funds.
14. This agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of
Massachusetts. The parties hereby agree that all disputes between us of whatever
subject matter, whether existing on the date hereof or arising hereafter, shall
be submitted to arbitration in accordance with the then current Code of
Arbitration Procedure of the NASD, the Uniform Arbitration Act or similar rules.
Arbitration shall take place in the city of Boston, Massachusetts. Any decision
that shall be made in such arbitration shall be final and binding and shall have
the same force and effect as a judgment made in a court of competent
jurisdiction.
15. You appoint the transfer agent for each Fund as your agent to execute
the purchase transactions of Shares of such Fund in accordance with the terms
and provisions of any account, program, plan or service established or used by
your customers and to confirm each purchase to your customers on your behalf,
except as modified in writing by the transfer agent, and you guarantee to us and
the Fund the legal capacity of your customers so purchasing such Shares and any
other person in whose name the Shares are to be registered.
PIONEER FUNDS DISTRIBUTOR, INC.
Date: ,
By:__________________________________
William A. Misata
Vice President
The undersigned hereby accepts the offer set forth in above letter.
By:__________________________________________________
Title:________________________________________________
RETAIN ONE COPY AND RETURN THE OTHER
<PAGE>
APPENDIX A
CLASS A
Schedule 1
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C>
Pioneer Fund Pioneer Mid-Cap Fund* Pioneer Equity-Income Fund
Pioneer II Pioneer Gold Shares Pioneer Growth Shares
Pioneer International Growth Fund Pioneer Europe Fund Pioneer Real Estate Shares
Pioneer Capital Growth Fund Pioneer Emerging Markets Fund Pioneer Small Company Fund
Pioneer India Fund
Sales Charge
as % of Public Broker/Dealer
Purchase Amount Offering Price Commission
Less than $ 50,000.......... 5.75 5.00%
$ 50,000 - 99,999.......... 4.50 4.00
100,000 - 249,999.......... 3.50 3.00
250,000 - 499,999.......... 2.50 2.00
500,000 - 999,999.......... 2.00 1.75
1,000,000 or more .......... none a) see below
Schedule 2
Pioneer Bond Fund Pioneer America Income Trust Pioneer Tax-Free Income Fund
Pioneer Income Fund
Sales Charge
as % of Public Broker/Dealer
Purchase Amount Offering Price Commission
Less than $100,000.......... 4.50 4.00%
$100,000 - 249,999.......... 3.50 3.00
250,000 - 499,000......... 2.50 2.00
500,000 - 999,999......... 2.00 1.75
1,000,000 or more .......... none a) see below
Schedule 3
Pioneer Intermediate Tax-Free Fund
Sales Charge
as % of Public Broker/Dealer
Purchase Amount Offering Price Commission
Less than $ 50,000.......... 3.50 3.00%
$ 50,000 - 99,999......... 3.00 2.50
100,000 - 499,999.......... 2.50 2.00
500,000 - 999,999.......... 2.00 1.75
1,000,000 or more .......... none a) see below
Schedule 4
Pioneer Short-Term Income Trust
Sales Charge
as % of Public Broker/Dealer
Purchase Amount Offering Price Commission
Less than $ 50,000.......... 2.50 2.00%
$ 50,000 - 99,999......... 2.00 1.75
100,000 - 249,999.......... 1.50 1.25
250,000 - 999,999.......... 1.00 1.00
1,000,000 or more .......... none a) see below
</TABLE>
a) Purchases of $1 million or more, and certain group plans, are not subject to
an initial sales charge. PFD may pay a commission to broker-dealers who initiate
and are responsible for such purchases at the following rate: for funds listed
on schedules 1 and 2 above, the rate is as follows: 1% on the first $5 million
invested, .50 of 1% on the next $45 million and .25 of 1% on the excess over 50
million. For funds listed on schedules 3 and 4 : .50 of 1% on purchases of $1
million to $5 million and .10 of 1% on the excess over $5 million. A one-year
prepaid service fee is included in this commission. These commissions shall not
be payable if the purchaser is affiliated with the broker-dealer or if the
purchase represents the reinvestment of a redemption made during the previous 12
calendar months. A contingent deferred sales charge will be payable on these
investments in the event of share redemption within 12 months following the
share purchase, at the rate of 1% on funds in schedules 1 and 2 ; and .50 of 1%
on funds in schedules 3 and 4, of the lesser of the value of the shares redeemed
(exclusive of reinvested dividend and capital gain distributions) or the total
cost of such shares. For additional information about the broker-dealer
commission and contingent deferred sales charge applicable to these
transactions, refer to the Fund's prospectus.
PLEASE RETAIN THIS COPY
<PAGE>
Schedule 5
Pioneer Cash Reserves Fund Pioneer U.S. Government Money Fund
No Load
CLASS B
Schedule 1 Schedule 2 Schedule 3
---------- ---------- ----------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C>
Pioneer Equity Income Fund Pioneer Intermediate Tax-Free Pioneer Short-Term
Pioneer Bond Fund Fund Income Trust
Pioneer Capital Growth Fund
Pioneer Europe Fund
Pioneer Gold Share
Pioneer America Income Trust
Pioneer Emerging Markets Fund
Pioneer India Fund
Pioneer Cash Reserves Fund
Pioneer Growth Shares
Pioneer Income Fund
Pioneer Tax-Free Income Fund
Pioneer Small Company Fund
Pioneer International Growth Fund
Pioneer Real Estate Shares
Pioneer Mid-Cap Fund*
</TABLE>
Broker/Dealer
Commission 4.00% 3.00% 2.00%
- ----------
Year Since
Purchase CDSC% CDSC% CDSC%
First 4.0 3.0 2.0
Second 4.0 3.0 2.0
Third 3.0 2.0 1.0
Fourth 3.0 1.0 none
Fifth 2.0 none none
Sixth 1.0 none To A Class
Seventh none To A Class
Eigth none
Ninth To A Class
a)Dealer Commission includes a first year service fee equal to 0.25% of the
amount invested in all Class B shares.
CLASS C
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C>
Pioneer America Income Trust Pioneer Bond Fund Pioneer Capital Growth Fund
Pioneer Cash Reserves Funds Pioneer Emerging Markets Fund Pioneer Equity-Income Fund
Pioneer Europe Fund Pioneer Gold Shares Pioneer Growth Shares
Pioneer Income Fund Pioneer Real Estate Shares Pioneer India Fund
Pioneer Intermediate Tax-Free Fund Pioneer Small Company Fund Pioneer Tax-Free Income Fund
Pioneer International Growth Fund Pioneer Mid-Cap Fund*
</TABLE>
a) 1% Payout to Broker
b) 1% CDSC for One Year
*formerly Pioneer Three Fund
<PAGE>
PIONEER FUNDS DISTRIBUTOR, INC.
60 State Street
Boston, MA 02109
(617) 742-7825
SUPPLEMENTAL SALES AND SERVICE AGREEMENT
You have entered into a Sales Agreement with Pioneer Funds Distributor, Inc.
("PFD") with respect to the Pioneer mutual funds for which PFD serves as
principal underwriter ("the Funds").
This agreement incorporates and supplements that agreement. In consideration of
your sales of shares of the Funds, for providing services to shareholders of the
Funds and of the Pioneer money market funds and assisting PFD and its affiliates
in providing such services, we are authorized to pay you certain service fees as
specified herein. Receipt by you of any such service fees is subject to the
terms and conditions contained in the Funds' prospectuses and/or specified
below, as may be amended from time to time.
1. You agree to cooperate as requested with programs that the Funds, PFD or
their affiliates provide to enhance shareholder service.
2. You agree to take an active role in providing such shareholder services as
processing purchase and redemption transactions and, where applicable, exchanges
and account transfers; establishing and maintaining shareholder accounts;
providing certain information and assistance with respect to the Funds;
responding to shareholder inquiries or advising us of such inquiries where
appropriate.
3., You agree to assign an active registered representative to each shareholder
account on your and our records and to reassign accounts when registered
representatives leave your firm. You also agree, with respect to accounts which
are held in nominee or "street" name, to provide such documentation and
verification that active representatives are assigned to all such accounts as
PFD may require from time to time.
4. You agree to pay to the registered representatives assigned to shareholder
accounts a share of any service fees paid to you pursuant to this agreement. You
also agree to instruct your representatives to regularly contact shareholders
whose accounts are assigned to them.
5. You acknowledge that service fee payments are subject to terms and conditions
set forth herein and in the Funds' prospectuses, Statements of Additional
Information and Plans of Distribution and that this agreement may be terminated
by either party at any time by written notice to the other. Any order to
purchase or sell shares received by PFD from you subsequent to the date of our
notification to you of an amendment of the Agreement shall be deemed to be your
acceptance of such an amendment.
6. You acknowledge that your continued participation in this agreement is
subject to your providing a level of support to PFD's marketing and shareholder
retention efforts that is deemed acceptable by PFD. Factors which may be
considered by PFD in this respect include, but are not limited to, the level of
shareholder redemptions, the level of assistance in disseminating shareholder
communications, reasonable access to your offices and/or representatives by PFD
wholesalers or other employees and whether your compensation system or
"preferential list" unduly discriminates against the sale of shares of the
Funds.
7. Service fees will generally be paid quarterly, at the rates and under the
conditions specified on schedule A hereto.
8. All communications to PFD should be sent to the above address. Any notice to
you shall be duly given if mailed or telegraphed to the address specified by you
below. This agreement, in conjunction with the Sales Agreement, describes the
complete understanding of the parties.
This agreement shall be construed under the laws of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts.
Accepted: Execute this Agreement in duplicate
and return one ofthe duplicate originals to us.
By:___________________________
By:_________________________________________
Title:________________________ William A. Misata
Vice President
RETAIN ONE COPY AND RETURN THE OTHER
<PAGE>
SUPPLEMENTAL SALES AND SERVICE AGREEMENT
WITH PIONEER FUNDS DISTRIBUTOR, INC.
SCHEDULE A
1. Except as specified in Section 4 below, service fees on the aggregate
net asset value of each account assigned to you in Pioneer Fund, Pioneer II, and
Pioneer Mid-Cap Fund** will be paid at the rate of:
a. 0.15% annually on shares acquired prior to August 19, 1991.
b. 0.25% annually on shares acquired on or after August 19, 1991.
2. Except as specified in Section 4 below, service fees on the aggregate
net asset value of each account assigned to you in:
Pioneer America Income Trust Pioneer International Growth Fund
Pioneer Bond Fund Pioneer Growth Shares
Pioneer Intermediate Tax-Free Fund Pioneer Real Estate Shares
Pioneer Europe Fund Pioneer Income Fund
Pioneer Capital Growth Fund Pioneer Tax-Free Income Fund
Pioneer Equity-Income Fund Pioneer Short-Term Income Trust
Pioneer Gold Shares Pioneer India Fund
Pioneer Emerging Markets Fund Pioneer Small Company Fund*
will be paid at the rate of:
a. 0.15% annually if the shares are acquired on or after August 19, 1991,
as a result of an exchange from Pioneer Fund, Pioneer II, or Pioneer Mid-Cap
Fund** of shares owned prior to August 19, 1991.
b. 0.25% annually on all other shares.
3. Except as specified in Section 4 below, service fees will be paid at an
annual rate of 0.15% of the aggregate net asset value of each account assigned
to you in:
Pioneer Cash Reserves Fund
Pioneer US. Government Money Fund
Pioneer California Double Tax-Free Fund
Pioneer Massachusetts Double Tax-Free Fund
Pioneer New York Triple Tax-Free Fund
4. Exceptions -- Service fees will not be paid on accounts representing:
a. Purchases by you or your affiliates, employees or
representatives.
b Shares which were purchased at net asset value, except for sales
of the money market funds or sales on which you are paid a
commission and which are subject to the contingent deferred sales
charge described in the funds' prospectuses.
c. "House" accounts or any other accounts not assigned to an active
registered representative(s).
d. Accounts established in Pioneer Bond Fund prior to January 1,
1986.
e. Service fees of less than $50 per calendar quarter will not be
paid.
f. Pioneer reserves the right to reduce the service fee paid on
individual accounts of more than $10 million.
g. First year services fees on shares subject to a CDSC are at the
rate of 0.25% and are prepaid as part of the initial sales
commission.
5. Service fees on shares sold with a front-end sales charge normally
begin to be earned as soon as the transaction settles, unless specified
otherwise in the fund prospectus. Since the commission on shares sold with a
CDSC includes a prepaid one year service fee , periodic service fees on such
shares are paid beginning one year following the transaction.
6. Service Fees of 1% on class C shares will begin after first year.
* Service fees begin accruing January 1, 1996
** Formerly Pioneer Three Fund
AGREEMENT BETWEEN
BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO.
AND
PIONEER GROWTH SHARES, INC.
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Employment of Custodian 1
2. Powers and Duties of the Custodian
with respect to Property of the Fund
held by the Custodian 1
A. Safekeeping 2
B. Manner of Holding Securities 2
C. Registered Name; Nominee 2
D. Purchases 2
E. Exchanges 4
F. Sales of Securities 4
G. Depositary Receipts 5
H. Exercise of Rights; Tender Offers 6
I. Stock Dividends, Rights, Etc. 6
J. Options 6
K. Borrowings 7
L. Demand Deposit Bank Accounts 7
M. Interest Bearing Call or Time Deposits 8
N. Foreign Exchange Transactions
and Futures Contracts 9
O. Stock Loans 10
P. Collections 10
Q. Dividends, Distributions and Redemptions 11
R. Proxies, Notices,, Etc. 12
S. Nondiscretionary Details 12
T. Bills 13
U. Deposit of Fund Assets in Securities Systems 13
V. Other Transfers 15
W. Investment Limitations 16
X. Restricted Securities 16
Y Proper Instructions 18
Z. Segregated Account 19
3. Powers and Duties of the Custodian with
Respect to the Appointment of Subcustodians 20
4. Assistance by the Custodian as to Certain Matters 24
5. Powers and Duties of the Custodian with
Respect to its Role as Financial Agent 24
A. Records 24
B. Accounts 25
C. Access to Records 25
D. Disbursements 25
<PAGE>
6. Standard of Care and Related Matters 25
A. Liability of the Custodian with
Respect to Proper Instructions;
Evidence of Authority; Etc. 25
B. Liability of the Custodian with
Respect to Use of Securities System 27
C. Liability of the Custodian with
Respect to Subcustodians 27
D. Standard of Care; Liability;
Indemnification 28
E. Reimbursement of Advances 30
F. Security for Obligations to Custodian 30
G. Appointment of Agents 30
H. Powers of Attorney 31
7. Compensation of the Custodian 31
8. Termination; Successor Custodian 31
9. Amendment 32
10. Governing Law 33
11. Notices 33
12. Binding Effect 33
13. Counterparts 33
<PAGE>
CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made this day of DEC 01 1993 , 1993 between PIONEER GROWTH
SHARES, INC. (the "Fund") and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (the "Custodian");
WITNESSETH: That in consideration of the mutual covenants and
agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Employment of Custodian: The Fund hereby employs and appoints the
Custodian as a custodian for the term and subject to the provisions of this
Agreement. The Custodian shall not be under any duty or obligation to require
the Fund to deliver to it any securities or funds owned by the Fund and shall
have no responsibility or liability for or on account of securities or funds not
so delivered. The Fund will deposit with the Custodian copies of the Declaration
of Trust or Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws (or comparable documents)
of the Fund and all amendments thereto, and copies of such votes and other
proceedings of the Fund as may be necessary for or convenient to the Custodian
in the performance of its duties.
2. Powers and Duties of the Custodian with respect to Property of the
Fund held by the Custodian: Except for securities and funds held by any
Subcustodians or held by the Custodian through a non-U.S. securities depository
appointed
<PAGE>
pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 hereof, the Custodian shall have and
perform the following powers and duties:
A. Safekeeping - To keep safely the securities and other assets of the
Fund that have been delivered to the Custodian and, on behalf of the Fund, from
time to time to receive delivery of securities for safekeeping.
B. Manner of Holding Securities - To hold securities of the Fund (1) by
physical possession of the share certificates or other instruments representing
such securities in registered or bearer form, or (2) in book-entry form by a
Securities System (as said term is defined in Section 2U).
C. Registered Name; Nominee - To hold registered securities of the Fund
(1) in the name or any nominee name of the Custodian or the Fund, or in the name
or any nominee name of any Agent appointed pursuant to Section 6F, or (2) in
street certificate form, so-called, and in any case with or without any
indication of fiduciary capacity, provided that securities are held in an
account of the Custodian containing only assets of the Fund or only assets held
as fiduciary or custodian for customers.
D. Purchases - Upon receipt of Proper Instructions, as defined in
Section X on Page 18, insofar as funds are available for the purpose, to pay for
and receive securities purchased for the account of the Fund, payment being made
only upon receipt of the securities (1) by the Custodian, or (2) by a clearing
corporation of a national securities exchange of which the
-2-
<PAGE>
Custodian is a member, or (3) by a Securities System. However, (i) in the case
of repurchase agreements entered into by the Fund, the Custodian (as well as an
Agent) may release funds to a Securities System or to a Subcustodian prior to
the receipt of advice from the Securities System or Subcustodian that the
securities underlying such repurchase agreement have been transferred by book
entry into the Account (as defined in Section 2U) of the Custodian (or such
Agent) maintained with such Securities System or Subcustodian, so long as such
payment instructions to the Securities System or Subcustodian include a
requirement that delivery is only against payment for securities, (ii) in the
case of foreign exchange contracts, options, time deposits, call account
deposits, currency deposits, and other deposits, contracts or options pursuant
to Sections 2J, 2L, 2M and 2N, the Custodian may make payment therefor without
receiving an instrument evidencing said deposit, contract or option so long as
such payment instructions detail specific securities to be acquired, and (iii)
in the case of securities in which payment for the security and receipt of the
instrument evidencing the security are under generally accepted trade practice
or the terms of the instrument representing the security expected to take place
in different locations or through separate parties, such as commercial paper
which is indexed to foreign currency exchange rates, derivatives and similar
securities, the Custodian may make payment for such securities prior to delivery
thereof in accordance with such generally accepted trade practice or the terms
of the instrument representing such security.
-3-
<PAGE>
E. Exchanges - Upon receipt of proper instructions, to exchange
securities held by it for the account of the Fund for other securities in
connection with any reorganization, recapitalization, split-up of shares, change
of par value, conversion or other event relating to the securities or the issuer
of such securities and to deposit any such securities in accordance with the
terms of any reorganization or protective plan. Without proper instructions, the
Custodian may surrender securities in temporary form for definitive securities,
may surrender securities for transfer into a name or nominee name as permitted
in Section 2C, and may surrender securities for a different number of
certificates or instruments representing the same number of shares or same
principal amount of indebtedness, provided the securities to be issued are to be
delivered to the Custodian.
F. Sales of Securities - Upon receipt of proper instructions, to make
delivery of securities which have been sold for the account of the Fund, but
only against payment therefor (1) in cash, by a certified check, bank cashier's
check, bank credit, or bank wire transfer, or (2) by credit to the account of
the Custodian with a clearing corporation of a national securities exchange of
which the Custodian is a member, or (3) by credit to the account of the
Custodian or an Agent of the Custodian with a Securities System; provided,
however, that (i) in the case of delivery of physical certificates or
instruments
-4-
<PAGE>
representing securities, the Custodian may make delivery to the broker buying
the securities, against receipt therefor, for examination in accordance with
"street delivery" custom, provided that the payment therefor is to be made to
the Custodian (which payment may be made by a broker's check) or that such
securities are to be returned to the Custodian, and (ii) in the case of
securities referred to in clause (iii) of the last sentence of Section 2D, the
Custodian may make settlement, including with respect to the form of payment, in
accordance with generally accepted trade practice relating to such securities or
the terms of the instrument representing said security.
G. Depositary Receipts - Upon receipt of proper instructions, to
instruct a Subcustodian or an Agent to surrender securities to the depositary
used by an issuer of American Depositary Receipts or International Depositary
Receipts (hereinafter collectively referred to as "ADRs") for such securities
against a written receipt therefor adequately describing such securities and
written evidence satisfactory to the Subcustodian or Agent that the depositary
has acknowledged receipt of instructions to issue with respect to such
securities ADRs in the name of the Custodian, or a nominee of the Custodian, for
delivery to the Custodian in Boston, Massachusetts, or at such other place as
the Custodian may from time to time designate.
Upon receipt of proper instructions, to surrender ADRs to
-5-
<PAGE>
the issuer thereof against a written receipt therefor adequately describing the
ADRs surrendered and written evidence satisfactory to the Custodian that the
issuer of the ADRs has acknowledged receipt of instructions to cause its
depositary to deliver the securities underlying such ADRs to a Subcustodian or
an Agent.
H. Exercise of Rights; Tender Offers - Upon timely receipt of proper
instructions, to deliver to the issuer or trustee thereof, or to the agent of
either, warrants, puts, calls, rights or similar securities for the purpose of
being exercised or sold, provided that the new securities and cash, if any,
acquired by such action are to be delivered to the Custodian, and, upon receipt
of proper instructions, to deposit securities upon invitations for tenders of
securities, provided that the consideration is to be paid or delivered or the
tendered securities are to be returned to the Custodian.
I. Stock Dividends, Rights, Etc. - To receive and collect all stock
dividends, rights and other items of like nature; and to deal with the same
pursuant to proper instructions relative thereto.
J. Options - Upon receipt of proper instructions, to receive and retain
confirmations or other documents evidencing the purchase of writing of an option
on a security or securities index by the Fund; to deposit and maintain in a
segregated account, either physically or by book-entry in a Securities System,
securities subject to a covered call option written by
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the Fund; and to release and/or transfer such securities or other assets only in
accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the Fund, the Custodian
and a broker-dealer relating to such securities or other assets a notice or
other communication evidencing the expiration, termination or exercise of such
covered option furnished by The Options Clearing Corporation, the securities or
options exchange on which such covered option is traded or such other
organization as may be responsible for handling such options transactions.
K. Borrowings - Upon receipt of proper instructions, to deliver
securities of the Fund to lenders or their agents as collateral for borrowings
effected by the Fund, provided that such borrowed money is payable to or upon
the Custodian's order as Custodian for the Fund.
L. Demand Deposit Bank Accounts - To open and operate an account or
accounts in the name of the Fund on the Custodian's books subject only to draft
or order by the Custodian. All funds received by the Custodian from or for the
account of the Fund shall be deposited in said account(s). The responsibilities
of the Custodian to the Fund for deposits accepted on the Custodian's books
shall be that of a U. S. bank for a similar deposit.
If and when authorized by proper instructions, the Custodian may open
and operate an additional account(s) in such other banks or trust companies as
may be designated by the Fund in such
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instructions (any such bank or trust company so designated by the Fund being
referred to hereafter as a "Banking Institution"), provided that such account(s)
(hereinafter collectively referred to as "demand deposit bank accounts") shall
be in the name of the Custodian for account of the Fund and subject only to the
Custodian's draft or order. Such demand deposit accounts may be opened with
Banking Institutions in the United States and in other countries and may be
denominated in either U. S. Dollars or other currencies as the Fund may
determine. All such deposits shall be deemed to be portfolio securities of the
Fund and accordingly the responsibility of the Custodian therefore shall be the
same as and no greater than the Custodian's responsibility in respect of other
portfolio securities of the Fund.
M. Interest Bearing Call or Time Deposits - To place interest bearing
fixed term and call deposits with such banks and in such amounts as the Fund may
authorize pursuant to proper instructions. Such deposits may be placed with the
Custodian or with Subcustodians or other Banking Institutions as the Fund may
determine. Deposits may be denominated in U. S. Dollars or other currencies and
need not be evidenced by the issuance or delivery of a certificate to the
Custodian, provided that the Custodian shall include in its records with respect
to the assets of the Fund appropriate notation as to the amount and currency of
each such deposit, the accepting Banking Institution and other appropriate
details, and shall retain such forms of advice or
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receipt evidencing the deposit, if any, as may be forwarded to the Custodian by
the Banking Institution. Such deposits, other than those placed with the
Custodian, shall be deemed portfolio securities of the Fund and the
responsibilities of the Custodian therefor shall be the same as those for demand
deposit bank accounts placed with other banks, as described in Section K of this
Agreement. The responsibility of the Custodian for such deposits accepted on the
Custodian's books shall be that of a U.S. bank for a similar deposit.
N. Foreign Exchange Transactions and Futures Contracts - Pursuant to
proper instructions, to enter into foreign exchange contracts or options to
purchase and sell foreign currencies for spot and future delivery on behalf and
for the account of the Fund. Such transactions may be undertaken by the
Custodian with such Banking Institutions, including the Custodian and
Subcustodian(s) as principals, as approved and authorized by the Fund. Foreign
exchange contracts and options other than those executed with the Custodian,
shall be deemed to be portfolio securities of the Fund and the responsibilities
of the Custodian therefor shall be the same as those for demand deposit bank
accounts placed with other banks as described in Section 2L of this agreement.
Upon receipt of proper instructions, to receive and retain confirmations
evidencing the purchase or sale of a futures contract or an option on a futures
contract by the Fund; to deposit and maintain in a segregated account, for the
benefit
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of any futures commission merchant or to pay to such futures commission
merchant, assets designated by the fund as initial, maintenance or variation
"margin" deposits intended to secure the Fund's performance of its obligations
under any futures contracts purchased or sold or any options on futures
contracts written by the Fund, in accordance with the provisions of any
agreement or agreements among any of the Fund, the Custodian and such futures
commission merchant, designated to comply with the rules of the Commodity
Futures Trading Commission and/or any contract market, or any similar
organization or organizations, regarding such margin deposits; and to release
and/or transfer assets in such margin accounts only in accordance with any such
agreements or rules.
O. Stock Loans - Upon receipt of proper instructions, to deliver
securities of the Fund, in connection with loans of securities by the Fund, to
the borrower thereof prior to receipt of the collateral, if any, for such
borrowing, provided that for stock loans secured by cash collateral the
Custodian's instructions to the Securities System require that the Securities
System may deliver the securities to the borrower thereof only upon receipt of
the collateral for such borrowing.
P. Collections - To collect, receive and deposit in said account or
accounts all income, payments of principal and other payments with respect to
the securities held hereunder, and in connection therewith to deliver the
certificates or other
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instruments representing the securities to the issuer thereof or its agent when
securities are called, redeemed, retired or otherwise become payable; provided,
that the payment is to be made in such form and manner and at such time, which
may be after delivery by the Custodian of the instrument representing the
security, as is in accordance with the terms of the instrument representing the
security, or such proper instructions as the Custodian may receive, or
governmental regulations, the rules of Securities Systems or other U.S.
securities depositories and clearing agencies or, with respect to securities
referred to in clause (iii) of the last sentence of Section 2D, in accordance
with generally accepted trade practice; (ii) to execute ownership and other
certificates and affidavits for all federal and state tax purposes in connection
with receipt of income or other payments with respect to securities of the Fund
or in connection with transfer of securities, and (iii) pursuant to proper
instructions to take such other actions with respect to collection or receipt of
funds or transfer of securities which involve an investment decision.
Q. Dividends, Distributions and Redemptions - Upon receipt of proper
instructions from the Fund, or upon receipt of instructions from the Fund's
shareholder servicing agent or agent with comparable duties (the "Shareholder
Servicing Agent") (given by such person or persons and in such manner on behalf
of the Shareholder Servicing Agent as the Fund shall have authorized),
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the Custodian shall release funds or securities to the Shareholder Servicing
Agent or otherwise apply funds or securities, insofar as available, for the
payment of dividends or other distributions to Fund shareholders, Upon receipt
of proper instructions from the Fund, or upon receipt of instructions from the
Shareholder Servicing Agent (given by such person or persons and in such manner
on behalf of the Shareholder Servicing Agent as the Fund shall have authorized),
the Custodian shall release funds or securities, insofar as available, to the
Shareholder Servicing Agent or as such Agent shall otherwise instruct for
payment to Fund shareholders who have delivered to such Agent a request for
repurchase or redemption of their shares of capital stock of the Fund.
R. Proxies, Notices, Etc. - Promptly to deliver or mail to the Fund all
forms of proxies and all notices of meetings and any other notices or
announcements affecting or relating to securities owned by the Fund that are
received by the Custodian, and upon receipt of proper instructions, to execute
and deliver or cause its nominee to execute and deliver such proxies or other
authorizations as may be required. Neither the Custodian nor its nominee shall
vote upon any of such securities or execute any proxy to vote thereon or give
any consent or take any other action with respect thereto (except as otherwise
herein provided) unless ordered to do so by proper instructions.
S. Nondiscretionary Details - Without the necessity of
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express authorization from the Fund, (1) to attend to all nondiscretionary
details in connection with the sale, exchange, substitution, purchase, transfer
or other dealings with securities, funds or other property of the Portfolio held
by the Custodian except as otherwise directed from time to time by the Directors
or Trustees of the Fund, and (2) to make payments to itself or others for minor
expenses of handling securities or other similar items relating to the
Custodian's duties under this Agreement, provided that all such payments shall
be accounted for to the Fund.
T. Bills - Upon receipt of proper instructions, to pay or cause to be
paid, insofar as funds are available for the purpose, bills, statements, or
other obligations of the Fund.
U. Deposit of Fund Assets in Securities Systems - The Custodian may
deposit and/or maintain securities owned by the Fund in (i) The Depository Trust
Company, (ii) any book-entry system as provided in Subpart O of Treasury
Circular No. 300, 31 CFR 306, Subpart B of 31 CFR Part 350, or the book-entry
regulations of federal agencies substantially in the form of Subpart O, or (iii)
any other domestic clearing agency registered with the Securities and Exchange
Commission under Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 which acts
as a securities depository and whose use the Fund has previously approved in
writing (each of the foregoing being referred to in this Agreement as a
"Securities System"). Utilization of a Securities
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System shall be in accordance with applicable Federal Reserve Board and
Securities and Exchange Commission rules and regulations, if any, and subject to
the following provisions:
1) The Custodian may deposit and/or maintain Fund securities, either
directly or through one or more Agents appointed by the Custodian (provided that
any such agent shall be qualified to act as a custodian of the Fund pursuant to
the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules and regulations thereunder), in
a Securities System provided that such securities are represented in an account
("Account") of the Custodian or such Agent in the Securities System which shall
not include any assets of the Custodian or Agent other than assets held as a
fiduciary, custodian, or otherwise for customers;
2) The records of the Custodian with respect to securities of the Fund
which are maintained in a Securities System shall identify by book-entry those
securities belonging to the Fund;
3) The Custodian shall pay for securities purchased for the account of
the Fund upon (i) receipt of advice from the Securities System that such
securities have been transferred to the Account, and (ii) the making of an entry
on the records of the Custodian to reflect such payment and transfer for the
account of the Fund. The Custodian shall transfer securities sold for the
account of the Fund upon (i) receipt of advice from the Securities System that
payment for such securities has been transferred to the Account, and (ii) the
making of an entry on
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the records of the Custodian to reflect such transfer and payment for the
account of the Fund. Copies of all advices from the Securities System of
transfers of securities for the account of the Fund shall identify the Fund, be
maintained for the Fund by the Custodian or an Agent as referred to above, and
be provided to the Fund at its request. The Custodian shall furnish the Fund
confirmation of each transfer to or from the account of the Fund in the form of
a written advice or notice and shall furnish to the Fund copies of daily
transaction sheets reflecting each day's transactions in the Securities System
for the account of the Fund on the next business day;
4) The Custodian shall provide the Fund with any report obtained by the
Custodian or any Agent as referred to above on the Securities System's
accounting system, internal accounting control and procedures for safeguarding
securities deposited in the Securities System; and the Custodian and such Agents
shall send to the Fund such reports on their own systems of internal accounting
control as the Fund may reasonably request from time to time.
5) At the written request of the Fund, the Custodian will terminate the
use of any such Securities System on behalf of the Fund as promptly as
practicable.
V. Other Transfers - Upon receipt of proper instructions, to deliver
securities, funds and other property of the Fund to a Subcustodian or another
custodian of the Fund; and, upon receipt
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of proper instructions, to make such other disposition of securities, funds or
other property of the Fund in a manner other than or for purposes other than as
enumerated elsewhere in this Agreement, provided that the instructions relating
to such disposition shall include a statement of the purpose for which the
delivery is to be made, the amount of securities to be delivered and the name of
the person or persons to whom delivery is to be made.
W. Investment Limitations - In performing its duties generally, and more
particularly in connection with the purchase, sale and exchange of securities
made by or for the Fund, the Custodian may assume unless and until notified in
writing to the contrary that proper instructions received by it are not in
conflict with or in any way contrary to any provisions of the Fund's Declaration
of Trust or Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws (or comparable documents) or
votes or proceedings of the shareholders or Directors of the Fund. The Custodian
shall in no event be liable to the Fund and shall be indemnified by the Fund for
any violation which occurs in the course of carrying out instructions given by
the Fund of any investment limitations to which the Fund is subject or other
limitations with respect to the Fund's powers to make expenditures, encumber
securities, borrow or take similar actions affecting the Fund.
X. Restricted Securities. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement, the Custodian shall not be liable
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for failure to take any action in respect of a "restricted security" (as
hereafter defined) if the Custodian has not received Proper Instructions to take
such action (including but not limited to the failure to exercise in a timely
manner any right in respect of any restricted security) unless the Custodian's
responsibility to take such action is set forth in a writing, agreed upon by the
Custodian and the Fund or the investment adviser of the Fund, which specifies
particular actions the Custodian is to take without Proper Instructions in
respect of specified rights and obligations pertaining to a particular
restricted security. Further, the Custodian shall not be responsible for
transmitting to the Fund information concerning a restricted security, such as
with respect to exercise periods and expiration dates for rights relating to the
restricted security, except such information which the Custodian actually
receives or which is published in a source which is publicly distributed and
generally recognized as a major source of information with respect to corporate
actions of securities similar to the particular restricted security. As used
herein, the term "restricted securities" shall mean securities which are subject
to restrictions on transfer, whether by reason of contractual restrictions or
federal, state or foreign securities or similar laws, or securities which have
special rights or contractual features which do not apply to publicly-traded
shares of, or comparable interests representing, such security.
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Y. Proper Instructions - Proper instructions shall mean a tested telex
from the Fund or a written request, direction, instruction or certification
signed or initialled on behalf of the Fund by one or more person or persons as
the Board of Directors or Trustees of the Fund shall have from time to time
authorized, provided, however, that no such instructions directing the delivery
of securities or the payment of funds to an authorized signatory of the Fund
shall be signed by such person. Those persons authorized to give proper
instructions may be identified by the Board of Directors or Trustees by name,
title or position and will include at least one officer empowered by the Board
to name other individuals who are authorized to give proper instructions on
behalf of the Fund. Telephonic or other oral instructions given by any one of
the above persons will be considered proper instructions if the Custodian
reasonably believes them to have been given by a person authorized to give such
instructions with respect to the transaction involved. Oral instructions will be
confirmed by tested telex or in writing in the manner set forth above but the
lack of such confirmation shall in no way affect any action taken by the
Custodian in reliance upon such oral instructions. The Fund authorizes the
Custodian to tape record any and all telephonic or other oral instructions given
to the Custodian by or on behalf of the Fund (including any of its officers,
Directors, Trustees, employees or agents) and will deliver to the Custodian a
similar authorization
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from any investment manager or adviser or person or entity with similar
reponsibilities which is authorized to give proper instructions on behalf of the
Fund to the Custodian. Proper instructions may relate to specific transactions
or to types or classes of transactions, and may be in the form of standing
instructions.
Proper instructions may include communications effected directly
between electro-mechanical or electronic devices or systems, in addition to
tested telex, provided that the Fund and the Custodian agree to the use of such
device or system.
Z. Segregated Account - The Custodian shall upon receipt of proper
instructions establish and maintain on its books a segregated account or
accounts for and on behalf of the Fund, into which account or accounts may be
transferred cash and/or securities of the Fund, including securities maintained
by the Custodian pursuant to Section 2U hereof, (i) in accordance with the
provisions of any agreement among the Fund, the Custodian and a broker-dealer
registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and a member of the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (or any futures commission
merchant registered under the Commodity Exchange Act) relating to compliance
with the rules of the Options Clearing Corporation and of any registered
national securities exchange (or the Commodity Futures Trading Commission or any
registered contract market), or any similar organization or organizations,
regarding escrow or other
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arrangements in connection with transactions by the Fund, (ii) for purposes of
segregating cash or securities in connection with options purchased, sold or
written by the Fund or commodity futures contracts or options thereon purchased
or sold by the Fund, (iii) for the purposes of compliance by the Fund with the
procedures required by Investment Company Act Release No. 10666, or any
subsequent release or releases of the Securities and Exchange Commission
relating to the maintenance of segregated accounts by registered investment
companies, and (iv) as mutually agreed from time to time between the Fund and
the Custodian.
3. Powers and Duties of the Custodian with Respect to the Appointment
of Subcustodians: The Fund hereby authorizes and instructs the Custodian to hold
securities, funds and other property of the Fund which are maintained outside
the United States at subcustodians appointed pursuant to the provisions of this
Section 3 (a "Subcustodian"). The Fund shall approve in writing (1) the
appointment of each Subcustodian and the subcustodian agreement to be entered
into between such Subcustodian and the Custodian, and (2) if the Subcustodian is
organized under the laws of a country other than the United States, the country
or countries in which the Subcustodian is authorized to hold securities, cash
and other property of the Fund. The Fund hereby further authorizes and instructs
the Custodian and any Subcustodian to utilize such securities depositories
located outside the United States which are approved
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in writing by the Fund to hold securities, cash and other property of the Fund.
Upon such approval by the Fund, the Custodian is authorized on behalf of the
Fund to notify each Subcustodian of its appointment as such. The Custodian may,
at any time in its discretion, remove any Subcustodian that has been appointed
as such but will promptly notify the Fund of any such action.
Those Subcustodians, and the countries where and the securities
depositories through which they or the Custodian may hold securities, cash and
other property of the Fund which the Fund has approved to date are set forth on
Appendix A hereto. Such Appendix shall be amended from time to time as
Subcustodians, and/or countries and/or securities depositories are changed,
added or deleted. The Fund shall be responsible for informing the Custodian
sufficiently in advance of a proposed investment which is to be held in a
country not listed on Appendix A in order that there shall be sufficient time
for the Fund to give the approval required by the preceding paragraph and for
the Custodian to put the appropriate arrangements in place with such
Subcustodian, including negotiation of a subcustodian agreement and submission
of such subcustodian agreement to the Fund for approval.
If the Fund shall have invested in a security to be held in a country
before the foregoing procedures have been completed, such security shall be held
by such agent as the Custodian may
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appoint. In any event, the Custodian shall be liable to the Fund for the actions
of such agent if and only to the extent the Custodian shall have recovered from
such agent for any damages caused the Fund by such agent. At the request of the
Fund, Custodian agrees to remove any securities held on behalf of the Fund by
such agent, if practical, to an approved Subcustodian. Under such circumstances
Custodian will collect income and respond to corporate actions on a best efforts
basis.
With respect to securities and funds held by a Subcustodian, either
directly or indirectly (including by a securities depository or clearing
agency), notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary,
payment for securities purchased and delivery of securities sold may be made
prior to receipt of the securities or payment, respectively, and securities or
payment may be received in a form, in accordance with governmental regulations,
rules of securities depositories and clearing agencies, or generally accepted
trade practice in the applicable local market.
In the event that any Subcustodian appointed pursuant to the
provisions of this Section 3 fails to perform any of its obligations under the
terms and conditions of the applicable subcustodian agreement, the Custodian
shall use its best efforts to cause such Subcustodian to perform such
obligations. In the event that the Custodian is unable to cause such
Subcustodian to perform fully its obligations thereunder, the Custodian shall
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forthwith upon the Fund's request terminate such Subcustodian in accordance with
the termination provisions under the applicable subcustodian agreement and, if
necessary or desirable, appoint another subcustodian in accordance with the
provisions of this Section 3. At the election of the Fund, it shall have the
right to enforce, to the extent permitted by the subcustodian agreement and
applicable law, the Custodian's rights against any such Subcustodian for loss or
damage caused the Fund by such Subcustodian.
The Custodian will not amend any subcustodian agreement or agree to
change or permit any changes thereunder except upon the prior written approval
of the Fund.
The Custodian may, at any time in its discretion upon notification to
the Fund, terminate any Subcustodian of the Fund in accordance with the
termination provisions under the applicable Subcustodian Agreement, and at the
written request of the Fund, the Custodian will terminate any Subcustodian in
accordance with the termination provisions under the applicable Subcustodian
Agreement.
If necessary or desirable, the Custodian may appoint another
subcustodian to replace a Subcustodian terminated pursuant to the foregoing
provisions of this Section 3, such appointment to be made upon approval of the
successor subcustodian by the Fund's Board of Directors or Trustees in
accordance with the provisions of this Section 3.
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In the event the Custodian receives a claim from a Subcustodian under
the indemnification provisions of any subcustodian agreement, the Custodian
shall promptly give written notice to the Fund of such claim. No more than
thirty days after written notice to the Fund of the Custodian's intention to
make such payment, the Fund will reimburse the Custodian the amount of such
payment except in respect of any negligence or misconduct of the Custodian.
4. Assistance by the Custodian as to Certain Matters: The Custodian
may assist generally in the preparation of reports to Fund shareholders and
others, audits of accounts, and other ministerial matters of like nature.
5. Powers and Duties of the Custodian with Respect to its Role as
Financial Agent: The Fund hereby also appoints the Custodian as the Funds
financial agent. With respect to the appointment as financial agent, the
Custodian shall have and perform the following powers and duties:
A. Records - To create, maintain and retain such records relating to
its activities and obligations under this Agreement as are required under the
Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules and regulations thereunder
(including Section 31 thereof and Rules 31a-1 and 31a-2 thereunder) and under
applicable Federal and State tax laws. All such records will be the property of
the Fund and in the event of termination of this Agreement shall be delivered to
the successor custodian.
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B. Accounts - To keep books of account and render statements, including
interim monthly and complete quarterly financial statements, or copies thereof,
from time to time as reasonably requested by proper instructions.
C. Access to Records - The books and records maintained by the Custodian
pursuant to Sections 5A and 5B shall at all times during the Custodian's regular
business hours be open to inspection and audit by officers of, attorneys for and
auditors employed by the Fund and by employees and agents of the Securities and
Exchange Commission, provided that all such individuals shall observe all
security requirements of the Custodian applicable to its own employees having
access to similar records within the Custodian and such regulations as may be
reasonably imposed by the Custodian.
D. Disbursements - Upon receipt of proper instructions, to pay or cause
to be paid, insofar as funds are available for the purpose, bills, statements
and other obligations of the Fund (including but not limited to interest
charges, taxes, management fees, compensation to Fund officers and employees,
and other operating expenses of the Fund).
6. Standard of Care and Related Matters:
A. Liability of the Custodian with Respect to Proper Instructions;
Evidence of Authority, Etc. The Custodian shall not be liable for any action
taken or omitted in reliance upon proper instructions believed by it to be
genuine or upon any
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other written notice, request, direction, instruction, certificate or other
instrument believed by it to be genuine and signed by the proper party or
parties.
The Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Fund shall certify to the
Custodian the names, signatures and scope of authority of all persons authorized
to give proper instructions or any other such notice, request, direction,
instruction, certificate or instrument on behalf of the Fund, the names and
signatures of the officers of the Fund, the name and address of the Shareholder
Servicing Agent, and any resolutions, votes, instructions or directions of the
Fund's Board of Directors or Trustees or shareholders. Such certificate may be
accepted and relied upon by the Custodian as conclusive evidence of the facts
set forth therein and may be considered in full force and effect until receipt
of a similar certificate to the contrary.
So long as and to the extent that it is in the exercise of reasonable
care, the Custodian shall not be responsible for the title, validity or
genuineness of any property or evidence of title thereto received by it or
delivered by it pursuant to this Agreement.
The Custodian shall be entitled, at the expense of the Fund, to receive
and act upon advice of (i) counsel regularly retained by the Custodian in
respect of custodian matters, (ii) counsel for the Fund, or (iii) such other
counsel as the Fund and the Custodian may agree upon, with respect to all
matters, and the
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Custodian shall be without liability for any action reasonably taken or
omitted pursuant to such advice.
B. Liability of the Custodian with Respect to Use of Securities System
- - With respect to the portfolio securities, cash and other property of the Fund
held by a Securities System, the Custodian shall be liable to the Fund only for
any loss or damage to the Fund resulting from use of the Securities System if
caused by any negligence, misfeasance or misconduct of the Custodian or any of
its agents or of any of its or their employees or from any failure of the
Custodian or any such agent to enforce effectively such rights as it may have
against the Securities System. At the election of the Fund, it shall be entitled
to be subrogated to the rights of the Custodian with respect to any claim
against the Securities System or any other person which the Custodian may have
as a consequence of any such loss or damage to the Fund if and to the extent
that the Fund has not been made whole for any such loss or damage.
C. Liability of the Custodian with Respect to Subcustodians The
Custodian shall be liable to the Fund for any loss or damage to the Fund caused
by or resulting from the acts or omissions of any Subcustodian to the extent
that under the terms set forth in the subcustodian agreement between the
Custodian and the Subcustodian (or in the subcustodian agreement between a
Subcustodian and any secondary Subcustodian), the Subcustodian (or secondary
Subcustodian) has failed to perform in accordance
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with the standard of conduct imposed under such subcustodian agreement as
determined in accordance with the law which is adjudicated to govern such
agreement and in accordance with any determination of any court as to the duties
of said Subcustodian pursuant to said agreement. The Custodian shall also be
liable to the Fund for its own negligence in transmitting any instructions
received by it from the Fund and for its own negligence in connection with the
delivery of any securities or funds held by it to any Subcustodian.
D. Standard of Care; Liability; Indemnification - The Custodian shall
be held only to the exercise of reasonable care and diligence in carrying out
the provisions of this Agreement, provided that the Custodian shall not thereby
be required to take any action which is in contravention of any applicable law.
The Fund agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Custodian and its nominees
from all claims and liabilities (including counsel fees) incurred or assessed
against it or its nominees in connection with the performance of this Agreement,
except such as may arise from its or its nominee's breach of the relevant
standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing
indemnification obligation of the Fund, the Fund agrees to indemnify the
Custodian and any nominee in whose name portfolio securities or other property
of the Fund is registered against any liability the Custodian or such nominee
may incur by reason of taxes assessed to the Custodian or such nominee or
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other costs, liability or expense incurred by the Custodian or such nominee
resulting directly or indirectly from the fact that portfolio securities or
other property of the Fund is registered in the name of the Custodian or such
nominee.
It is also understood that the Custodian shall not be liable for any
loss involving any securities, currencies, deposits or other property of the
Fund, whether maintained by it, a Subcustodian, a securities depository, an
agent of the Custodian or a Subcustodian, a Securities System, or a Banking
Institution, or for any loss arising from a foreign currency transaction or
contract, where the loss results from a Sovereign Risk or where the entity
maintaining such securities, currencies, deposits or other property of the Fund,
whether the Custodian, a Subcustodian, a securities depository, an agent of the
Custodian or a Subcustodian, a Securities System or a Banking Institution, has
exercised reasonable care maintaining such property or in connection with the
transaction involving such property. A "Sovereign Risk" shall mean
nationalization, expropriation, devaluation, revaluation, confiscation, seizure,
cancellation, destruction or similar action by any governmental authority, de
facto or de jure; or enactment, promulgation, imposition or enforcement by any
such governmental authority of currency restrictions, exchange controls, taxes,
levies or other charges affecting the Fund's property; or acts of war,
terrorism,
-29-
<PAGE>
insurrection or revolution; or any other act or event beyond the Custodian's
control.
E. Reimbursement of Advances - The Custodian shall be entitled to
receive reimbursement from the Fund on demand, in the manner provided in Section
7 for its cash disbursements, expenses and charges (including the fees and
expenses of any Subcustodian or any Agent) in connection with this Agreement,
but excluding salaries and usual overhead expenses.
F. Security for Obligations to Custodian - If the Fund shall require
the Custodian to advance cash or securities for any purpose for the benefit of
the Fund, including in connection with foreign exchange contracts or options
(collectively, an "Advance"), or if the Custodian or any nominee thereof shall
incur or be assessed any taxes, charges, expenses, assessments, claims or
liabilities in connection with the performance of this Agreement (collectively a
"Liability"), except such as may arise from its or such nominee's breach of the
relevant standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement, then in such event any
property at any time held for the account of the Fund by the Custodian or a
Subcustodian shall be security for such Advance or Liability and if the Fund
shall fail to repay or indemnify the Custodian promptly, the Custodian shall be
entitled to utilize available cash and to dispose of the Fund's property,
including securities, to the extent necessary to obtain reimbursement or
indemnification.
-30-
<PAGE>
G. Appointment of Agents - The Custodian may at any time or times in
its discretion appoint (and may at any time remove) any bank or trust company as
its agent (an "Agent") to carry out such of the provisions of this Agreement as
the Custodian may from time to time direct, provided, however, that the
appointment of such Agent (other than an Agent appointed pursuant to the third
paragraph of Section 3) shall not relieve the Custodian of any of its
responsibilities under this agreement.
H. Powers of Attorney - Upon request, the Fund shall deliver to the
Custodian such proxies, powers of attorney or other instruments as may be
reasonable and necessary or desirable in connection with the performance by the
Custodian or any Subcustodian of their respective obligations under this
Agreement or any applicable subcustodian agreement.
7. Compensation of the Custodian: The Fund shall pay the Custodian a
custody fee based on such fee schedule as may from time to time be agreed upon
in writing by the Custodian and the Fund. Such fee, together with all amounts
for which the Custodian is to be reimbursed in accordance with Section 6D, shall
be billed to the Fund in such a manner as to permit payment by a direct cash
payment to the Custodian.
8. Termination; Successor Custodian: This Agreement shall continue in
full force and effect until terminated by either party by an instrument in
writing delivered or mailed, postage prepaid, to the other party, such
termination to take effect not sooner than seventy five (75) days after the date
of such delivery or mailing. In the event of termination the Custodian
-31-
<PAGE>
shall be entitled to receive prior to delivery of the securities, funds and
other property held by it all accrued fees and unreimbursed expenses the payment
of which is contemplated by Sections 6D and 7, upon receipt by the Fund of a
statement setting forth such fees and expenses.
In the event of the appointment of a successor custodian, it is agreed
that the funds and securities owned by the Fund and held by the Custodian or any
Subcustodian shall be delivered to the successor custodian, and the Custodian
agrees to cooperate with the Fund in execution of documents and performance of
other actions necessary or desirable in order to substitute the successor
custodian for the Custodian under this Agreement.
9. Amendment: This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding and
agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof. No
provision of this Agreement may be amended or terminated except by a statement
in writing signed by the party against which enforcement of the amendment or
termination is sought.
In connection with the operation of this Agreement, the Custodian and
the Fund may agree in writing from time to time on such provisions
interpretative of or in addition to the provisions of this Agreement as may in
their joint opinion be consistent with the general tenor of this Agreement. No
interpretative or additional provisions made as provided in the
-32-
<PAGE>
preceding sentence shall be deemed to be an amendment of this Agreement.
The section headings in this Agreement are for the convenience of the
parties and in no way alter, amend, limit or restrict the contractual
obligations of the parties set forth in this Agreement.
10. Governing Law: This instrument is executed and delivered in The
Commonwealth of Massachusetts and shall be governed by and construed according
to the laws of said Commonwealth.
11. Notices: Notices and other writings delivered or mailed postage
prepaid to the Fund addressed to the Fund at 60 State Street, Boston,
Massachusetts 02109 or to such other address as the Fund may have designated to
the Custodian in writing, or to the Custodian at 40 Water Street, Boston,
Massachusetts 02109, Attention: Manager, Securities Department, or to such other
address as the Custodian may have designated to the Fund in writing, shall be
deemed to have been properly delivered or given hereunder to the respective
addressee.
12. Binding Effect: This Agreement shall be binding on and shall inure
to the benefit of the Fund and the Custodian and their respective successors and
assigns, provided that neither party hereto may assign this Agreement or any of
its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the
other party.
-33-
<PAGE>
13. Counterparts: This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original. This Agreement shall
become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed and delivered by
each of the parties.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this Agreement to be
executed in its name and behalf on the day and year first above written.
PIONEER GROWTH SHARES, INC. BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO.
By______________________________ per pro__________________________________
-34-
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the use of our report
dated February 2, 1996 included in Pioneer Growth Shares' 1995 Annual Report
(and to all references to our firm) included in or made a part of the Pioneer
Growth Shares Post-Effective Amendment No. 55 to Registration Statement File No.
2-28274 and Amendment No. 26 to Registration File No. 811-1604.
ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
April 25, 1996
CLASS C SHARES DISTRIBUTION PLAN
PIONEER GROWTH SHARES
CLASS C SHARES DISTRIBUTION PLAN, dated as of January 31, 1996 of PIONEER
GROWTH SHARES, a Delaware business trust (the "Trust").
WITNESSETH
WHEREAS, the Trust is engaged in business as an open-end, diversified,
management investment company and is registered under the Investment Company Act
of 1940, as amended (collectively with the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder, the "1940 Act");
WHEREAS, the Trust intends to distribute shares of beneficial interest (the
"Class C Shares") of the Trust in accordance with Rule 12b-1 promulgated by the
Securities and Exchange Commission under the 1940 Act ("Rule 12b-1"), and
desires to adopt this Class C Shares distribution plan (the "Class C Plan") as a
plan of distribution pursuant to such Rule;
WHEREAS, the Trust desires that Pioneer Funds Distributor, Inc., a
Massachusetts corporation ("PFD"), provide certain distribution services for the
Trust's Class C Shares in connection with the Class C Plan;
WHEREAS, the Trust has entered into an underwriting agreement (in a form
approved by the Trust's Board of Trustees in a manner specified in such Rule
12b-1) with PFD, whereby PFD provides facilities and personnel and renders
services to the Trust in connection with the offering and distribution of Class
C Shares (the "Underwriting Agreement");
WHEREAS, the Trust also recognizes and agrees that (a) PFD may retain the
services of firms or individuals to act as dealers or wholesalers (collectively,
the "Dealers") of the Class C Shares in connection with the offering of Class C
Shares, (b) PFD may compensate any Dealer that sells Class C Shares in the
manner and at the rate or rates to be set forth in an agreement between PFD and
such Dealer and (c) PFD may make such payments to the Dealers for distribution
services out of the fee paid to PFD hereunder, any deferred sales charges
imposed by PFD in connection with the repurchase of Class C shares, its profits
or any other source available to it;
<PAGE>
WHEREAS, the Trust recognizes and agrees that PFD may impose certain
deferred sales charges in connection with the repurchase of Class C Shares by
the Trust, and PFD may retain (or receive from the Trust, as the case may be)
all such deferred sales charges; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees of the Trust, in considering whether the
Trust should adopt and implement this Class C Plan, has evaluated such
information as it deemed necessary to an informed determination whether this
Class C Plan should be adopted and implemented and has considered such pertinent
factors as it deemed necessary to form the basis for a decision to use assets of
the Trust for such purposes, and has determined that there is a reasonable
likelihood that the adoption and implementation of this Class C Plan will
benefit the Trust and its Class C shareholders;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Board of Trustees of the Trust hereby adopts this Class
C Plan for the Trust as a plan of distribution of Class C Shares in accordance
with Rule 12b-1, on the following terms and conditions:
I. (a) The Trust is authorized to compensate PFD for (1) distribution
services and (2) personal and account maintenance services
performed and expenses incurred by PFD in connection with the
Trust's Class C Shares. Such compensation shall be calculated and
accrued daily and paid monthly or at such other intervals as the
Board of Trustees may determine.
(b) The amount of compensation paid during any one year
for distribution services with respect to Class C Shares shall be
.75% of the Trust's average daily net assets attributable to Class
C Shares for such year.
(c) Distribution services and expenses for which PFD may
be compensated pursuant to this Plan include, without limitation:
compensation to and expenses (including allocable overhead, travel
and telephone expenses) of (i) Dealers, brokers and other dealers
who are members of the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc. ("NASD") or their officers, sales representatives and
employees, (ii) PFD and any of its affiliates and any of their
respective officers, sales representatives and employees, (iii)
banks and their officers, sales representatives and employees, who
engage in or support distribution of the Trust's Class C Shares;
printing of reports and prospectuses for other than existing
shareholders; and preparation, printing and distribution of sales
literature and advertising materials.
<PAGE>
(d) The amount of compensation paid during any one year
for personal and account maintenance services and expenses shall
be .25% of the Trust's average daily net assets attributable to
Class C Shares for such year. As partial consideration for
personal services and/or account maintenance services provided by
PFD to the Class C Shares, PFD shall be entitled to be paid any
fees payable under this clause (d) with respect to Class C shares
for which no dealer of record exists, where less than all
consideration has been paid to a dealer of record or where
qualification standards have not been met.
(e) Personal and account maintenance services for which
PFD or any of its affiliates, banks or Dealers may be compensated
pursuant to this Plan include, without limitation: payments made
to or on account of PFD or any of its affiliates, banks, other
brokers and dealers who are members of the NASD, or their
officers, sales representatives and employees, who respond to
inquiries of, and furnish assistance to, shareholders regarding
their ownership of Class C Shares or their accounts or who provide
similar services not otherwise provided by or on behalf of the
Trust.
(f) PFD may impose certain deferred sales charges in
connection with the repurchase of Class C Shares by the Trust and
PFD may retain (or receive from the Trust as the case may be) all
such deferred sales charges.
(g) Appropriate adjustments to payments made pursuant to
clauses (b) and (d) of this paragraph 1 shall be made whenever
necessary to ensure that no payment is made by the Trust in excess
of the applicable maximum cap imposed on asset based, front-end
and deferred sales charges by subsection (d) of Section 26 of
Article III of the Rules of Fair Practice of the NASD.
II. The Trust understands that agreements between PFD and Dealers may
provide for payment of fees to Dealers in connection with the sale of Class C
Shares and the provision of services to shareholders of the Trust. Nothing in
this Class C Plan shall be construed as requiring the Trust to make any payment
to any Dealer or to have any obligations to any Dealer in connection with
services as a dealer of the Class C Shares. PFD shall agree and undertake that
any agreement entered into between PFD and any Dealer shall provide that such
Dealer shall look solely to PFD for compensation for its services thereunder and
that in no event shall such Dealer seek any payment from the Trust.
<PAGE>
III. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to require the Trust to take
any action contrary to its Declaration of Trust, as it may be amended or
restated from time to time, or By-Laws or any applicable statutory or regulatory
requirement to which it is subject or by which it is bound, or to relieve or
deprive the Trust's Board of Trustees of the responsibility for and control of
the conduct of the affairs of the Trust.
IV. This Class C Plan shall become effective upon approval by (i) a
"majority of the outstanding voting securities" of Class C of the Trust, (ii) a
vote of the Board of Trustees, and (iii) a vote of a majority of the Trustees
who are not "interested persons" of the Trust and who have no direct or indirect
financial interest in the operation of the Class C Plan or in any agreements
related to the Class C Plan (the "Qualified Trustees"), such votes with respect
to (ii) and (iii) above to be cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose
of voting on this Class C Plan.
V. This Class C Plan will remain in effect indefinitely, provided that such
continuance is "specifically approved at least annually" by a vote of both a
majority of the Trustees of the Trust and a majority of the Qualified Trustees.
If such annual approval is not obtained, this Class C Plan shall expire on
January 31, 1997.
VI. This Class C Plan may be amended at any time by the Board of Trustees,
provided that this Class C Plan may not be amended to increase materially the
limitations on the annual percentage of average net assets which may be expended
hereunder without the approval of holders of a "majority of the outstanding
voting securities" of Class C of the Trust and may not be materially amended in
any case without a vote of a majority of both the Trustees and the Qualified
Trustees. This Class C Plan may be terminated at any time by a vote of a
majority of the Qualified Trustees or by a vote of the holders of a "majority of
the outstanding voting securities" of Class C of the Trust.
VII. The Trust and PFD shall provide to the Trust's Board of Trustees, and
the Board of Trustees shall review, at least quarterly, a written report of the
amounts expended under this Class C Plan and the purposes for which such
expenditures were made.
VIII. While this Class C Plan is in effect, the selection and nomination of
Qualified Trustees shall be committed to the discretion of the Trustees who are
not "interested persons" of the Trust.
<PAGE>
IX. For the purposes of this Class C Plan, the terms "assignment,"
"interested persons," "majority of the outstanding voting securities" and
"specifically approved at least annually" are used as defined in the 1940 Act.
X. The Trust shall preserve copies of this Class C Plan, and each agreement
related hereto and each report referred to in Paragraph 7 hereof (collectively,
the "Records"), for a period of not less than six (6) years from the end of the
fiscal year in which such Records were made and, for a period of two (2) years,
each of such Records shall be kept in an easily accessible place.
XI. This Class C Plan shall be construed in accordance with the laws of The
Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act.
XII. If any provision of this Class C Plan shall be held or made invalid by
a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of the Class C Plan
shall not be affected thereby.
[ARTICLE] 6
[CIK] 0000069404
[NAME] PIONEER GROWTH SHARES
[SERIES]
[NUMBER] 001
[NAME] PIONEER GROWTH SHARES CLASS A
[PERIOD-TYPE] YEAR
[FISCAL-YEAR-END] DEC-31-1995
[PERIOD-END] DEC-31-1995
[INVESTMENTS-AT-COST] 218452836
[INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE] 232217560
[RECEIVABLES] 2678679
[ASSETS-OTHER] 10313
[OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS] 0
[TOTAL-ASSETS] 234906552
[PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES] 2404791
[SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT] 0
[OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES] 2919169
[TOTAL-LIABILITIES] 5323960
[SENIOR-EQUITY] 0
[PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON] 209207529
[SHARES-COMMON-STOCK] 21293756
[SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR] 14964964
[ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT] 11384
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII] 0
[ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS] 6638665
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS] 0
[ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC] 13725014
[NET-ASSETS] 229582592
[DIVIDEND-INCOME] 1322660
[INTEREST-INCOME] 1379646
[OTHER-INCOME] 0
[EXPENSES-NET] (2180682)
[NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME] 521624
[REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT] 32890594
[APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT] 8653487
[NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS] 42065705
[EQUALIZATION] 0
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME] (471206)
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS] (24674561)
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER] 0
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD] 21037128
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED] 17195620
[SHARES-REINVESTED] 2487284
[NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS] 97106830
[ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR] 0
[ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR] 0
[OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR] 0
[OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR] (13279)
[GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES] 876379
[INTEREST-EXPENSE] 0
[GROSS-EXPENSE] 2218027
[AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS] 174261501
[PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN] 8.85
[PER-SHARE-NII] 0.03
[PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC] 2.58
[PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND] (0.03)
[PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS] (1.31)
[RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL] 0
[PER-SHARE-NAV-END] 10.12
[EXPENSE-RATIO] 1.23
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING] 0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE] 0
<PAGE>
[ARTICLE] 6
[CIK] 0000069404
[NAME] PIONEER GROWTH SHARES
[SERIES]
[NUMBER] 002
[NAME] PIONEER GROWTH SHARES CLASS B
[PERIOD-TYPE] OTHER
[FISCAL-YEAR-END] DEC-31-1995
[PERIOD-END] DEC-31-1995
[INVESTMENTS-AT-COST] 218452836
[INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE] 232217560
[RECEIVABLES] 2678679
[ASSETS-OTHER] 10313
[OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS] 0
[TOTAL-ASSETS] 234906552
[PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES] 2404791
[SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT] 0
[OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES] 2919169
[TOTAL-LIABILITIES] 5323960
[SENIOR-EQUITY] 0
[PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON] 209207529
[SHARES-COMMON-STOCK] 1391478
[SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR] 0
[ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT] 11384
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII] 0
[ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS] 6638665
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS] 0
[ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC] 13725014
[NET-ASSETS] 229582592
[DIVIDEND-INCOME] 1322660
[INTEREST-INCOME] 1379646
[OTHER-INCOME] 0
[EXPENSES-NET] (2180682)
[NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME] 521624
[REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT] 32890594
[APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT] 8653487
[NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS] 42065705
[EQUALIZATION] 0
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME] (39034)
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS] (1564089)
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER] 0
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD] 1382346
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED] 144754
[SHARES-REINVESTED] 153886
[NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS] 97106830
[ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR] 0
[ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR] 0
[OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR] 0
[OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR] (13279)
[GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES] 876379
[INTEREST-EXPENSE] 0
[GROSS-EXPENSE] 2218027
[AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS] 6111395
[PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN] 9.68
[PER-SHARE-NII] 0.00
[PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC] 1.73
[PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND] (0.03)
[PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS] (1.31)
[RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL] 0
[PER-SHARE-NAV-END] 10.07
[EXPENSE-RATIO] 1.90
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING] 0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE] 0
PIONEER GROWTH SHARES
Multiple Class Plan Pursuant to Rule 18f-3
Class A Shares and Class B Shares
October 4, 1995
Each class of shares of PIONEER GROWTH SHARES (the "Fund"), will have the
same relative rights and privileges and be subject to the same sales charges,
fees and expenses, except as set forth below. The Board of Trustees of the Fund
may determine in the future that other distribution arrangements, allocations of
expenses (whether ordinary or extraordinary) or services to be provided to a
class of shares are appropriate and amend this Plan accordingly without the
approval of shareholders of any class. Except as set forth in the Fund's
prospectus, shares may be exchanged only for shares of the same class of another
Pioneer mutual fund.
Article I. Class A Shares
Class A Shares are sold at net asset value and subject to the initial sales
charge schedule or contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC") and minimum
purchase requirements as set forth in the Fund's prospectus. Class A Shares
shall be entitled to the shareholder services set forth from time to time in the
Fund's prospectus with respect to Class A Shares. Class A Shares are subject to
fees calculated as a stated percentage of the net assets attributable to Class A
shares under the Fund's Class A Rule 12b-1 Distribution Plan as set forth in
such Distribution Plan. The Class A Shareholders have exclusive voting rights,
if any, with respect to the Class A Rule 12b-1 Distribution Plan. Transfer
agency fees are allocated to Class A Shares on a per account basis except to the
extent, if any, such an allocation would cause the Fund to fail to satisfy any
requirement necessary to obtain or rely on a private letter ruling from the
Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") relating to the issuance of multiple classes of
shares. Class A shares shall bear the costs and expenses associated with
conducting a shareholder meeting for matters relating to Class A shares.
Article II. Class B Shares
Class B Shares are sold at net asset value per share without the imposition
of an initial sales charge. However, Class B shares redeemed within a specified
number of years of purchase will be subject to a CDSC as set forth in the Fund's
prospectus. Class B Shares are sold subject to the minimum purchase requirements
set forth in the Fund's prospectus. Class B Shares shall be entitled to the
shareholder services set forth from time to time in the Fund's prospectus with
respect to Class B Shares.
<PAGE>
Class B Shares are subject to fees calculated as a stated percentage of the net
assets attributable to Class B shares under the Class B Rule 12b-1 Distribution
Plan as set forth in such Distribution Plan. The Class B Shareholders of the
Fund have exclusive voting rights, if any, with respect to the Fund's Class B
Rule 12b-1 Distribution Plan. Transfer agency fees are allocated to Class B
Shares on a per account basis except to the extent, if any, such an allocation
would cause the Fund to fail to satisfy any requirement necessary to obtain or
rely on a private letter ruling from the IRS relating to the issuance of
multiple classes of shares. Class B shares shall bear the costs and expenses
associated with conducting a shareholder meeting for matters relating to Class B
shares.
Class B Shares will automatically convert to Class A Shares of the Fund at
the end of a specified number of years after the initial purchase date of Class
B shares, except as provided in the Fund's prospectus. Such conversion will
occur at the relative net asset value per share of each class without the
imposition of any sales charge, fee or other charge. The conversion of Class B
Shares to Class A Shares may be suspended if it is determined that the
conversion constitutes or is likely to constitute a taxable event under federal
income tax law.
The initial purchase date for Class B shares acquired through (i)
reinvestment of dividends on Class B Shares or (ii) exchange from another
Pioneer mutual fund will be deemed to be the date on which the original Class B
shares were purchased.
Article III. Approval by Board of Trustees
This Plan shall not take effect until it has been approved by the vote of a
majority (or whatever greater percentage may, from time to time, be required
under Rule 18f-3 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the
"Act")) of (a) all of the Trustees of the Fund, and (b) those of the Trustees
who are not "interested persons" of the Fund, as such term may be from time to
time defined under the Act.
Article IV. Amendments
No material amendment to the Plan shall be effective unless it is approved
by the Board of Trustees in the same manner as is provided for approval of this
Plan in Article III.
PIONEER GROWTH SHARES
Multiple Class Plan Pursuant to Rule 18f-3
Class A Shares, Class B Shares and Class C Shares
January 31, 1996
Each class of shares of PIONEER GROWTH SHARES (the "Fund"), will have the
same relative rights and privileges and be subject to the same sales charges,
fees and expenses, except as set forth below. The Board of Trustees may
determine in the future that other distribution arrangements, allocations of
expenses (whether ordinary or extraordinary) or services to be provided to a
class of shares are appropriate and amend this Plan accordingly without the
approval of shareholders of any class. Except as set forth in the Fund's
prospectus, shares may be exchanged only for shares of the same class of another
Pioneer mutual fund.
Article I. Class A Shares
Class A Shares are sold at net asset value and subject to the initial sales
charge schedule or contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC") and minimum
purchase requirements as set forth in the Fund's prospectus. Class A Shares
shall be entitled to the shareholder services set forth from time to time in the
Fund's prospectus with respect to Class A Shares. Class A Shares are subject to
fees calculated as a stated percentage of the net assets attributable to Class A
shares under the Fund's Class A Rule 12b-1 Distribution Plan as set forth in
such Distribution Plan. The Class A Shareholders have exclusive voting rights,
if any, with respect to the Class A Rule 12b-1 Distribution Plan. Transfer
agency fees are allocated to Class A Shares on a per account basis except to the
extent, if any, such an allocation would cause the Fund to fail to satisfy any
requirement necessary to obtain or rely on a private letter ruling from the
Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") relating to the issuance of multiple classes of
shares. Class A shares shall bear the costs and expenses associated with
conducting a shareholder meeting for matters relating to Class A shares.
Article II. Class B Shares
Class B Shares are sold at net asset value per share without the imposition
of an initial sales charge. However, Class B
<PAGE>
shares redeemed within a specified number of years of purchase will be subject
to a CDSC as set forth in the Fund's prospectus. Class B Shares are sold subject
to the minimum purchase requirements set forth in the Fund's prospectus. Class B
Shares shall be entitled to the shareholder services set forth from time to time
in the Fund's prospectus with respect to Class B Shares. Class B Shares are
subject to fees calculated as a stated percentage of the net assets attributable
to Class B shares under the Class B Rule 12b-1 Distribution Plan as set forth in
such Distribution Plan. The Class B Shareholders of the Fund have exclusive
voting rights, if any, with respect to the Fund's Class B Rule 12b-1
Distribution Plan. Transfer agency fees are allocated to Class B Shares on a per
account basis except to the extent, if any, such an allocation would cause the
Fund to fail to satisfy any requirement necessary to obtain or rely on a private
letter ruling from the IRS relating to the issuance of multiple classes of
shares. Class B shares shall bear the costs and expenses associated with
conducting a shareholder meeting for matters relating to Class B shares.
Class B Shares will automatically convert to Class A Shares of the Fund at
the end of a specified number of years after the initial purchase date of Class
B shares, except as provided in the Fund's prospectus. Such conversion will
occur at the relative net asset value per share of each class without the
imposition of any sales charge, fee or other charge. The conversion of Class B
Shares to Class A Shares may be suspended if it is determined that the
conversion constitutes or is likely to constitute a taxable event under federal
income tax law.
The initial purchase date for Class B shares acquired through (i)
reinvestment of dividends on Class B Shares or (ii) exchange from another
Pioneer mutual fund will be deemed to be the date on which the original Class B
shares were purchased.
Article III. Class C Shares
Class C Shares are sold at net asset value per share without the imposition
of an initial sales charge. However, Class C shares redeemed within one year of
purchase will be subject to a CDSC as set forth in the Fund's prospectus. Class
C Shares are sold subject to the minimum purchase requirements set forth in the
Fund's prospectus. Class C Shares shall be entitled to the shareholder services
set forth from time to time in the Fund's prospectus with respect to Class C
Shares. Class C Shares are subject to fees calculated as a stated percentage of
the net assets attributable to Class C shares under the Class C Rule 12b-1
Distribution Plan as set forth in such Distribution Plan. The Class C
Shareholders of the Fund have exclusive voting rights, if any, with respect to
the Fund's Class C Rule 12b-1 Distribution Plan. Transfer agency fees are
allocated to Class C Shares on a
<PAGE>
per account basis except to the extent, if any, such an allocation would cause
the Fund to fail to satisfy any requirement necessary to obtain or rely on a
private letter ruling from the IRS relating to the issuance of multiple classes
of shares. Class C shares shall bear the costs and expenses associated with
conducting a shareholder meeting for matters relating to Class C shares.
The initial purchase date for Class C shares acquired through (i)
reinvestment of dividends on Class C Shares or (ii) exchange from another
Pioneer mutual fund will be deemed to be the date on which the original Class C
shares were purchased.
Article IV. Approval by Board of Trustees
This Plan shall not take effect until it has been approved by the vote of a
majority (or whatever greater percentage may, from time to time, be required
under Rule 18f-3 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the
"Act")) of (a) all of the Trustees of the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, and (b)
those of the Trustees who are not "interested persons" of the Trust, as such
term may be from time to time defined under the Act.
Article V. Amendments
No material amendment to the Plan shall be effective unless it is approved
by the Board of Trustees in the same manner as is provided for approval of this
Plan in Article IV.
POWER OF ATTORNEY
We, the undersigned officers and/or trustees of Pioneer Growth Shares, a
Delaware business trust (the "Fund"), do hereby severally constitute and appoint
John F. Cogan, Jr., David D. Tripple, and Joseph P. Barri, and each of them
acting singly, to be our true, sufficient and lawful attorneys, with full power
to each of them, and each of them acting singly, to sign for each of us, in the
name of each of us and in the capacities indicated below, any and all amendments
to the Fund's Registration Statement on Form N-1A under the Investment Company
Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), and under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended (the "1933 Act"), with respect to the offering of its shares of
beneficial interest and any and all other documents and papers relating thereto,
and generally to do all such things in the name of each of us and on behalf of
each of us in the capacities indicated to enable the Fund to comply with the
1933 Act and/or the 1940 Act, and all requirements of the Securities and
Exchange Commission thereunder, hereby ratifying and confirming the signature of
each of us as it may be signed by said attorneys or each of them to said
Registration Statements and any and all amendments thereto.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunder set our hands on this instrument this
day of June, 1994.
/s/ John F. Cogan, Jr.
John F. Cogan, Jr., Chairman, Trustee
and Chief Executive Officer
/s/ David D. Tripple
David D. Tripple, Trustee and
Executive Vice President
/s/ William H. Keough
William H. Keough, Treasurer
and Chief Financial Officer
/s/ Richard H. Egdahl
Richard H. Egdahl, M.D., Trustee
/s/ Margaret B. W. Graham
Margaret B. W. Graham, Trustee
/s/ John W. Kendrick
John W. Kendrick, Trustee
/s/ Marguerite A. Piret
Marguerite A. Piret, Trustee
/s/ Stephen K. West
Stephen K. West, Trustee
/s/ John Winthrop
John Winthrop, Trustee
