File No. 2-77329
File No. 811-3458
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. 23
and/or
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT
OF 1940 X
Amendment No. 20
UNITED GOVERNMENT SECURITIES FUND, INC.
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(Exact Name as Specified in Charter)
6300 Lamar Avenue, Overland Park, Kansas City 66202-4200
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(Address of Principal Executive Office) (Zip Code)
Registrant's Telephone Number, including Area Code (913) 236-2000
Sharon K. Pappas, P. O. Box 29217, Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66201-9217
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(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
It is proposed that this filing will become effective
_____ immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
__X__ on June 30, 1998 pursuant to paragraph (b)
_____ 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
_____ on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
_____ 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)
_____ on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485
_____ this post-effective amendment designates a new effective date
for a previously filed post-effective amendment
===========================================================================
DECLARATION REQUIRED BY RULE 24f-2 (a)(1)
The issuer has registered an indefinite amount of its securities under the
Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to Rule 24f-2 (a)(1). Notice for the
Registrant's fiscal year ended March 31, 1998 will be filed on or about June 26,
1998.
UNITED GOVERNMENT SECURITIES FUND, INC.
=======================================
Cross Reference Sheet
=====================
Part A of
Form N-1A
Item No. Prospectus Caption
- --------- ------------------
1 ........................ Cover Page
2(a) ..................... Expenses
(b) ..................... An Overview of the Fund
(c) ..................... An Overview of the Fund
3(a) ..................... Financial Highlights
(b) ..................... *
(c) ..................... Performance
(d) ..................... Performance; About Your Account
4(a) ..................... About the Investment Principles of the Fund; About
the Management and Expenses of the Fund
(b) ..................... About the Investment Principles of the Fund
(c) ..................... An Overview of the Fund; About the Investment
Principles of the Fund
5(a) ..................... About the Management and Expenses of the Fund
(b) ..................... Inside Back Cover; About the Management and
Expenses of the Fund
(c) ..................... About the Management and Expenses of the Fund
(d) ..................... About the Management and Expenses of the Fund
(e) ..................... Inside Back Cover; About the Management and
Expenses of the Fund
(f) ..................... Expenses; About the Management and Expenses of the
Fund
(g) ..................... *
5A......................... **
6(a) ..................... About the Management and Expenses of the Fund
(b) ..................... *
(c) ..................... *
(d) ..................... About the Management and Expenses of the Fund
(e) ..................... About Your Account
(f) ..................... About Your Account
(g) ..................... About Your Account
(h) ..................... About the Management and Expenses of the Fund
7(a) ..................... Inside Back Cover; About Your Account; About the
Management and Expenses of the Fund
(b) ..................... About Your Account
(c) ..................... About Your Account
(d) ..................... About Your Account
(e) ..................... *
(f) ..................... About the Management and Expenses of the Fund
8(a) ..................... About Your Account
(b) ..................... *
(c) ..................... About Your Account
(d) ..................... About Your Account
9 ........................ *
Part B of
Form N-1A
Item No. SAI Caption
- --------- -----------
10(a) ..................... Cover Page
(b) ..................... *
11 ........................ Cover Page
12 ........................ *
13(a) ..................... Goals and Investment Policies
(b) ..................... Goals and Investment Policies
(c) ..................... Goals and Investment Policies
(d) ..................... Goals and Investment Policies
14(a) ..................... Directors and Officers
(b) ..................... Directors and Officers
(c) ..................... Directors and Officers
15(a) ..................... *
(b) ..................... Directors and Officers
(c) ..................... Directors and Officers
16(a)(i) .................. Investment Management and Other Services
(a)(ii) ................. Directors and Officers
(a)(iii) ................ Investment Management and Other Services
(b) ..................... Investment Management and Other Services
(c) ..................... *
(d) ..................... Investment Management and Other Services
(e) ..................... *
(f) ..................... Investment Management and Other Services
(g) ..................... *
(h) ..................... Investment Management and Other Services
(i) ..................... Investment Management and Other Services
17(a) ..................... Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage
(b) ..................... *
(c) ..................... Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage
(d) ..................... Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage
(e) ..................... *
18(a) ..................... Other Information
(b) ..................... *
19(a) ..................... Purchase, Redemption and Pricing of Shares
(b) ..................... Purchase, Redemption and Pricing of Shares
(c) ..................... Purchase, Redemption and Pricing of Shares
20 ........................ Payments to Shareholders; Taxes
21(a) ..................... Investment Management and Other Services
(b) ..................... Investment Management and Other Services
(c) ..................... *
22(a) ..................... *
(b)(i) .................. Performance Information
(b)(ii) ................. Performance Information
(b)(iii) ................ *
(b)(iv) ................. Performance Information
23 ........................ Financial Statements
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*Not Applicable or Negative Answer
**Contained in the Annual Report to Shareholders
<PAGE>
Please read this Prospectus before investing, and keep it on file for future
reference. It sets forth concisely the information about the Fund that you
ought to know before investing.
Additional information has been filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission and is contained in a Statement of Additional Information ("SAI")
dated June 30, 1998. The SAI is available free upon request to the Fund or to
Waddell & Reed, Inc., the Fund's underwriter, at the address or telephone number
stated below. The SAI is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus, and
you will not be aware of all facts unless you read both this Prospectus and the
SAI.
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION, NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS
A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
United Government Securities Fund, Inc.
Class A Shares
This Fund seeks to provide as high a current income as is consistent with safety
of principal by investing in a portfolio of debt securities issued or guaranteed
by the U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities. Neither the United
States, nor any agency of the United States, has guaranteed, sponsored or
approved the Fund or its shares.
This Prospectus describes one class of shares of the Fund -- Class A shares.
Prospectus
June 30, 1998
UNITED GOVERNMENT SECURITIES FUND, INC.
6300 Lamar AvenueP. O. Box 29217
Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66201-9217
913-236-2000
800-366-5465
<PAGE>
Table of Contents
AN OVERVIEW OF THE FUND.........................................3
EXPENSES........................................................7
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS............................................6
PERFORMANCE.....................................................8
Explanation of Terms ..........................................8
ABOUT WADDELL & REED...........................................10
ABOUT THE INVESTMENT PRINCIPLES OF THE FUND....................11
Investment Goal and Principles ...............................11
Risk Considerations ........................................11
Securities and Investment Practices ..........................11
ABOUT YOUR ACCOUNT.............................................21
Ways to Set Up Your Account ..................................21
Buying Shares ................................................22
Minimum Investments ..........................................25
Adding to Your Account .......................................25
Selling Shares ...............................................25
Shareholder Services .........................................28
Personal Service ...........................................28
Reports ....................................................28
Exchanges ..................................................29
Automatic Transactions .....................................29
Distributions and Taxes ......................................30
Distributions ..............................................30
Taxes ......................................................30
ABOUT THE MANAGEMENT AND EXPENSES OF THE FUND..................33
WRIMCO and Its Affiliates ....................................34
Breakdown of Expenses ........................................35
Management Fee .............................................35
Other Expenses .............................................36
<PAGE>
An Overview of the Fund
The Fund: This Prospectus describes the Class A shares of United Government
Securities Fund, Inc., an open-end, diversified management investment company.
Goal and Strategies: United Government Securities Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") seeks
as high a current income as is consistent with safety of principal. The Fund
seeks to achieve this goal by investing in a portfolio of debt securities issued
or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities. See
"About the Investment Principles of the Fund" for further information.
Management: Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company ("WRIMCO") provides
investment advice to the Fund and manages the Fund's investments. WRIMCO is a
wholly owned subsidiary of Waddell & Reed, Inc. WRIMCO, Waddell & Reed, Inc.
and its predecessors have provided investment management services to registered
investment companies since 1940. See "About the Management and Expenses of the
Fund" for further information about management fees.
Distributor: Waddell & Reed, Inc. acts as principal underwriter and distributor
of the shares of the Fund.
Purchases: You may buy Class A shares of the Fund through Waddell & Reed, Inc.
and its account representatives. The price to buy a Class A share of the Fund
is the net asset value of a Class A share plus a sales charge. See "About Your
Account" for information on how to purchase Class A shares.
Redemptions: You may redeem your shares at net asset value. When you sell your
shares, they may be worth more or less than what you paid for them. See "About
Your Account" for a description of redemption and reinvestment procedures.
Risk Considerations: The value of the Fund's investments and the income
generated will vary from day to day, generally reflecting changes in interest
rates. Performance will also depend on WRIMCO's skill in selecting investments.
See "About the Investment Principles of the Fund" for information about the
risks associated with the Fund's investments.
<PAGE>
Expenses
Shareholder transaction expenses are charges you pay when you buy or sell shares
of a fund.
Maximum sales load
on purchases
(as a percentage of
offering price) 4.25%
Maximum sales load
on reinvested
dividends None
Deferred
sales load None
Redemption fees None
Exchange fee None
Annual Fund operating expenses (as a percentage of average net assets).
Management fees 0.40%
12b-1 fees1 0.15%
Other expenses 0.34%
Total Fund operating
expenses 0.89%
Example: You would pay the following expenses on a $1,000 investment, assuming
(1) 5% annual return2 and (2) redemption at the end of each time period:
1 year $ 51
3 years $ 70
5 years $ 90
10 years $147
The purpose of this table is to assist you in understanding the various
costs and expenses that a shareholder of the Class A shares of the Fund will
bear directly or indirectly. The example should not be considered a
representation of past or future expenses; actual expenses may be greater or
lesser than those shown. For a more complete discussion of certain expenses and
fees, see "Breakdown of Expenses."
1It is possible that long-term shareholders of the Fund may bear 12b-1
distribution fees which are more than the maximum front-end sales charge
permitted under the rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc. See "Breakdown of Expenses."
2Use of an assumed annual return of 5% is for illustration purposes only and is
not a representation of the Fund's future performance, which may be greater or
lesser.
<PAGE>
Financial Highlights
The following information has been audited in conjunction with the
annual audits of the Financial Statements of the Fund. Financial Statements for
the fiscal year ended March 31, 1998, and the independent auditors' report of
Deloitte & Touche LLP thereon, are included in the SAI and should be read in
conjunction with the Financial Highlights.
For a Class A share outstanding throughout each period.*
For the fiscal year ended March 31,
---------------------------------------------------------------------
1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Net asset value,
beginning of period$5.19$5.32$5.13$5.23$5.44$5.01$4.85$4.76$4.71$4.91
--------------------------------------------------
Income from investment
operations:
Net investment
income 0.33 0.33 0.34 0.32 0.30 0.33 0.37 0.39 0.41 0.39
Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on
investments 0.27(0.13)0.19(0.10)(0.21)0.43 0.16 0.09 0.05(0.20)
--------------------------------------------------
Total from investment
operations ... 0.60 0.20 0.53 0.22 0.09 0.76 0.53 0.48 0.46 0.19
--------------------------------------------------
Less dividends declared
from net investment
income (0.33)(0.33)(0.34)(0.32)(0.30)(0.33)(0.37)(0.39)(0.41)(0.39)
--------------------------------------------------
Net asset value,
end of period $5.46$5.19$5.32$5.13$5.23$5.44$5.01$4.85$4.76$4.71
==================================================
Total return** 11.84%3.75%10.48%4.49%1.56%15.62%11.22%10.68%10.06%4.12%
Net assets, end of
period (000
omitted) $130,764$128,942$146,594$149,533$176,649$177,167$138,753
$118,703$104,045$112,684
Ratio of expenses
to average net
assets 0.89%0.91%0.83%0.82%0.75%0.71%0.75%0.80%0.78% 0.76%
Ratio of net investment
income to average
net assets 6.14%6.17%6.34%6.30%5.50%6.29%7.40%8.27%8.55%8.15%
Portfolio turnover
rate 35.18%34.18%63.05%41.57%122.62%81.41%124.51%187.55%257.18%205.79%
*On July 31, 1995, Fund shares outstanding were designated Class A shares.
**Total return calculated without taking into account the sales load deducted on
an initial purchase.
<PAGE>
Performance
Mutual fund performance is commonly measured as total return. The Fund may
also advertise its performance by showing yield and performance rankings.
Performance information is calculated and presented separately for each class of
Fund shares.
Explanation of Terms
Total Return is the overall change in value of an investment in the Fund
over a given period, assuming reinvestment of any dividends and other
distributions. A cumulative total return reflects actual performance over a
stated period of time. An average annual total return is a hypothetical rate of
return that, if achieved annually, would have produced the same cumulative total
return if performance had been constant over the entire period. Average annual
total returns smooth out variations in performance; they are not the same as
actual year-by-year results. Non-standardized total return may not reflect
deduction of the applicable sales charge or may be for periods other than those
required to be presented or may otherwise differ from standardized total return.
Total return quotations that do not reflect the applicable sales charge will
reflect a higher rate of return.
Yield refers to the income generated by an investment in the Fund over a
given period of time, expressed as an annual percentage rate. The Fund's yield
is based on a 30-day period ending on a specific date and is computed by
dividing the Fund's net investment income per share earned during the period by
the Fund's maximum offering price per share on the last day of the period.
Performance Rankings are comparisons of the Fund's performance to the
performance of other selected mutual funds, selected recognized market
indicators such as the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index and the
Dow Jones Industrial Average, or non-market indices or averages of mutual fund
industry groups. The Fund may quote its performance rankings and/or other
information as published by recognized independent mutual fund statistical
services or by publications of general interest. In connection with a ranking,
the Fund may provide additional information, such as the particular category to
which it relates, the number of funds in the category, the criteria upon which
the ranking is based, and the effect of sales charges, fee waivers and/or
expense reimbursements.
All performance information that the Fund advertises or includes in
information provided to present or prospective shareholders is historical in
nature and is not intended to represent or guarantee future results. The value
of the Fund's shares when redeemed may be more or less than their original cost.
The Fund's recent performance and holdings will be detailed twice a year in
the Fund's annual and semiannual reports, which are sent to all Fund
shareholders.
About Waddell & Reed
Since 1937, Waddell & Reed has been helping people make the most of their
financial future by helping them take advantage of various financial services.
Today, Waddell & Reed has over 2500 account representatives located throughout
the United States. Your primary contact in your dealings with Waddell & Reed
will be your local account representative. However, the Waddell & Reed
shareholder services department, which is part of the Waddell & Reed
headquarters operations in Overland Park, Kansas, is available to assist you and
your Waddell & Reed account representative. You may speak with a Customer
Service Representative by calling the telephone number listed on the inside back
cover of this Prospectus.
About the Investment Principles of the Fund
Investment Goal and Principles
The goal of the Fund is to seek as high a current income as is consistent
with safety of principal. The Fund seeks to achieve this goal by investing in a
portfolio of debt securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its
agencies or instrumentalities ("U.S. Government Securities"). There is no
assurance that the Fund will achieve its goal.
Risk Considerations
There are risks inherent in any investment. The Fund is subject to varying
degrees of market risk, financial risk and, in some cases, prepayment risk.
Market risk is the potential for fluctuations in the price of the security
because of market factors. Because of market risk, you should anticipate that
the share price of the Fund will fluctuate. Financial risk is based on the
financial situation of the issuer. The financial risk of the Fund depends on
the credit quality of the underlying securities. Prepayment risk is the
possibility that, during periods of falling interest rates, a debt security with
a high stated interest rate will be prepaid prior to its expected maturity date.
The Fund may also invest in certain derivative instruments, including
options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, swaps, caps, collars,
floors, indexed securities, stripped securities and mortgage-backed and other
asset-backed securities. The use of derivative instruments involves special
risks. See "Risks of Derivative Instruments" for further information on the
risks of investing in these instruments.
Securities and Investment Practices
The following pages contain more detailed information about types of
instruments in which the Fund may invest, and strategies WRIMCO may employ in
pursuit of the Fund's goal. A summary of risks associated with these instrument
types and investment practices is included as well.
WRIMCO might not buy all of these instruments or use all of these
techniques to the full extent permitted by the Fund's investment policies and
restrictions unless it believes that doing so will help the Fund achieve its
goal.
Certain of the investment policies and restrictions of the Fund are also
stated below. A fundamental policy may not be changed without the approval of
the shareholders of the Fund. Operating policies may be changed by the Board of
Directors without the approval of the affected shareholders. The goal of the
Fund and the types of securities in which the Fund may invest are fundamental
policies. Unless otherwise indicated, the types of other assets in which the
Fund may invest and other policies are operating policies.
Policies and limitations are typically considered at the time of purchase;
the sale of instruments is usually not required in the event of a subsequent
change in circumstances.
Please see the SAI for further information concerning the following
instruments and associated risks and the Fund's investment policies and
restrictions.
U.S. Government Securities are high-quality instruments issued or
guaranteed as to principal or interest by the U.S. Treasury or by an agency or
instrumentality of the U.S. Government. Not all U.S. Government Securities are
backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. Some are backed by
the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury; others are backed by
discretionary authority of the U.S. Government to purchase the agencies'
obligations; while others are supported only by the credit of the
instrumentality. In the case of securities not backed by the full faith and
credit of the United States, the investor must look principally to the agency
issuing or guaranteeing the obligation for ultimate repayment. The Fund will
invest in securities of agencies and instrumentalities only when WRIMCO is
satisfied that the credit risk is acceptable.
Securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government include a variety of
Treasury securities that differ only in their interest rates, maturities and
dates of issuance. These include Treasury Bills (which mature within one year
of the date they are issued), Treasury Notes (which have maturities of one to
ten years) and Treasury Bonds (which generally have maturities of more than 10
years). All such Treasury securities are backed by the full faith and credit of
the United States.
The value of the U.S. Government Securities in which the Fund invests will
fluctuate depending in large part on changes in prevailing interest rates. If
these rates go up after the Fund buys a security, the value of the security may
go down; if these rates go down, the value of the security may go up. Changes
in value and yield based on changes in prevailing interest rates may have
different effects on short-term debt obligations than on long-term obligations.
Long-term obligations (which often have higher yields) may fluctuate in value
more than short-term ones. The Fund has no policy limiting the maturity of the
U.S. Government Securities in which it may invest.
Bank Deposits. The Fund may invest in deposits in banks (represented by
certificates of deposit or other evidence of deposit of varying maturities
issued by such banks) to the extent that the principal of such deposits is
insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("Insured Deposits"). Such
insurance (and accordingly, the Fund's investment) is currently limited to
$100,000 per bank; interest earned above that amount is not insured. Insured
Deposits have limited marketability.
Stripped Securities are the separate income or principal components of a
debt instrument. These involve risks that are similar to those of other debt
securities, although they may be more volatile. The prices of stripped
mortgage-backed securities may be particularly affected by changes in interest
rates.
Options, Futures and Other Strategies. The Fund may use certain options,
futures contracts, swaps, caps, collars, floors, indexed securities, mortgage-
backed and other asset-backed securities and certain other strategies described
herein to attempt to enhance income or yield or to attempt to reduce the risk of
its investments. The strategies described below may be used in an attempt to
manage certain risks of the Fund's investments that can affect fluctuation in
its net asset value. The Fund may also use various techniques to increase or
decrease its exposure to changing security prices, interest rates or other
factors that affect security values.
The Fund's ability to use these strategies may be limited by market
conditions, regulatory limits and tax considerations. The Fund might not use
any of these strategies, and there can be no assurance that any strategy that is
used will succeed. The risks associated with such strategies are described
below. Also see the SAI for more information on these instruments and
strategies and their risk considerations.
Policies and Restrictions: As a fundamental policy, the Fund may not
purchase or sell any securities or physical commodities other than U.S.
Government Securities; however, this policy shall not prevent the Fund from
purchasing and selling (a) foreign currency if a U.S. Government Security that
the Fund owns or intends to acquire is denominated in that foreign currency and
(b) futures contracts, options, forward contracts, swaps, caps, collars, floors
and other financial instruments if the return on, or value of, the financial
instrument is based on the return on, or value of, U.S. Government Securities.
Options. The Fund may engage in certain strategies involving options to
attempt to enhance its income or yield or to attempt to reduce the overall risk
of its investments. A call option gives the purchaser the right to buy, and
obligates the writer to sell, the underlying investment at the agreed-upon
exercise price during the option period. A put option gives the purchaser the
right to sell, and obligates the writer to buy, the underlying investment at the
agreed-upon exercise price during the option period. Purchasers of options pay
an amount, known as a premium, to the option writer in exchange for the right
under the option contract.
Options offer large amounts of leverage, which will result in the Fund's
net asset value being more sensitive to changes in the value of the related
investment. There is no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for
exchange-listed options. The market for options that are not listed on an
exchange may be less active than the market for exchange-listed options. The
Fund will be able to close a position in an option it has written only if there
is a market for the offsetting put or call. If the Fund is not able to enter
into an offsetting closing transaction on an option it has written, it will be
required to maintain the securities, or cash in the case of an option on an
index, subject to the call or the collateral underlying the put until a closing
purchase transaction can be entered into or the option expires. Because index
options are settled in cash, the Fund cannot provide in advance for its
potential settlement obligations on a call it has written on an index by holding
the underlying securities. The Fund bears the risk that the value of the
securities it holds will vary from the value of the index.
Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts. When the Fund
purchases a futures contract, it incurs an obligation to take delivery of a
specified amount of the obligation underlying the contract at a specified time
in the future for a specified price. When the Fund sells a futures contract, it
incurs an obligation to deliver the specified amount of the underlying
obligation at a specified time in return for an agreed-upon price.
When the Fund writes an option on a futures contract, it becomes obligated,
in return for the premium paid, to assume a position in the futures contract at
a specified exercise price at any time during the term of the option. If the
Fund writes a call, it assumes a short futures position. If it writes a put, it
assumes a long futures position. When the Fund purchases an option on a
futures contract, it acquires the right, in return for the premium it pays, to
assume a position in the futures contract (a long position if the option is a
call and a short position if the option is a put).
Indexed Securities. The Fund may purchase indexed securities, which are
securities the value of which varies in relation to the value of other
securities, securities indices or other financial indicators, subject to its
operating policy regarding derivative instruments. Indexed securities
typically, but not always, are debt securities or deposits whose value at
maturity or coupon rate is determined by reference to a specific instrument or
statistic. The performance of indexed securities depends to a great extent on
the performance of the security, currency, or other instrument to which they are
indexed and may also be influenced by interest rate changes in the United States
and abroad. At the same time, indexed securities are subject to the credit
risks associated with the issuer of the security, and their values may decline
substantially if the issuer's creditworthiness deteriorates. Indexed securities
may be more volatile than the underlying instruments.
Policies and Restrictions: The Fund may invest in indexed securities only
if they are issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its agencies or
instrumentalities.
Swaps, Caps, Collars and Floors. The Fund may enter into swaps, caps,
collars and floors as described below. The Fund may enter into these
transactions to preserve a return or spread on a particular investment or
portion of its portfolio, to protect against any increase in the price of
securities the Fund anticipates purchasing at a later date or to attempt to
enhance income or yield.
Swaps involve the exchange by the Fund with another party of their
respective commitments to pay or receive cash flows, e.g., an exchange of
floating rate payments for fixed rate payments. The purchase of a cap entitles
the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index exceeds a predetermined
value, to receive payments on a notional principal amount from the party selling
such cap. The purchase of a floor entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a
specified index falls below a predetermined value, to receive payments on a
notional principal amount from the party selling such floor. A collar combines
elements of buying a cap and selling a floor.
Depending on how they are used, the swap, cap, collar and floor agreements
used by the Fund may also increase or decrease the overall volatility of its
investments and its share price and yield. The most significant factor in the
performance of these agreements is the change in the specific interest rate or
other factors that determine the amounts of payments due to and from the Fund.
The Fund usually will enter into swaps on a net basis, i.e., the two
payment streams are netted out, with the Fund receiving or paying, as the case
may be, only the net amount of the two payments. If, however, an agreement
calls for payments by the Fund, the Fund must be prepared to make such payments
when due. The creditworthiness of firms with which the Fund enters into swaps,
caps, collars or floors will be monitored by WRIMCO in accordance with
procedures adopted by the Board of Directors. If a firm's creditworthiness
declines, the value of an agreement would be likely to decline, potentially
resulting in losses. If a default occurs by the other party to such
transaction, the Fund will have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements
related to the transaction.
The Fund understands that the position of the staff of the Securities and
Exchange Commission is that assets involved in such transactions are illiquid
and are, therefore, subject to the limitations on investment in illiquid
investments as described in the SAI.
Mortgage-Backed and Other Asset-Backed Securities are bonds backed by
specific types of assets. Mortgage-backed securities represent direct or
indirect interests in pools of underlying mortgage loans that are secured by
real property. U.S. Government mortgage-backed securities are issued or
guaranteed as to principal and interest (but not as to market value) by the
Government National Mortgage Association, Fannie Mae (formerly, the Federal
National Mortgage Association), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation or
other government-sponsored enterprises. Other mortgage-backed securities are
sponsored or issued by private entities, including investment banking firms and
mortgage originators.
Mortgage-backed securities may be composed of one or more classes and may
be structured either as pass-through securities or collateralized debt
obligations. Multiple-class mortgage-backed securities are referred to in this
Prospectus as "CMOs." Some CMOs are directly supported by other CMOs, which in
turn are supported by mortgage pools. Investors typically receive payments out
of the interest and principal on the underlying mortgages. The portions of
these payments that investors receive, as well as the priority of their rights
to receive payments, are determined by the specific terms of the CMO class.
For example, interest-only ("IO") classes are entitled to receive all or a
portion of the interest, but none (or only a nominal amount) of the principal
payments, from the underlying mortgage assets. If the mortgage assets
underlying an IO experience greater than anticipated principal prepayments, then
the total amount of interest payments allocable to the IO class, and therefore
the yield to investors, generally will be reduced. In some instances, an
investor in an IO may fail to recoup all of his or her initial investment, even
if the security is government guaranteed or considered to be of the highest
quality. Conversely, principal-only ("PO") classes are entitled to receive all
or a portion of the principal payments, but none of the interest, from the
underlying mortgage assets. PO classes are purchased at substantial discounts
from par, and the yield to investors will be reduced if principal payments are
slower than expected. IOs, POs and other CMOs involve special risks, and
evaluating them requires special knowledge.
When interest rates decline and homeowners refinance their mortgages,
mortgage-backed bonds may be paid off more quickly than investors expect. When
interest rates rise, mortgage-backed bonds may be paid off more slowly than
originally expected. Changes in the rate or "speed" of these prepayments can
cause the value of mortgage-backed securities to fluctuate rapidly.
Other asset-backed securities are similar to mortgage-backed securities,
except that the underlying assets securing the debt are different. These
underlying assets may be nearly any type of financial asset or receivable, such
as motor vehicle installment sales contracts, home equity loans, leases of
various types of real and personal property and receivables from credit cards.
The yield characteristics of mortgage-backed and other asset-backed
securities differ from those of traditional debt securities. Among the major
differences are that interest and principal payments are made more frequently
and that principal may be prepaid at any time because the underlying mortgage
loans or other assets generally may be prepaid at any time. Generally,
prepayments on fixed-rate mortgage loans will increase during a period of
falling interest rates and decrease during a period of rising interest rates.
Mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities may also decrease in value as
a result of increases in interest rates and, because of prepayments, may benefit
less than other bonds from declining interest rates. Reinvestments of
prepayments may occur at lower interest rates than the original investment, thus
adversely affecting the Fund's yield. Actual prepayment experience may cause
the yield of a mortgage-backed security to differ from what was assumed when the
Fund purchased the security.
The market for privately issued mortgage-backed and other asset-backed
securities is smaller and less liquid than the market for U.S. Government
mortgage-backed securities. CMO classes may be specially structured in a manner
that provides any of a wide variety of investment characteristics, such as
yield, effective maturity and interest rate sensitivity. As market conditions
change, however, and especially during periods of rapid or unanticipated changes
in market interest rates, the attractiveness of some CMO classes and the ability
of the structure to provide the anticipated investment characteristics may be
significantly reduced. These changes can result in volatility in the market
value, and in some instances reduced liquidity, of the CMO class.
Policies and Restrictions: The Fund may only invest in mortgage-backed
securities, asset-backed securities and stripped securities that are issued by
or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities.
Risks of Derivative Instruments. The use of options, futures contracts,
options on futures contracts, swaps, caps, collars and floors, and the
investment in indexed securities, stripped securities and mortgage-backed and
other asset-backed securities, involve special risks, including (i) possible
imperfect or no correlation between price movements of the portfolio investments
(held or intended to be purchased) involved in the transaction and price
movements of the instruments involved in the transaction, (ii) possible lack of
a liquid secondary market for any particular instrument at a particular time,
(iii) the need for additional portfolio management skills and techniques, (iv)
losses due to unanticipated market price movements, (v) the fact that, while
such strategies can reduce the risk of loss, they can also reduce the
opportunity for gain, or even result in losses, by offsetting favorable price
movements in investments involved in the transaction, (vi) incorrect forecasts
by WRIMCO concerning interest rates or direction of price fluctuations of the
investment involved in the transaction, which may result in the strategy being
ineffective, (vii) loss of premiums paid by the Fund on options it purchases,
and (viii) the possible inability of the Fund to purchase or sell a portfolio
security at a time when it would otherwise be favorable for it to do so, or the
possible need for the Fund to sell a portfolio security at a disadvantageous
time, due to the need for the Fund to maintain "cover" or to segregate assets in
connection with such transactions and the possible inability of the Fund to
close out or liquidate its position.
For a hedging strategy to be completely effective, the price change of the
hedging instrument must equal the price change of the investment being hedged.
The risk of imperfect correlation of these price changes increases as the
composition of the Fund's portfolio diverges from instruments underlying a
hedging instrument. Such equal price changes are not always possible because
the investment underlying the hedging instruments may not be the same investment
that is being hedged. WRIMCO will attempt to create a closely correlated hedge
but hedging activity may not be completely successful in eliminating market
value fluctuation.
WRIMCO may use derivative instruments for hedging purposes to adjust the
risk characteristics of the Fund's portfolio of investments and may use some of
these instruments to adjust the return characteristics of the Fund's portfolio
of investments. The use of derivative techniques for speculative purposes can
increase investment risk. If WRIMCO judges market conditions incorrectly or
employs a strategy that does not correlate well with the Fund's investments,
these techniques could result in a loss, regardless of whether the intent was to
reduce risk or increase return. These techniques may increase the volatility of
the Fund and may involve a small investment of cash relative to the magnitude of
the risk assumed. In addition, these techniques could result in a loss if the
counterparty to the transaction does not perform as promised or if there is not
a liquid secondary market to close out a position that the Fund has entered
into.
The ordinary spreads between prices in the cash and futures markets, due to
the differences in the natures of those markets, are subject to distortion. Due
to the possibility of distortion, a correct forecast of general interest rate
trends by WRIMCO may still not result in a successful transaction. WRIMCO may
be incorrect in its expectations as to the extent of various interest rate
movements or the time span within which the movements take place.
Options and futures transactions may increase portfolio turnover rates,
which results in correspondingly greater commission expenses and transactions
costs and may result in certain tax consequences.
New financial products and risk management techniques continue to be
developed. The Fund may use these instruments and techniques to the extent
consistent with its goal, investment policies and regulatory requirements
applicable to investment companies.
When-Issued and Delayed-Delivery Transactions are trading practices in
which the payment and delivery for the securities take place at a future date.
The market value of a security could change during this period, which could
affect the Fund's yield.
When purchasing securities on a delayed-delivery basis, the Fund assumes
the rights and risks of ownership, including the risk of price and yield
fluctuations. When the Fund sells a security on a delayed-delivery basis, the
Fund does not participate in further gains or losses with respect to the
security. If the other party to a delayed-delivery transaction fails to deliver
or pay for the securities, the Fund could miss a favorable price or yield
opportunity, or could suffer a loss.
The Fund may purchase U.S. Government Securities on a when-issued
or delayed-delivery basis or sell them on a delayed-delivery basis.
Repurchase Agreements. In a repurchase agreement, the Fund buys a security
at one price and simultaneously agrees to sell it back at a higher price.
Delays or losses could result if the other party to the agreement defaults or
becomes insolvent.
Policies and Restrictions: As a fundamental policy, the Fund will not
enter into a repurchase transaction that will cause more than 10% of its net
assets to be invested in illiquid investments, which include repurchase
agreements not terminable within seven days.
Restricted Securities and Illiquid Investments. Restricted securities are
securities that are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale.
Restricted securities may be illiquid due to restrictions on their resale.
Certain restricted securities may be determined to be liquid in accordance with
guidelines adopted by the Fund's Board of Directors.
Illiquid investments may be difficult to sell promptly at an acceptable
price. Difficulty in selling securities may result in a loss or may be costly
to the Fund.
Policies and Restrictions: The Fund may not purchase a security if, as a
result, more than 10% of its net assets would consist of illiquid investments.
Borrowing. If the Fund borrows money, its share price may be subject to
greater fluctuation until the borrowing is paid off. If the Fund makes
additional investments while borrowings are outstanding, this may be considered
a form of leverage.
Policies and Restrictions: As a fundamental policy, the Fund may borrow
only from banks to meet redemptions, for temporary or emergency purposes, but
only up to 10% of its total assets.
As a fundamental policy, the Fund will not purchase securities while
outstanding borrowings exceed 5% of the Fund's assets.
Lending. Securities loans may be made on a short-term or a long-term basis
for the purpose of increasing the Fund's income. This practice could result in
a loss or a delay in recovering the Fund's securities. Loans will be made only
to parties deemed by WRIMCO to be creditworthy.
Policies and Restrictions: As a fundamental policy, the Fund will not
lend more than 30% of its assets at any one time, and such loans must be on a
collateralized basis in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements.
About Your Account
The different ways to set up (register) your account are listed below.
Ways to Set Up Your Account
- ----------------------------------------------------------
Individual or Joint Tenants
For your general investment needs
Individual accounts are owned by one person. Joint accounts have two or more
owners (tenants).
- ----------------------------------------------------------
Business or Organization
For investment needs of corporations, associations, partnerships, institutions
or other groups
- ----------------------------------------------------------
Retirement
To shelter your retirement savings from taxes
Retirement plans allow individuals to shelter investment income and capital
gains from current taxes. In addition, contributions to these accounts may be
tax deductible.
. Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) allow anyone of legal age and under
70 1/2 with earned income to invest up to $2,000 per tax year. The maximum
for an investor and his or her spouse is $4,000 ($2,000 for each spouse) or,
if less, the couple's combined earned income for the taxable year.
. Rollover IRAs retain special tax advantages for certain distributions from
employer-sponsored retirement plans.
. Roth IRAs enable an individual whose adjusted gross income (or combined
adjusted gross income, if married) does not exceed certain levels to make
non-deductible contributions up to $2,000 per year. Withdrawals of earnings
from a Roth IRA generally are not taxable if the account has been held at
least five years and the account holder has reached age 59 1/2 (or other
conditions are met).
. Education IRAs may be established for the benefit of a minor, and
contributions up to $500 per child per year may be made by any person whose
adjusted gross income does not exceed certain levels. Generally, withdrawals
used to pay the qualified higher education expenses of the beneficiary (or a
family member) are not taxable.
. Simplified Employee Pension Plans (SEP - IRAs) provide small business
owners or those with self-employed income (and their eligible employees) with
many of the same advantages as a Keogh Plan, but with fewer administrative
requirements.
. Savings Incentive Match Plans for Employees (SIMPLE Plans) can be established
by small employers to contribute to their employees' retirement accounts and
involve fewer administrative requirements than 401(k) or other qualified
plans generally.
. Keogh Plans allow self-employed individuals to make tax-deductible
contributions for themselves up to 25% of their annual earned income, with a
maximum of $30,000 per year.
. 401(k) Programs allow employees of corporations and non-governmental tax-
exempt organizations of all sizes to contribute a percentage of their wages
on a tax-deferred basis. These accounts need to be established by the
administrator or trustee of the plan.
. 403(b) Custodial Accounts are available to employees of public school systems
or certain types of charitable organizations.
. 457 Accounts allow employees of state and local governments and certain
charitable organizations to contribute a portion of their compensation on a
tax-deferred basis.
- ----------------------------------------------------------
Gifts or Transfers to a Minor
To invest for a child's education or other future needs
These custodial accounts provide a way to give money to a child and obtain
tax benefits. An individual can give up to $10,000 a year per child free of
Federal transfer tax consequences. Depending on state laws, you can set up a
custodial account under the Uniform Gifts to Minors Act ("UGMA") or the Uniform
Transfers to Minors Act ("UTMA").
- ----------------------------------------------------------
Trust
For money being invested by a trust
The trust must be established before an account can be opened, or you may use a
trust form made available by Waddell & Reed. Contact your Waddell & Reed
account representative for the form.
- ----------------------------------------------------------
Buying Shares
You may buy shares of the Fund through Waddell & Reed, Inc. and its account
representatives. To open your account you must complete and sign an
application. Your Waddell & Reed account representative can help you with any
questions you might have.
The price to buy a share of the Fund, called the offering price, is
calculated every business day.
The offering price of a Class A share (price to buy one Class A share) is
the Fund's Class A net asset value ("NAV") plus the sales charge shown in the
table below.
Sales
Sales Charge
Charge as
as Approx.
Percent Percent
of of
Size of Offering Amount
Purchase Price Invested
- -------- -------- --------
Under
$100,000 4.25% 4.44%
$100,000
to less
than
$300,000 3.25 3.36
$300,000
to less
than
$500,000 2.50 2.56
$500,000
to less
than
$1,000,000 1.75 1.78
$1,000,000
to less
than
$2,000,000 1.00 1.01
$2,000,000
and over 0.00 0.00
The Fund's Class A NAV is the value of a single share. The Class A NAV is
computed by adding, with respect to that class, the value of the Fund's
investments, cash and other assets, subtracting its liabilities, and then
dividing the result by the number of Class A shares outstanding.
The securities in the Fund's portfolio that are listed or traded on an
exchange are valued primarily using market quotations or, if market quotations
are not available, at their fair value in a manner determined in good faith by
or at the direction of the Board of Directors. U.S. Government Securities are
generally valued according to prices quoted by a third-party pricing service.
Short-term U.S. Government Securities are valued at amortized cost, which
approximates market value. Other assets are valued at their fair value by or at
the direction of the Board of Directors.
The Fund is open for business each day the New York Stock Exchange (the
"NYSE") is open. The Fund normally calculates the NAVs of its shares as of the
later of the close of business of the NYSE, normally 4 p.m. Eastern time, or the
close of the regular session of any other securities or commodities exchange on
which an option or futures contract held by the Fund is traded.
When you place an order to buy shares, your order will be processed at the
next offering price calculated after your order is received and accepted. Note
the following:
. Orders are accepted only at the home office of Waddell & Reed, Inc.
. All of your purchases must be made in U.S. dollars.
. If you buy shares by check, and then sell those shares by any method other
than by exchange to another fund in the United Group, the payment may be
delayed for up to ten days to ensure that your previous investment has
cleared.
When you sign your account application, you will be asked to certify that
your Social Security or other taxpayer identification number is correct and
whether you are subject to backup withholding for failing to report income to
the Internal Revenue Service.
Waddell & Reed, Inc. reserves the right to reject any purchase orders,
including purchases by exchange, and it and the Fund reserve the right to
discontinue offering Fund shares for purchase.
Lower sales charges are available by combining additional purchases of
Class A shares of the Fund or of United Municipal Bond Fund, Inc. or United
Municipal High Income Fund, Inc., with the NAV of Class A shares already held
("rights of accumulation") and by grouping all purchases of Class A shares made
during a thirteen-month period ("Statement of Intention"). Purchases by certain
related persons may be grouped. Additional information and applicable forms are
available from Waddell & Reed account representatives.
Class A shares may be purchased at NAV by the Directors and officers of the
Fund, employees of Waddell & Reed, Inc., employees of their affiliates, account
representatives of Waddell & Reed, Inc. and the spouse, children, parents,
children's spouses and spouse's parents of each such Director, officer, employee
and account representative. Purchases of Class A shares in certain retirement
plans and certain trusts for these persons may also be made at NAV. Purchases
of Class A shares in a 401(k) plan having 100 or more eligible employees and
purchases of Class A shares in a 457 plan having 100 or more eligible employees
may be made at NAV. Shares may also be issued at NAV in a merger, acquisition
or exchange offer made pursuant to a plan of reorganization to which the Fund is
a party.
Minimum Investments
To Open an Account $500
For certain exchanges $100
For certain retirement accounts and accounts opened with Automatic Investment
Service $50
For certain retirement accounts and accounts opened through payroll deductions
for or by employees of WRIMCO, Waddell & Reed, Inc. and their affiliates $25
To Add to an Account
For certain exchanges $100
For Automatic Investment
Service $25
Adding to Your Account
Subject to the minimums described under "Minimum Investments," you can make
additional investments of any amount at any time.
To add to your account, make your check payable to Waddell & Reed, Inc.
Mail the check along with:
. the detachable form that accompanies the confirmation of a prior purchase by
you or your year-to-date statement; or
. a letter stating your account number, the account registration and that you
wish to purchase Class A shares of the Fund. Mail to Waddell & Reed, Inc. at
the address printed on your confirmation or year-to-date statement.
Selling Shares
You can arrange to take money out of your Fund account at any time by
selling (redeeming) some or all of your shares.
The redemption price (price to sell one Class A share) is the Fund's Class
A NAV.
To sell shares by written request: Complete an Account Service Request
form, available from your Waddell & Reed account representative, or write a
letter of instruction with:
. the name on the account registration;
. the Fund's name;
. the Fund account number;
. the dollar amount or number of shares to be redeemed; and
. any other applicable requirements listed in the table below.
Deliver the form or your letter to your Waddell & Reed account
representative, or mail it to:
Waddell & Reed, Inc.
P. O. Box 29217
Shawnee Mission, Kansas
66201-9217
Unless otherwise instructed, Waddell & Reed will send a check to the
address on the account.
To sell shares by check: If you have elected this method in your
application or by subsequent authorization, the Fund will provide you with forms
of checks drawn on UMB Bank, n.a. You may make these checks payable to the
order of any payee in any amount of $250 or more.
Special Requirements for Selling Shares
Account Type Special Requirements
Individual or Joint The written
Tenant instructions must be
signed by all persons
required to sign for
transactions, exactly
as their names appear
on the account.
Sole Proprietorship The written
instructions must be
signed by the
individual owner of
the business.
UGMA, UTMA The custodian must
sign the written
instructions
indicating capacity as
custodian.
Retirement Account The written
instructions must be
signed by a properly
authorized person.
Trust The trustee must sign
the written
instructions
indicating capacity as
trustee. If the
trustee's name is not
in the account
registration, provide
a currently certified
copy of the trust
document.
Business or At least one person
Organization authorized by
corporate resolution
to act on the account
must sign the written
instructions.
Conservator, Guardian The written
or Other Fiduciary instructions must be
signed by the person
properly authorized by
court order to act in
the particular
fiduciary capacity.
When you place an order to sell shares, your shares will be sold at the
next NAV calculated after receipt of a written request for redemption in good
order by Waddell & Reed, Inc. at its home office. Note the following:
. If more than one person owns the shares, each owner must sign the written
request.
. If you hold a certificate, it must be properly endorsed and sent to the Fund.
. If you recently purchased the shares by check, the Fund may delay payment of
redemption proceeds. You may arrange for the bank upon which the purchase
check was drawn to provide to the Fund telephone or written assurance,
satisfactory to the Fund, that the check has cleared and been honored. If no
such assurance is given, payment of the redemption proceeds on these shares
will be delayed until the earlier of 10 days or the date the Fund is able to
verify that your purchase check has cleared and been honored.
. Redemptions may be suspended or payment dates postponed on days when the NYSE
is closed (other than weekends or holidays), when trading on the NYSE is
restricted, or as permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
. Payment is normally made in cash, although under extraordinary conditions
redemptions may be made in portfolio securities.
. There is an initial charge of $10 for establishing the check writing
privilege, but there are no additional charges for the maintenance of the
privilege or for processing checks.
. The check writing privilege is not available for shares represented by
certificates or for retirement plan accounts.
. If you have elected the check writing privilege, UMB Bank, n.a. (the "Bank")
will request that the Fund redeem a sufficient number of full and fractional
shares in your account to cover the amount of the check when a check is
presented to the Bank for payment. You will continue to receive dividends on
those shares equaling the amount being redeemed until such time as the check
is presented to the Bank for payment. No "stop-payment" order can be placed
against the checks. Checks may be dishonored if shares were recently
purchased as discussed above or if the NAV per share has declined so that
there are insufficient shares to be redeemed to cover the amount of the
check.
. As with any redemption of shares, redemption by check writing will, for
Federal income tax purposes, result in a capital gain or loss on shares
redeemed.
The Fund reserves the right to require a signature guarantee on certain
redemption requests. This requirement is designed to protect you and Waddell &
Reed from fraud. The Fund may require a signature guarantee in certain
situations such as:
. the request for redemption is made by a corporation, partnership or
fiduciary;
. the request for redemption is made by someone other than the owner of record;
or
. the check is being made payable to someone other than the owner of record.
The Fund will accept a signature guarantee from a national bank, a
federally chartered savings and loan or a member firm of a national stock
exchange or other eligible guarantor in accordance with procedures of the Fund's
transfer agent. A notary public cannot provide a signature guarantee.
The Fund reserves the right to redeem at NAV all shares of the Fund owned
or held by you having an aggregate NAV of less than $500. The Fund will give
you notice of its intention to redeem your shares and a 60-day opportunity to
purchase a sufficient number of additional shares to bring the aggregate NAV of
your shares to $500.
You may reinvest without charge all or part of the amount you redeemed by
sending to the Fund the amount you want to reinvest. The reinvested amounts
must be received by the Fund within thirty days after the date of your
redemption. You may do this only once as to Class A shares of the Fund.
Under the terms of the 401(k) prototype plan which Waddell & Reed, Inc. has
available, the plan may have the right to make a loan to a plan participant by
redeeming Fund shares held by the plan. Principal and interest payments on the
loan made in accordance with the terms of the plan may be reinvested by the
plan, without payment of a sales charge, in Class A shares of any of the funds
in the United Group in which the plan may invest.
Shareholder Services
Waddell & Reed provides a variety of services to help you manage your
account.
Personal Service
Your local Waddell & Reed account representative is available to provide
personal service. Additionally, one toll-free call, 1-800-366-5465, connects
you to a Customer Service Representative or TeleWaddell, our automated customer
telephone service. During normal business hours, our Customer Service staff is
available to respond to your inquiries or update your account records. At
almost any time of the day or night, you may access TeleWaddell from a touch-
tone phone to:
. Obtain information about your accounts;
. Obtain price information about other funds in the United Group; or
. Request duplicate statements and reorder checks.
Reports
Statements and reports sent to you include the following:
. confirmation statements (after every purchase, other than those purchases
made through Automatic Investment Service, and after every exchange, transfer
or redemption)
. year-to-date statements (quarterly)
. annual and semiannual reports (every six months)
To reduce expenses, only one copy of the most recent annual and
semiannual reports will be mailed to your household, even if you have more than
one account with the Fund. Call the telephone number listed above for Customer
Service if you need copies of annual or semiannual reports or historical account
information.
Exchanges
You may sell your Class A shares and buy Class A shares of other funds in
the United Group.
You may exchange any Class A shares of the Fund that you have held for at
least six months and any Class A shares of the Fund acquired by reinvestment of
a dividend or distribution for Class A shares of any other fund in the United
Group. You may exchange any Class A shares of the Fund that you have held for
less than six months only for Class A shares of United Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.
or United Municipal High Income Fund, Inc.
You may exchange only into funds that are legally registered for sale in
your state of residence. Note that exchanges out of the Fund may have tax
consequences for you. Before exchanging into a fund, read its prospectus.
The Fund reserves the right to terminate or modify these exchange
privileges at any time, upon notice in certain instances.
Automatic Transactions
Flexible withdrawal service lets you set up ongoing monthly, quarterly,
semiannual or annual redemptions from your account.
Regular investment plans allow you to transfer money into your Fund
account automatically. While regular investment plans do not guarantee a profit
and will not protect you against loss in a declining market, they can be an
excellent way to invest for retirement, a home, educational expenses and other
long-term financial goals.
Certain restrictions and fees imposed by the plan custodian may also apply
for retirement accounts. Speak with your Waddell & Reed account representative
for more information.
Regular Investment Plans
Automatic Investment Service
To move money from your bank account to an existing Fund account
Minimum Frequency $25 Monthly
Funds Plus Service
To move money from United Cash Management, Inc. to the Fund whether in the same
or a different account
Minimum Frequency
$100 Monthly
Distributions and Taxes
Distributions
The Fund distributes substantially all of its net investment income and net
capital gains to shareholders each year. Dividends are declared daily from the
Fund's net investment income, which includes accrued interest, earned discount,
dividends and other income earned on portfolio assets less expenses.
Ordinarily, dividends are distributed monthly on the 27th day of each month or
on the last business day prior to the 27th if the 27th falls on a weekend or
holiday. When shares are redeemed, any declared but unpaid dividends on those
shares will be paid with the next regular dividend payment and not at the time
of redemption. Net capital gains ordinarily are distributed in December. The
Fund may make additional distributions if necessary to avoid Federal income or
excise taxes on certain undistributed income and capital gains.
Distribution Options. When you open an account, specify on your
application how you want to receive your distributions. The Fund offers three
options:
1. Share Payment Option. Your dividend, capital gains and other
distributions will be automatically paid in additional Class A shares of
the Fund. If you do not indicate a choice on your application, you will be
assigned this option.
2. Income-Earned Option. Your capital gains and other distributions will be
automatically paid in Class A shares, but you will be sent a check for each
dividend distribution.
3. Cash Option. You will be sent a check for your dividend, capital
gains and other distributions.
For retirement accounts, all distributions are automatically paid in Class
A shares.
Taxes
The Fund has qualified and intends to continue to qualify for treatment
as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, so that it will be relieved of Federal income tax on that part of its
investment company taxable income (consisting generally of net investment
income, net short-term capital gains and net gains from certain foreign currency
transactions) and net capital gains (the excess of net long-term capital gains
over net short-term capital losses) that it distributes to its shareholders.
There are certain tax requirements that the Fund must satisfy in order
to avoid Federal taxation. In its effort to adhere to these requirements, the
Fund may have to limit its investment activity in some types of instruments.
As with any investment, you should consider how your investment in the Fund
will be taxed. If your account is not a tax-deferred retirement account, you
should be aware of the following tax implications:
Taxes on distributions. Dividends from the Fund's investment company
taxable income generally are taxable to you as ordinary income whether received
in cash or paid in additional Fund shares. Distributions of the Fund's net
capital gains, when designated as such, are taxable to you as long-term capital
gains, whether received in cash or paid in additional Fund shares and regardless
of the length of time you have owned your shares. Under the Taxpayer Relief Act
of 1997 ("1997 Act"), different maximum tax rates apply to a noncorporate
taxpayer's net capital gain depending on the taxpayer's holding period and
marginal rate of Federal income tax - generally, 28% for gain recognized on
securities held for more than one year but not more than 18 months and 20% (10%
for taxpayers in the 15% marginal tax bracket) for gain recognized on securities
held for more than 18 months. The Fund may divide each net capital gain
distribution into a 28% rate gain distribution and a 20% rate gain distribution
(in accordance with the Fund's holding periods for the securities it sold that
generated the distributed gain), in which case Fund shareholders must treat
those portions accordingly.
The Fund notifies you after each calendar year-end as to the amounts of
dividends and other distributions paid (or deemed paid) to you for that year
including the portions of capital gains distributions, if any, subject to the
different maximum rates of tax applicable under the 1997 Act.
No portion of the dividends paid by the Fund will be eligible for the
dividends-received deduction allowed to corporations.
Withholding. The Fund is required to withhold 31% of all dividends,
capital gains distributions and redemption proceeds payable to individuals and
certain other noncorporate shareholders who do not furnish the Fund with a
correct taxpayer identification number. Withholding at that rate from dividends
and capital gains distributions also is required for such shareholders who
otherwise are subject to backup withholding.
Taxes on transactions. Your redemption of Fund shares will result in
taxable gain or loss to you, depending on whether the redemption proceeds are
more or less than your adjusted basis for the redeemed shares (which normally
includes any sales charge paid). An exchange of Fund shares for shares of any
other fund in the United Group generally will have similar tax consequences.
However, special rules apply when you dispose of Fund shares through a
redemption or exchange within ninety days after your purchase thereof and
subsequently reacquire Fund shares or acquire shares of another fund in the
United Group without paying a sales charge due to the thirty-day reinvestment
privilege or exchange privilege. See "About Your Account." In these cases, any
gain on the disposition of the original Fund shares would be increased, or loss
decreased, by the amount of the sales charge you paid when those shares were
acquired, and that amount will increase the adjusted basis of the shares
subsequently acquired. In addition, if you purchase Fund shares within thirty
days before or after redeeming other Fund shares (regardless of class) at a
loss, part or all of that loss will not be deductible and will increase the
basis of the newly purchased shares.
State income taxes. The portion of the dividends paid by the Fund
attributable to the interest earned on its U.S. Government Securities generally
is not subject to state and local income taxes, although distributions by the
Fund to its shareholders of net realized gains on the disposition of those
securities are fully subject to those taxes. You should consult your tax
adviser to determine the taxability of dividends and other distributions by the
Fund in your state and locality.
The foregoing is only a summary of some of the important Federal tax
considerations generally affecting the Fund and its shareholders; see the SAI
for a more detailed discussion. There may be other Federal, state or local tax
considerations applicable to a particular investor. You are urged to consult
your own tax adviser.
About the Management and Expenses of the Fund
United Government Securities Fund, Inc. is a mutual fund: an investment
that pools shareholders' money and invests it toward a specified goal. In
technical terms, the Fund is an open-end, diversified management investment
company organized as a corporation under Maryland law on March 26, 1982.
The Fund is governed by a Board of Directors, which has overall
responsibility for the management of its affairs. The majority of directors are
not affiliated with Waddell & Reed, Inc.
The Fund has two classes of shares. In addition to the Class A shares
offered by this Prospectus, the Fund has issued and outstanding Class Y shares
which are offered by Waddell & Reed, Inc. through a separate prospectus. Class
Y shares are designed for institutional investors or others investing through
certain intermediaries. Class Y shares are not subject to a sales charge on
purchases and are not subject to redemption fees. Class Y shares are not
subject to a Rule 12b-1 fee. Additional information about Class Y shares may be
obtained by calling or writing to Waddell & Reed, Inc. at the telephone number
or address on the inside back cover of this Prospectus.
The Fund does not hold annual meetings of shareholders; however, certain
significant corporate matters, such as the approval of a new investment advisory
agreement or a change in a fundamental investment policy, which require
shareholder approval will be presented to shareholders at a meeting called by
the Board of Directors for such purpose.
Special meetings of shareholders may be called for any purpose upon receipt
by the Fund of a request in writing signed by shareholders holding not less than
25% of all shares entitled to vote at such meeting, provided certain conditions
stated in the Bylaws of the Fund are met. There will normally be no meeting of
the shareholders for the purpose of electing directors until such time as less
than a majority of directors holding office have been elected by shareholders,
at which time the directors then in office will call a shareholders' meeting for
the election of directors. To the extent that Section 16(c) of the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), applies to the Fund, the
directors are required to call a meeting of shareholders for the purpose of
voting upon the question of removal of any director when requested in writing to
do so by the shareholders of record of not less than 10% of the Fund's
outstanding shares.
Each share (regardless of class) has one vote. All shares of the Fund vote
together as a single class, except as to any matter for which a separate vote of
any class is required by the 1940 Act, and except as to any matter which affects
the interests of one or more particular classes, in which case only the
shareholders of the affected classes are entitled to vote, each as a separate
class. Shares are fully paid and nonassessable when purchased.
WRIMCO and Its Affiliates
The Fund is managed by WRIMCO, subject to the authority of the Fund's Board
of Directors. WRIMCO provides investment advice to the Fund and supervises the
Fund's investments. Waddell & Reed, Inc. and its predecessors have served as
investment manager to each of the registered investment companies in the United
Group of Mutual Funds, except United Asset Strategy Fund, Inc., since 1940 or
the inception of the company, whichever was later, and to TMK/United Funds, Inc.
since that fund's inception, until January 8, 1992, when it assigned its duties
as investment manager and assigned its professional staff for investment
management services to WRIMCO. WRIMCO has also served as investment manager for
Waddell & Reed Funds, Inc. since its inception in September 1992 and United
Asset Strategy Fund, Inc. since it commenced operations in March 1995.
James C. Cusser is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management
of the portfolio of the Fund. Mr. Cusser has held his Fund responsibilities
since January 1997. He is Vice President of WRIMCO, Vice President of the Fund
and Vice President of other investment companies for which WRIMCO serves as
investment manager. Mr. Cusser has served as the portfolio manager for
investment companies managed by WRIMCO and has been an employee of WRIMCO since
August 1992. Other members of WRIMCO's investment management department provide
input on market outlook, economic conditions, investment research and other
considerations relating to the Fund's investments.
Waddell & Reed, Inc. serves as the Fund's underwriter and as underwriter
for each of the other funds in the United Group of Mutual Funds and Waddell &
Reed Funds, Inc. and acts as the principal underwriter and distributor of the
variable life insurance and variable annuity policies issued by United Investors
Life Insurance Company for which TMK/United Funds, Inc. is the underlying
investment vehicle.
Waddell & Reed Services Company acts as transfer agent ("Shareholder
Servicing Agent") for the Fund and processes the payments of dividends. Waddell
& Reed Services Company also acts as agent ("Accounting Services Agent") in
providing bookkeeping and accounting services and assistance to the Fund and
pricing daily the value of its shares.
WRIMCO and Waddell & Reed Services Company are subsidiaries of Waddell &
Reed, Inc. Waddell & Reed, Inc. is a direct subsidiary of Waddell & Reed
Financial Services, Inc., a holding company, and an indirect subsidiary of
Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc., a holding company, and an indirect subsidiary of
Torchmark Corporation, a holding company.
WRIMCO places transactions for the portfolio of the Fund and in doing so
may consider sales of Fund shares as a factor in the selection of brokers to
execute portfolio transactions, subject to best execution. For further
information concerning Fund portfolio transactions, please see "Portfolio
Transactions and Brokerage" in the SAI.
Breakdown of Expenses
Like all mutual funds, the Fund pays fees related to its daily operations.
Expenses paid out of the Fund's assets are reflected in its share price or
dividends; they are neither billed directly to shareholders nor deducted from
shareholder accounts.
The Fund pays a management fee to WRIMCO for providing investment advice
and supervising its investments. The Fund also pays other expenses, which are
explained below.
Management Fee
The management fee is a pro rata participation based on the relative net
asset size of the Fund in the group fee computed each day on the combined net
asset values of all the funds in the United Group at the annual rates shown in
the following table:
Group Fee Rate
Annual
Group Net Group
Asset Level Fee Rate
(all dollars For Each
in millions) Level
- ------------ ---------
From $0
to $750 .51 of 1%
From $750
to $1,500 .49 of 1%
From $1,500
to $2,250 .47 of 1%
From $2,250
to $3,000 .45 of 1%
From $3,000
to $3,750 .43 of 1%
From $3,750
to $7,500 .40 of 1%
From $7,500
to $12,000 .38 of 1%
Over $12,000 .36 of 1%
Growth in assets of the United Group assures a lower group fee rate.
The management fee is accrued and paid to WRIMCO daily.
The combined net asset values of all of the funds in the United Group
were approximately $19.8 billion as of March 31, 1998. Management fees for the
fiscal year ended March 31, 1998 were 0.40% of the Fund's average net assets.
Other Expenses
While the management fee is a significant component of the Fund's annual
operating costs, the Fund has other expenses as well.
The Fund pays the Accounting Services Agent a monthly fee based on the
average net assets of the Fund for accounting services. With respect to its
Class A shares, the Fund pays the Shareholder Servicing Agent a monthly fee for
each Class A shareholder account that was in existence at any time during the
month, and a fee for each account on which a dividend or distribution had a
record date during the month.
The Fund has adopted a Distribution and Service Plan (the "Plan") pursuant
to Rule 12b-1 of the 1940 Act with respect to its Class A shares. Under the
Plan, the Fund may pay monthly a fee to Waddell & Reed, Inc. in an amount not to
exceed 0.25% of the Fund's average annual net assets of its Class A shares. The
fee is to be paid to reimburse Waddell & Reed, Inc. for amounts it expends in
connection with the distribution of the Class A shares, and/or provision of
personal services to Class A shareholders and maintenance of Class A shareholder
accounts.
There are two parts to this fee: all or a portion of the fee may be paid
to Waddell & Reed, Inc. for distribution services and distribution expenses,
including commissions paid by Waddell & Reed, Inc. to its account
representatives, account managers and/or other broker-dealers (the "distribution
fee") with respect to the Fund's Class A shares; and all or a portion of the fee
may be paid to Waddell & Reed, Inc. for the provision by Waddell & Reed, Inc.,
Waddell & Reed Services Company and/or other third parties (including broker-
dealers who may sell Class A shares) of personal services to Class A
shareholders and other services to maintain Class A shareholder accounts (the
"service fee"). However, the total amount of the distribution fee and service
fee paid by the Fund pursuant to the Plan will not exceed, on an annual basis,
0.25% of the average annual net assets of the Fund's Class A shares.
The Fund also pays other expenses, such as fees and expenses of certain
directors, audit and outside legal fees, costs of materials sent to
shareholders, taxes, brokerage commissions, interest, insurance premiums,
custodian fees, fees payable by the Fund under federal or other securities laws
and to the Investment Company Institute, and extraordinary expenses including
litigation and indemnification relative to litigation.
The Fund cannot precisely predict what its portfolio turnover rate will be,
but the Fund may have a high portfolio turnover. A higher turnover will
increase transaction and commission costs and could generate taxable income or
loss.
<PAGE>
United Government Securities Fund, Inc.
Custodian Underwriter
UMB Bank, n.a. Waddell & Reed, Inc.
Kansas City, Missouri 6300 Lamar Avenue
P. O. Box 29217
Legal Counsel Shawnee Mission, Kansas
Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP 66201-9217
1800 Massachusetts Avenue, N. W. (913) 236-2000
Washington, D. C. 20036 (800) 366-5465
Independent Auditors Shareholder Servicing Agent
Deloitte & Touche LLP Waddell & Reed
1010 Grand Avenue Services Company
Kansas City, Missouri 6300 Lamar Avenue
64106-2232 P. O. Box 29217
Shawnee Mission, Kansas
Investment Manager 66201-9217
Waddell & Reed Investment (913) 236-2000
Management Company (800) 366-5465
6300 Lamar Avenue
P. O. Box 29217 Accounting Services Agent
Shawnee Mission, Kansas Waddell & Reed
66201-9217 Services Company
(913) 236-2000 6300 Lamar Avenue
(800) 366-5465 P. O. Box 29217
Shawnee Mission, Kansas
66201-9217
(913) 236-2000
(800) 366-5465
Our INTERNET address is:
http://www.waddell.com
<PAGE>
United Government Securities Fund, Inc.
Class A Shares
PROSPECTUS
June 30, 1998
The United Group of Mutual Funds
United Asset Strategy Fund, Inc.
United Cash Management, Inc.
United Continental Income Fund, Inc.
United Funds, Inc.
United Bond Fund
United Income Fund
United Accumulative Fund
United Science and Technology Fund
United Gold & Government Fund, Inc.
United Government Securities Fund, Inc.
United High Income Fund, Inc.
United High Income Fund II, Inc.
United International Growth Fund, Inc.
United Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.
United Municipal High Income Fund, Inc.
United New Concepts Fund, Inc.
United Retirement Shares, Inc.
United Vanguard Fund, Inc.
NUP1011(6-98)
printed on recycled paper
<PAGE>
Please read this Prospectus before investing, and keep it on file for future
reference. It sets forth concisely the information about the Fund that you
ought to know before investing.
Additional information has been filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission and is contained in a Statement of Additional Information ("SAI")
dated June 30, 1998. The SAI is available free upon request to the Fund or to
Waddell & Reed, Inc., the Fund's underwriter, at the address or telephone number
stated below. The SAI is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus, and
you will not be aware of all facts unless you read both this Prospectus and the
SAI.
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION, NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS
A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
United Government Securities Fund, Inc.
Class Y Shares
This Fund seeks to provide as high a current income as is consistent with safety
of principal by investing in a portfolio of debt securities issued or guaranteed
by the U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities. Neither the United
States, nor any agency of the United States, has guaranteed, sponsored or
approved the Fund or its shares.
This Prospectus describes one class of shares of the Fund -- Class Y shares.
Prospectus
June 30, 1998
UNITED GOVERNMENT SECURITIES FUND, INC.
6300 Lamar Avenue
P. O. Box 29217Shawnee Mission, Kansas
66201-9217
913-236-2000
800-366-5465
<PAGE>
Table of Contents
AN OVERVIEW OF THE FUND.........................................3
EXPENSES........................................................4
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS............................................5
PERFORMANCE.....................................................6
Explanation of Terms ..........................................6
ABOUT WADDELL & REED............................................8
ABOUT THE INVESTMENT PRINCIPLES OF THE FUND.....................9
Investment Goal and Principles ................................9
Risk Considerations .........................................9
Securities and Investment Practices ...........................9
ABOUT YOUR ACCOUNT.............................................19
Buying Shares ................................................19
Minimum Investments ..........................................21
Adding to Your Account .......................................21
Selling Shares ...............................................21
Telephone Transactions .......................................23
Shareholder Services .........................................23
Personal Service ...........................................23
Reports ....................................................24
Exchanges ..................................................24
Distributions and Taxes ......................................24
Distributions ..............................................24
Taxes ......................................................25
ABOUT THE MANAGEMENT AND EXPENSES OF THE FUND..................27
WRIMCO and Its Affiliates ....................................28
Breakdown of Expenses ........................................29
Management Fee .............................................29
Other Expenses .............................................30
<PAGE>
An Overview of the Fund
The Fund: This Prospectus describes the Class Y shares of United Government
Securities Fund, Inc., an open-end, diversified management investment company.
Goal and Strategies: United Government Securities Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") seeks
as high a current income as is consistent with safety of principal. The Fund
seeks to achieve this goal by investing in a portfolio of debt securities issued
or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities. See
"About the Investment Principles of the Fund" for further information.
Management: Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company ("WRIMCO") provides
investment advice to the Fund and manages the Fund's investments. WRIMCO is a
wholly owned subsidiary of Waddell & Reed, Inc. WRIMCO, Waddell & Reed, Inc.
and its predecessors have provided investment management services to registered
investment companies since 1940. See "About the Management and Expenses of the
Fund" for further information about management fees.
Distributor: Waddell & Reed, Inc. acts as principal underwriter and distributor
of the shares of the Fund.
Purchases: You may buy Class Y shares of the Fund through Waddell & Reed,
Inc. and its account representatives or through other authorized third parties.
The price to buy a Class Y share of the Fund is the net asset value of a Class Y
share. There is no sales charge incurred upon purchase of Class Y shares of the
Fund. See "About Your Account" for information on how to purchase Class Y
shares.
Redemptions: You may redeem your shares at net asset value. When you sell your
shares, they may be worth more or less than what you paid for them. See "About
Your Account" for a description of redemption procedures.
Risk Considerations: The value of the Fund's investments and the income
generated will vary from day to day, generally reflecting changes in interest
rates. Performance will also depend on WRIMCO's skill in selecting investments.
See "About the Investment Principles of the Fund" for information about the
risks associated with the Fund's investments.
<PAGE>
Expenses
Shareholder transaction expenses are charges you pay when you buy or sell shares
of a fund.
Maximum sales load
on purchases None
Maximum sales load
on reinvested
dividends None
Deferred
sales load None
Redemption fees None
Exchange fee None
Annual Fund operating expenses (as a percentage of average net assets).
Management fees 0.40%
12b-1 fees None
Other expenses 0.26%
Total Fund operating
expenses 0.66%
Example: You would pay the following expenses on a $1,000 investment, assuming
(1) 5% annual return3 and (2) redemption at the end of each time period:
1 year $ 7
3 years $21
5 years $37
10 years $82
The purpose of this table is to assist you in understanding the various
costs and expenses that a shareholder of the Class Y shares of the Fund will
bear directly or indirectly. The example should not be considered a
representation of past or future expenses; actual expenses may be greater or
lesser than those shown. For a more complete discussion of certain expenses and
fees, see "Breakdown of Expenses."
3Use of an assumed annual return of 5% is for illustration purposes only and is
not a representation of the Fund's future performance, which may be greater or
lesser.
<PAGE>
Financial Highlights
The following information has been audited in conjunction with the
annual audits of the Financial Statements of the Fund. Financial Statements for
the fiscal year ended March 31, 1998, and the independent auditors' report of
Deloitte & Touche LLP thereon, are included in the SAI and should be read in
conjunction with the Financial Highlights.
For a Class Y Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period:
For the
For the fiscal year period
ended March 31, from 9/27/95*
----------------------- through
1998 1997 3/31/96
-------- -------- --------
Net asset value,
beginning of period $5.19 $5.32 $5.33
----- ----- -----
Income from investment
operations:
Net investment
income .......... 0.34 0.34 0.17
Net realized and
unrealized gain
(loss) on
investments...... 0.27 (0.13) (0.01)
----- ----- -----
Total from investment
operations ........ 0.61 0.21 0.16
----- ----- -----
Less dividends declared
from net investment
income ............ (0.34) (0.34) (0.17)
----- ----- -----
Net asset value,
end of period ..... $5.46 $5.19 $5.32
===== ===== =====
Total return ....... 12.02% 3.99% 3.04%
Net assets, end of
period (000
omitted) ......... $2,585 $659 $542
Ratio of expenses
to average net
assets ............ 0.66% 0.67% 0.60%**
Ratio of net
investment income
to average net
assets ............ 6.37% 6.41% 6.40%**
Portfolio
turnover rate ..... 35.18% 34.18% 63.05%**
*Commencement of operations.
**Annualized.
<PAGE>
Performance
Mutual fund performance is commonly measured as total return. The Fund may
also advertise its performance by showing yield and performance rankings.
Performance information is calculated and presented separately for each class of
Fund shares.
Explanation of Terms
Total Return is the overall change in value of an investment in the Fund
over a given period, assuming reinvestment of any dividends and other
distributions. A cumulative total return reflects actual performance over a
stated period of time. An average annual total return is a hypothetical rate of
return that, if achieved annually, would have produced the same cumulative total
return if performance had been constant over the entire period. Average annual
total returns smooth out variations in performance; they are not the same as
actual year-by-year results. Non-standardized total return may be for periods
other than those required to be presented or may otherwise differ from
standardized total return.
Yield refers to the income generated by an investment in the Fund over a
given period of time, expressed as an annual percentage rate. The Fund's yield
is based on a 30-day period ending on a specific date and is computed by
dividing the Fund's net investment income per share earned during the period by
the Fund's maximum offering price per share on the last day of the period.
Performance Rankings are comparisons of the Fund's performance to the
performance of other selected mutual funds, selected recognized market
indicators such as the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index and the
Dow Jones Industrial Average, or non-market indices or averages of mutual fund
industry groups. The Fund may quote its performance rankings and/or other
information as published by recognized independent mutual fund statistical
services or by publications of general interest. In connection with a ranking,
the Fund may provide additional information, such as the particular category to
which it relates, the number of funds in the category, the criteria upon which
the ranking is based, and the effect of sales charges, fee waivers and/or
expense reimbursements.
All performance information that the Fund advertises or includes in
information provided to present or prospective shareholders is historical in
nature and is not intended to represent or guarantee future results. The value
of the Fund's shares when redeemed may be more or less than their original cost.
The Fund's recent performance and holdings will be detailed twice a year in
the Fund's annual and semiannual reports, which are sent to all Fund
shareholders.
<PAGE>
About Waddell & Reed
Since 1937, Waddell & Reed has been helping people make the most of
their financial future by helping them take advantage of various financial
services. Today, Waddell & Reed has over 2500 account representatives located
throughout the United States. Your primary contact in your dealings with
Waddell & Reed will be your local account representative. However, the Waddell
& Reed shareholder services department, which is part of the Waddell & Reed
headquarters operations in Overland Park, Kansas, is available to assist you and
your Waddell & Reed account representative. You may speak with a Customer
Service Representative by calling the telephone number listed on the inside back
cover of this Prospectus.
<PAGE>
About the Investment Principles of the Fund
Investment Goal and Principles
The goal of the Fund is to seek as high a current income as is consistent
with safety of principal. The Fund seeks to achieve this goal by investing in a
portfolio of debt securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its
agencies or instrumentalities ("U.S. Government Securities"). There is no
assurance that the Fund will achieve its goal.
Risk Considerations
There are risks inherent in any investment. The Fund is subject to varying
degrees of market risk, financial risk and, in some cases, prepayment risk.
Market risk is the potential for fluctuations in the price of the security
because of market factors. Because of market risk, you should anticipate that
the share price of the Fund will fluctuate. Financial risk is based on the
financial situation of the issuer. The financial risk of the Fund depends on
the credit quality of the underlying securities. Prepayment risk is the
possibility that, during periods of falling interest rates, a debt security with
a high stated interest rate will be prepaid prior to its expected maturity date.
The Fund may also invest in certain derivative instruments, including
options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, swaps, caps, collars,
floors, indexed securities, stripped securities and mortgage-backed and other
asset-backed securities. The use of derivative instruments involves special
risks. See "Risks of Derivative Instruments" for further information on the
risks of investing in these instruments.
Securities and Investment Practices
The following pages contain more detailed information about types of
instruments in which the Fund may invest, and strategies WRIMCO may employ in
pursuit of the Fund's goal. A summary of risks associated with these instrument
types and investment practices is included as well.
WRIMCO might not buy all of these instruments or use all of these
techniques to the full extent permitted by the Fund's investment policies and
restrictions unless it believes that doing so will help the Fund achieve its
goal.
Certain of the investment policies and restrictions of the Fund are also
stated below. A fundamental policy may not be changed without the approval of
the shareholders of the Fund. Operating policies may be changed by the Board of
Directors without the approval of the affected shareholders. The goal of the
Fund and the types of securities in which the Fund may invest are fundamental
policies. Unless otherwise indicated, the types of other assets in which the
Fund may invest and other policies are operating policies.
Policies and limitations are typically considered at the time of purchase;
the sale of instruments is usually not required in the event of a subsequent
change in circumstances.
Please see the SAI for further information concerning the following
instruments and associated risks and the Fund's investment policies and
restrictions.
U.S. Government Securities are high-quality instruments issued or
guaranteed as to principal or interest by the U.S. Treasury or by an agency or
instrumentality of the U.S. Government. Not all U.S. Government Securities are
backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. Some are backed by
the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury; others are backed by
discretionary authority of the U.S. Government to purchase the agencies'
obligations; while others are supported only by the credit of the
instrumentality. In the case of securities not backed by the full faith and
credit of the United States, the investor must look principally to the agency
issuing or guaranteeing the obligation for ultimate repayment. The Fund will
invest in securities of agencies and instrumentalities only when WRIMCO is
satisfied that the credit risk is acceptable.
Securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government include a variety of
Treasury securities that differ only in their interest rates, maturities and
dates of issuance. These include Treasury Bills (which mature within one year
of the date they are issued), Treasury Notes (which have maturities of one to
ten years) and Treasury Bonds (which generally have maturities of more than 10
years). All such Treasury securities are backed by the full faith and credit of
the United States.
The value of the U.S. Government Securities in which the Fund invests will
fluctuate depending in large part on changes in prevailing interest rates. If
these rates go up after the Fund buys a security, the value of the security may
go down; if these rates go down, the value of the security may go up. Changes
in value and yield based on changes in prevailing interest rates may have
different effects on short-term debt obligations than on long-term obligations.
Long-term obligations (which often have higher yields) may fluctuate in value
more than short-term ones. The Fund has no policy limiting the maturity of the
U.S. Government Securities in which it may invest.
Bank Deposits. The Fund may invest in deposits in banks (represented by
certificates of deposit or other evidence of deposit of varying maturities
issued by such banks) to the extent that the principal of such deposits is
insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("Insured Deposits"). Such
insurance (and accordingly, the Fund's investment) is currently limited to
$100,000 per bank; interest earned above that amount is not insured. Insured
Deposits have limited marketability.
Stripped Securities are the separate income or principal components of a
debt instrument. These involve risks that are similar to those of other debt
securities, although they may be more volatile. The prices of stripped
mortgage-backed securities may be particularly affected by changes in interest
rates.
Options, Futures and Other Strategies. The Fund may use certain options,
futures contracts, swaps, caps, collars, floors, indexed securities, mortgage-
backed and other asset-backed securities and certain other strategies described
herein to attempt to enhance income or yield or to attempt to reduce the risk of
its investments. The strategies described below may be used in an attempt to
manage certain risks of the Fund's investments that can affect fluctuation in
its net asset value. The Fund may also use various techniques to increase or
decrease its exposure to changing security prices, interest rates or other
factors that affect security values.
The Fund's ability to use these strategies may be limited by market
conditions, regulatory limits and tax considerations. The Fund might not use
any of these strategies, and there can be no assurance that any strategy that is
used will succeed. The risks associated with such strategies are described
below. Also see the SAI for more information on these instruments and
strategies and their risk considerations.
Policies and Restrictions: As a fundamental policy, the Fund may not
purchase or sell any securities or physical commodities other than U.S.
Government Securities; however, this policy shall not prevent the Fund from
purchasing and selling (a) foreign currency if a U.S. Government Security that
the Fund owns or intends to acquire is denominated in that foreign currency and
(b) futures contracts, options, forward contracts, swaps, caps, collars, floors
and other financial instruments if the return on, or value of, the financial
instrument is based on the return on, or value of, U.S. Government Securities.
Options. The Fund may engage in certain strategies involving options to
attempt to enhance its income or yield or to attempt to reduce the overall risk
of its investments. A call option gives the purchaser the right to buy, and
obligates the writer to sell, the underlying investment at the agreed-upon
exercise price during the option period. A put option gives the purchaser the
right to sell, and obligates the writer to buy, the underlying investment at the
agreed-upon exercise price during the option period. Purchasers of options pay
an amount, known as a premium, to the option writer in exchange for the right
under the option contract.
Options offer large amounts of leverage, which will result in the Fund's
net asset value being more sensitive to changes in the value of the related
investment. There is no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for
exchange-listed options. The market for options that are not listed on an
exchange may be less active than the market for exchange-listed options. The
Fund will be able to close a position in an option it has written only if there
is a market for the offsetting put or call. If the Fund is not able to enter
into an offsetting closing transaction on an option it has written, it will be
required to maintain the securities, or cash in the case of an option on an
index, subject to the call or the collateral underlying the put until a closing
purchase transaction can be entered into or the option expires. Because index
options are settled in cash, the Fund cannot provide in advance for its
potential settlement obligations on a call it has written on an index by holding
the underlying securities. The Fund bears the risk that the value of the
securities it holds will vary from the value of the index.
Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts. When the Fund
purchases a futures contract, it incurs an obligation to take delivery of a
specified amount of the obligation underlying the contract at a specified time
in the future for a specified price. When the Fund sells a futures contract, it
incurs an obligation to deliver the specified amount of the underlying
obligation at a specified time in return for an agreed-upon price.
When the Fund writes an option on a futures contract, it becomes obligated,
in return for the premium paid, to assume a position in the futures contract at
a specified exercise price at any time during the term of the option. If the
Fund writes a call, it assumes a short futures position. If it writes a put, it
assumes a long futures position. When the Fund purchases an option on a
futures contract, it acquires the right, in return for the premium it pays, to
assume a position in the futures contract (a long position if the option is a
call and a short position if the option is a put).
Indexed Securities. The Fund may purchase indexed securities, which are
securities the value of which varies in relation to the value of other
securities, securities indices or other financial indicators, subject to its
operating policy regarding derivative instruments. Indexed securities
typically, but not always, are debt securities or deposits whose value at
maturity or coupon rate is determined by reference to a specific instrument or
statistic. The performance of indexed securities depends to a great extent on
the performance of the security, currency, or other instrument to which they are
indexed and may also be influenced by interest rate changes in the United States
and abroad. At the same time, indexed securities are subject to the credit
risks associated with the issuer of the security, and their values may decline
substantially if the issuer's creditworthiness deteriorates. Indexed securities
may be more volatile than the underlying instruments.
Policies and Restrictions: The Fund may invest in indexed securities only
if they are issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its agencies or
instrumentalities.
Swaps, Caps, Collars and Floors. The Fund may enter into swaps, caps,
collars and floors as described below. The Fund may enter into these
transactions to preserve a return or spread on a particular investment or
portion of its portfolio, to protect against any increase in the price of
securities the Fund anticipates purchasing at a later date or to attempt to
enhance income or yield.
Swaps involve the exchange by the Fund with another party of their
respective commitments to pay or receive cash flows, e.g., an exchange of
floating rate payments for fixed rate payments. The purchase of a cap entitles
the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index exceeds a predetermined
value, to receive payments on a notional principal amount from the party selling
such cap. The purchase of a floor entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a
specified index falls below a predetermined value, to receive payments on a
notional principal amount from the party selling such floor. A collar combines
elements of buying a cap and selling a floor.
Depending on how they are used, the swap, cap, collar and floor agreements
used by the Fund may also increase or decrease the overall volatility of its
investments and its share price and yield. The most significant factor in the
performance of these agreements is the change in the specific interest rate or
other factors that determine the amounts of payments due to and from the Fund.
The Fund usually will enter into swaps on a net basis, i.e., the two
payment streams are netted out, with the Fund receiving or paying, as the case
may be, only the net amount of the two payments. If, however, an agreement
calls for payments by the Fund, the Fund must be prepared to make such payments
when due. The creditworthiness of firms with which the Fund enters into swaps,
caps, collars or floors will be monitored by WRIMCO in accordance with
procedures adopted by the Board of Directors. If a firm's creditworthiness
declines, the value of an agreement would be likely to decline, potentially
resulting in losses. If a default occurs by the other party to such
transaction, the Fund will have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements
related to the transaction.
The Fund understands that the position of the staff of the Securities and
Exchange Commission is that assets involved in such transactions are illiquid
and are, therefore, subject to the limitations on investment in illiquid
investments as described in the SAI.
Mortgage-Backed and Other Asset-Backed Securities are bonds backed by
specific types of assets. Mortgage-backed securities represent direct or
indirect interests in pools of underlying mortgage loans that are secured by
real property. U.S. Government mortgage-backed securities are issued or
guaranteed as to principal and interest (but not as to market value) by the
Government National Mortgage Association, Fannie Mae (formerly, the Federal
National Mortgage Association), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation or
other government-sponsored enterprises. Other mortgage-backed securities are
sponsored or issued by private entities, including investment banking firms and
mortgage originators.
Mortgage-backed securities may be composed of one or more classes and may
be structured either as pass-through securities or collateralized debt
obligations. Multiple-class mortgage-backed securities are referred to in this
Prospectus as "CMOs." Some CMOs are directly supported by other CMOs, which in
turn are supported by mortgage pools. Investors typically receive payments out
of the interest and principal on the underlying mortgages. The portions of
these payments that investors receive, as well as the priority of their rights
to receive payments, are determined by the specific terms of the CMO class.
For example, interest-only ("IO") classes are entitled to receive all or a
portion of the interest, but none (or only a nominal amount) of the principal
payments, from the underlying mortgage assets. If the mortgage assets
underlying an IO experience greater than anticipated principal prepayments, then
the total amount of interest payments allocable to the IO class, and therefore
the yield to investors, generally will be reduced. In some instances, an
investor in an IO may fail to recoup all of his or her initial investment, even
if the security is government guaranteed or considered to be of the highest
quality. Conversely, principal-only ("PO") classes are entitled to receive all
or a portion of the principal payments, but none of the interest, from the
underlying mortgage assets. PO classes are purchased at substantial discounts
from par, and the yield to investors will be reduced if principal payments are
slower than expected. IOs, POs and other CMOs involve special risks, and
evaluating them requires special knowledge.
When interest rates decline and homeowners refinance their mortgages,
mortgage-backed bonds may be paid off more quickly than investors expect. When
interest rates rise, mortgage-backed bonds may be paid off more slowly than
originally expected. Changes in the rate or "speed" of these prepayments can
cause the value of mortgage-backed securities to fluctuate rapidly.
Other asset-backed securities are similar to mortgage-backed securities,
except that the underlying assets securing the debt are different. These
underlying assets may be nearly any type of financial asset or receivable, such
as motor vehicle installment sales contracts, home equity loans, leases of
various types of real and personal property and receivables from credit cards.
The yield characteristics of mortgage-backed and other asset-backed
securities differ from those of traditional debt securities. Among the major
differences are that interest and principal payments are made more frequently
and that principal may be prepaid at any time because the underlying mortgage
loans or other assets generally may be prepaid at any time. Generally,
prepayments on fixed-rate mortgage loans will increase during a period of
falling interest rates and decrease during a period of rising interest rates.
Mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities may also decrease in value as
a result of increases in interest rates and, because of prepayments, may benefit
less than other bonds from declining interest rates. Reinvestments of
prepayments may occur at lower interest rates than the original investment, thus
adversely affecting the Fund's yield. Actual prepayment experience may cause
the yield of a mortgage-backed security to differ from what was assumed when the
Fund purchased the security.
The market for privately issued mortgage-backed and other asset-backed
securities is smaller and less liquid than the market for U.S. Government
mortgage-backed securities. CMO classes may be specially structured in a manner
that provides any of a wide variety of investment characteristics, such as
yield, effective maturity and interest rate sensitivity. As market conditions
change, however, and especially during periods of rapid or unanticipated changes
in market interest rates, the attractiveness of some CMO classes and the ability
of the structure to provide the anticipated investment characteristics may be
significantly reduced. These changes can result in volatility in the market
value, and in some instances reduced liquidity, of the CMO class.
Policies and Restrictions: The Fund may only invest in mortgage-backed
securities, asset-backed securities and stripped securities that are issued by
or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities.
Risks of Derivative Instruments. The use of options, futures contracts,
options on futures contracts, swaps, caps, collars and floors, and the
investment in indexed securities, stripped securities and mortgage-backed and
other asset-backed securities, involve special risks, including (i) possible
imperfect or no correlation between price movements of the portfolio investments
(held or intended to be purchased) involved in the transaction and price
movements of the instruments involved in the transaction, (ii) possible lack of
a liquid secondary market for any particular instrument at a particular time,
(iii) the need for additional portfolio management skills and techniques, (iv)
losses due to unanticipated market price movements, (v) the fact that, while
such strategies can reduce the risk of loss, they can also reduce the
opportunity for gain, or even result in losses, by offsetting favorable price
movements in investments involved in the transaction, (vi) incorrect forecasts
by WRIMCO concerning interest rates or direction of price fluctuations of the
investment involved in the transaction, which may result in the strategy being
ineffective, (vii) loss of premiums paid by the Fund on options it purchases,
and (viii) the possible inability of the Fund to purchase or sell a portfolio
security at a time when it would otherwise be favorable for it to do so, or the
possible need for the Fund to sell a portfolio security at a disadvantageous
time, due to the need for the Fund to maintain "cover" or to segregate assets in
connection with such transactions and the possible inability of the Fund to
close out or liquidate its position.
For a hedging strategy to be completely effective, the price change of the
hedging instrument must equal the price change of the investment being hedged.
The risk of imperfect correlation of these price changes increases as the
composition of the Fund's portfolio diverges from instruments underlying a
hedging instrument. Such equal price changes are not always possible because
the investment underlying the hedging instruments may not be the same investment
that is being hedged. WRIMCO will attempt to create a closely correlated hedge
but hedging activity may not be completely successful in eliminating market
value fluctuation.
WRIMCO may use derivative instruments for hedging purposes to adjust the
risk characteristics of the Fund's portfolio of investments and may use some of
these instruments to adjust the return characteristics of the Fund's portfolio
of investments. The use of derivative techniques for speculative purposes can
increase investment risk. If WRIMCO judges market conditions incorrectly or
employs a strategy that does not correlate well with the Fund's investments,
these techniques could result in a loss, regardless of whether the intent was to
reduce risk or increase return. These techniques may increase the volatility of
the Fund and may involve a small investment of cash relative to the magnitude of
the risk assumed. In addition, these techniques could result in a loss if the
counterparty to the transaction does not perform as promised or if there is not
a liquid secondary market to close out a position that the Fund has entered
into.
The ordinary spreads between prices in the cash and futures markets, due to
the differences in the natures of those markets, are subject to distortion. Due
to the possibility of distortion, a correct forecast of general interest rate
trends by WRIMCO may still not result in a successful transaction. WRIMCO may
be incorrect in its expectations as to the extent of various interest rate
movements or the time span within which the movements take place.
Options and futures transactions may increase portfolio turnover rates,
which results in correspondingly greater commission expenses and transactions
costs and may result in certain tax consequences.
New financial products and risk management techniques continue to be
developed. The Fund may use these instruments and techniques to the extent
consistent with its goal, investment policies and regulatory requirements
applicable to investment companies.
When-Issued and Delayed-Delivery Transactions are trading practices in
which the payment and delivery for the securities take place at a future date.
The market value of a security could change during this period, which could
affect the Fund's yield.
When purchasing securities on a delayed-delivery basis, the Fund assumes
the rights and risks of ownership, including the risk of price and yield
fluctuations. When the Fund sells a security on a delayed-delivery basis, the
Fund does not participate in further gains or losses with respect to the
security. If the other party to a delayed-delivery transaction fails to deliver
or pay for the securities, the Fund could miss a favorable price or yield
opportunity, or could suffer a loss.
The Fund may purchase U.S. Government Securities on a when-issued or
delayed-delivery basis or sell them on a delayed-delivery basis.
Repurchase Agreements. In a repurchase agreement, the Fund buys a security
at one price and simultaneously agrees to sell it back at a higher price.
Delays or losses could result if the other party to the agreement defaults or
becomes insolvent.
Policies and Restrictions: As a fundamental policy, the Fund will not
enter into a repurchase transaction that will cause more than 10% of its net
assets to be invested in illiquid investments, which include repurchase
agreements not terminable within seven days.
Restricted Securities and Illiquid Investments. Restricted securities are
securities that are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale.
Restricted securities may be illiquid due to restrictions on their resale.
Certain restricted securities may be determined to be liquid in accordance with
guidelines adopted by the Fund's Board of Directors.
Illiquid investments may be difficult to sell promptly at an acceptable
price. Difficulty in selling securities may result in a loss or may be costly
to the Fund.
Policies and Restrictions: The Fund may not purchase a security if, as a
result, more than 10% of its net assets would consist of illiquid investments.
Borrowing. If the Fund borrows money, its share price may be subject to
greater fluctuation until the borrowing is paid off. If the Fund makes
additional investments while borrowings are outstanding, this may be considered
a form of leverage.
Policies and Restrictions: As a fundamental policy, the Fund may borrow
only from banks to meet redemptions, for temporary or emergency purposes, but
only up to 10% of its total assets.
As a fundamental policy, the Fund will not purchase securities while
outstanding borrowings exceed 5% of the Fund's assets.
Lending. Securities loans may be made on a short-term or a long-term basis
for the purpose of increasing the Fund's income. This practice could result in
a loss or a delay in recovering the Fund's securities. Loans will be made only
to parties deemed by WRIMCO to be creditworthy.
Policies and Restrictions: As a fundamental policy, the Fund will not lend
more than 30% of its assets at any one time, and such loans must be on a
collateralized basis in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements.
About Your Account
Class Y shares are designed for institutional investors or others
investing through certain intermediaries. Class Y shares are available for
purchase by:
. participants of employee benefit plans established under section 403(b) or
section 457, or qualified under section 401, including 401(k) plans, of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), when the plan has 100
or more eligible employees and holds the shares in an omnibus account on the
Fund's records;
. banks, trust institutions and investment fund administrators and other third
parties investing for their own accounts or for the accounts of their
customers where such investments for customer accounts are held in an omnibus
account on the Fund's records;
. government entities or authorities and corporations whose investment within
the first twelve months after initial investment is $10 million or more; and
. certain retirement plans and trusts for employees and account representatives
of Waddell & Reed, Inc. and its affiliates.
Buying Shares
You may buy shares of the Fund through Waddell & Reed, Inc. and its account
representatives. To open your account you must complete and sign an
application. Your Waddell & Reed account representative can help you with any
questions you might have.
The price to buy a share of the Fund, called the offering price, is
calculated every business day. The offering price of a Class Y share (price to
buy one Class Y share) is the Fund's Class Y net asset value ("NAV"). The
Fund's Class Y shares are sold without a sales charge.
To purchase by wire, you must first obtain an account number by calling
1-800-366-5465, then mail a completed application to Waddell & Reed, Inc., P. O.
Box 29217, Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66201-9217, or fax it to 913-236-5044.
Instruct your bank to wire the amount you wish to invest to UMB Bank, n.a., ABA
Number 101000695, W&R Underwriter Account Number 0007978, FBO Customer Name and
Account Number.
To purchase by check, make your check payable to Waddell & Reed, Inc. Mail
the check, along with your completed application, to Waddell & Reed, Inc., P.O.
Box 29217, Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66201-9217.
You may also buy shares of the Fund indirectly through certain broker-
dealers, banks and other third parties, some of which may charge you a fee.
These firms may have additional requirements to buy shares.
The Fund's Class Y NAV is the value of a single share. The Class Y NAV is
computed by adding, with respect to that Class, the value of the Fund's
investments, cash and other assets, subtracting its liabilities, and then
dividing the result by the number of Class Y shares outstanding.
The securities in the Fund's portfolio that are listed or traded on an
exchange are valued primarily using market quotations or, if market quotations
are not available, at their fair value in a manner determined in good faith by
or at the direction of the Board of Directors. U.S. Government Securities are
generally valued according to prices quoted by a third-party pricing service.
Short-term U.S. Government Securities are valued at amortized cost, which
approximates market value. Other assets are valued at their fair value by or at
the direction of the Board of Directors.
The Fund is open for business each day the New York Stock Exchange (the
"NYSE") is open. The Fund normally calculates the NAVs of its shares as of the
later of the close of business of the NYSE, normally 4 p.m. Eastern time, or the
close of the regular session of any other securities or commodities exchange on
which an option or futures contract held by the Fund is traded.
When you place an order to buy shares, your order will be processed at the
next offering price calculated after your order is received and accepted. Note
the following:
. Orders are accepted only at the home office of Waddell & Reed, Inc.
. All of your purchases must be made in U.S. dollars.
If you buy shares by check, and then sell those shares by any method other
than by exchange to another fund in the United Group, the payment may be
delayed for up to ten days to ensure that your previous investment has
cleared.
. The Fund does not issue certificates representing Class Y shares of the Fund.
. If you purchase Fund shares from certain broker-dealers, banks or other
authorized third parties, the Fund will be deemed to have received your
purchase order when that third party (or its designee) has received your
order. Your order will receive the offering price next calculated after the
order has been received in proper form by the authorized third party (or its
designee). You should consult that firm to determine the time by which it
must receive your order for you to purchase Fund shares at that day's price.
When you sign your account application, you will be asked to certify that
your Social Security or other taxpayer identification number is correct and
whether you are subject to backup withholding for failing to report income to
the Internal Revenue Service.
Waddell & Reed, Inc. reserves the right to reject any purchase orders,
including purchases by exchange, and it and the Fund reserve the right to
discontinue offering Fund shares for purchase.
Minimum Investments
To Open an Account
For a government entity or authority or for a corporation:$10 million
(within
first twelve
months)
For other investors: Any
amount
Adding to Your Account
You can make additional investments of any amount at any time.
To add to your account by wire: Instruct your bank to wire the amount you
wish to invest, along with the account number and registration, to UMB Bank,
n.a., ABA Number 101000695, W&R Underwriter Account Number 0007978, FBO Customer
Name and Account Number.
To add to your account by mail: Make your check payable to Waddell & Reed,
Inc. Mail the check along with a letter stating your account number, the
account registration and that you wish to purchase Class Y shares of the Fund to
Waddell & Reed, Inc., P.O. Box 29217, Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66201-9217.
If you purchase Fund shares from certain broker-dealers, banks or other
authorized third parties, additional purchases may be made through those firms.
Selling Shares
You can arrange to take money out of your Fund account at any time by
selling (redeeming) some or all of your shares.
The redemption price (price to sell one Class Y share) is the Fund's Class
Y NAV.
To sell shares by telephone or fax: If you have elected this method in
your application or by subsequent authorization, call 1-800-366-5465 or fax your
request to 913-236-5044 and give your instructions to redeem shares and make
payment by wire to your pre-designated bank account or by check to you at the
address on the account.
To sell shares by written request: Complete an Account Service Request
form, available from your Waddell & Reed account representative, or write a
letter of instruction with:
. the name on the account registration;
. the Fund's name;
. the Fund account number;
. the dollar amount or number of shares to be redeemed; and
. any other applicable requirements listed in the table below.
Deliver the form or your letter to your Waddell & Reed account
representative, or mail it to:
Waddell & Reed, Inc.
P. O. Box 29217
Shawnee Mission, Kansas
66201-9217
Unless otherwise instructed, Waddell & Reed will send a check to the
address on the account.
Special Requirements for Selling Shares
Account Type Special Requirements
Retirement Account The written
instructions must be
signed by a properly
authorized person.
Trust The trustee must sign
the written
instructions
indicating capacity as
trustee. If the
trustee's name is not
in the account
registration, provide
a currently certified
copy of the trust
document.
Business or At least one person
Organization authorized by
corporate resolution
to act on the account
must sign the written
instructions.
When you place an order to sell shares, your shares will be sold at the
next NAV calculated after receipt of a written request for redemption in good
order by Waddell & Reed, Inc. at its home office. Note the following:
. If more than one person owns the shares, each owner must sign the written
request.. If you recently purchased the shares by check, the Fund may delay
payment of redemption proceeds. You may arrange for the bank upon which the
purchase check was drawn to provide to the Fund telephone or written
assurance, satisfactory to the Fund, that the check has cleared and been
honored. If no such assurance is given, payment of the redemption proceeds on
these shares will be delayed until the earlier of 10 days or the date the Fund
is able to verify that your purchase check has cleared and been honored.
. Redemptions may be suspended or payment dates postponed on days when the NYSE
is closed (other than weekends or holidays), when trading on the NYSE is
restricted, or as permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
. Payment is normally made in cash, although under extraordinary conditions
redemptions may be made in portfolio securities.
. If you purchased Fund shares from certain broker-dealers, banks or other
authorized third parties, you may sell those shares through those firms, some
of which may charge you a fee and may have additional requirements to sell
Fund shares. The Fund will be deemed to have received your order to sell
shares when that firm (or its designee) has received your order. Your order
will receive the offering price next calculated after the order has been
received in proper form by the authorized firm (or its designee). You should
consult that firm to determine the time by which it must receive your order
for you to sell Fund shares at that day's price.
The Fund reserves the right to require a signature guarantee on certain
redemption requests. This requirement is designed to protect you and Waddell &
Reed from fraud. The Fund may require a signature guarantee in certain
situations such as:
. the request for redemption is made by a corporation, partnership or
fiduciary;
. the request for redemption is made by someone other than the owner of record;
or
. the check is being made payable to someone other than the owner of record.
The Fund will accept a signature guarantee from a national bank, a
federally chartered savings and loan or a member firm of a national stock
exchange or other eligible guarantor in accordance with procedures of the Fund's
transfer agent. A notary public cannot provide a signature guarantee.
The Fund reserves the right to redeem at NAV all shares of the Fund owned
or held by you having an aggregate NAV of less than $500. The Fund will give
you notice of its intention to redeem your shares and a 60-day opportunity to
purchase a sufficient number of additional shares to bring the aggregate NAV of
your shares to $500.
Telephone Transactions
The Fund and its agents will not be liable for following instructions
communicated by telephone that they reasonably believe to be genuine. The Fund
will employ reasonable procedures to confirm that instructions communicated by
telephone are genuine. If the Fund fails to do so, the Fund may be liable for
losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. Current procedures
relating to instructions communicated by telephone include tape recording
instructions, requiring personal identification and providing written
confirmations of transactions effected pursuant to such instructions.
Shareholder Services
Waddell & Reed provides a variety of services to help you manage your
account.
Personal Service
Your local Waddell & Reed account representative is available to provide
personal service. Additionally, one toll-free call, 1-800-366-5465, connects
you to a Customer Service Representative or TeleWaddell, our automated customer
telephone service. During normal business hours, our Customer Service staff is
available to respond to your inquiries or update your account records. At
almost any time of the day or night, you may access TeleWaddell from a touch-
tone phone to:
. Obtain information about your accounts;
. Obtain price information about other funds in the United Group; or
. Request duplicate statements.
Reports
Statements and reports sent to you include the following:
. confirmation statements (after every purchase, exchange, transfer or
redemption)
. year-to-date statements (quarterly)
. annual and semiannual reports (every six months)
To reduce expenses, only one copy of the most recent annual and
semiannual reports will be mailed to your household, even if you have more than
one account with the Fund. Call the telephone number listed on the inside back
cover of this Prospectus if you need copies of annual or semiannual reports or
historical account information.
Exchanges
You may sell your Class Y shares and buy Class Y shares of other funds
in the United Group or Class A shares of United Cash Management, Inc. You may
exchange only into funds that are legally registered for sale in your state of
residence. Note that exchanges out of the Fund may have tax consequences for
you. Before exchanging into a fund, read its prospectus.
The Fund reserves the right to terminate or modify these exchange
privileges at any time, upon notice in certain instances.
Distributions and Taxes
Distributions
The Fund distributes substantially all of its net investment income and net
capital gains to shareholders each year. Dividends are declared daily from the
Fund's net investment income, which includes accrued interest, earned discount,
dividends and other income earned on portfolio assets less expenses.
Ordinarily, dividends are distributed monthly on the 27th day of each month or
on the last business day prior to the 27th if the 27th falls on a weekend or
holiday. When shares are redeemed, any declared but unpaid dividends on those
shares will be paid with the next regular dividend payment and not at the time
of redemption. Net capital gains (and any net gains from foreign currency
transactions) ordinarily are distributed in December. The Fund may make
additional distributions if necessary to avoid Federal income or excise taxes on
certain undistributed income and capital gains.
Distribution Options. When you open an account, specify on your
application how you want to receive your distributions. The Fund offers three
options:
1. Share Payment Option. Your dividend, capital gains and other
distributions will be automatically paid in additional Class Y shares of the
Fund. If you do not indicate a choice on your application, you will be
assigned this option.
2. Income-Earned Option. Your capital gains and other distributions will be
automatically paid in Class Y shares, but you will be sent a check for each
dividend distribution.
3. Cash Option. You will be sent a check for your dividend, capital
gains and other distributions.
For retirement accounts, all distributions are automatically paid in Class
Y shares.
Taxes
The Fund has qualified and intends to continue to qualify for treatment
as a regulated investment company under the Code so that it will be relieved of
Federal income tax on that part of its investment company taxable income
(consisting generally of net investment income, net short-term capital gains and
net gains from certain foreign currency transactions) and net capital gains (the
excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses) that
it distributes to its shareholders.
There are certain tax requirements that the Fund must satisfy in order
to avoid Federal taxation. In its effort to adhere to these requirements, the
Fund may have to limit its investment activity in some types of instruments.
As with any investment, you should consider how your investment in the Fund
will be taxed. If your account is not a tax-deferred retirement account, you
should be aware of the following tax implications:
Taxes on distributions. Dividends from the Fund's investment company
taxable income are taxable to you as ordinary income whether received in cash or
paid in additional Fund shares. Distributions of the Fund's net capital gains,
when designated as such, are taxable to you as long-term capital gains, whether
received in cash or paid in additional Fund shares and regardless of the length
of time you have owned your shares. Under the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997
("1997 Act"), different maximum tax rates apply to a noncorporate taxpayer's net
capital gain depending on the taxpayer's holding period and marginal rate of
Federal income tax - generally, 28% for gain recognized on securities held for
more than one year but not more than 18 months and 20% (10% for taxpayers in the
15% marginal tax bracket) for gain recognized on securities held for more than
18 months. The Fund may divide each net capital gain distribution into a 28%
rate gain distribution and a 20% rate gain distribution (in accordance with the
Fund's holding periods for the securities it sold that generated the distributed
gain), in which case Fund shareholders must treat those portions
accordingly.
The Fund notifies you after each calendar year-end as to the amounts of
dividends and other distributions paid (or deemed paid) to you for that year
including the portions of capital gains distributions, if any, subject to the
different maximum rates of tax applicable under the 1997 Act.
No portion of the dividends paid by the Fund will be eligible for the
dividends-received deduction allowed to corporations.
Withholding. The Fund is required to withhold 31% of all dividends,
capital gains distributions and redemption proceeds payable to individuals and
certain other noncorporate shareholders who do not furnish the Fund with a
correct taxpayer identification number. Withholding at that rate from dividends
and capital gains distributions also is required for such shareholders who
otherwise are subject to backup withholding.
Taxes on transactions. Your redemption of Fund shares will result in
taxable gain or loss to you, depending on whether the redemption proceeds are
more or less than your adjusted basis for the redeemed shares (which normally
includes any sales charge paid). An exchange of Fund shares for shares of any
other fund in the United Group will have similar tax consequences. In addition,
if you purchase Fund shares within thirty days before or after redeeming other
Fund shares (regardless of class) at a loss, part or all of that loss will not
be deductible and will increase the basis of the newly purchased shares.
State income taxes. The portion of the dividends paid by the Fund
attributable to the interest earned on its U.S. Government Securities generally
is not subject to state and local income taxes, although distributions by the
Fund to its shareholders of net realized gains on the disposition of those
securities are fully subject to those taxes. You should consult your tax
adviser to determine the taxability of dividends and other distributions by the
Fund in your state and locality.
The foregoing is only a summary of some of the important Federal tax
considerations generally affecting the Fund and its shareholders; see the SAI
for a more detailed discussion. There may be other Federal, state or local tax
considerations applicable to a particular investor. You are urged to consult
your own tax adviser.
About the Management and Expenses of the Fund
United Government Securities Fund, Inc. is a mutual fund: an investment
that pools shareholders' money and invests it toward a specified goal. In
technical terms, the Fund is an open-end, diversified management investment
company organized as a corporation under Maryland law on March 26, 1982.
The Fund is governed by a Board of Directors, which has overall
responsibility for the management of its affairs. The majority of directors are
not affiliated with Waddell & Reed, Inc.
The Fund has two classes of shares. In addition to the Class Y shares
offered by this Prospectus, the Fund has issued and outstanding Class A shares
which are offered by Waddell & Reed, Inc. through a separate prospectus. Class
A shares are subject to a sales charge on purchases but are not subject to
redemption fees. Class A shares are subject to a Rule 12b-1 fee at an annual
rate of up to 0.25% of the Fund's average net assets attributable to Class A
shares. Additional information about Class A shares may be obtained by calling
or writing to Waddell & Reed, Inc. at the telephone number or address on the
inside back cover of this Prospectus.
The Fund does not hold annual meetings of shareholders; however, certain
significant corporate matters, such as the approval of a new investment advisory
agreement or a change in a fundamental investment policy, which require
shareholder approval will be presented to shareholders at a meeting called by
the Board of Directors for such purpose.
Special meetings of shareholders may be called for any purpose upon receipt
by the Fund of a request in writing signed by shareholders holding not less than
25% of all shares entitled to vote at such meeting, provided certain conditions
stated in the Bylaws of the Fund are met. There will normally be no meeting of
the shareholders for the purpose of electing directors until such time as less
than a majority of directors holding office have been elected by shareholders,
at which time the directors then in office will call a shareholders' meeting for
the election of directors. To the extent that Section 16(c) of the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), applies to the Fund, the
directors are required to call a meeting of shareholders for the purpose of
voting upon the question of removal of any director when requested in writing to
do so by the shareholders of record of not less than 10% of the Fund's
outstanding shares.
Each share (regardless of class) has one vote. All shares of the Fund vote
together as a single class, except as to any matter for which a separate vote of
any class is required by the 1940 Act, and except as to any matter which affects
the interests of one or more particular classes, in which case only the
shareholders of the affected classes are entitled to vote, each as a separate
class. Shares are fully paid and nonassessable when purchased.
WRIMCO and Its Affiliates
The Fund is managed by WRIMCO, subject to the authority of the Fund's Board
of Directors. WRIMCO provides investment advice to the Fund and supervises the
Fund's investments. Waddell & Reed, Inc. and its predecessors have served as
investment manager to each of the registered investment companies in the United
Group of Mutual Funds, except United Asset Strategy Fund, Inc., since 1940 or
the inception of the company, whichever was later, and to TMK/United Funds, Inc.
since that fund's inception, until January 8, 1992, when it assigned its duties
as investment manager and assigned its professional staff for investment
management services to WRIMCO. WRIMCO has also served as investment manager for
Waddell & Reed Funds, Inc. since its inception in September 1992 and United
Asset Strategy Fund, Inc. since it commenced operations in March 1995.
James C. Cusser is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management
of the portfolio of the Fund. Mr. Cusser has held his Fund responsibilities
since January 1997. He is Vice President of WRIMCO, Vice President of the Fund
and Vice President of other investment companies for which WRIMCO serves as
investment manager. Mr. Cusser has served as the portfolio manager for
investment companies managed by WRIMCO and has been an employee of WRIMCO since
August 1992. Other members of WRIMCO's investment management department provide
input on market outlook, economic conditions, investment research and other
considerations relating to the Fund's investments.
Waddell & Reed, Inc. serves as the Fund's underwriter and as underwriter
for each of the other funds in the United Group of Mutual Funds and Waddell &
Reed Funds, Inc. and acts as the principal underwriter and distributor of the
variable life insurance and variable annuity policies issued by United Investors
Life Insurance Company for which TMK/United Funds, Inc. is the underlying
investment vehicle.
Waddell & Reed Services Company acts as transfer agent ("Shareholder
Servicing Agent") for the Fund and processes the payments of dividends. Waddell
& Reed Services Company also acts as agent ("Accounting Services Agent") in
providing bookkeeping and accounting services and assistance to the Fund and
pricing daily the value of its shares.
WRIMCO and Waddell & Reed Services Company are subsidiaries of Waddell &
Reed, Inc. Waddell & Reed, Inc. is a direct subsidiary of Waddell & Reed
Financial Services, Inc., a holding company, and an indirect subsidiary of
Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc., a holding company, and an indirect subsidiary of
Torchmark Corporation, a holding company.
WRIMCO places transactions for the portfolio of the Fund and in doing so
may consider sales of Fund shares as a factor in the selection of brokers to
execute portfolio transactions, subject to best execution. For further
information concerning Fund portfolio transactions, please see "Portfolio
Transactions and Brokerage" in the SAI.
Breakdown of Expenses
Like all mutual funds, the Fund pays fees related to its daily operations.
Expenses paid out of the Fund's assets are reflected in its share price or
dividends; they are neither billed directly to shareholders nor deducted from
shareholder accounts.
The Fund pays a management fee to WRIMCO for providing investment advice
and supervising its investments. The Fund also pays other expenses, which are
explained below.
Management Fee
The management fee is a pro rata participation based on the relative net
asset size of the Fund in the group fee computed each day on the combined net
asset values of all the funds in the United Group at the annual rates shown in
the following table:
Group Fee Rate
Annual
Group Net Group
Asset Level Fee Rate
(all dollars For Each
in millions) Level
- ------------ -------
From $0
to $750 .51 of 1%
From $750
to $1,500 .49 of 1%
From $1,500
to $2,250 .47 of 1%
From $2,250
to $3,000 .45 of 1%
From $3,000
to $3,750 .43 of 1%
From $3,750
to $7,500 .40 of 1%
From $7,500
to $12,000 .38 of 1%
Over $12,000 .36 of 1%
Growth in assets of the United Group assures a lower group fee rate.
The management fee is accrued and paid to WRIMCO daily.
The combined net asset values of all of the funds in the United Group
were approximately $19.8 billion as of March 31, 1998. Management fees for the
fiscal year ended March 31, 1998 were 0.40% of the Fund's average net assets.
Other Expenses
While the management fee is a significant component of the Fund's annual
operating costs, the Fund has other expenses as well.
The Fund pays the Accounting Services Agent a monthly fee based on the
average net assets of the Fund for accounting services. With respect to its
Class Y shares, the Fund pays the Shareholder Servicing Agent a monthly fee
based on the average daily net assets of the class for the preceding month.
The Fund also pays other expenses, such as fees and expenses of certain
directors, audit and outside legal fees, costs of materials sent to
shareholders, taxes, brokerage commissions, interest, insurance premiums,
custodian fees, fees payable by the Fund under federal or other securities laws
and to the Investment Company Institute, and extraordinary expenses including
litigation and indemnification relative to litigation.
The Fund cannot precisely predict what its portfolio turnover rate will be,
but the Fund may have a high portfolio turnover. A higher turnover will
increase transaction and commission costs and could generate taxable income or
loss.
United Government Securities Fund, Inc.
Custodian Underwriter
UMB Bank, n.a. Waddell & Reed, Inc.
Kansas City, Missouri 6300 Lamar Avenue
P. O. Box 29217
Legal Counsel Shawnee Mission, Kansas
Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP 66201-9217
1800 Massachusetts Avenue, N. W. (913) 236-2000
Washington, D. C. 20036 (800) 366-5465
Independent Auditors Shareholder Servicing Agent
Deloitte & Touche LLP Waddell & Reed
1010 Grand Avenue Services Company
Kansas City, Missouri 6300 Lamar Avenue
64106-2232 P. O. Box 29217
Shawnee Mission, Kansas
Investment Manager 66201-9217
Waddell & Reed Investment (913) 236-2000
Management Company (800) 366-5465
6300 Lamar Avenue
P. O. Box 29217 Accounting Services Agent
Shawnee Mission, Kansas Waddell & Reed
66201-9217 Services Company
(913) 236-2000 6300 Lamar Avenue
(800) 366-5465 P. O. Box 29217
Shawnee Mission, Kansas
66201-9217
(913) 236-2000
(800) 366-5465
Our INTERNET address is:
http://www.waddell.com
<PAGE>
United Government Securities Fund, Inc.
Class Y Shares
PROSPECTUS
June 30, 1998
The United Group of Mutual Funds
United Asset Strategy Fund, Inc.
United Cash Management, Inc.
United Continental Income Fund, Inc.
United Funds, Inc.
United Bond Fund
United Income Fund
United Accumulative Fund
United Science and Technology Fund
United Gold & Government Fund, Inc.
United Government Securities Fund, Inc.
United High Income Fund, Inc.
United High Income Fund II, Inc.
United International Growth Fund, Inc.
United Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.
United Municipal High Income Fund, Inc.
United New Concepts Fund, Inc.
United Retirement Shares, Inc.
United Vanguard Fund, Inc.
NUP1011-Y(6-98)
printed on recycled paper
<PAGE>
UNITED GOVERNMENT SECURITIES FUND, INC.
6300 Lamar Avenue
P. O. Box 29217
Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66201-9217
(913) 236-2000
(800) 366-5465
June 30, 1998
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This Statement of Additional Information (the "SAI") is not a
prospectus. Investors should read this SAI in conjunction with a prospectus
("Prospectus") for the Class A shares or Class Y shares, as applicable, of
United Government Securities Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") dated June 30, 1998, which
may be obtained from the Fund or its underwriter, Waddell & Reed, Inc., at the
address or telephone number shown above.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Performance Information ............................ 2
Goal and Investment Policies ....................... 4
Investment Management and Other Services ........... 26
Purchase, Redemption and Pricing of Shares ......... 31
Directors and Officers ............................. 47
Payments to Shareholders ........................... 53
Taxes .............................................. 55
Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage ............... 57
Other Information .................................. 60
Financial Statements ............................... 61
<PAGE>
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
Waddell & Reed, Inc., the Fund's underwriter, or the Fund may, from time to
time, publish the Fund's total return, yield information and/or performance
rankings in advertisements and sales materials.
Total Return
An average annual total return quotation is computed by finding the average
annual compounded rates of return over the one-, five-, and ten-year periods
that would equate the initial amount invested to the ending redeemable value.
Standardized total return information is calculated by assuming an initial
$1,000 investment and, for Class A shares, from which the maximum sales load of
4.25% is deducted. All dividends and distributions are assumed to be reinvested
in shares of the applicable class at net asset value for the class as of the day
the dividend or distribution is paid. No sales load is charged on reinvested
dividends or distributions on Class A shares. The formula used to calculate the
total return for a particular class of the Fund is
n
P(1 + T) = ERV
Where : P = $1,000 initial payment
T = Average annual total return
n = Number of years
ERV = Ending redeemable value of the $1,000 investment for the
periods shown.
Non-standardized performance information may also be presented. For
example, the Fund may also compute total return for its Class A shares without
deduction of the sales load in which case the same formula noted above will be
used but the entire amount of the $1,000 initial payment will be assumed to have
been invested. If the sales charge applicable to Class A shares were reflected,
it would reduce the performance quoted for that class.
The average annual total return quotations for Class A shares as of
March 31, 1998, which is the most recent balance sheet included in this SAI, for
the periods shown were as follows:
With Without
Sales LoadSales Load
Deducted Deducted
One-year period from April 1, 1997 to
March 31, 1998: 7.09% 11.84%
Five-year period from April 1, 1993 to
March 31, 1998: 5.43% 6.35%
Ten-year period from April 1, 1988 to
March 31, 1998: 7.83% 8.29%
Prior to July 31, 1995, the Fund offered only one class of shares to the
public. Shares outstanding on that date were designated as Class A shares.
Since that date, Class Y shares of the Fund have been available to certain
institutional investors.
The average annual total return quotations for Class Y shares as of
March 31, 1998, which is the most recent balance sheet included in this SAI, for
the periods shown were as follows:
One year period from April 1, 1997 to
March 31, 1998 12.02%
Period from September 27, 1995* to
March 31, 1998: 7.55
*Date of inception.
The Fund may also quote unaveraged or cumulative total return for a class
which reflects the change in value of an investment in that class over a stated
period of time. Cumulative total returns will be calculated according to the
formula indicated above but without averaging the rate for the number of years
in the period.
Yield
A yield quoted for a class of the Fund is computed by dividing the net
investment income per share of that class earned during the period for which the
yield is shown by the maximum offering price per share of that class on the last
day of that period according to the following formula:
6
Yield = 2((((a - b)/cd)+1) -1)
Where, with respect to a particular class of the Fund:
a = dividends and interest earned during the period.
b = expenses accrued for the period (net of reimbursements).
c = the average daily number of shares of the class outstanding
during the period that were entitled to receive dividends.
d = the maximum offering price per share of the class on the last day
of the period.
The yield for Class A shares of the Fund computed according to the
formula for the 30-day or one month period ended on March 31, 1998, the date of
the most recent balance sheet included in this SAI, is 5.88%. The yield for
Class Y shares of the Fund computed according to the formula for the 30-day or
one month period ended on March 31, 1998, the date of the most recent balance
sheet included in this SAI, is 6.40%.
Changes in yields primarily reflect different interest rates received by
the Fund as its portfolio securities change. Yield is also affected by
portfolio quality, portfolio maturity, type of securities held and operating
expenses of the applicable class.
Performance Rankings
Waddell & Reed, Inc., or the Fund, also may, from time to time, publish in
advertisements and sales material performance rankings as published by
recognized independent mutual fund statistical services such as Lipper
Analytical Services, Inc., or by publications of general interest such as
Forbes, Money, The Wall Street Journal, Business Week, Barron's, Fortune or
Morningstar Mutual Fund Values. Each class of the Fund may also compare its
performance to that of other selected mutual funds or selected recognized market
indicators such as the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index and the
Dow Jones Industrial Average. Performance information may be quoted numerically
or presented in a table, graph or other illustration.
All performance information that the Fund advertises or includes in sales
material is historical in nature and is not intended to represent or guarantee
future results. The value of the Fund's shares when redeemed may be more or
less than their original cost.
<PAGE>
GOAL AND INVESTMENT POLICIES
The goal and investment policies of the Fund are described in the
Prospectus, which refers to the following investment methods and practices.
Specific Securities and Investment Practices
U.S. Government Securities
The Fund invests in debt securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S.
Government or its agencies or instrumentalities ("U.S. Government Securities").
U.S. Government agencies and instrumentalities that issue or guarantee
securities include, but are not limited to, the Federal Housing Administration,
Fannie Mae (formerly, the Federal National Mortgage Association), Farmers Home
Administration, Export-Import Bank of the United States, Small Business
Administration, Government National Mortgage Association ("Ginnie Mae"), General
Services Administration, Central Bank for Cooperatives, Federal Home Loan Banks,
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ("Freddie Mac"), Farm Credit Banks,
Maritime Administration, the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Resolution Funding
Corporation and the Student Loan Marketing Association.
Securities issued or guaranteed by U.S. Government agencies and
instrumentalities are not always supported by the full faith and credit of the
United States. Some, such as securities issued by the Federal Home Loan Banks,
are backed by the right of the agency or instrumentality to borrow from the
Treasury. Others, such as securities issued by Fannie Mae, are supported only
by the credit of the instrumentality and by a pool of mortgage assets. If the
securities are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, the
owner of the securities must look principally to the agency issuing the
obligation for repayment and may not be able to assert a claim against the
United States in the event that the agency or instrumentality does not meet its
commitment. The Fund will invest in securities of agencies and
instrumentalities only if Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company
("WRIMCO"), the Fund's investment manager, is satisfied that the credit risk
involved is acceptable.
Among the U.S. Government Securities that the Fund may purchase are
"mortgage-backed securities" issued by U.S. Government agencies or
instrumentalities including, but not limited to, Ginnie Mae, Freddie Mac and
Fannie Mae. These mortgage-backed securities include pass-through securities,
participation certificates and collateralized mortgage obligations. See
"Mortgage-Backed and Asset-Backed Securities." Timely payment of principal and
interest on Ginnie Mae pass-throughs is guaranteed by the full faith and credit
of the United States. Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae are both instrumentalities of
the U.S. Government, but their obligations are not backed by the full faith and
credit of the United States. It is possible that the availability and the
marketability (i.e., liquidity) of the securities discussed in this paragraph
could be adversely affected by actions of the U.S. Government to tighten the
availability of its credit.
Mortgage-Backed and Asset-Backed Securities
Mortgage-Backed Securities. Mortgage-backed securities represent direct
or indirect participations in, or are secured by and payable from, mortgage
loans secured by real property and include single- and multi-class pass-through
securities and collateralized mortgage obligations. Multi-class pass-through
securities and collateralized mortgage obligations are collectively referred to
in this SAI as "CMOs." The U.S. Government mortgage-backed securities in which
the Fund may invest include mortgage-backed securities issued or guaranteed as
to the payment of principal and interest (but not as to market value) by Ginnie
Mae, Fannie Mae, or Freddie Mac. Other mortgage-backed securities are issued by
private issuers, generally originators of and investors in mortgage loans,
including savings associations, mortgage bankers, commercial banks, investment
bankers and special purpose entities. Payments of principal and interest (but
not the market value) of such private mortgage-backed securities may be
supported by pools of mortgage loans or other mortgage-backed securities that
are guaranteed, directly or indirectly, by the U.S. Government or one of its
agencies or instrumentalities, or they may be issued without any government
guarantee of the underlying mortgage assets but with some form of non-government
credit enhancement. These credit enhancements do not protect investors from
changes in market value.
Other types of mortgage-backed securities will likely be developed in the
future, and the Fund may invest in them if WRIMCO determines they are consistent
with the Fund's goal and investment policies.
Stripped Mortgage-Backed Securities. Stripped mortgage-backed
securities are created when a U.S. Government agency or a financial institution
separates the interest and principal components of a mortgage-backed security
and sells them as individual securities. The holder of the "principal-only"
security ("PO") receives the principal payments made by the underlying mortgage-
backed security, while the holder of the "interest-only" security ("IO")
receives interest payments from the same underlying security.
Asset-Backed Securities. Asset-backed securities have structural
characteristics similar to mortgage-backed securities, as discussed above.
However, the underlying assets are not first lien mortgage loans or interests
therein, but include assets such as motor vehicle installment sales contracts,
other installment sale contracts, home equity loans, leases of various types of
real and personal property and receivables from revolving credit (credit card)
agreements. Such assets are securitized through the use of trusts or special
purpose corporations. Payments or distributions of principal and interest may
be guaranteed up to a certain amount and for a certain time period by a letter
of credit or pool insurance policy issued by a financial institution
unaffiliated with the issuer, or other credit enhancements may be present. The
value of asset-backed securities may also depend on the creditworthiness of the
servicing agent for the loan pool, the originator of the loans, or the financial
institution providing the credit enhancement.
Special Characteristics of Mortgage-Backed and Asset-Backed Securities.
The yield characteristics of mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities differ
from those of traditional debt securities. Among the major differences are that
interest and principal payments are made more frequently, usually monthly, and
that principal may be prepaid at any time because the underlying mortgage loans
or other obligations generally may be prepaid at any time. Prepayments on a
pool of mortgage loans are influenced by a variety of economic, geographic,
social and other factors, including changes in mortgagors' housing needs, job
transfers, unemployment, mortgagors' net equity in the mortgaged properties and
servicing decisions. Generally, however, prepayments on fixed-rate mortgage
loans will increase during a period of falling interest rates and decrease
during a period of rising interest rates. Similar factors apply to prepayments
on asset-backed securities, but the receivables underlying asset-backed
securities generally are of a shorter maturity and thus are likely to experience
substantial prepayments. Such securities, however, often provide that for a
specified time period the issuers will replace receivables in the pool that are
repaid with comparable obligations. If the issuer is unable to do so, repayment
of principal on the asset-backed securities may commence at an earlier date.
The rate of interest on mortgage-backed securities is lower than the
interest rates paid on the mortgages included in the underlying pool due to the
annual fees paid to the servicer of the mortgage pool for passing through
monthly payments to certificateholders and to any guarantor, and due to any
yield retained by the issuer. Actual yield to the holder may vary from the
coupon rate, even if adjustable, if the mortgage-backed securities are purchased
or traded in the secondary market at a premium or discount. In addition, there
is normally some delay between the time the issuer receives mortgage payments
from the servicer and the time the issuer makes the payments on the mortgage-
backed securities, and this delay reduces the effective yield to the holder of
such securities.
Yields on pass-through securities are typically quoted by investment
dealers and vendors based on the maturity of the underlying instruments and the
associated average life assumption. The average life of pass-through pools
varies with the maturities of the underlying mortgage loans. A pool's term may
be shortened by unscheduled or early payments of principal on the underlying
mortgages. Because prepayment rates of individual pools vary widely, it is not
possible to predict accurately the average life of a particular pool. In the
past, a common industry practice has been to assume that prepayments on pools of
fixed-rate 30-year mortgages would result in a 12-year average life for the
pool. At present, mortgage pools, particularly those with loans with other
maturities or different characteristics, are priced on an assumption of average
life determined for each pool. In periods of declining interest rates, the rate
of prepayment tends to increase, thereby shortening the actual average life of a
pool of mortgage-related securities. Conversely, in periods of rising interest
rates, the rate of prepayment tends to decrease, thereby lengthening the actual
average life of the pool. However, these effects may not be present, or may
differ in degree, if the mortgage loans in the pools have adjustable interest
rates or other special payment terms, such as a prepayment charge. Actual
prepayment experience may cause the yield of mortgage-backed securities to
differ from the assumed average life yield.
Variable or Floating Rate Instruments
Variable or floating rate instruments (including notes purchased directly
from issuers) bear variable or floating interest rates and may carry rights that
permit holders to demand payment of the unpaid principal balance plus accrued
interest from the issuers or certain financial intermediaries on dates prior to
their stated maturities. Floating rate securities have interest rates that
change whenever there is a change in a designated base rate while variable rate
instruments provide for a specified periodic adjustment in the interest rate.
These formulas are designed to result in a market value for the instrument that
approximates its par value.
Bank Deposits
The Fund may invest in deposits in banks (represented by certificates of
deposit or other evidence of deposit issued by such banks of varying maturities)
to the extent that the principal of such deposits is insured by the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC"); such deposits are referred to as
"Insured Deposits." Such insurance (and, accordingly, the Fund's investment) is
currently limited to $100,000 per bank; any interest above that amount is not
insured. Insured Deposits are not marketable, and the Fund will invest in them
only within the 10% limit mentioned below under "Illiquid Investments" unless
such obligations are payable at principal amount plus accrued interest on demand
or within seven days after demand.
Lending Securities
One of the ways in which the Fund may try to realize income is by lending
its securities. If the Fund does this, the borrower pays the Fund an amount
equal to the dividends or interest on the securities that the Fund would have
received if it had not loaned the securities. The Fund also receives additional
compensation.
Any securities loans that the Fund makes must be collateralized in
accordance with applicable regulatory requirements (the "Guidelines"). This
policy can be changed only by shareholder vote. Under the present Guidelines,
the collateral must consist of cash, U.S. Government Securities or bank letters
of credit, at least equal in value to the market value of the securities loaned
on each day the loan is outstanding. If the market value of the loaned
securities exceeds the value of the collateral, the borrower must add more
collateral so that it at least equals the market value of the securities loaned.
If the market value of the securities decreases, the borrower is entitled to
return of the excess collateral.
There are two methods of receiving compensation for making loans. The
first is to receive a negotiated loan fee from the borrower. This method is
available for all three types of collateral. The second method, which is not
available when letters of credit are used as collateral, is for the Fund to
receive interest on the investment of the cash collateral or to receive interest
on the U.S. Government Securities used as collateral. Part of the interest
received in either case may be shared with the borrower.
The letters of credit that the Fund may accept as collateral are agreements
by banks (other than the borrowers of the Fund's securities), entered into at
the request of the borrower and for its account and risk, under which the banks
are obligated to pay to the Fund, while the letter is in effect, amounts
demanded by the Fund if the demand meets the terms of the letter. The Fund's
right to make this demand secures the borrower's obligations to it. The terms
of any such letters and the creditworthiness of the banks providing them (which
might include the Fund's custodian bank) must be satisfactory to the Fund.
Under the Fund's current securities lending procedures, the Fund may lend
securities only to broker-dealers and financial institutions deemed creditworthy
by WRIMCO. The Fund will make loans only under rules of the New York Stock
Exchange (the "NYSE") which presently require the borrower to give the
securities back to the Fund within five business days after the Fund gives
notice to do so. If the Fund loses its voting rights on securities loaned, it
will have the securities returned to it in time to vote them if a material event
affecting the investment is to be voted on. The Fund may pay reasonable
finder's, administrative and custodian fees in connection with loans of
securities.
There may be risks of delay in receiving additional collateral from the
borrower if the market value of the securities loaned goes up, risks of delay in
recovering the securities loaned or even loss of rights in the collateral should
the borrower of the securities fail financially.
Some, but not all, of these rules are necessary to meet requirements of
certain laws relating to securities loans. These rules will not be changed
unless the change is permitted under these requirements. These requirements do
not cover the present rules, which may be changed without shareholder vote, as
to (i) whom securities may be loaned, (ii) the investment of cash collateral, or
(iii) voting rights.
Repurchase Agreements
The Fund may purchase securities subject to repurchase agreements. As a
fundamental policy, the Fund will not enter into a repurchase transaction that
will cause more than 10% of its net assets to be invested in illiquid
investments, which include repurchase agreements not terminable within seven
days. See "Illiquid Investments." A repurchase agreement is an instrument
under which the Fund purchases a security and the seller (normally a commercial
bank or broker-dealer) agrees, at the time of purchase, that it will repurchase
the security at a specified time and price. The amount by which the resale
price is greater than the purchase price reflects an agreed-upon market interest
rate effective for the period of the agreement. The return on the securities
subject to the repurchase agreement may be more or less than the return on the
repurchase agreement.
The majority of the repurchase agreements in which the Fund would engage
are overnight transactions, and the delivery pursuant to the resale typically
will occur within one to five days of the purchase. The primary risk is that
the Fund may suffer a loss if the seller fails to pay the agreed-upon amount on
the delivery date and that amount is greater than the resale price of the
underlying securities and other collateral held by the Fund. In the event of
bankruptcy or other default by the seller, there may be possible delays and
expenses in liquidating the underlying securities or other collateral, decline
in their value and loss of interest. The return on such collateral may be more
or less than that from the repurchase agreement. The Fund's repurchase
agreements will be structured so as to fully collateralize the loans. In other
words, the value of the underlying securities, which will be held by the Fund's
custodian bank or by a third party that qualifies as a custodian under Section
17(f) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), is
and, during the entire term of the agreement, will remain at least equal to the
value of the loan, including the accrued interest earned thereon. Repurchase
agreements are entered into only with those entities approved by WRIMCO on the
basis of criteria established by the Board of Directors.
When-Issued and Delayed-Delivery Transactions
The Fund may also purchase U.S. Government Securities on a when-issued or
delayed-delivery basis or sell them on a delayed-delivery basis. The U.S.
Government Securities so purchased by the Fund are subject to market
fluctuation; their value may be less or more when delivered than the purchase
price paid or received. For example, delivery to the Fund and payment by the
Fund in the case of a purchase by it, or delivery by the Fund and payment to it
in the case of a sale by the Fund, may take place a month or more after the date
of the transaction. The purchase or sale price are fixed on the transaction
date. The Fund will enter into when-issued or delayed-delivery transactions in
order to secure what is considered to be an advantageous price and yield at the
time of entering into the transaction. No interest accrues to the Fund until
delivery and payment is completed. When the Fund makes a commitment to purchase
securities on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis, it will record the
transaction and thereafter reflect the value of the securities in determining
its net asset value per share. The U.S. Government Securities sold by the Fund
on a delayed-delivery basis are also subject to market fluctuation; their value
when the Fund delivers them may be more than the purchase price the Fund
receives. When the Fund makes a commitment to sell securities on a delayed-
delivery basis, it will record the transaction and thereafter value the
securities at the sales price in determining the Fund's net asset value per
share.
Ordinarily the Fund purchases U.S. Government Securities on a when-issued
or delayed-delivery basis with the intention of actually taking delivery of the
securities. However, before the securities are delivered to the Fund and before
it has paid for them (the "settlement date"), the Fund could sell the securities
if WRIMCO decided it was advisable to do so for investment reasons. The Fund
will hold aside or segregate cash or liquid assets, other than those purchased
on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis, at least equal to the amount it will
have to pay on the settlement date; these other U.S. Government Securities may,
however, be sold at or before the settlement date to pay the purchase price of
the when-issued or delayed-delivery securities.
Restricted Securities
Restricted securities are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on
resale because they are not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "1933 Act"). Restricted securities generally can be sold in
privately negotiated transactions, pursuant to an exemption from registration
under the 1933 Act, or in a registered public offering. Where registration is
required, the Fund may be obligated to pay all or part of the registration
expense and a considerable period may elapse between the time it decides to seek
registration and the time the Fund may be permitted to sell a security under an
effective registration statement. If, during such a period, adverse market
conditions were to develop, the Fund might obtain a less favorable price than
prevailed when it decided to seek registration of the security.
There are risks associated with investment in restricted securities in that
there can be no assurance of a ready market for resale. Also, the contractual
restrictions on resale might prevent the Fund from reselling the securities at a
time when such sale would be desirable. Restricted securities in which the Fund
seeks to invest need not be listed or admitted to trading on a foreign or
domestic exchange and may be less liquid than listed securities. See "Illiquid
Investments."
Illiquid Investments
The Fund has an operating policy, which may be changed without shareholder
approval, which provides the Fund may not invest more than 10% of its net assets
in illiquid investments. Investments currently considered to be illiquid
include: (i) repurchase agreements not terminable within seven days; (ii)
securities for which market quotations are not readily available; (iii) Insured
Deposits, unless they are payable at principal amount plus accrued interest on
demand or within seven days after demand; (iv) securities involved in swap, cap,
collar and floor transactions; (v) non-government stripped fixed-rate mortgage-
backed securities and (vi) over-the-counter ("OTC") options and their underlying
collateral. The assets used as cover for OTC options written by the Fund will
be considered illiquid unless the OTC options are sold to qualified dealers who
agree that the Fund may repurchase any OTC option it writes at a maximum price
to be calculated by a formula set forth in the option agreement. The cover for
an OTC option written subject to this procedure would be considered illiquid
only to the extent that the maximum repurchase price under the formula exceeds
the intrinsic value of the option.
Indexed Securities
Indexed securities are securities the value of which varies in relation
to the value of other securities, securities indices or other financial
indicators. The Fund may invest in indexed securities only if they are issued
or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities
(subject to its operating policy regarding derivative instruments).
Indexed securities typically, but not always, are debt securities or
deposits whose value at maturity or coupon rate is determined by reference to a
specific instrument or statistic. Certain indexed securities that are not
traded on an established market may be deemed illiquid.
Options, Futures and Other Strategies
General. As discussed in the Prospectus, WRIMCO may use certain options,
futures contracts (sometimes referred to as "futures"), swaps, caps, collars,
floors and indexed securities (collectively, "Financial Instruments") to attempt
to enhance income or yield or to attempt to hedge the Fund's investments.
Hedging strategies can be broadly categorized as "short hedges" and "long
hedges." A short hedge is a purchase or sale of a Financial Instrument intended
partially or fully to offset potential declines in the value of one or more
investments held in the Fund's portfolio. Thus, in a short hedge, the Fund
takes a position in a Financial Instrument whose price is expected to move in
the opposite direction of the price of the investment being hedged.
Conversely, a long hedge is a purchase or sale of a Financial Instrument
intended partially or fully to offset potential increases in the acquisition
cost of one or more investments that the Fund intends to acquire. Thus, in a
long hedge, the Fund takes a position in a Financial Instrument whose price is
expected to move in the same direction as the price of the prospective
investment being hedged. A long hedge is sometimes referred to as an
anticipatory hedge. In an anticipatory hedge transaction, the Fund does not own
a corresponding security and, therefore, the transaction does not relate to a
security the Fund owns. Rather, it relates to a security that the Fund intends
to acquire. If the Fund does not complete the hedge by purchasing the security
it anticipated purchasing, the effect on the Fund's portfolio is the same as if
the transaction were entered into for speculative purposes.
Financial Instruments on securities generally are used to attempt to hedge
against price movements in one or more particular securities positions that the
Fund owns or intends to acquire. Financial Instruments on indices, in contrast,
generally are used to attempt to hedge against price movements in market sectors
in which the Fund has invested or expects to invest. Financial Instruments on
debt securities may be used to hedge either individual securities or broad debt
market sectors.
The use of Financial Instruments is subject to applicable regulations of
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), the several exchanges upon
which they are traded and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the "CFTC").
In addition, the Fund's ability to use Financial Instruments will be limited by
tax considerations. See "Taxes."
In addition to the instruments, strategies and risks described below and in
the Prospectus, WRIMCO expects to discover additional opportunities in
connection with Financial Instruments and other similar or related techniques.
These new opportunities may become available as WRIMCO develops new techniques,
as regulatory authorities broaden the range of permitted transactions and as new
Financial Instruments or other techniques are developed. WRIMCO may utilize
these opportunities to the extent that they are consistent with the Fund's goal
and permitted by the Fund's investment limitations and applicable regulatory
authorities. The Fund's Prospectus or SAI will be supplemented to the extent
that new products or techniques involve materially different risks than those
described below or in the Prospectus.
Special Risks. The use of Financial Instruments involves special
considerations and risks, certain of which are described below. Risks
pertaining to particular Financial Instruments are described in the sections
that follow.
(1) Successful use of most Financial Instruments depends upon WRIMCO's
ability to predict movements of the overall securities and interest rate
markets, which requires different skills than predicting changes in the prices
of individual securities. There can be no assurance that any particular
strategy will succeed.
(2) There might be imperfect correlation, or even no correlation, between
price movements of a Financial Instrument and price movements of the investments
being hedged. For example, if the value of a Financial Instrument used in a
short hedge increased by less than the decline in value of the hedged
investment, the hedge would not be fully successful. Such a lack of correlation
might occur due to factors unrelated to the value of the investments being
hedged, such as speculative or other pressures on the markets in which Financial
Instruments are traded. The effectiveness of hedges using Financial Instruments
on indices will depend on the degree of correlation between price movements in
the index and price movements in the securities being hedged.
Because there are a limited number of types of exchange-traded options and
futures contracts, it is likely that the standardized contracts available will
not match the Fund's current or anticipated investments exactly. The Fund may
invest in options and futures contracts based on securities with different
issuers, maturities, or other characteristics from the securities in which it
typically invests, which involves a risk that the options or futures position
will not track the performance of the Fund's other investments.
Options and futures prices can also diverge from the prices of their
underlying instruments, even if the underlying instruments match the Fund's
investments well. Options and futures prices are affected by such factors as
current and anticipated short-term interest rates, changes in volatility of the
underlying instrument, and the time remaining until expiration of the contract,
which may not affect security prices the same way. Imperfect correlation may
also result from differing levels of demand in the options and futures markets
and the securities markets, from structural differences in how options and
futures and securities are traded, or from imposition of daily price fluctuation
limits or trading halts. The Fund may purchase or sell options and futures
contracts with a greater or lesser value than the securities it wishes to hedge
or intends to purchase in order to attempt to compensate for differences in
volatility between the contract and the securities, although this may not be
successful in all cases. If price changes in the Fund's options or futures
positions are poorly correlated with its other investments, the positions may
fail to produce anticipated gains or result in losses that are not offset by
gains in other investments.
(3) If successful, the above-discussed strategies can reduce risk of loss
by wholly or partially offsetting the negative effect of unfavorable price
movements. However, such strategies can also reduce opportunity for gain by
offsetting the positive effect of favorable price movements. For example, if
the Fund entered into a short hedge because WRIMCO projected a decline in the
price of a security in the Fund's portfolio, and the price of that security
increased instead, the gain from that increase might be wholly or partially
offset by a decline in the price of the Financial Instrument. Moreover, if the
price of the Financial Instrument declined by more than the increase in the
price of the security, the Fund could suffer a loss. In either such case, the
Fund would have been in a better position had it not attempted to hedge at all.
(4) As described below, the Fund might be required to maintain assets as
"cover," maintain segregated accounts or make margin payments when it takes
positions in Financial Instruments involving obligations to third parties (i.e.,
Financial Instruments other than purchased options). If the Fund were unable to
close out its positions in such Financial Instruments, it might be required to
continue to maintain such assets or accounts or make such payments until the
position expired or matured. These requirements might impair the Fund's ability
to sell a portfolio security or make an investment at a time when it would
otherwise be favorable to do so, or require that the Fund sell a portfolio
security at a disadvantageous time. The Fund's ability to close out a position
in a Financial Instrument prior to expiration or maturity depends on the
existence of a liquid secondary market or, in the absence of such a market, the
ability and willingness of the other party to the transaction (the
"counterparty") to enter into a transaction closing out the position.
Therefore, there is no assurance that any position can be closed out at a time
and price that is favorable to the Fund.
Cover. Transactions using Financial Instruments, other than purchased
options, expose the Fund to an obligation to another party. The Fund will not
enter into any such transactions unless it owns either (1) an offsetting
("covered") position in securities or other options or futures contracts, or (2)
cash and liquid assets with a value, marked-to-market daily, sufficient to cover
its potential obligations to the extent not covered as provided in (1) above.
The Fund will comply with SEC guidelines regarding cover for these instruments
and will, if the guidelines so require, set aside cash or liquid assets in an
account with its custodian in the prescribed amount as determined daily.
Assets used as cover or held in an account cannot be sold while the
position in the corresponding Financial Instrument is open, unless they are
replaced with other appropriate assets. As a result, the commitment of a large
portion of the Fund's assets to cover or to accounts could impede portfolio
management or the Fund's ability to meet redemption requests or other current
obligations.
Options. The purchase of call options can serve as a long hedge, and the
purchase of put options can serve as a short hedge. Writing put or call options
can enable the Fund to enhance income or yield by reason of the premiums paid by
the purchasers of such options. However, if the market price of the security
underlying a put option declines to less than the exercise price of the option,
minus the premium received, the Fund would expect to suffer a loss.
Writing call options can serve as a limited short hedge, because declines
in the value of the hedged investment would be offset to the extent of the
premium received for writing the option. However, if the security appreciates
to a price higher than the exercise price of the call option, it can be expected
that the option will be exercised and the Fund will be obligated to sell the
security at less than its market value. If the call option is an OTC option,
the securities or other assets used as cover would be considered illiquid to the
extent described under "Illiquid Investments."
Writing put options can serve as a limited long hedge because increases in
the value of the hedged investment would be offset to the extent of the premium
received for writing the option. However, if the security depreciates to a
price lower than the exercise price of the put option, it can be expected that
the put option will be exercised and the Fund will be obligated to purchase the
security at more than its market value. If the put option is an OTC option, the
securities or other assets used as cover would be considered illiquid to the
extent described under "Illiquid Investments."
The value of an option position will reflect, among other things, the
current market value of the underlying investment, the time remaining until
expiration, the relationship of the exercise price to the market price of the
underlying investment, the historical price volatility of the underlying
investment and general market conditions. Options that expire unexercised have
no value.
The Fund may effectively terminate its right or obligation under an option
by entering into a closing transaction. For example, the Fund may terminate its
obligation under a call or put option that it had written by purchasing an
identical call or put option; this is known as a closing purchase transaction.
Conversely, the Fund may terminate a position in a put or call option it had
purchased by writing an identical put or call option; this is known as a closing
sale transaction. Closing transactions permit the Fund to realize profits or
limit losses on an option position prior to its exercise or expiration.
A type of put that the Fund may purchase is an "optional delivery standby
commitment," which is entered into by parties selling debt securities to the
Fund. An optional delivery standby commitment gives the Fund the right to sell
the security back to the seller on specified terms. This right is provided as
an inducement to purchase the security.
Risks of Options on Securities. The Fund may purchase or write both
exchange-traded and OTC options. Exchange-traded options in the United States
are issued by a clearing organization affiliated with the exchange on which the
option is listed that, in effect, guarantees completion of every exchange-traded
option transaction. In contrast, OTC options are contracts between the Fund and
its counterparty (usually a securities dealer or a bank) with no clearing
organization guarantee. Thus, when the Fund purchases an OTC option, it relies
on the counterparty from whom it purchased the option to make or take delivery
of the underlying investment upon exercise of the option. Failure by the
counterparty to do so would result in the loss of any premium paid by the Fund
as well as the loss of any expected benefit of the transaction.
The Fund's ability to establish and close out positions in exchange-listed
options depends on the existence of a liquid market. However, there can be no
assurance that such a market will exist at any particular time. Closing
transactions can be made for OTC options only by negotiating directly with the
counterparty, or by a transaction in the secondary market if any such market
exists. There can be no assurance that the Fund will in fact be able to close
out an OTC option position at a favorable price prior to expiration. In the
event of insolvency of the counterparty, the Fund might be unable to close out
an OTC option position at any time prior to its expiration.
If the Fund were unable to effect a closing transaction for an option it
had purchased, it would have to exercise the option to realize any profit. The
inability to enter into a closing purchase transaction for a covered call option
written by the Fund could cause material losses because the Fund would be unable
to sell the investment used as cover for the written option until the option
expires or is exercised.
Options on Indices. Puts and calls on indices are similar to puts and
calls on securities or futures contracts except that all settlements are in cash
and gain or loss depends on changes in the index in question rather than on
price movements in individual securities or futures contracts. When the Fund
writes a call on an index, it receives a premium and agrees that, prior to the
expiration date, the purchaser of the call, upon exercise of the call, will
receive from the Fund an amount of cash if the closing level of the index upon
which the call is based is greater than the exercise price of the call. The
amount of cash is equal to the difference between the closing price of the index
and the exercise price of the call times a specified multiple ("multiplier"),
which determines the total dollar value for each point of such difference. When
the Fund buys a call on an index, it pays a premium and has the same rights as
to such call as are indicated above. When the Fund buys a put on an index, it
pays a premium and has the right, prior to the expiration date, to require the
seller of the put, upon the Fund's exercise of the put, to deliver to the Fund
an amount of cash if the closing level of the index upon which the put is based
is less than the exercise price of the put, which amount of cash is determined
by the multiplier, as described above for calls. When the Fund writes a put on
an index, it receives a premium and the purchaser of the put has the right,
prior to the expiration date, to require the Fund to deliver to it an amount of
cash equal to the difference between the closing level of the index and the
exercise price times the multiplier if the closing level is less than the
exercise price.
Risks of Options on Indices. The risks of investment in options on indices
may be greater than options on securities. Because index options are settled in
cash, when the Fund writes a call on an index it cannot provide in advance for
its potential settlement obligations by acquiring and holding the underlying
securities. The Fund can offset some of the risk of writing a call index option
by holding a diversified portfolio of securities similar to those on which the
underlying index is based. However, the Fund cannot, as a practical matter,
acquire and hold a portfolio containing exactly the same securities as underlie
the index and, as a result, bears a risk that the value of the securities held
will vary from the value of the index.
Even if the Fund could assemble a portfolio that exactly reproduced the
composition of the underlying index, it still would not be fully covered from a
risk standpoint because of the "timing risk" inherent in writing index options.
When an index option is exercised, the amount of cash that the holder is
entitled to receive is determined by the difference between the exercise price
and the closing index level on the date when the option is exercised. As with
other kinds of options, the Fund as the call writer will not learn that the Fund
has been assigned until the next business day at the earliest. The time lag
between exercise and notice of assignment poses no risk for the writer of a
covered call on a specific underlying security, such as common stock, because
there the writer's obligation is to deliver the underlying security, not to pay
its value as of a fixed time in the past. So long as the writer already owns
the underlying security, it can satisfy its settlement obligations by simply
delivering it, and the risk that its value may have declined since the exercise
date is borne by the exercising holder. In contrast, even if the writer of an
index call holds securities that exactly match the composition of the underlying
index, it will not be able to satisfy its assignment obligations by delivering
those securities against payment of the exercise price. Instead, it will be
required to pay cash in an amount based on the closing index value on the
exercise date. By the time it learns that it has been assigned, the index may
have declined, with a corresponding decline in the value of its portfolio. This
"timing risk" is an inherent limitation on the ability of index call writers to
cover their risk exposure by holding securities positions.
If the Fund has purchased an index option and exercises it before the
closing index value for that day is available, it runs the risk that the level
of the underlying index may subsequently change. If such a change causes the
exercised option to fall out-of-the-money, the Fund will be required to pay the
difference between the closing index value and the exercise price of the option
(times the applicable multiplier) to the assigned writer.
OTC Options. Unlike exchange-traded options, which are standardized with
respect to the underlying instrument, expiration date, contract size and strike
price, the terms of OTC options (options not traded on exchanges) generally are
established through negotiation with the other party to the option contract.
While this type of arrangement allows the Fund great flexibility to tailor the
option to its needs, OTC options generally involve greater risk than exchange-
traded options, which are guaranteed by the clearing organization of the
exchanges where they are traded.
Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts. The purchase of
futures or call options on such futures can serve as a long hedge, and the sale
of futures or the purchase of put options on such futures can serve as a short
hedge. Writing call options on futures contracts can serve as a limited short
hedge, using a strategy similar to that used for writing call options on
securities or indices. Similarly, writing put options on futures contracts can
serve as a limited long hedge. Futures contracts and options on futures
contracts can also be purchased and sold to attempt to enhance income or yield.
In addition, futures strategies can be used to manage the average duration
of the Fund's fixed-income portfolio. If WRIMCO wishes to shorten the average
duration of the Fund's fixed-income portfolio, the Fund may sell a debt futures
contract or a call option thereon, or purchase a put option on that futures
contract. If WRIMCO wishes to lengthen the average duration of the Fund's
fixed-income portfolio, the Fund may buy a debt futures contract or a call
option thereon, or sell a put option thereon.
No price is paid upon entering into a futures contract. Instead, at the
inception of a futures contract the Fund is required to deposit "initial margin"
in an amount generally equal to 10% or less of the contract value. Margin must
also be deposited when writing a call or put option on a futures contract, in
accordance with applicable exchange rules. Unlike margin in securities
transactions, initial margin on futures contracts does not represent a
borrowing, but rather is in the nature of a performance bond or good-faith
deposit that is returned to the Fund at the termination of the transaction if
all contractual obligations have been satisfied. Under certain circumstances,
such as periods of high volatility, the Fund may be required by an exchange to
increase the level of its initial margin payment, and initial margin
requirements might be increased generally in the future by regulatory action.
Subsequent "variation margin" payments are made to and from the futures
broker daily as the value of the futures position varies, a process known as
"marking-to-market." Variation margin does not involve borrowing, but rather
represents a daily settlement of the Fund's obligations to or from a futures
broker. When the Fund purchases an option on a future, the premium paid plus
transaction costs is all that is at risk. In contrast, when the Fund purchases
or sells a futures contract or writes a call or put option thereon, it is
subject to daily variation margin calls that could be substantial in the event
of adverse price movements. If the Fund has insufficient cash to meet daily
variation margin requirements, it might need to sell securities at a time when
such sales are disadvantageous.
Purchasers and sellers of futures contracts and options on futures can
enter into offsetting closing transactions, similar to closing transactions on
options, by selling or purchasing, respectively, an instrument identical to the
instrument purchased or sold. Positions in futures and options on futures may
be closed only on an exchange or board of trade that provides a secondary
market. However, there can be no assurance that a liquid secondary market will
exist for a particular contract at a particular time. In such event, it may not
be possible to close a futures contract or options position.
Under certain circumstances, futures exchanges may establish daily limits
on the amount that the price of a futures contract or an option on a futures
contract can vary from the previous day's settlement price; once that limit is
reached, no trades may be made that day at a price beyond the limit. Daily
price limits do not limit potential losses because prices could move to the
daily limit for several consecutive days with little or no trading, thereby
preventing liquidation of unfavorable positions.
If the Fund were unable to liquidate a futures contract or an option on a
futures position due to the absence of a liquid secondary market or the
imposition of price limits, it could incur substantial losses. The Fund would
continue to be subject to market risk with respect to the position. In
addition, except in the case of purchased options, the Fund would continue to be
required to make daily variation margin payments and might be required to
maintain the position being hedged by the futures contract or option or to
maintain cash or liquid assets in an account.
Risks of Futures Contracts and Options Thereon. The ordinary spreads
between prices in the cash and futures markets (including the options on futures
market), due to differences in the nature of those markets, are subject to the
following factors, which may create distortions. First, all participants in the
futures market are subject to margin deposit and maintenance requirements.
Rather than meeting additional margin deposit requirements, investors may close
future contracts through offsetting transactions, which could distort the normal
relationship between the cash and futures markets. Second, the liquidity of the
futures market depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions,
rather than making or taking delivery. To the extent participants decide to
make or take delivery, liquidity in the futures market could be reduced, thus
producing distortion. Third, from the point of view of speculators, the deposit
requirements in the futures market are less onerous than margin requirements in
the securities market. Therefore, increased participation by speculators in the
futures market may cause temporary price distortions. Due to the possibility of
distortion, a correct forecast of general interest rate trends by WRIMCO may
still not result in a successful transaction. WRIMCO may be incorrect in its
expectations as to the extent of various interest rate movements or the time
span within which the movements take place.
Index Futures. The risk of imperfect correlation between movements in the
price of an index futures and movements in the price of the securities that are
the subject of the hedge increases as the composition of the Fund's portfolio
diverges from the securities included in the applicable index. The price of the
index futures may move more than or less than the price of the securities being
hedged. If the price of the index futures moves less than the price of the
securities that are the subject of the hedge, the hedge will not be fully
effective but, if the price of the securities being hedged has moved in an
unfavorable direction, the Fund would be in a better position than if it had not
hedged at all. If the price of the securities being hedged has moved in a
favorable direction, this advantage will be partially offset by the futures
contract. If the price of the futures contract moves more than the price of the
securities, the Fund will experience either a loss or a gain on the futures
contract that will not be completely offset by movements in the price of the
securities that are the subject of the hedge. To compensate for the imperfect
correlation of movements in the price of the securities being hedged and
movements in the price of the index futures, the Fund may buy or sell index
futures in a greater dollar amount than the dollar amount of the securities
being hedged if the historical volatility of the prices of such securities being
hedged is more than the historical volatility of the prices of the securities
included in the index. It is also possible that, where the Fund has sold index
futures contracts to hedge against decline in the market, the market may advance
and the value of the securities held in the portfolio may decline. If this
occurred, the Fund would lose money on the futures contract and also experience
a decline in value of its portfolio securities. However, while this could occur
for a very brief period or to a very small degree, over time the value of a
diversified portfolio of securities will tend to move in the same direction as
the market indices on which the futures contracts are based.
Where index futures are purchased to hedge against a possible increase in
the price of securities before the Fund is able to invest in them in an orderly
fashion, it is possible that the market may decline instead. If the Fund then
concludes not to invest in them at that time because of concern as to possible
further market decline or for other reasons, it will realize a loss on the
futures contract that is not offset by a reduction in the price of the
securities it had anticipated purchasing.
To the extent that the Fund enters into futures contracts or options on
futures contracts, in each case other than for bona fide hedging purposes (as
defined by the CFTC), the aggregate initial margin and premiums required to
establish those positions (excluding the amount by which options are "in-the-
money" at the time of purchase) will not exceed 5% of the liquidation value of
the Fund's portfolio, after taking into account unrealized profits and
unrealized losses on any contracts the Fund has entered into. (In general, a
call option on a futures contract is "in-the-money" if the value of the
underlying futures contract exceeds the strike, i.e., exercise, price of the
call; a put option on a futures contract is "in-the-money" if the value of the
underlying futures contract is exceeded by the strike price of the put.) This
policy does not limit to 5% the percentage of the Fund's assets that are at risk
in futures contracts and options on futures contracts.
Combined Positions. The Fund may purchase and write options in combination
with each other, or in combination with futures contracts, to adjust the risk
and return characteristics of its overall position. For example, the Fund may
purchase a put option and write a call option on the same underlying instrument,
in order to construct a combined position whose risk and return characteristics
are similar to selling a futures contract. Another possible combined position
would involve writing a call option at one strike price and buying a call option
at a lower price, in order to reduce the risk of the written call option in the
event of a substantial price increase. Because combined options positions
involve multiple trades, they result in higher transaction costs and may be more
difficult to open and close out.
Turnover. The Fund's options and futures activities may affect its
turnover rate and brokerage commission payments. The exercise of calls or puts
written by the Fund, and the sale or purchase of futures contracts, may cause it
to sell or purchase related investments, thus increasing its turnover rate.
Once the Fund has received an exercise notice on an option it has written, it
cannot effect a closing transaction in order to terminate its obligation under
the option and must deliver or receive the underlying securities at the exercise
price. The exercise of puts purchased by the Fund may also cause the sale of
related investments, also increasing turnover; although such exercise is within
the Fund's control, holding a protective put might cause it to sell the related
investments for reasons that would not exist in the absence of the put. The
Fund will pay a brokerage commission each time it buys or sells a put or call or
purchases or sells a futures contract. Such commissions may be higher than
those that would apply to direct purchases or sales.
Swaps, Caps, Collars and Floors. Swap agreements, including caps, collars
and floors, can be individually negotiated and structured to include exposure to
a variety of different types of investments or market factors. Depending on
their structure, swap agreements may increase or decrease the Fund's exposure to
long- or short-term interest rates, mortgage-backed security values, corporate
borrowing rates, or other factors such as security prices or inflation rates.
Swap agreements will tend to shift the Fund's investment exposure from one
type of investment to another. Caps and floors have an effect similar to buying
or writing options.
The creditworthiness of firms with which the Fund enters into swaps, caps
or floors will be monitored by WRIMCO in accordance with procedures adopted by
the Fund's Board of Directors. If a default occurs by the other party to such
transaction, the Fund will have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements
related to the transaction.
The net amount of the excess, if any, of the Fund's obligations over its
entitlements with respect to each swap will be accrued on a daily basis and an
amount of cash or liquid assets having an aggregate net asset value at least
equal to the accrued excess will be maintained in an account with the Fund's
custodian that satisfies the requirements of the 1940 Act. The Fund will also
establish and maintain such account with respect to its total obligations under
any swaps that are not entered into on a net basis and with respect to any caps
or floors that are written by the Fund. WRIMCO and the Fund believe that such
obligations do not constitute senior securities under the 1940 Act and,
accordingly, will not treat them as being subject to the Fund's borrowing
restrictions.
Investment Restrictions
Certain of the Fund's investment restrictions and policies are described in
the Prospectus. The following are also fundamental policies and, together with
certain restrictions described in the Prospectus, cannot be changed without
shareholder approval. Under these additional restrictions, the Fund may not:
(i) Purchase or sell any securities or physical commodities other than
U.S. Government Securities; however, this policy shall not prevent the
Fund from purchasing and selling (a) foreign currency if a U.S.
Government Security that the Fund owns or intends to acquire is
denominated in that foreign currency and (b) futures contracts,
options, forward contracts, swaps, caps, collars, floors and other
financial instruments if the return on, or value of, the financial
instrument is based on the return on or value of U.S. Government
Securities;
(ii) Buy any voting securities, any mineral related programs or leases or
any shares of other investment companies;
(iii) Buy real estate nor any nonliquid interest in real estate investment
trusts; however, the Fund may buy obligations or instruments which it
may otherwise buy even though the issuer invests in real estate or
interests in real estate;
(iv) Make loans other than certain limited types of loans as indicated
above; the Fund can buy debt securities and other obligations
consistent with its goal and other investment policies and
restrictions; it can also lend its portfolio securities (see "Lending
Securities" above) and enter into repurchase agreements except as
indicated above (see "Repurchase Agreements" above);
(v) Participate on a joint, or a joint and several, basis in any trading
account in any securities;
(vi) Sell securities short (unless it owns or has the right to obtain
securities equivalent in kind and amount to the securities sold short)
or purchase securities on margin, except that (1) this policy does not
prevent the Fund from entering into short positions in foreign
currency, futures contracts, options, forward contracts, swaps, caps,
collars, floors and other financial instruments, (2) the Fund may
obtain such short-term credits as are necessary for the clearance of
transactions, and (3) the Fund may make margin payments in connection
with futures contracts, options, forward contracts, swaps, caps,
collars, floors and other financial instruments;
(vii) Engage in the underwriting of securities, that is, the selling of
securities for others;
(viii) Borrow to purchase securities or increase income, but only to meet
redemptions so it will not have to sell portfolio securities for this
purpose. The Fund may borrow money from banks for temporary or
emergency purposes but only up to 10% of its total assets. It can
mortgage or pledge its assets in connection with such borrowing but
only up to the lesser of the amounts borrowed or 5% of the value of
the Fund's assets. The Fund will not purchase securities while
outstanding borrowings are more than 5% of the value of its assets.
Interest on borrowing would reduce the Fund's income.
Portfolio Turnover
A portfolio turnover rate is, in general, the percentage computed by
taking the lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities for a year and
dividing it by the monthly average of the market value of such securities during
the year, excluding certain short-term securities. The Fund's turnover rate may
vary greatly from year to year as well as within a particular year and may be
affected by cash requirements for the redemption of its shares. The Fund's
portfolio turnover rate for the fiscal years ended March 31, 1998 and 1997, was
35.18% and 34.18%, respectively.
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AND OTHER SERVICES
The Management Agreement
The Fund has an Investment Management Agreement (the "Management
Agreement") with Waddell & Reed, Inc. On January 8, 1992, subject to the
authority of the Fund's Board of Directors, Waddell & Reed, Inc. assigned the
Management Agreement and all related investment management duties (and related
professional staff) to WRIMCO, a wholly owned subsidiary of Waddell & Reed, Inc.
Under the Management Agreement, WRIMCO is employed to supervise the investments
of the Fund and provide investment advice to the Fund. The address of WRIMCO
and Waddell & Reed. Inc. is 6300 Lamar Avenue, P. O. Box 29217, Shawnee Mission,
Kansas 66201-9217. Waddell & Reed, Inc. is the Fund's underwriter.
The Management Agreement permits Waddell & Reed, Inc. or an affiliate of
Waddell & Reed, Inc. to enter into a separate agreement for transfer agency
services ("Shareholder Servicing Agreement") and a separate agreement for
accounting services ("Accounting Services Agreement") with the Fund. The
Management Agreement contains detailed provisions as to the matters to be
considered by the Fund's Board of Directors prior to approving any Shareholder
Servicing Agreement or Accounting Services Agreement.
Torchmark Corporation and Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc.
WRIMCO is a wholly owned subsidiary of Waddell & Reed, Inc. Waddell &
Reed, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Waddell & Reed Financial Services,
Inc., a holding company. Waddell & Reed Financial Services, Inc. is a wholly
owned subsidiary of Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. Waddell & Reed Financial,
Inc. is a subsidiary of Torchmark Corporation. Torchmark Corporation is a
publicly held company. The address of Torchmark Corporation is 2001 Third
Avenue South, Birmingham, Alabama 35233.
Waddell & Reed, Inc. and its predecessors served as investment manager
to each of the registered investment companies in the United Group of Mutual
Funds, except United Asset Strategy Fund, Inc., since 1940 or the company's
inception date, whichever was later, and to TMK/United Funds, Inc. since that
fund's inception, until January 8, 1992, when it assigned its duties as
investment manager for these funds (and the related professional staff) to
WRIMCO. WRIMCO has also served as investment manager for Waddell & Reed Funds,
Inc. since its inception in September 1992, and United Asset Strategy Fund, Inc.
since it commenced operations in March 1995. Waddell & Reed, Inc. serves as
principal underwriter for the investment companies in the United Group of Mutual
Funds and Waddell & Reed Funds, Inc. and acts as principal underwriter and
distributor for variable life insurance and variable annuity policies issued by
United Investors Life Insurance Company for which TMK/United Funds, Inc. is the
underlying investment vehicle.
Shareholder Services
Under the Shareholder Servicing Agreement entered into between the Fund and
Waddell & Reed Services Company (the "Agent"), a subsidiary of Waddell & Reed,
Inc., the Agent performs shareholder servicing functions, including the
maintenance of shareholder accounts, the issuance, transfer and redemption of
shares, distribution of dividends and payment of redemptions, the furnishing of
related information to the Fund and handling of shareholder inquiries. A new
Shareholder Servicing Agreement, or amendments to the existing one, may be
approved by the Fund's Board of Directors without shareholder approval.
Accounting Services
Under the Accounting Services Agreement entered into between the Fund and
the Agent, the Agent provides the Fund with bookkeeping and accounting services
and assistance, including maintenance of the Fund's records, pricing of the
Fund's shares, and preparation of prospectuses for existing shareholders, proxy
statements and certain reports. A new Accounting Services Agreement, or
amendments to an existing one, may be approved by the Fund's Board of Directors
without shareholder approval.
Payments by the Fund for Management, Accounting and Shareholder Services
Under the Management Agreement, for WRIMCO's management services, the
Fund pays WRIMCO a fee as described in the Prospectus. The management fees paid
to WRIMCO during the fiscal years ended March 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996 were
516,182, $559,782 and $625,544, respectively.
For purposes of calculating the daily fee the Fund does not include money
owed to it by Waddell & Reed, Inc. for shares which it has sold but not yet paid
the Fund. The Fund accrues and pays this fee daily.
Under the Shareholder Servicing Agreement, with respect to Class A
shares, the Fund pays the Agent a monthly fee of $1.3125 for each shareholder
account that was in existence at any time during the prior month, plus $.30 for
each account on which a dividend or distribution, of cash or shares, had a
record date in that month, and $.75 for each shareholder check it processes.
For Class Y shares, the Fund pays the Agent a monthly fee equal to one-twelfth
of .15 of 1% of the average daily net assets of that class for the preceding
month. The Fund also pays certain out-of-pocket expenses of the Agent,
including long distance telephone communications costs, microfilm and storage
costs for certain documents, forms, printing and mailing costs, and costs of
legal and special services not provided by Waddell & Reed, Inc., WRIMCO or the
Agent.
Under the Accounting Services Agreement, the Fund pays the Agent a monthly
fee of one-twelfth of the annual fee shown in the following table.
Accounting Services Fee
Average
Net Asset Level Annual Fee
(all dollars in millions) Rate for Each Level
------------------------- -------------------
From $ 0 to $ 10 $ 0
From $ 10 to $ 25 $ 10,000
From $ 25 to $ 50 $ 20,000
From $ 50 to $ 100 $ 30,000
From $ 100 to $ 200 $ 40,000
From $ 200 to $ 350 $ 50,000
From $ 350 to $ 550 $ 60,000
From $ 550 to $ 750 $ 70,000
From $ 750 to $1,000 $ 85,000
$1,000 and Over $100,000
Fees paid to the Agent for the fiscal years ended March 31, 1998, 1997
and 1996 were 40,000, $40,000 and $40,000, respectively.
Since the Fund pays a management fee for investment supervision and an
accounting services fee for accounting services as discussed above, WRIMCO and
the Agent, respectively, pay all of their own expenses in providing these
services. Amounts paid by the Fund under the Shareholder Servicing Agreement
are described above. Waddell & Reed, Inc. and affiliates pay the Fund's
Directors and officers who are affiliated with WRIMCO and its affiliates. The
Fund pays the fees and expenses of the Fund's other Directors.
Waddell & Reed, Inc., under an agreement separate from the Management
Agreement, Shareholder Servicing Agreement and Accounting Services Agreement,
acts as the Fund's underwriter, i.e., sells its shares on a continuous basis.
Waddell & Reed, Inc. is not required to sell any particular number of shares,
and thus sells shares only for purchase orders received. Under this agreement,
Waddell & Reed, Inc. pays the costs of sales literature, including the costs of
shareholder reports used as sales literature, and the costs of printing the
prospectus furnished to it by the Fund. The aggregate dollar amounts of
underwriting commissions for Class A shares for the fiscal years ended March 31,
1998, 1997 and 1996 were $292,989, $274,363 and $393,413, respectively. The
amounts retained by Waddell & Reed, Inc. for each fiscal year were $123,079,
$116,643 and $171,342, respectively.
A major portion of the sales charge for Class A shares is paid to account
representatives and managers of Waddell & Reed, Inc. Waddell & Reed, Inc. may
compensate its account representatives as to purchases for which there is no
sales charge.
The Fund pays all of its other expenses. These include the costs of
materials sent to shareholders, audit and outside legal fees, taxes, brokerage
commissions, interest, insurance premiums, custodian fees, fees payable by the
Fund under Federal or other securities laws and to the Investment Company
Institute and nonrecurring and extraordinary expenses, including litigation and
indemnification relating to litigation.
Under a Distribution and Service Plan for Class A shares (the "Plan")
adopted by the Fund pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, the Fund may pay
Waddell & Reed, Inc., the principal underwriter for the Fund, a fee not to
exceed 0.25% of the Fund's average annual net assets attributable to Class A
shares, paid monthly, to reimburse Waddell & Reed, Inc. for its costs and
expenses in connection with the distribution of the Class A shares and/or the
service and/or maintenance of Class A shareholder accounts.
Waddell & Reed, Inc. offers the Fund's shares through its registered
representatives and sales managers (sales force) unless it elects, which is not
currently contemplated for Class A shares, to make distribution of shares also
through other broker-dealers. In distributing shares through its sales force,
Waddell & Reed, Inc. will pay commissions and incentives to the sales force at
or about the time of sale and will incur other expenses including for
prospectuses, sales literature, advertisements, sales office maintenance,
processing of orders and general overhead with respect to its efforts to
distribute the Fund's shares. The Plan permits Waddell & Reed, Inc. to receive
reimbursement for these Class A-related distribution activities through the
distribution fee, subject to the limit contained in the Plan. The Plan also
permits Waddell & Reed, Inc. to be reimbursed for amounts it expends in
compensating, training and supporting registered account representatives, sales
managers and/or other appropriate personnel in providing personal services to
Class A shareholders of the Fund and/or maintaining Class A shareholder
accounts; increasing services provided to Class A shareholders of the Fund by
office personnel located at field sales offices; engaging in other activities
useful in providing personal service to Class A shareholders of the Fund and/or
maintenance of Class A shareholder accounts; and in compensating broker-dealers
who may regularly sell Class A shares of the Fund, and other third parties, for
providing shareholder services and/or maintaining shareholder accounts with
respect to Class A shares.
Fees paid (or accrued) as service fees by the Fund with respect to Class
A shares for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1998 were $197,980.
The Plan was approved by the Fund's Board of Directors, including the
Directors who are not interested persons of the Fund and who have no direct or
indirect financial interest in the operations of the Plan or any agreement
referred to in the Plan (hereafter, the "Plan Directors"). The Plan was also
approved by the affected shareholders of the Fund.
Among other things, the Plan provides that (i) Waddell & Reed, Inc. will
provide to the Directors of the Fund at least quarterly, and the Directors will
review, a report of amounts expended under the Plan and the purposes for which
such expenditures were made, (ii) the Plan will continue in effect only so long
as it is approved at least annually, and any material amendments thereto will be
effective only if approved, by the Directors including the Plan Directors acting
in person at a meeting called for that purpose, (iii) amounts to be paid by the
Fund under the Plan may not be materially increased without the vote of the
holders of a majority of the outstanding Class A shares of the Fund, and (iv)
while the Plan remains in effect, the selection and nomination of the Directors
who are Plan Directors will be committed to the discretion of the Plan
Directors.
Custodial and Auditing Services
The Fund's Custodian is UMB Bank, n.a., Kansas City, Missouri. In general,
the Custodian is responsible for holding the Fund's cash and securities.
Deloitte & Touche LLP, Kansas City, Missouri, the Fund's independent
accountants, audits the Fund's financial statements.
Year 2000 Issue
Like other mutual funds, financial and business organizations and
individuals around the world, the Fund could be adversely affected if the
computer systems used by WRIMCO and the Fund's other service providers do not
properly process and calculate date-related information and data from and after
January 1, 2000. This is commonly known as the "Year 2000 Problem." WRIMCO is
taking steps that it believes are reasonably designed to address the Year 2000
Problem with respect to the computer systems that it uses and to obtain
assurances that comparable steps are being taken by the Fund's other, major
service providers. Although there can be no assurances, WRIMCO believes these
steps will be sufficient to avoid any adverse impact on the Fund.
PURCHASE, REDEMPTION AND PRICING OF SHARES
Determination of Offering Price
The net asset value of each class of the shares of the Fund is the value of
the assets of that class, less the class's liabilities, divided by the total
number of outstanding shares of that class.
Class A shares of the Fund are sold at their next determined net asset
value plus the sales charge described in the Prospectus. The price makeup as of
March 31, 1998 was as follows:
Net asset value per Class A share (Class A
net assets divided by Class A shares
outstanding) ............................. $5.46
Add: selling commission (4.25% of offering
price) ................................... .24
-----
Maximum offering price per Class A share
(Class A net asset value divided by 95.75%) $5.70
=====
The offering price of a Class A share is its net asset value next
determined following acceptance of a purchase order plus the sales charge. The
offering price of a Class Y share is the net asset value next determined
following acceptance of a purchase order. The number of shares you receive for
your purchase depends on the next offering price after Waddell & Reed, Inc.
receives and accepts your order at its principal business office at the address
shown on the cover of this SAI. You will be sent a confirmation after your
purchase which will indicate how many shares you have purchased. Shares are
normally issued for cash only.
Waddell & Reed, Inc. need not accept any purchase order, and it or the Fund
may determine to discontinue offering Fund shares for purchase.
The net asset value and offering price per share are ordinarily computed
once each day that the NYSE is open for trading as of the later of the close of
the regular session of the NYSE or the close of the regular session of any
domestic securities or commodities exchange on which an option or future held by
the Fund is traded. The NYSE annually announces the days on which it will not
be open for trading. The most recent announcement indicates that it will not be
open on the following days: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day,
Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day,
Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. However, it is possible that the NYSE may
close on other days. The net asset value will change every business day, since
the value of the assets and the number of shares outstanding change every
business day.
The Board of Directors has decided to use the prices quoted by a dealer in
bonds which offers a pricing service to value U.S. Government Securities. The
Board believes that such a service does quote their fair value. The Board,
however, may hereafter determine to use another service or use the bid price
quoted by dealers if it should determine that such service or quotes more
accurately reflect the fair value of U.S. Government Securities held by the
Fund.
Short-term U.S. Government Securities are valued at amortized cost, which
approximates market value. Securities or other assets which are not valued by
either of the foregoing methods and for which market quotations are not readily
available would be valued by appraisal at their fair value as determined in good
faith under procedures established by and under the general supervision and
responsibility of the Board of Directors.
Puts, calls and Government Securities Futures purchased and held by the
Fund are valued at the last sales price thereof on the securities or commodities
exchanges on which they are traded, or, if there are no transactions, at the
mean between bid and asked prices. Ordinarily, the close of the regular session
of option trading on national securities exchanges is 4:10 p.m. Eastern time and
the close of the regular session of commodities exchanges is 4:15 p.m. Eastern
time. Futures contracts will be valued by reference to established futures
exchanges. The value of a futures contract purchased by the Fund will be either
the closing price of that contract or the bid price. Conversely, the value of a
futures contract sold by the Fund will be either the closing price or the asked
price.
When the Fund writes a put or call, an amount equal to the premium received
is included in the Fund's Statement of Assets and Liabilities as an asset, and
an equivalent deferred credit is included in the liability section. The
deferred credit is "marked-to-market" to reflect the current market value of the
put or call. If a call the Fund wrote is exercised, the proceeds received on
the sale of the related investment are increased by the amount of the premium
the Fund received. If the Fund exercised a call it purchased, the amount paid
to purchase the related investments is increased by the amount of the premium
paid. If a put written by the Fund is exercised, the amount the Fund pays to
purchase the related investment is decreased by the amount of the premium it
received. If the Fund exercises a put it purchased, the amount the Fund
receives from the sale of the related investment is reduced by the amount of the
premium it paid. If a put or call written by the Fund expires, it has a gain in
the amount of the premium; if it enters into a closing purchase transaction, the
Fund will have a gain or loss depending on whether the premium was more or less
than the cost of the closing transaction.
Minimum Initial and Subsequent Investments
For Class A shares, initial investments must be at least $500, with the
exceptions described in this paragraph. A $100 minimum initial investment
pertains to certain exchanges of shares from another fund in the United Group.
A $50 minimum initial investment pertains to purchases for certain retirement
plan accounts and to accounts for which an investor has arranged, at the time of
initial investment, to make subsequent purchases for the account by having
regular monthly withdrawals of $25 or more made from a bank account. A minimum
initial investment of $25 is applicable to purchases made through payroll
deduction for or by employees of WRIMCO, Waddell & Reed, Inc., their affiliates,
or certain retirement plan accounts. Except with respect to certain exchanges
and automatic withdrawals from a bank account, a shareholder may make subsequent
investments of any amount. See "Exchanges for Shares of Other Funds in the
United Group."
For Class Y shares, investments by government entities or authorities or by
corporations must total at least $10 million within the first twelve months
after initial investment. There is no initial investment minimum for other
Class Y investors.
Reduced Sales Charges (Applicable to Class A Shares Only)
Account Grouping
Large purchases of Class A shares are subject to lower sales charges. The
schedule of sales charges appears in the Prospectus for Class A shares. For the
purpose of taking advantage of the lower sales charges available for large
purchases, a purchase in any of categories 1 through 7 listed below made by an
individual or deemed to be made by an individual may be grouped with purchases
in any other of these categories:
1. Purchases by an individual for his or her own account (includes purchases
under the United Funds Revocable Trust Form);
2. Purchases by that individual's spouse purchasing for his or her own account
(includes United Funds Revocable Trust Form of spouse);
3. Purchases by that individual or his or her spouse in their joint account;
4. Purchases by that individual or his or her spouse for the account of their
child under age 21;
5. Purchase by any custodian for the child of that individual or spouse in a
Uniform Gift to Minors Act ("UGMA") or Uniform Transfers to Minors Act
("UTMA") account;
6. Purchases by that individual or his or her spouse for his or her Individual
Retirement Account ("IRA"), Section 457 of the Code salary reduction plan
account provided that such purchases are subject to a sales charge (see
"Net Asset Value Purchases"), tax sheltered annuity account ("TSA") or
Keogh plan account, provided that the individual and spouse are the only
participants in the Keogh plan; and
7. Purchases by a trustee under a trust where that individual or his or her
spouse is the settlor (the person who establishes the trust).
Examples:
A. Grandmother opens an UGMA account for grandson A; Grandmother has an
account in her own name; A's father has an account in his own name;
the UGMA account may be grouped with A's father's account but may not
be grouped with Grandmother's account;
B. H establishes a trust naming his children as beneficiaries and
appointing himself and his bank as co-trustees; a purchase made in the
trust account is eligible for grouping with an IRA account of W, H's
wife;
C. H's will provides for the establishment of a trust for the benefit of
his minor children upon H's death; his bank is named as trustee; upon
H's death, an account is established in the name of the bank, as
trustee; a purchase in the account may be grouped with an account held
by H's wife in her own name.
D. X establishes a trust naming herself as trustee and R, her son, as
successor trustee and R and S as beneficiaries; upon X's death, the
account is transferred to R as trustee; a purchase in the account may
not be grouped with R's individual account. If X's spouse, Y, was
successor trustee, this purchase could be grouped with Y's individual
account.
All purchases of Class A shares made for a participant in a multi-
participant Keogh plan may be grouped only with other purchases made under the
same plan; a multi-participant Keogh plan is defined as a plan in which there is
more than one participant where one or more of the participants is other than
the spouse of the owner/employer.
Example A: H has established a Keogh plan; he and his wife W are the only
participants in the plan; they may group their purchases made under
the plan with any purchases in categories 1 through 7 above.
Example B: H has established a Keogh plan; his wife, W, is a participant and
they have hired one or more employees who also become participants
in the plan; H and W may not combine any purchases made under the
plan with any purchases in categories 1 through 7 above; however,
all purchases made under the plan for H, W or any other employee
will be combined.
All purchases of Class A shares made under a "qualified" employee benefit
plan of an incorporated business will be grouped. A "qualified" employee
benefit plan is established pursuant to Section 401 of the Code. All qualified
employee benefit plans of any one employer or affiliated employers will also be
grouped. An affiliate is defined as an employer that directly, or indirectly,
controls or is controlled by or is under control with another employer.
Example: Corporation X sets up a defined benefit plan; its subsidiary,
Corporation Y, sets up a 401(k) plan; all contributions made under
both plans will be grouped.
All purchases of Class A shares made under a simplified employee pension
plan ("SEP"), payroll deduction plan or similar arrangement adopted by an
employer or affiliated employers (as defined above) may be grouped provided that
the employer elects to have all such purchases grouped at the time the plan is
set up. If the employer does not make such an election, the purchases made by
individual employees under the plan may be grouped with the other accounts of
the individual employees described above in "Account Grouping."
Account grouping as described above is available under the following
circumstances.
One-time Purchases
A one-time purchase of Class A shares in accounts eligible for grouping may
be combined for purposes of determining the availability of a reduced sales
charge. In order for an eligible purchase to be grouped, the investor must
advise Waddell & Reed, Inc. at the time the purchase is made that it is eligible
for grouping and identify the accounts with which it may be grouped.
Example: H and W open an account in the Fund and invest $100,000; at the same
time, H's parents open up two UGMA accounts for H and W's two minor
children and invest $100,000 in each child's name; the combined
purchases of Class A shares are subject to the reduced sales load
applicable to a purchase of $300,000 provided that Waddell & Reed,
Inc. is advised that the purchases are entitled to grouping.
Rights of Accumulation
If Class A shares are held in any account and an additional purchase is
made in that account or in any account eligible for grouping with that account,
the additional purchase is combined with the net asset value of the existing
account as of the date the new purchase is accepted by Waddell & Reed, Inc. for
the purpose of determining the availability of a reduced sales charge.
Example: H is a current Class A shareholder who invested in the Fund three
years ago. His account has a net asset value of $100,000. His wife,
W, now wishes to invest $15,000 in Class A shares of the Fund. W's
purchase will be combined with H's existing account and will be
entitled to the reduced sales charge applicable to a purchase of Class
A shares in excess of $100,000. H's original purchase was subject to
a full sales charge and the reduced charge does not apply
retroactively to that purchase.
In order to be entitled to rights of accumulation, the purchaser must
inform Waddell & Reed, Inc. that the purchaser is entitled to a reduced sales
charge and provide Waddell & Reed. Inc. with the name and number of the existing
account with which the purchase may be combined.
If a purchaser holds shares which have been purchased under a contractual
plan the shares held under such plan may be combined with the additional
purchase only if the contractual plan has been completed.
Statement of Intention
The benefit of a reduced sales charge for larger purchases of Class A
shares is also available under a Statement of Intention. By signing a Statement
of Intention form, which is available from Waddell & Reed, Inc., the purchaser
indicates an intention to invest, over a 13-month period, a dollar amount which
is sufficient to qualify for a reduced sales charge. The 13-month period begins
on the date the first purchase made under the Statement of Intention is accepted
by Waddell & Reed, Inc. Each purchase made from time to time under the
Statement of Intention is treated as if the purchaser were buying at one time
the total amount which he or she intends to invest. The sales charge applicable
to all purchases of Class A shares made under the terms of the Statement of
Intention will be the sales charge in effect on the beginning date of the 13-
month period.
In determining the amount which the purchaser must invest in order to
qualify for a reduced sales charge under a Statement of Intention, the
investor's Rights of Accumulation (see above) will be taken into account; that
is, Class A shares already held in the same account in which the purchase is
being made or in any account eligible for grouping with that account, as
described above, will be included.
Example: H signs a Statement of Intention indicating his intent to invest in
his own name a dollar amount sufficient to entitle him to purchase
Class A shares at the sales charge applicable to a purchase of
$100,000. H has an IRA account and the Class A shares held under the
IRA in the Fund have a net asset value as of the date the Statement of
Intention is accepted by Waddell & Reed, Inc. of $15,000; H's wife, W,
has an account in her own name invested in another fund in the United
Group which charges the same sales load as the Fund, with a net asset
value as of the date of acceptance of the Statement of Intention of
$10,000; H needs to invest $75,000 in Class A shares over the 13-month
period in order to qualify for the reduced sales load applicable to a
purchase of $100,000.
A copy of the Statement of Intention signed by a purchaser will be returned
to the purchaser after it is accepted by Waddell & Reed, Inc. and will set forth
the dollar amount of Class A shares which must be purchased within the 13-month
period in order to qualify for the reduced sales charge.
The minimum initial investment under a Statement of Intention is 5% of the
dollar amount which must be invested under the Statement of Intention. An
amount equal to 5% of the purchase required under the Statement of Intention
will be held "in escrow." If a purchaser does not, during the period covered by
the Statement of Intention, invest the amount required to qualify for the
reduced sales charge under the terms of the Statement of Intention, he or she
will be responsible for payment of the sales charge applicable to the amount
actually invested. The additional sales charge owed on purchases of Class A
shares made under a Statement of Intention which is not completed will be
collected by redeeming part of the shares purchased under the Statement of
Intention and held "in escrow" unless the purchaser makes payment of this amount
to Waddell & Reed, Inc. within 20 days of Waddell & Reed, Inc.'s request for
payment.
If the actual amount invested is higher than the amount an investor intends
to invest, and is large enough to qualify for a sales charge lower than that
available under the Statement of Intention, the lower sales charge will apply.
A Statement of Intention does not bind the purchaser to buy, or Waddell &
Reed, Inc. to sell, the shares covered by the Statement of Intention.
With respect to Statements of Intention for $2,000,000 or purchases
otherwise qualifying for no sales charge under the terms of the Statement of
Intention, the initial investment must be at least $200,000, and the value of
any shares redeemed during the 13-month period which were acquired under the
Statement of Intention will be deducted in computing the aggregate purchases
under the Statement of Intention.
Statements of Intention are not available for purchases made under a SEP
where the employer has elected to have all purchases under the SEP grouped.
Other Funds in the United Group
Reduced sales charges for larger purchases of Class A shares apply to
purchases of any of the funds in the United Group which are subject to a sales
charge. A purchase of, or shares held, in any of the funds in the United Group
which are subject to the same sales charge as the Fund will be treated as an
investment in the Fund for the purpose of determining the applicable sales
charge. The following funds in the United Group have shares that are subject to
a maximum 5.75% ("full") sales charge as described in the prospectus of each
Fund: United Funds, Inc., United International Growth Fund, Inc., United
Continental Income Fund, Inc., United Vanguard Fund, Inc., United Retirement
Shares, Inc., United High Income Fund, Inc., United New Concepts Fund, Inc.,
United Gold & Government Fund, Inc., United High Income Fund II, Inc. and United
Asset Strategy Fund, Inc. The following funds in the United Group have shares
that are subject to a "reduced" sales charge as described in the prospectus of
each fund: United Municipal Bond Fund, Inc., United Government Securities Fund,
Inc. and United Municipal High Income Fund, Inc. For the purposes of obtaining
the lower sales charge which applies to large purchases, purchases in a fund in
the United Group of shares that are subject to a full sales charge may not be
grouped with purchases of shares in a fund in the United Group that are subject
to a reduced sales charge; conversely, purchases of shares in a fund with a
reduced sales charge may not be grouped or combined with purchases of shares of
a fund that are subject to a full sales charge.
United Cash Management, Inc. is not subject to a sales charge. Purchases
in that fund are not eligible for grouping with purchases in any other fund.
Net Asset Value Purchases of Class A Shares
As stated in the Prospectus, Class A shares of the Fund may be purchased at
net asset value by the Directors and officers of the Fund, employees of Waddell
& Reed, Inc., employees of their affiliates, account representatives of Waddell
& Reed, Inc. and the spouse, children, parents, children's spouses and spouse's
parents of each such Director, officer, employee and account representative.
"Child" includes stepchild; "parent" includes stepparent. Purchases of Class A
shares in an IRA sponsored by Waddell & Reed, Inc. established for any of these
eligible purchasers may also be at net asset value. Purchases in any tax
qualified retirement plan under which the eligible purchaser is the sole
participant may also be made at net asset value. Trusts under which the grantor
and the trustee or a co-trustee are each an eligible purchaser are also eligible
for net asset value purchases of Class A shares. "Employees" includes retired
employees. A retired employee is an individual separated from service from
Waddell & Reed, Inc. or affiliated companies with a vested interest in any
Employee Benefit Plan sponsored by Waddell & Reed, Inc. or its affiliated
companies. Account representatives" includes retired account representatives.
A "retired account representative" is any account representative who was, at the
time of separation from service from Waddell & Reed, Inc., a Senior Account
Representative. A custodian under UGMA or UTMA purchasing for the child or
grandchild of any employee or account representative may purchase Class A shares
at net asset value whether or not the custodian himself is an eligible
purchaser.
Purchases of Class A shares in a 401(k) plan having 100 or more eligible
employees and purchases of Class A shares in a 457 plan having 100 or more
eligible employees may be made at net asset value.
Reasons for Difference in Public Offering Price of Class A Shares
As described herein and in the Prospectus for Class A shares there are a
number of instances in which the Fund's Class A shares are sold or issued on a
basis other than the maximum public offering price, that is, the net asset value
plus the highest sales charge. Some of these relate to lower or eliminated
sales charges for larger purchases of Class A shares, whether made at one time
or over a period of time as under a Statement of Intention or right of
accumulation. See the table of sales charges in the Prospectus. The reasons
for these quantity discounts are, in general, that (i) they are traditional and
have long been permitted in the industry and are therefore necessary to meet
competition as to sales of shares of other funds having such discounts, (ii)
certain quantity discounts are required by rules of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. (as are elimination of sales charges on the
reinvestment of dividends and distribution), and (iii) they are designed to
avoid an unduly large dollar amount of sales charge on substantial purchases in
view of reduced selling expenses. Quantity discounts are made available to
certain related persons for reasons of family unity and to provide a benefit to
tax-exempt plans and organizations.
The reasons for the other instances in which there are reduced or
eliminated sales charges for Class A shares are as follows. Exchanges at net
asset value are permitted because a sales charge has already been paid on the
shares exchanged. Sales of Class A shares without sales charge are permitted to
Directors, officers and certain others due to reduced or eliminated selling
expenses and since such sales may aid in the development of a sound employee
organization, encourage incentive, responsibility and interest in the United
Group and an identification with its aims and policies. Limited reinvestments
of redemptions of Class A shares at no sales charge are permitted to attempt to
protect against mistaken or not fully informed redemption decisions. Class A
shares may be issued at no sales charge in plans of reorganization due to
reduced or eliminated sales expenses and since, in some cases, such issuance is
exempted in the 1940 Act from the otherwise applicable restrictions as to what
sales charge must be imposed. In no case in which there is a reduced or
eliminated sales charge are the interests of existing Class A shareholders
adversely affected since, in each case, the Fund receives the net asset value
per share of all shares sold or issued.
Flexible Withdrawal Service for Class A Shareholders
If you qualify, you may arrange to receive through the Flexible Withdrawal
Service ("the Service") regular monthly, quarterly, semiannual or annual
payments by redeeming on an ongoing basis Class A shares that you own of the
Fund or of any of the funds in the United Group. It would be a disadvantage to
an investor to make additional purchases of shares while a withdrawal program is
in effect because it would result in duplication of sales charges. Applicable
forms to start the Service are available through Waddell & Reed, Inc.
To qualify for the Service, you must have invested at least $10,000 in
Class A shares which you still own of any of the funds in the United Group; or,
you must own Class A shares having a value of at least $10,000. The value for
this purpose is the value at the offering price.
You can choose to have your shares redeemed to receive:
1. a monthly, quarterly, semiannual or annual payment of $50 or more;
2. a monthly payment, which will change each month, equal to one-twelfth
of a percentage of the value of the shares in the Account (you select the
percentage); or
3. a monthly or quarterly payment, which will change each month or
quarter, by redeeming a number of shares fixed by you (at least five shares).
Shares are redeemed on the 20th day of the month in which the payment is to
be made, or on the prior business day if the 20th is not a business day.
Payments are made within five days of the redemption.
Retirement plan accounts may be subject to a fee imposed by the plan
custodian for use of their service.
If you have a share certificate for the shares you want to make available
for the Service, you must enclose the certificate with the form initiating the
Service.
The dividends and distributions on shares you have made available for the
Service are paid in additional Class A shares. All payments under the Service
are made by redeeming Class A shares, which may involve a gain or loss for tax
purposes. To the extent that payments exceed dividends and distributions, the
number of Class A shares you own will decrease. When all of the shares in an
account are redeemed, you will not receive any further payments. Thus, the
payments are not an annuity or an income or return on your investment.
You may, at any time, change the manner in which you have chosen to have
shares redeemed. You can change to any one of the other choices originally
available to you. You may at any time, redeem part or all of the shares in your
account; if you redeem all of the shares, the Service is terminated. The Fund
can also terminate the Service by notifying you in writing.
After the end of each calendar year, information on shares redeemed will be
sent to you to assist you in completing your Federal income tax return.
Exchanges for Shares of Other Funds in the United Group
Class A Share Exchanges
You may decide you would rather own Class A shares of one or more of the
other funds in the United Group rather than Class A shares of the Fund. You may
exchange Class A shares of the Fund if you have held the shares for at least six
months unless the exchange is for Class A shares of United Municipal Bond Fund,
Inc. or United Municipal High Income Fund, Inc. or unless the Class A shares of
the Fund were acquired by reinvestment of a dividend or distribution, in which
cases there is no holding period. You may exchange for Class A shares of
another fund without payment of an additional sales charge. You should ask for
and read the prospectus for the fund into which you are thinking of making an
exchange before doing so.
Class A shares of the Fund may be received in exchange for Class A shares
of any of the other funds in the United Group, except for shares of United Cash
Management, Inc., acquired by direct purchase or received in payment of
dividends on those shares.
Subject to the above rules, you may have a specific dollar amount of Class
A shares of United Cash Management, Inc. automatically exchanged each month into
Class A shares of the Fund or any other fund in the United Group. The shares of
United Cash Management, Inc. which you designate for automatic exchange must be
worth at least $100 or you must own Class A shares of the fund in the United
Group into which you want to exchange. The minimum value of shares which you
may designate for automatic exchange monthly is $100, which may be allocated
among the Class A or shares of different funds in the United Group so long as
each fund receives a value of at least $25. Minimum initial investment and
minimum balance requirements apply to such automatic exchange service.
You may redeem your Class A shares of a Fund and use the proceeds to
purchase Class Y shares of that Fund if you meet the criteria for purchasing
Class Y shares.
Class Y Share Exchanges
Class Y shares of the Fund may be exchanged for Class Y shares of any
other fund in the United Group or for Class A shares of United Cash Management,
Inc.
General Exchange Information
When you exchange shares, the total shares you receive will have the same
aggregate net asset value as the total shares you exchange. The relative values
are those next figured after your exchange request is received in good order.
These exchange rights and other exchange rights concerning the other funds
in the United Group can in most instances be eliminated or modified at any time
and any such exchange may not be accepted.
Retirement Plans
As described in the Prospectus for Class A shares, your account may be
set up as a funding vehicle for a retirement plan. For individual taxpayers
meeting certain requirements, Waddell & Reed, Inc. offers model or prototype
documents for the following retirement plans. All of these plans involve
investment in shares of the Fund (or shares of certain other funds in the United
Group).
Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). Investors having earned income
may set up a plan that is commonly called an IRA. Under a traditional IRA, an
investor can contribute each year up to 100% of his or her earned income, up to
an annual maximum of $2,000 (provided the investor has not reached the age 70
1/2). For a married couple, the annual maximum is $4,000 ($2,000 for each
spouse) or, if less, the couple's combined earned income for the taxable year
even if one spouse had no earned income. Generally, the contributions are
deductible unless the investor (or, if married, either spouse) is an active
participant in a qualified retirement plan or if, notwithstanding that the
investor or one or both spouses so participate, their adjusted gross income does
not exceed certain levels. However, a married investor who is not an active
participant, files jointly with his or her spouse and whose combined adjusted
gross income does not exceed $150,000, is not affected by the spouse's active
participant status.
An investor may also use a traditional IRA to receive a rollover
contribution that is either (a) a direct rollover distribution from an
employer's plan or (b) a rollover of an eligible distribution paid to the
investor from an employer's plan or another IRA. To the extent a rollover
contribution is made to a traditional IRA, the distribution will not be subject
to Federal income tax until distributed from the IRA. A direct rollover
generally applies to any distribution from an employer's plan (including a
custodial account under Section 403(b)(7) of the Code, but not an IRA) other
than certain periodic payments, required minimum distributions and other
specified distributions. In a direct rollover, the eligible rollover
distribution is paid directly to the IRA, not to the investor. If, instead, an
investor receives payment of an eligible rollover distribution, all or a portion
of that distribution generally may be rolled over to an IRA within 60 days after
receipt of the distribution. Because mandatory Federal income tax withholding
applies to any eligible rollover distribution which is not paid in a direct
rollover, investors should consult their tax advisers or pension consultants as
to the applicable tax rules. If you already have an IRA, you may have the
assets in that IRA transferred directly to an IRA offered by Waddell & Reed,
Inc.
Roth IRAs. Investors whose adjusted gross income (or combined adjusted
gross income, if married) does not exceed certain levels may establish and
contribute up to $2,000 per tax year to a Roth IRA. In addition, for an
investor whose adjusted gross income does not exceed $100,000 (and who is not a
married person filing a separate return), certain distributions from traditional
IRAs may be rolled over to a Roth IRA and any of the investor's traditional IRAs
may be converted into a Roth IRA; these rollover distributions and conversions
are, however, subject to Federal income tax.
Contributions to a Roth IRA are not deductible; however, earnings
accumulate tax-free in the Roth IRA, and withdrawals of earnings are not subject
to Federal income tax if the account has been held for at least five years (or
in the case of earnings attributable to rollover contributions or conversions of
a traditional IRA, the rollover or conversion occurred more than five years
prior to the withdrawal) and the account holder has reached age 59 1/2 (or
certain other conditions apply).
Education IRAs. Although not technically for retirement savings, Education
IRAs provide a vehicle for saving for a child's higher education. An Education
IRA may be established for the benefit of any minor, and any person whose
adjusted gross income does not exceed certain levels may contribute up to $500
to an Education IRA (or to each of multiple Education IRAs), provided that no
more than $500 may be contributed for any year to Education IRAs for the same
beneficiary. Contributions are not deductible and may not be made after the
beneficiary reaches age 18; however, earnings accumulate tax-free, and
withdrawals are not subject to tax if used to pay the qualified higher education
expenses of the beneficiary (or a member of his or her family).
Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) plans. Employers can make contributions
to SEP-IRAs established for employees. An employer may contribute up to 15% of
compensation or $24,000, whichever is less, per year for each employee.
Savings Incentive Match Plans for Employees (SIMPLE Plans). An employer
with 100 or fewer employees who does not sponsor another active retirement plan
may sponsor a SIMPLE to contribute to its employees' retirement accounts. A
SIMPLE plan can be funded by either an IRA or a 401(k) plan. In general, an
employer can choose to match employee contributions dollar-for-dollar (up to 3%
of an employee's compensation) or may contribute to all eligible employees 2% of
their compensation, whether or not they defer salary to their retirement plans.
SIMPLE plans involve fewer administrative requirements than 401(k) or other
qualified plans generally.
Keogh Plans. Keogh plans, which are available to self-employed
individuals, are defined contribution plans that may be either a money purchase
plan or a profit sharing plan. As a general rule, an investor under a defined
contribution Keogh plan can contribute each year up to 25% of his or her annual
earned income, with an annual maximum of $30,000.
457 Plans. If an investor is an employee of a state or local government or
of certain types of charitable organizations, he or she may be able to enter
into a deferred compensation arrangement in accordance with Section 457 of the
Code.
TSAs - Custodial Accounts and Title I Plans. If an investor is an employee
of a public school system or of certain types of charitable organizations, he or
she may be able to enter into a deferred compensation arrangement through a
custodian account under Section 403(b) of the Code. Some organizations have
adopted Title I plans, which are funded by employer contributions in addition to
employee deferrals.
401(k) Plans. With a 401(k) plan, employees can make tax-deferred
contributions into a plan to which the employer may also contribute, usually on
a matching basis. An employee may defer each year up to 25% of compensation,
subject to certain annual maximums, which may be increased each year based on
cost-of-living adjustments.
More detailed information about these arrangements and applicable forms are
available from Waddell & Reed, Inc. These plans may involve complex tax
questions as to premature distributions and other matters. Investors should
consult their tax adviser or pension consultant.
Redemptions
The Prospectus gives information as to redemption procedures. Redemption
payments are made within seven days unless delayed because of emergency
conditions determined by the SEC, when the NYSE is closed other than for
weekends or holidays, or when trading on the NYSE is restricted. Payment is
made in cash, although under extraordinary conditions redemptions may be made in
portfolio securities. Payment for redemption of shares of the Fund may be made
in portfolio securities when the Fund's Board of Directors determines that
conditions exist making cash payments undesirable. Securities used for payment
of redemptions are valued at the value used in figuring net asset value. There
would be brokerage costs to the redeeming shareholder in selling such
securities. The Fund, however, has elected to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under
the 1940 Act, pursuant to which it is obligated to redeem shares solely in cash
up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of its net asset value during any 90-day
period for any one shareholder.
Reinvestment Privilege
The Prospectus for Class A shares discusses the reinvestment privilege for
Class A shares under which, if you redeem your Class A shares and then decide it
was not a good idea, you may reinvest. If Class A shares of the Fund are then
being offered, you can put all or part of your redemption payment back into
Class A shares of the Fund without any sales charge at the net asset value next
determined after you have returned the amount. Your written request to do this
must be received within 30 days after your redemption request was received. You
can do this only once as to Class A shares of the Fund. You do not use up this
privilege by redeeming Class A shares to invest the proceeds at net asset value
in a Keogh plan or an IRA.
Mandatory Redemption of Certain Small Accounts
The Fund has the right to compel the redemption of shares held under any
account or any plan if the aggregate net asset value of such shares (taken at
cost or value as the Board of Directors may determine) is less than $500. The
Board has no intent to compel redemptions in the foreseeable future. If it
should elect to compel redemptions, shareholders who are affected will receive
prior written notice and will be permitted 60 days to bring their accounts up to
the minimum before this redemption is processed.
Additional Information on Check Writing
Checks may not be presented for payment at the office of the bank upon
which the checks are drawn because under 1940 Act rules, redemptions may be
effected only at the next price determined after the redemption request is
presented to the Fund's transfer agent. This limitation does not affect checks
used for payment of bills or cashed at other banks. Shareholders may not close
their accounts through the writing of a check. If a shareholder is subject to
backup withholding described in the Prospectus, no checks will be honored. This
privilege is not available for most retirement plan accounts. Contact the
Shareholder Servicing Agent for further information.
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
The day-to-day affairs of the Fund are handled by outside organizations
selected by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors has responsibility
for establishing broad corporate policies for the Fund and for overseeing
overall performance of the selected experts. It has the benefit of advice and
reports from independent counsel and independent auditors.
The principal occupation during at least the past five years of each
Director and officer is given below. Each of the persons listed through and
including Mr. Wise is a member of the Fund's Board of Directors. The other
persons are officers but not Board members. For purposes of this section, the
term "Fund Complex" includes each of the registered investment companies in the
United Group of Mutual Funds, Waddell & Reed Funds, Inc. and TMK/United Funds,
Inc. Each of the Fund's Directors is also a Director of each of the other funds
in the Fund Complex and each of its officers is also an officer of one or more
of the funds in the Fund Complex.
RONALD K. RICHEY*
2001 Third Avenue South
Birmingham, Alabama 35233
Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Fund and each of the other funds
in the Fund Complex; Director of Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc.; Chairman of the
Board of Directors of United Investors Life Insurance Company; Chairman of the
Executive Committee and Director of Torchmark Corporation; Chairman of the Board
of Directors of Vesta Insurance Group, Inc.; Director of Full House Resorts,
Inc., a developer of resorts and gaming casinos; formerly, Chairman of the Board
of Directors of Waddell & Reed, Inc.; formerly, Chairman of the Board of
Directors of Torchmark Corporation; formerly, Chairman of the Board of Directors
of Waddell & Reed Financial Services, Inc. Father of Linda Graves, Director of
the Fund and each of the other funds in the Fund Complex. Date of birth: June
16, 1926.
KEITH A. TUCKER*
President of the Fund and each of the other funds in the Fund Complex;
President, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of
Waddell & Reed Financial Services, Inc.; Chairman of the Board of Directors of
WRIMCO, Waddell & Reed, Inc., Waddell & Reed Services Company and Waddell & Reed
Distributors, Inc., an affiliate of Waddell & Reed, Inc.; Chairman of the Board
of Directors, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Principal
Financial Officer of Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc.; Director of Southwestern
Life Corporation; formerly, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director
of Torchmark Corporation; formerly, Chairman of the Board of Directors and
Director of Waddell & Reed Asset Management Company; formerly, partner in
Trivest, a private investment concern; formerly, Director of Atlantis Group,
Inc., a diversified company. Date of birth: February 11, 1945.
JAMES M. CONCANNON
950 Docking Road
Topeka, Kansas 66615
Dean and Professor of Law, Washburn University School of Law; Director,
AmVestors CBO II Inc. Date of birth: October 2, 1947.
JOHN A. DILLINGHAM
4040 Northwest Claymont Drive
Kansas City, Missouri 64116
Director and consultant, McDougal Construction Company; President, JoDill
Corp., an agricultural company; formerly Senior Vice President-Sales and
Marketing, Garney Companies, Inc., a specialty utility contractor. Date of
birth: January 9, 1939.
LINDA GRAVES*
1 South West Cedar Crest Road
Topeka, Kansas 66606
First Lady of Kansas; formerly, partner, Levy and Craig, P.C., a law firm.
Daughter of Ronald K. Richey, Director of the Fund and each of the other funds
in the Fund Complex. Date of birth: July 29, 1953.
JOHN F. HAYES*
20 West 2nd Avenue
P. O. Box 2977
Hutchinson, Kansas 67504-2977
Director of Central Bank and Trust; Director of Central Financial
Corporation; Director of Central Properties, Inc.; Chairman, Gilliland & Hayes,
P.A., a law firm; formerly, President, Gilliland & Hayes, P.A. Date of birth:
December 11, 1919.
GLENDON E. JOHNSON
7300 Corporate Center Drive
P. O. Box 020270
Miami, Florida 33126-1208
Director and Chief Executive Officer of John Alden Financial Corporation
and subsidiaries. Date of birth: February 19, 1924.
WILLIAM T. MORGAN*
928 Glorietta Blvd.
Coronado, California 92118
Retired; formerly, Chairman of the Board of Directors and President of the
Fund and each fund in the Fund Complex then in existence. (Mr. Morgan retired
as Chairman of the Board of Directors and President of the funds in the Fund
Complex then in existence on April 30, 1993); formerly, President, Director and
Chief Executive Officer of WRIMCO and Waddell & Reed, Inc.; formerly, Chairman
of the Board of Directors of Waddell & Reed Services Company; formerly, Director
of Waddell & Reed Asset Management Company, Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. and
United Investors Life Insurance Company, affiliates of Waddell & Reed, Inc.
Date of birth: April 27, 1928.
FRANK J. ROSS, JR.*
700 West 47th Street
Kansas City, Missouri 64112
Partner, Polsinelli, White, Vardeman & Shalton, a law firm. Date of birth:
April 9, 1953.
ELEANOR B. SCHWARTZ
5100 Rockhill Road
Kansas City, Missouri 64113
Chancellor, University of Missouri-Kansas City. Date of birth: January 1,
1937.
FREDERICK VOGEL III
1805 West Bradley Road
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53217
Retired. Date of birth: August 7, 1935.
PAUL S. WISE
P. O. Box 5248
8648 Silver Saddle Drive
Carefree, Arizona 85377
Director of Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan, a fertilizer company. Date
of birth: July 16, 1920.
Robert L. Hechler
Vice President and Principal Financial Officer of the Fund and each of the
other funds in the Fund Complex; Vice President, Chief Operations Officer,
Director and Treasurer of Waddell & Reed Financial Services, Inc.; Executive
Vice President, Principal Financial Officer, Director and Treasurer of WRIMCO;
President, Chief Executive Officer, Principal Financial Officer, Director and
Treasurer of Waddell & Reed, Inc.; President, Director and Treasurer of Waddell
& Reed Services Company; President, Treasurer and Director of Waddell & Reed
Distributors, Inc.; Executive Vice President, Chief Operations Officer and
Director of Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. Formerly, Director and Treasurer of
Waddell & Reed Asset Management Company. Date of birth: November 12, 1936.
Henry J. Herrmann
Vice President of the Fund and each of the other funds in the Fund Complex;
Vice President, Chief Investment Officer and Director of Waddell & Reed
Financial Services, Inc.; Director of Waddell & Reed, Inc.; President, Chief
Executive Officer, Chief Investment Officer and Director of WRIMCO; President,
Chief Investment Officer, Treasurer and Director of Waddell & Reed Financial,
Inc. Formerly, President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Investment Officer and
Director of Waddell & Reed Asset Management Company. Date of birth: December
8, 1942.
Theodore W. Howard
Vice President, Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer of the Fund and
each of the other funds in the Fund Complex; Vice President of Waddell & Reed
Services Company. Date of birth: July 18, 1942.
Sharon K. Pappas
Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of the Fund and each of the
other funds in the Fund Complex; Vice President, Secretary, General Counsel and
Director of Waddell & Reed Financial Services, Inc.; Senior Vice President,
Secretary and General Counsel of WRIMCO and Waddell & Reed, Inc.; Senior Vice
President, Secretary, General Counsel and Director of Waddell & Reed Services
Company; Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of Waddell & Reed
Distributors, Inc.; Secretary and Director of Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc.;
formerly, Assistant General Counsel of WRIMCO, Waddell & Reed Financial
Services, Inc., Waddell & Reed, Inc., Waddell & Reed Asset Management Company
and Waddell & Reed Services Company. Formerly, Director, Secretary and General
Counsel of Waddell & Reed Asset Management Company. Date of birth: February 9,
1959.
John M. Holliday
Vice President of the Fund and eight other funds in the Fund Complex;
Senior Vice President of WRIMCO; formerly, Senior Vice President of Waddell &
Reed Asset Management Company. Date of birth: June 11, 1935.
James C. Cusser
Vice President of the Fund and two other funds in the Fund Complex; Vice
President of WRIMCO. Date of birth: May 30, 1949.
The address of each person is 6300 Lamar Avenue, P. O. Box 29217, Shawnee
Mission, Kansas 66201-9217 unless a different address is given.
The Directors who may be deemed to be "interested persons" as defined in
the 1940 Act are indicated as such by an asterisk.
The Board of Directors has created an honorary position of Director
Emeritus, which position a Director may elect after resignation from the Board
provided the Director has attained the age of 75 and has served as a Director of
the funds in the United Group for a total of at least five years. A Director
Emeritus receives fees in recognition of his or her past services whether or not
services are rendered in his or her capacity as Director Emeritus, but has no
authority or responsibility with respect to management of the Fund. Messrs.
Doyle Patterson, Jay B. Dillingham and Henry L. Bellmon retired as Directors of
the Fund and of each of the funds in the Fund Complex and elected a position as
Director Emeritus.
The funds in the United Group, TMK/United Funds, Inc. and Waddell & Reed
Funds, Inc. pay to each Director a total of $48,000 per year, plus $2,500 for
each meeting of the Board of Directors attended plus reimbursement of expenses
of attending such meeting (prior to January 1, 1998, the funds in the United
Group, TMK/United Funds, Inc. and Waddell & Reed Funds, Inc. paid to each
Director a fee of $44,000 per year plus $1,000 for each meeting of the Board of
Directors attended) and $500 for each committee meeting attended which is not in
conjunction with a Board of Directors meeting, other than Directors who are
affiliates of Waddell & Reed, Inc. The fees to the Directors who receive them
are divided among the funds in the United Group, TMK/United Funds, Inc. and
Waddell & Reed Funds, Inc. based on their relative size. During the Fund's
fiscal year ended March 31, 1998, the Fund's Directors received the following
fees for service as a director:
Compensation Table
Total
Aggregate Compensation
Compensation From Fund
From and Fund
Director Fund Complex*
------------ ------------
Ronald K. Richey $ 0 $ 0
Keith A Tucker 0 0
James M. Concannon 255 39,000
John A. Dillingham 255 39,000
Linda Graves 345 51,000
John F. Hayes 345 51,000
Glendon E. Johnson 338 50,000
William T. Morgan 345 51,000
Frank J. Ross, Jr. 345 51,000
Eleanor B. Schwartz 345 51,000
Frederick Vogel III 345 51,000
Paul S. Wise 345 51,000
*No pension or retirement benefits have been accrued as a part of Fund expenses.
Messrs. Concannon and Dillingham were elected as Directors on July 24,
1997. The officers are paid by WRIMCO or its affiliates.
Shareholdings
As of May 31, 1998, all of the Fund's Directors and officers as a group
owned less than 1% of the outstanding shares of the Corporation. The following
table sets forth information with respect to the Fund, as of May 31, 1998,
regarding the ownership of the Fund's shares.
Shares owned
Name and Address Beneficially
of Beneficial Owner Class or of Record Percent
- ------------------- ----- ------------ -------
Waddell & Reed Class Y 351,807 74.34%
Financial, Inc.
Savings & Investment Plan
6300 Lamar Avenue
Overland Park KS 66201
Torchmark Corporation Class Y 109,4318 23.12
Savings & Investment Plan
2001 Third Avenue South
Birmingham AL 35202
PAYMENTS TO SHAREHOLDERS
General
There are two sources for the payments the Fund makes to you as a
shareholder of a class of shares of the Fund, other than payments when you
redeem your shares. The first source is net investment income, which is derived
from the interest and earned discount on the securities the Fund holds, less
expenses (which will vary by class). The second source is net realized capital
gains, which are derived from the proceeds received from the Fund's sale of
securities at a price higher than the Fund's tax basis (usually cost) in such
securities, less losses from sales of securities at a price lower than the
Fund's basis therein these gains can be either long-term or short-term,
depending on how long the Fund has owned the securities before it sells them.
The payments made to shareholders from net investment income and net short-term
capital gains are called dividends.
Ordinarily, on the 27th day of each month or on the preceding business day
if the 27th falls on a Saturday, Sunday or holiday, all dividends declared since
the last dividend payment are paid. The shares whose holders are entitled to
receive each such dividend are those shares which are held on the Fund's books
at the close of business on the prior day. Therefore, dividends are ordinarily
paid on shares starting on the day after they are issued and on the day they are
redeemed. When shares are redeemed, any declared but unpaid dividends on these
shares will ordinarily be paid on the shares with the next regular dividend
payment and not at the time of redemption.
The Fund pays distributions from net capital gains (the excess of net long-
term capital gains over net short-term capital losses). It may or may not have
such gains, depending on whether securities are sold and at what price. If the
Fund has net realized capital gains, it will pay distributions once each year,
in the latter part of the fourth calendar quarter, except to the extent it has
applicable net capital losses from a prior year or years to offset the gains.
Choices You Have on Your Dividends and Distributions
On your application form, you can give instructions that (i) you want cash
for your dividends and distributions, (ii) you want your dividends and
distributions paid in shares of the Fund of the same class as that with respect
to which they were paid, or (iii) you want cash for your dividends and want your
distributions reinvested in shares of the Fund of the same class as that with
respect to which they were paid. You can change your instructions at any time.
If you give no instructions, your dividends and distributions will be paid in
shares of the Fund of the same class as that with respect to which they were
paid. All payments in shares are at net asset value without any sales charge.
The net asset value used for this purpose is that computed as of the payment
date for the dividend or distribution, although this could be changed by the
Board of Directors.
Even if you get dividends and distributions on Class A shares in cash, you
can thereafter reinvest them (or distributions only) in Class A shares of the
Fund at net asset value (i.e., no sales charge) next determined after receipt by
Waddell & Reed, Inc. of the amount clearly identified as a reinvestment. The
reinvestment must be within 45 days after the payment.
TAXES
General
In order to continue to qualify for treatment as a regulated investment
company ("RIC") under the Code, the Fund must distribute to its shareholders for
each taxable year at least 90% of its investment company taxable income
(consisting generally of taxable net investment income and net short-term
capital gains) ("Distribution Requirement") and must meet several additional
requirements. These requirements include the following: (1) the Fund must
derive at least 90% of its gross income each taxable year from dividends,
interest, payments with respect to securities loans and gains from the sale or
other disposition of securities, or other income (including gains from options
or futures contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in
securities ("Income Requirement"); (2) at the close of each quarter of the
Fund's taxable year, at least 50% of the value of its total assets must be
represented by cash and cash items, U.S. Government Securities, securities of
other RICs and other securities that are limited, in respect of any one issuer,
to an amount that does not exceed 5% of the value of the Fund's total assets
("50% Diversification Requirement"); and (3) at the close of each quarter of the
Fund's taxable year, not more than 25% of the value of its total assets may be
invested in securities (other than U.S. Government Securities or the securities
of other RICs) of any one issuer.
If shares of a Fund are sold at a loss after being held for six months or
less, the loss will be treated as long-term, instead of short-term, capital loss
to the extent of any distributions received on those shares. Investors also
should be aware that if shares are purchased shortly before the record date for
a dividend or distribution, the investor will receive some portion of the
purchase price back as a taxable dividend or distribution.
The Fund will be subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax ("Excise Tax") to
the extent it fails to distribute by the end of any calendar year substantially
all of its ordinary income for that year and capital gains net income for the
one-year period ending on October 31 of that year, plus certain other amounts.
It is the Fund's policy to pay sufficient dividends and distributions each year
to avoid imposition of the Excise Tax. The Code permits the Fund to defer into
the next calendar year net capital losses incurred between November 1 and the
end of the current calendar year.
Income from Options and Futures Contracts
The use of hedging and option income strategies, such as writing
(selling) and purchasing options and futures contracts, involves complex rules
that will determine for income tax purposes the amount, character and timing of
recognition of the gains and losses the Fund realizes in connection therewith.
Gains from transactions in options and futures contracts derived by the Fund
with respect to its business of investing in securities will qualify as
permissible income under the Income Requirement.
Any income the Fund earns from writing options is treated as short-term
capital gains. If the Fund enters into a closing purchase transaction, it will
have a short-term capital gain or loss based on the difference between the
premium it receives for the option it wrote and the premium it pays for the
option it buys. If an option written by the Fund lapses without being
exercised, the premium it receives also will be a short-term capital gain. If
such an option is exercised and the Fund thus sells the securities subject to
the option, the premium the Fund receives will be added to the exercise price to
determine the gain or loss on the sale.
Certain options and futures in which the Fund may invest may be "section
1256 contracts." Section 1256 contracts held by the Fund at the end of its
taxable year, other than contracts subject to a "mixed straddle" election made
by the Fund are "marked-to-market" (that is, treated as sold at that time for
their fair market value) for Federal income tax purposes, with the result that
unrealized gains or losses are treated as though they were realized. Sixty
percent of any net gains or losses recognized on these deemed sales, and 60% of
any net realized gain or loss from any actual sales of section 1256 contracts,
are treated as long-term capital gains or losses, and the balance is treated as
short-term capital gains or losses. That 60% portion will qualify for the
reduced maximum tax rates on noncorporate taxpayers' net capital gain enacted by
the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 -- 20% (10% for taxpayers in the 15% marginal
tax bracket) for gain recognized on capital assets held for more than 18 months
- - instead of the 28% rate in effect before that legislation, which now applies
to gain recognized on capital assets held for more than one year but not more
than 18 months. Section 1256 contracts also may be marked-to-market for
purposes of the Excise Tax and for other purposes. The Fund may need to
distribute any such gains to its shareholders to satisfy the Distribution
Requirement and/or avoid imposition of the Excise Tax even though it may not
have closed the transactions and received cash to pay the distributions.
Code section 1092 (dealing with straddles) may also affect the taxation
of options and futures contracts in which the Fund may invest. That section
defines a "straddle" as offsetting positions with respect to personal property;
for these purposes, options and futures contracts are personal property.
Section 1092 generally provides that any loss from the disposition of a position
in a straddle may be deducted only to the extent the loss exceeds the unrealized
gain on the offsetting position(s) of the straddle. The Regulations under
section 1092 also provide certain "wash sale" rules that apply to transactions
where a position is sold at a loss and a new offsetting position is acquired
within a prescribed period, and "short sale" rules applicable to straddles. If
the Fund makes certain elections, the amount, character and timing of the
recognition of gains and losses from the affected straddle positions will be
determined under rules that vary according to the elections made. Because only
a few of the regulations implementing the straddle rules have been promulgated,
the tax consequences of straddle transactions to the Fund are not entirely
clear.
If the Fund has an "appreciated financial position" -- generally, an
interest (including an interest through an option, futures or forward currency
contract or short sale) with respect to any stock, debt instrument (other than
"straight debt") or partnership interest the fair market value of which exceeds
its adjusted basis -- and enters into a "constructive sale" of the same or
substantially similar property, the Fund will be treated as having made an
actual sale thereof, with the result that gain will be recognized at that time.
A constructive sale generally consists of a short sale, an offsetting notional
principal contract or futures or forward currency contract entered into by the
Fund or a related person with respect to the same or substantially similar
property. In addition, if the appreciated financial position is itself a short
sale or such a contract, acquisition of the underlying property or substantially
similar property will be deemed a constructive sale.
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE
One of the duties undertaken by WRIMCO pursuant to the Management
Agreement is to arrange the purchase and sale of securities for the portfolio of
the Fund. Purchases are made directly from issuers or from underwriters,
dealers or banks. Purchases from underwriters include a commission or
concession paid by the issuer to the underwriter. Purchases from dealers will
include the spread between the bid and asked prices. Brokerage commissions are
paid primarily for effecting transactions in securities traded on an exchange
and otherwise only if it appears likely that a better price or execution can be
obtained. The Fund has not effected transactions through brokers and does not
anticipate doing so. The individual who manages the Fund may manage other
advisory accounts with similar investment objectives. It can be anticipated
that the manager will frequently place concurrent orders for all or most
accounts for which the manager has responsibility or WRIMCO may otherwise
combine orders for the Fund with those of other funds in the United Group,
TMK/United Funds, Inc. and Waddell & Reed Funds, Inc. or other accounts for
which it has investment discretion. Transactions effected pursuant to such
combined orders are averaged as to price and allocated in accordance with the
purchase or sale orders actually placed for each fund or advisory account,
except where the combined order is not filled completely. In this case, WRIMCO
will ordinarily allocate the transaction pro rata based on the orders placed.
Sharing in large transactions could affect the price the Fund pays or receives
or the amount it buys and sells. However, sometimes a better negotiated
commission is available.
To effect the portfolio transactions of the Fund, WRIMCO is authorized
to engage broker-dealers ("brokers") which, in its best judgment based on all
relevant factors, will implement the policy of the Fund to achieve "best
execution" (prompt and reliable execution at the best price obtainable) for
reasonable and competitive commissions. WRIMCO need not seek competitive
commission bidding but is expected to minimize the commissions paid to the
extent consistent with the interests and policies of the Fund. Subject to
review by the Board of Directors, such policies include the selection of brokers
which provide execution and/or research services and other services, including
pricing or quotation services directly or through others ("brokerage services")
considered by WRIMCO to be useful or desirable for its investment management of
the Fund and/or the other funds and accounts over which WRIMCO has investment
discretion.
Brokerage services are, in general, defined by reference to Section 28(e)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as including (i) advice, either directly
or through publications or writings, as to the value of securities, the
advisability of investing in, purchasing or selling securities and the
availability of securities and purchasers or sellers; (ii) furnishing analyses
and reports; or (iii) effecting securities transactions and performing functions
incidental thereto (such as clearance, settlement and custody). "Investment
discretion" is, in general, defined as having authorization to determine what
securities shall be purchased or sold for an account, or making those decisions
even though someone else has responsibility.
The commissions paid to brokers that provide such brokerage services may
be higher than another qualified broker would charge for effecting comparable
transactions if a good faith determination is made by WRIMCO that the commission
is reasonable in relation to the brokerage services provided. Subject to the
foregoing considerations WRIMCO may also consider sales of Fund shares as a
factor in the selection of broker-dealers to execute portfolio transactions. No
allocation of brokerage or principal business is made to provide any other
benefits to WRIMCO.
The investment research provided by a particular broker may be useful
only to one or more of the other advisory accounts of WRIMCO, and investment
research received for the commissions of those other accounts may be useful both
to the Fund and one or more of such other accounts. To the extent that
electronic or other products provided by such brokers to assist WRIMCO in making
investment management decisions are used for administration or other non-
research purposes, a reasonable allocation of the cost of the product
attributable to its non-research use is made by WRIMCO.
Such investment research (which may be supplied by a third party at the
instance of a broker) includes information on particular companies and
industries as well as market, economic or institutional activity areas. It
serves to broaden the scope and supplement the research activities of WRIMCO;
serves to make available additional views for consideration and comparisons; and
enables WRIMCO to obtain market information on the price of securities held in
the Fund's portfolio or being considered for purchase.
As of March 31, 1998, the Fund owned J. P. Morgan & Co. Inc. securities
in the aggregate amount of $11,390,000. J. P. Morgan & Co. Inc. is a regular
broker of the Fund.
The Fund, WRIMCO and Waddell & Reed, Inc. have adopted a Code of Ethics
which imposes restrictions on the personal investment activities of their
employees, officers and interested directors.
OTHER INFORMATION
The Shares of the Fund
The Fund offers two classes of shares: Class A and Class Y. Each class
represents interest in the same assets of the Fund and differ as follows: each
class of shares has exclusive voting rights on matters pertaining to matters
appropriately limited to that class; Class A shares are subject to an initial
sales charge and to an ongoing service fee; each class may bear differing
amounts of certain class-specific expenses; and each class has a separate
exchange privilege. The Fund does not anticipate that there will be any
conflicts between the interests of holders of the different classes of shares of
the Fund by virtue of those classes. On an ongoing basis, the Board of
Directors will consider whether any such conflict exists and, if so, take
appropriate action. Each share of the Fund is entitled to equal voting,
dividend, liquidation and redemption rights, except that due to the differing
expenses borne by the two classes, dividends of Class A shares are expected to
be lower than for Class Y shares of the Fund. Each fractional share of a class
has the same rights, in proportion, as a full share of that class.
<PAGE>
THE INVESTMENTS OF
UNITED GOVERNMENT SECURITIES FUND, INC.
MARCH 31, 1998
Principal
Amount in
Thousands Value
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT SECURITIES
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation:
11.0%, 1-1-2003 ....................... $ 40 $ 42,726
7.5%, 9-1-2007 ........................ 120 123,825
7.0%, 1-15-2019 ....................... 4,500 4,585,770
8.0%, 2-1-2023 ........................ 2,458 2,544,833
6.5%, 11-1-2024 ....................... 2,313 2,298,586
7.0%, 12-1-2025 ....................... 8,880 8,976,534
Total ................................. 18,572,274
Federal National Mortgage Association:
8.5%, 8-1-2001 ........................ 4,133 4,304,345
7.5%, 4-25-2002 ....................... 2,858 2,896,011
7.0%, 10-25-2003 ...................... 6,675 6,719,186
7.135%, 6-1-2007 ...................... 5,669 5,933,376
7.15%, 6-1-2007 ....................... 2,299 2,410,724
6.0%, 6-25-2007 ....................... 5,000 4,971,850
8.4%, 2-25-2009 ....................... 5,000 5,157,850
7.0%, 9-25-2020 ....................... 500 511,560
11.0%, 10-1-2020 ...................... 3,543 4,053,129
6.5%, 11-25-2020 ...................... 5,000 5,028,100
7.0%, 12-1-2023 ....................... 8,166 8,245,073
7.42%, 10-1-2025 ...................... 6,144 6,639,475
Total ................................. 56,870,679
Government National Mortgage Association:
8.5%, 5-15-2023 ....................... 2,125 2,241,531
7.0%, 7-15-2023 ....................... 3,650 3,695,274
7.0%, 8-20-2027 ....................... 978 984,728
9.75%, 11-15-2028 ..................... 2,934 3,240,391
10.5%, 3-15-2029 ...................... 1,030 1,147,533
7.75%, 10-15-2031 ..................... 1,984 2,059,389
Total ................................. 13,368,846
United States Treasury:
6.375%, 8-15-2002 ..................... 1,000 1,027,030
7.875%, 11-15-2004 .................... 2,000 2,234,380
7.5%, 11-15-2016 ...................... 1,000 1,166,090
0.0%, 2-15-2019 ....................... 9,500 2,704,365
Total ................................. 7,131,865
See Notes to Schedule of Investments on page .
<PAGE>
THE INVESTMENTS OF
UNITED GOVERNMENT SECURITIES FUND, INC.
MARCH 31, 1998
Principal
Amount in
Thousands Value
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT SECURITIES (Continued)
Miscellaneous United States Government
Backed Securities:
Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation
Guaranteed Agricultural Mortgage-Backed
Securities,
7.066%, 1-25-2012 ................... $ 7,173 $ 7,338,280
Tennessee Valley Authority,
5.88%, 4-1-2036 ..................... 5,500 5,670,940
United States Department of Veterans Affairs,
Guaranteed REMIC Pass-Through Certificates,
Vendee Mortgage Trust:
1998-1 Class 2-B,
7.0%, 5-15-2005 ..................... 3,000 3,072,180
1997-2 Class C,
7.5%, 8-15-2017 ..................... 3,500 3,579,835
United States Government Guaranteed Development
Company Participation Certificates,
Series 1995-20 F, Guaranteed by the U.S.
Small Business Administration (an
Independent Agency of the United States),
6.8%, 6-1-2015 ...................... 4,488 4,587,050
Total ............................... 24,248,285
TOTAL UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
SECURITIES - 90.13% $120,191,949
(Cost: $115,500,810)
SHORT-TERM SECURITIES - 8.54%
J.P. Morgan, 5.75% Repurchase
Agreement dated 3-31-98, to be
repurchased at $11,391,819 on 4-1-98* . 11,390 $ 11,390,000
(Cost: $11,390,000)
TOTAL INVESTMENT SECURITIES - 98.67% $131,581,949
(Cost: $126,890,810)
CASH AND OTHER ASSETS, NET OF LIABILITIES - 1.33% 1,767,147
NET ASSETS - 100.00% $133,349,096
Notes to Schedule of Investments
*Collateralized by $8,210,000 U.S. Treasury Bonds, 12.0% due 5-15-2005; market
value and accrued interest aggregate $11,519,998.
See Note 1 to financial statements for security valuation and other significant
accounting policies concerning investments.
See Note 3 to financial statements for cost and unrealized appreciation and
depreciation of investments owned for Federal income tax purposes.
<PAGE>
UNITED GOVERNMENT SECURITIES FUND, INC.
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
MARCH 31, 1998
Assets
Investment securities - at value
(Notes 1 and 3) ................................. $131,581,949
Cash ............................................ 9,878
Receivables:
Fund shares sold ................................ 1,893,424
Interest ........................................ 1,063,849
Investment securities sold ...................... 7,847
Prepaid insurance premium ........................ 11,379
------------
Total assets .................................. 134,568,326
------------
Liabilities
Payable to Fund shareholders ..................... 1,061,309
Dividends payable ................................ 90,423
Accrued service fee (Note 2) ..................... 30,427
Accrued transfer agency and dividend
disbursing (Note 2) ............................. 20,669
Accrued accounting services fee (Note 2) ......... 3,333
Accrued management fee (Note 2) .................. 1,416
Other ............................................ 11,653
------------
Total liabilities ............................. 1,219,230
------------
Total net assets.............................. $133,349,096
============
Net Assets
$0.01 par value capital stock
Capital stock ................................... $ 244,112
Additional paid-in capital ...................... 131,150,090
Accumulated undistributed income:
Accumulated undistributed net realized loss on
investment transactions ....................... (2,736,245)
Net unrealized appreciation in value of
investments ................................... 4,691,139
------------
Net assets applicable to outstanding units
of capital ................................... $133,349,096
============
Net asset value per share (net assets divided
by shares outstanding)
Class A .......................................... $5.46
Class Y .......................................... $5.46
Capital shares outstanding
Class A .......................................... 23,938,016
Class Y .......................................... 473,230
Capital shares authorized ..........................3,000,000,000
See notes to financial statements.
<PAGE>
UNITED GOVERNMENT SECURITIES FUND, INC.
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
For the Fiscal Year Ended MARCH 31, 1998
Investment Income
Interest and amortization (Note 1B) .............. $ 9,135,432
-----------
Expenses (Note 2):
Investment management fee ....................... 516,182
Transfer agency and dividend disbursing - Class A 287,088
Service fee - Class A ........................... 197,980
Accounting services fee ......................... 40,000
Custodian fees .................................. 11,838
Audit fees ...................................... 9,815
Legal fees ...................................... 6,372
Shareholder servicing - Class Y ................. 2,379
Other ........................................... 84,225
-----------
Total expenses ................................ 1,155,879
-----------
Net investment income ........................ 7,979,553
-----------
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on
Investments (Notes 1 and 3)
Realized net gain on securities ................... 1,328,955
Realized net loss on options ..................... (62,195)
-----------
Net realized gain on investments ................ 1,266,760
Unrealized appreciation in value of investments
during the period ............................... 5,459,364
-----------
Net gain on investments ....................... 6,726,124
-----------
Net increase in net assets resulting from
operations ................................. $14,705,677
===========
See notes to financial statements.
<PAGE>
UNITED GOVERNMENT SECURITIES FUND, INC.
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
For the fiscal year ended
March 31,
-------------------------
1998 1997
------------ ------------
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets
Operations:
Net investment income ............ $ 7,979,553 $ 8,544,567
Realized net gain (loss)
on investments ................. 1,266,760 (1,450,430)
Unrealized appreciation
(depreciation) ................. 5,459,364 (1,927,389)
------------ ------------
Net increase in net assets
resulting from operations ..... 14,705,677 5,166,748
------------ ------------
Dividends to shareholders from
net investment income (Note 1D):*
Class A .......................... (7,909,086) (8,507,712)
Class Y .......................... (70,467) (36,855)
------------ ------------
(7,979,553) (8,544,567)
------------ ------------
Capital share transactions:
Proceeds from sale of shares:
Class A (2,736,771 and 2,091,068
shares, respectively) ......... 14,750,671 11,045,042
Class Y (357,555 and 36,828
shares, respectively) ......... 1,951,228 195,100
Proceeds from reinvestment of
dividends:
Class A (1,331,822 and 1,449,154
shares, respectively) ......... 7,147,554 7,627,374
Class Y (12,802 and 6,957
shares, respectively) ......... 69,152 36,605
Payments for shares redeemed:
Class A (4,991,427 and 6,258,384
shares, respectively) ......... (26,766,532) (32,963,369)
Class Y (24,157 and 18,692
shares, respectively) ......... (130,068) (98,116)
------------ ------------
Net decrease in net
assets resulting from capital
share transactions ............ (2,977,995) (14,157,364)
------------ ------------
Total increase (decrease) ..... 3,748,129 (17,535,183)
Net Assets
Beginning of period ............... 129,600,967 147,136,150
------------ ------------
End of period ..................... $133,349,096 $129,600,967
============ ============
Undistributed net investment income $--- $---
==== ====
*See "Financial Highlights" on pages - .
See notes to financial statements.
<PAGE>
UNITED GOVERNMENT SECURITIES FUND, INC.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Class A Shares
For a Share of Capital Stock Outstanding
Throughout Each Period:
For the fiscal year ended March 31,
-------------------------------------
1998 1997 1996 1995 1994
------- ------ ------ ------ ------
Net asset value,
beginning of
period ........... $5.19 $5.32 $5.13 $5.23 $5.44
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Income from investment
operations:
Net investment
income .......... 0.33 0.33 0.34 0.32 0.30
Net realized and
unrealized gain
(loss) on
investments ..... 0.27 (0.13) 0.19 (0.10) (0.21)
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total from investment
operations ....... 0.60 0.20 0.53 0.22 0.09
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Less dividends declared
from net investment
income ........... (0.33) (0.33) (0.34) (0.32) (0.30)
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Net asset value,
end of period .... $5.46 $5.19 $5.32 $5.13 $5.23
===== ===== ===== ===== =====
Total return* ...... 11.84% 3.75% 10.48% 4.49% 1.56%
Net assets, end
of period (000
omitted) ......... $130,764$128,942$146,594$149,533$176,649
Ratio of expenses
to average net
assets ........... 0.89% 0.91% 0.83% 0.82% 0.75%
Ratio of net investment
income to average
net assets ....... 6.14% 6.17% 6.34% 6.30% 5.50%
Portfolio turnover
rate ............. 35.18% 34.18% 63.05% 41.57% 122.62%
*Total return calculated without taking into account the sales load deducted
on an initial purchase.
See notes to financial statements.
<PAGE>
UNITED GOVERNMENT SECURITIES FUND, INC.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Class Y Shares
For a Share of Capital Stock Outstanding
Throughout Each Period:
For the
For the fiscal year period
ended March 31, from 9/27/95*
----------------------- through
1998 1997 3/31/96
-------- -------- --------
Net asset value,
beginning of period $5.19 $5.32 $5.33
----- ----- -----
Income from investment
operations:
Net investment
income .......... 0.34 0.34 0.17
Net realized and
unrealized gain
(loss) on
investments...... 0.27 (0.13) (0.01)
----- ----- -----
Total from investment
operations ........ 0.61 0.21 0.16
----- ----- -----
Less dividends declared
from net investment
income ............ (0.34) (0.34) (0.17)
----- ----- -----
Net asset value,
end of period ..... $5.46 $5.19 $5.32
===== ===== =====
Total return ....... 12.02% 3.99% 3.04%
Net assets, end of
period (000
omitted) ......... $2,585 $659 $542
Ratio of expenses
to average net
assets ............ 0.66% 0.67% 0.60%**
Ratio of net
investment income
to average net
assets ............ 6.37% 6.41% 6.40%**
Portfolio
turnover rate ..... 35.18% 34.18% 63.05%**
*Commencement of operations.
**Annualized.
See notes to financial statements.
<PAGE>
UNITED GOVERNMENT SECURITIES FUND, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MARCH 31, 1998
NOTE 1 -- Significant Accounting Policies
United Government Securities Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") is registered under
the Investment Company Act of 1940 as a diversified, open-end management
investment company. Its investment objective is to provide as high a current
income as is consistent with safety of principal by investing in a portfolio of
debt securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its agencies or
instrumentalities. The following is a summary of significant accounting
policies consistently followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial
statements. The policies are in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles.
A. Security valuation -- The Fund invests in securities issued or guaranteed
by the U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities and in options
and futures contracts on those securities. Government debt securities are
valued using a pricing system provided by a pricing service or dealer in
bonds. Other securities are valued at the latest sale price thereof on the
last business day of the fiscal period as reported by the principal
securities exchange on which the issue is traded or, if no sale is
reported, the average of the latest bid and asked prices. Short-term debt
securities are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market.
B. Security transactions and related investment income -- Security
transactions are accounted for on the trade date (date the order to buy or
sell is executed). Securities gains and losses are calculated on the
identified cost basis. Original issue discount (as defined in the Internal
Revenue Code), premiums and post-1984 market discount on the purchase of
bonds are amortized for both financial and tax reporting purposes over the
remaining lives of the bonds. Interest income is recorded on the accrual
basis and includes differences between cost and face amount on principal
reductions of securities. See Note 3 -- Investment Security Transactions.
C. Federal income taxes -- It is the Fund's policy to distribute all of its
taxable income and capital gains to its shareholders and otherwise qualify
as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal
Revenue Code. In addition, the Fund intends to pay distributions as
required to avoid imposition of excise tax. Accordingly, provision has not
been made for Federal income taxes. See Note 4 -- Federal Income Tax
Matters.
D. Dividends and distributions -- All of the Fund's net investment income is
declared and recorded by the Fund as dividends payable on each day to
shareholders of record as of the close of the preceding business day. Net
investment income dividends and capital gains distributions are determined
in accordance with income tax regulations which may differ from generally
accepted accounting principles. These differences are due to differing
treatments for items such as deferral of wash sales and post-October
losses, net operating losses and expiring capital loss carryforwards. At
March 31, 1998, the Fund reclassified $319,263 between additional paid-in-
capital and accumulated undistributed net realized losses. Net investment
income, net realized gains and net assets were not affected by this change.
E. Repurchase Agreements -- Repurchase agreements are collateralized by the
value of the resold securities which, during the entire period of the
agreement, remains at least equal to the value of the loan, including
accrued interest thereon. The collateral for the repurchase agreement is
held by the Fund's custodian bank.
F. Options -- See Note 5 -- Options.
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial
statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
NOTE 2 -- Investment Management and Payments to Affiliated Persons
The Fund pays a fee for investment management services. The fee is
computed daily based on the net asset value at the close of business. The fee
consists of a "Group" fee computed each day on the combined net asset values of
all of the funds in the United Group of mutual funds (approximately $19.8
billion of combined net assets at March 31, 1998) at annual rates of .51% of the
first $750 million of combined net assets, .49% on that amount between $750
million and $1.5 billion, .47% between $1.5 billion and $2.25 billion, .45%
between $2.25 billion and $3 billion, .43% between $3 billion and $3.75 billion,
.40% between $3.75 billion and $7.5 billion, .38% between $7.5 billion and $12
billion, and .36% of that amount over $12 billion. The Fund accrues and pays
this fee daily.
Pursuant to assignment of the Investment Management Agreement between the
Fund and Waddell & Reed, Inc. ("W&R"), Waddell & Reed Investment Management
Company ("WRIMCO"), a wholly owned subsidiary of W&R, serves as the Fund's
investment manager.
The Fund has an Accounting Services Agreement with Waddell & Reed Services
Company ("WARSCO"), a wholly owned subsidiary of W&R. Under the agreement,
WARSCO acts as the agent in providing accounting services and assistance to the
Fund and pricing daily the value of shares of the Fund. For these services, the
Fund pays WARSCO a monthly fee of one-twelfth of the annual fee shown in the
following table.
Accounting Services Fee
Average
Net Asset Level Annual Fee
(all dollars in millions) Rate for Each Level
------------------------- -------------------
From $ 0 to $ 10 $ 0
From $ 10 to $ 25 $ 10,000
From $ 25 to $ 50 $ 20,000
From $ 50 to $ 100 $ 30,000
From $ 100 to $ 200 $ 40,000
From $ 200 to $ 350 $ 50,000
From $ 350 to $ 550 $ 60,000
From $ 550 to $ 750 $ 70,000
From $ 750 to $1,000 $ 85,000
$1,000 and Over $100,000
For Class A shares, the Fund also pays WARSCO a monthly per account charge
for transfer agency and dividend disbursement services of $1.3125 for each
shareholder account which was in existence at any time during the prior month
and $0.75 for each shareholder check which was processed, plus $0.30 for each
account on which a dividend or distribution of cash or shares was paid in that
month. With respect to Class Y shares, the Fund pays WARSCO a monthly fee at an
annual rate of .15% of the average daily net assets of the class for the
preceding month. The Fund also reimburses W&R and WARSCO for certain out-of-
pocket costs.
As principal underwriter for the Fund's shares, W&R received gross sales
commissions for Class A shares (which are not an expense of the Fund) of
$292,989, out of which W&R paid sales commissions of $169,910 and all expenses
in connection with the sale of Fund shares, except for registration fees and
related expenses.
Under a Distribution and Service Plan for Class A shares adopted by the
Fund pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Fund
may pay monthly a distribution and/or service fee to W&R in an amount not to
exceed .25% of the Fund's Class A average annual net assets. The fee is to be
paid to reimburse W&R for amounts it expends in connection with the distribution
of the Class A shares and/or provision of personal services to Fund shareholders
and/or maintenance of shareholder accounts.
The Fund paid Directors' fees of $4,733, which are included in other
expenses.
W&R is an indirect subsidiary of Torchmark Corporation, a holding company,
and Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc., a holding company, and a direct subsidiary
of Waddell & Reed Financial Services, Inc., a holding company.
NOTE 3 -- Investment Security Transactions
Purchases of U.S. Government securities aggregated $44,229,113 while
proceeds from maturities and sales aggregated $53,537,403. Purchases of short-
term securities aggregated $1,074,995,000 while proceeds from maturities and
sales aggregated $1,069,785,000.
For Federal income tax purposes, cost of investments owned at March 31,
1998 was $126,986,501, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $4,595,448,
of which $4,747,463 related to appreciated securities and $152,015 related to
depreciated securities.
NOTE 4 -- Federal Income Tax Matters
For Federal income tax purposes, the Fund realized capital gain net income
of $440,171 during the year ended March 31, 1998, which included losses of
$719,357 deferred from the year ended March 31, 1997 (see discussion below).
This capital gain net income was entirely offset by utilization of capital loss
carryovers. Remaining capital loss carryovers aggregated $2,645,159 at March
31, 1998, and expire as follows: $1,611,706 at March 31, 2003; $343,195 at
March 31, 2004; and $690,258 at March 31, 2005.
Internal Revenue Code regulations permit the Fund to defer into its next
fiscal year net capital losses incurred between each November 1 and the end of
its fiscal year ("post-October losses"). From November 1, 1996 through March
31, 1997, the Fund incurred net capital losses of $719,357, which have been
deferred to the fiscal year ended March 31, 1998.
NOTE 5 -- Options
Options purchased by the Fund are accounted for in the same manner as
marketable portfolio securities. The cost of portfolio securities acquired
through the exercise of call options is increased by the premium paid to
purchase the call. The proceeds from securities sold through the exercise of
put options are decreased by the premium paid to purchase the put. The Fund
uses options to attempt to reduce the overall risk of its investments.
NOTE 6 -- Multiclass Operations
On July 31, 1995, the Fund was authorized to offer investors two classes of
shares, Class A and Class Y, each of which has equal rights as to assets and
voting privileges. Class Y shares are not subject to a sales charge on
purchases; they are not subject to a Rule 12b-1 Distribution and Service Plan
and have a separate transfer agency and dividend disbursement services fee
structure. A comprehensive discussion of the terms under which shares of either
class are offered is contained in the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional
Information for the Fund.
Income, non-class specific expenses and realized and unrealized gains and
losses are allocated daily to each class of shares based on the value of
relative net assets as of the beginning of each day adjusted for the prior day's
capital share activity.
<PAGE>
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
The Board of Directors and Shareholders,
United Government Securities Fund, Inc.:
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including
the schedule of investments, of United Government Securities Fund, Inc. (the
"Fund") as of March 31, 1998, and the related statements of operations for the
year then ended and changes in net assets for each of the years in the two-year
period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the years in the
five-year period then ended. The financial statements and the financial
highlights are the responsibility of the Fund's management. Our responsibility
is to express an opinion on the financial statements and the financial
highlights based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and the financial
highlights are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a
test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial
statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned at March
31, 1998 by correspondence with the custodian. An audit also includes assessing
the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as
well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe
that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, such financial statements and financial highlights present
fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of United Government
Securities Fund, Inc. as of March 31, 1998, the results of its operations, the
changes in its net assets, and the financial highlights for the respective
stated periods in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
Deloitte & Touche LLP
Kansas City, Missouri
May 8, 1998
<PAGE>
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
PART C
OTHER INFORMATION
24. Financial Statements and Exhibits
---------------------------------
(a) Financial Statements -- United Government Securities Fund, Inc.
Included in Part B:
-------------------
As of March 31, 1998
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
For the fiscal year ended March 31, 1998
Statement of Operations
For each of the two years in the period ended March 31, 1998
Statement of Changes in Net Assets
Schedule I -- Investment Securities as of March 31, 1998
Report of Independent Accountants
Included in Part C:
-------------------
Financial Data Schedule
Other schedules prescribed by Regulation S-X are not filed because the
required matter is not present or is insignificant.
(b) Exhibits:
(1) Articles of Incorporation, as amended, filed June 1, 1995 as EX-
99.B1-gschart to Post-Effective Amendment No. 20 to the
Registration Statement on Form N-1A*
Articles Supplementary, filed June 1, 1995 as EX-99.B1-gsarsupy
to Post-Effective Amendment No. 20 to the Registration Statement
on Form N-1A*
(2) Bylaws, as amended, filed June 27, 1996 as EX-99.B2-gsbylaws to
Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 to the Registration Statement on
Form N-1A*
(3) Not applicable
(4) Article FIFTH and Article SEVENTH of the Articles of
Incorporation of Registrant, as amended, filed June 1, 1995 as
EX-99.B2-gschart to Post-Effective Amendment No. 20 to the
Registration Statement on Form N-1A*; Article I, Article IV and
Article VII of the Bylaws of the Registrant, as amended, filed
June 27, 1996 as EX-99.B2-gsbylaws to Post-Effective Amendment
No. 21 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A*
(5) Investment Management filed June 1, 1995 as EX-99.B5-gsima to
Post-Effective Amendment No. 20 to the Registration Statement on
Form N-1A*
Assignment of the Investment Management Agreement filed June 1,
1995 as EX-99.B5-gsassign to Post-Effective Amendment No. 20 to
the Registration Statement on Form N-1A*
(6) Underwriting Agreement, filed June 1, 1995 as EX-99.B6-gsua to
Post-Effective Amendment No. 20 to the Registration Statement on
Form N-1A*
(7) Not applicable
(8) Custodian Agreement, as amended, filed May 30, 1997 as EX-99.B8-
gsca to Post-Effective Amendment No. 22 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-1A*
(9) Shareholder Servicing Agreement, as amended, attached hereto as
EX-99.B9-gsssa
Fund Class A application, as amended, filed May 30, 1997 as EX-
99.B9-gsappca to Post-Effective Amendment No. 22 to the
Registration Statement on Form N-1A*
Fund Class Y application, filed June 1, 1995 as EX-99.B9-gsappcy
to Post-Effective Amendment No. 20 to the Registration Statement
on Form N-1A*
Fund NAV application, filed June 1, 1995 as EX-99.B9-gsappnav to
Post-Effective Amendment No. 20 to the Registration Statement on
Form N-1A*
Fund Class Y Letter of Understanding, filed June 27, 1996 as EX-
99.B9-gslou to Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 to the
Registration Statement on Form N-1A*
Accounting Services Agreement filed June 1, 1995 as EX-99.B9-
gsasa to Post-Effective Amendment No. 20 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-1A*
Service Agreement filed by EDGAR July 30, 1993 as Exhibit (b)(15)
to Post-Effective Amendment No. 15 to the Registration Statement
on Form N-1A*
Amendment to Service Agreement, filed June 1, 1995 as EX-99.B9-
gssaa to Post-Effective Amendment No. 20 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-1A*
(10) Not Applicable
(11) Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP, Independent Accountants,
attached hereto as EX-99.B11-gsconsnt
(12) Not Applicable
(13) Not Applicable
(14) 1. Qualified Retirement Plan and Trust-Defined Contribution
Basic Plan Document filed December 16, 1994 as EX-99.B14-1-
03bpd to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-1A of United Asset Strategy Fund, Inc.*
2. Qualified Retirement Plan-Summary Plan Description filed
December 16, 1994 as EX-99.B14-2-03spd to Pre-Effective
Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A
of United Asset Strategy Fund, Inc.*
3. Employer Contribution 403(b)-Adoption Agreement filed
December 16, 1994 as EX-99.B14-3-403baa to Pre-Effective
Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A
of United Asset Strategy Fund, Inc.*
4. IRC Section 457 Deferred Compensation Plan-Adoption
Agreement filed December 16, 1994 as EX-99.B14-4-457aa to
Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement
on Form N-1A of United Asset Strategy Fund, Inc.*
5. IRC Section 457-Deferred Compensation Specimen Plan Document
filed December 16, 1994 as EX-99.B14-5-457bpd to Pre-
Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on
Form N-1A of United Asset Strategy Fund, Inc.*
6. National Nonstandardized 401(k)Profit Sharing Plan-Adoption
Agreement filed December 16, 1994 as EX-99.B14-6-ns401aa to
Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement
on Form N-1A of United Asset Strategy Fund, Inc.*
7. 401(k) Nonstandardized Profit Sharing Plan-Summary Plan
Description filed December 16, 1994 as EX-99.B14-7-ns401gs
to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-1A of United Asset Strategy Fund, Inc.*
8. National Nonstandardized Money Purchase Pension Plan-
Adoption Agreement filed December 16, 1994 as EX-99.B14-8-
nsmppaa to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-1A of United Asset Strategy Fund, Inc.*
9. National Nonstandardized Profit Sharing Plan-Adoption
Agreement filed December 16, 1994 as EX-99.B14-9-nspspaa to
Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement
on Form N-1A of United Asset Strategy Fund, Inc.*
10. Standardized 401(k) Profit sharing Plan-Adoption Agreement
filed December 16, 1994 as EX-99.B14-10-s401aa to Pre-
Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on
Form N-1A of United Asset Strategy Fund, Inc.*
11. 401(k) Standardized Profit Sharing Plan-Summary Plan
Description filed December 16, 1994 as EX-99.B14-11-s401gis
to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-1A of United Asset Strategy Fund, Inc.*
12. Universal Simplified Employee Pension Plan-Adoption
Agreement filed December 16, 1994 as EX-99.B14-12-sepaa to
Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement
on Form N-1A of United Asset Strategy Fund, Inc.*
13. Universal Simplified Employee Pension Plan-Basic Plan
Document filed December 16, 1994 as EX-99.B14-13-sepbpd to
Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement
on Form N-1A of United Asset Strategy Fund, Inc.*
14. National Standardized Money Purchase Pension Plan-Adoption
Agreement filed December 16, 1994 as EX-99.B14-14-smppaa to
Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement
on Form N-1A of United Asset Strategy Fund, Inc.*
15. Standardized Money Purchase pension Plan-Summary Plan
Description filed December 16, 1994 as EX-99.B14-15-smppgis
to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-1A of United Asset Strategy Fund, Inc.*
16. Standardized Profit Sharing Plan-Adoption Agreement filed
December 16, 1994 as EX-99.B14-16-spspaa to Pre-Effective
Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A
of United Asset Strategy Fund, Inc.*
17. Standardized Profit Sharing Plan-summary Plan Description
field December 16, 1994 as EX-99.B14-17-spspgis to Pre-
Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on
Form N-1A of United Asset Strategy Fund, Inc.*
18. 403(b)(7) Tax-sheltered Custodial Account Agreement filed
December 16, 1994 as EX-99.B14-18-tsa to Pre-Effective
Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A
of United Asset Strategy Fund, Inc.*
19. Title I 403(b) Plan Document filed December 16, 1994 as EX-
99.B14-19-ttllpbd to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the
Registration Statement on Form N-1A of United Asset Strategy
Fund, Inc.*
20. Simple IRA Plan Document filed March 26, 1997 as EX-99.B14-
20-simple to Post-Effective Amendment No. 119 to the
Registration Statement on Form N-1A of United Funds, Inc.*
21. Individual Retirement Plan filed March 26, 1997 as EX-
99.B14-21-crp00005 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 119 to
the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of United Funds,
Inc.*
22. Retirement Plan Distribution/Withdrawal Document filed May
16, 1997 as EX-99.B14-22-crp1665 to Post-Effective Amendment
No. 8 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Waddell
& Reed Funds, Inc.*
23. Special Tax Notice Regarding Plan Payments filed May 16,
1997 as EX-99.B14-23-crp1666 to Post-Effective Amendment No.
8 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Waddell &
Reed Funds, Inc.*
24. Waiver of Joint and Survivor Annuity filed May 16, 1997 as
EX-99.B14-24-crp1667 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 8 to
the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Waddell & Reed
Funds, Inc.*
25. Spousal Consent on Early Distribution filed May 16, 1997 as
EX-99.B14-25-crp1668 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 8 to
the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Waddell & Reed
Funds, Inc.*
26. Consent to Lump Sum Distribution filed May 16, 1997 as EX-
99.B14-26-crp1669 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 8 to the
Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Waddell & Reed Funds,
Inc.*
(15) Service Plan, as restated, filed June 1, 1995 as EX-99.B15-gsspca
to Post-Effective Amendment No. 20 to the Registration Statement
on Form N-1A*
Distribution and Service Plan for Class A shares attached hereto
as EX-99.B15-gsdsp
(16) Schedule for computation of average annual total return
performance quotations for Class A shares filed through EDGAR on
July 30, 1993 as Exhibit (b)(16) to Post-Effective Amendment No.
15 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A*
Schedule for computation of average annual total return
performance quotations for Class Y shares filed May 30, 1997 as
EX-99.B16-gstrcly to Post-Effective Amendment No. 22 to the
Registration Statement on Form N-1A*
Computation of yield performance quotations for Class A and Class
Y shares filed June 27, 1996 as EX-99.B16-gsyield to Post-
Effective Amendment No. 21 to the Registration Statement on Form
N-1A*
(17) Financial Data Schedule, attached hereto as EX-27.B17-gsfds
(18) Multiple Class Plan, filed June 27, 1996 as EX-99.B18-gsmcp to
Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 to the Registration Statement on
Form N-1A*
25. Persons Controlled by or under common control with Registrant
-------------------------------------------------------------
None
26. Number of Holders of Securities
-------------------------------
Number of Record Holders as of
Title of Class May 31, 1998
-------------- -------------------------------
Class A Capital Stock 11,867
Class Y Capital Stock 46
27. Indemnification
---------------
Reference is made to Section (7) of Article SEVENTH of the Articles of
Incorporation of Registrant, as amended, filed June 1, 1995 as EX-99.B1-
gschart to Post-Effective Amendment No. 20 to the Registration Statement on
Form N-1A*, and to Article IV of the Underwriting Agreement, filed June 1,
1995 as EX-99.B6-gsua to Post-Effective Amendment No. 20 to the
Registration Statement on Form N-1A*; each of which provide
indemnification. Also refer to Section 2-418 of the Maryland General
Corporation Law regarding indemnification of directors, officers and
employees and agents.
28. Business and Other Connections of Investment Manager
----------------------------------------------------
Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company is the investment manager of
the Registrant. Under the terms of an Investment Management Agreement
between Waddell & Reed, Inc. and the Registrant, Waddell & Reed, Inc. is to
provide investment management services to the Registrant. Waddell & Reed,
Inc. assigned its investment management duties under this agreement to
Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company on January 8, 1992. Waddell &
Reed Investment Management Company is a corporation which is not engaged in
any business other than the provision of investment management services to
those registered investment companies described in Part A and Part B of
this Post-Effective Amendment.
Each director and executive officer of Waddell & Reed Investment Management
Company has had as his sole business, profession, vocation or employment
during the past two years only his duties as an executive officer and/or
employee of Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company or its
predecessors, except as to persons who are directors and/or officers of the
Registrant and have served in the capacities shown in the Statement of
Additional Information of the Registrant, and except for Mr. Ronald K.
Richey. Mr. Richey is Chairman of the Executive Committee of Torchmark
Corporation, the parent company of Waddell & Reed, Inc. Mr. Richey's
address is 2001 Third Avenue South, Birmingham, Alabama 35233. The address
of the others is 6300 Lamar Avenue, Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66202-4200.
As to each director and officer of Waddell & Reed Investment Management
Company, reference is made to the Prospectus and SAI of this Registrant.
29. Principal Underwriter
---------------------
(a) Waddell & Reed, Inc. is the principal underwriter to the Registrant.
It is also the principal underwriter to the following investment
companies:
United Funds, Inc.
United International Growth Fund, Inc.
United Continental Income Fund, Inc.
United Vanguard Fund, Inc.
United Retirement Shares, Inc.
United Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.
United High Income Fund, Inc.
United Cash Management, Inc.
United New Concepts Fund, Inc.
United Gold & Government Fund, Inc.
United Municipal High Income Fund, Inc.
United High Income Fund II, Inc.
United Asset Strategy Fund, Inc.
Waddell & Reed Funds, Inc.
Advantage I
Advantage II
Advantage Plus
(b) The information contained in the underwriter's application on form BD,
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, is herein incorporated by
reference.
(c) No compensation was paid by the Registrant to any principal
underwriter who is not an affiliated person of the Registrant or any
affiliated person of such affiliated person.
30. Location of Accounts and Records
--------------------------------
The accounts, books and other documents required to be maintained by
Registrant pursuant to Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act and
rules promulgated thereunder are under the possession of Mr. Robert L.
Hechler and Ms. Sharon K. Pappas, as officers of the Registrant, each of
whose business address is Post Office Box 29217, Shawnee Mission, Kansas
66201-9217.
31. Management Services
-------------------
There is no service contract other than as discussed in Parts A and B of
this Post-Effective Amendment and listed in response to Items (b)(9) and
(b)(15) hereof.
32. Undertakings
------------
(a) Not applicable
(b) Not applicable
(c) The Fund agrees to furnish to each person to whom a prospectus is
delivered a copy of the Fund's latest annual report to shareholders
upon request and without charge.
(d) To the extent that Section 16(c) of the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended, applies to the Fund, the Fund agrees, if requested
in writing by the shareholders of record of not less than 10% of the
Fund's outstanding shares, to call a meeting of the shareholders of
the Fund for the purpose of voting upon the question of removal of any
director and to assist in communications with other shareholders as
required by Section 16(c).
- ---------------------------------
*Incorporated herein by reference
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and/or the
Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of
the requirements for effectiveness of this Post-Effective Amendment pursuant to
Rule 485(b) of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Registrant has duly caused
this Post-Effective Amendment to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Overland Park, and State of Kansas, on
the 29th day of June, 1998.
UNITED GOVERNMENT SECURITIES FUND, INC.
(Registrant)
By /s/ Keith A. Tucker*
------------------------
Keith A. Tucker, President
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, and/or the
Investment Company Act of 1940, this Post-Effective Amendment has been signed
below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.
Signatures Title
---------- -----
/s/Ronald K. Richey* Chairman of the Board June 29, 1998
- ---------------------- ----------------
Ronald K. Richey
/s/Keith A. Tucker* President and Director June 29, 1998
- ---------------------- (Principal Executive Officer) ----------------
Keith A. Tucker
/s/Theodore W. Howard* Vice President, Treasurer June 29, 1998
- ---------------------- and Principal Accounting ----------------
Theodore W. Howard Officer
/s/Robert L. Hechler* Vice President and June 29, 1998
- ---------------------- Principal Financial ----------------
Robert L. Hechler Officer
/s/James M. Concannon* Director June 29, 1998
- ------------------- ----------------
James M. Concannon
/s/John A. Dillingham* Director June 29, 1998
- ------------------- ----------------
John A. Dillingham
/s/Linda Graves* Director June 29, 1998
- ------------------- ----------------
Linda Graves
/s/John F. Hayes* Director June 29, 1998
- ------------------- ----------------
John F. Hayes
/s/Glendon E. Johnson* Director June 29, 1998
- ------------------- ----------------
Glendon E. Johnson
/s/William T. Morgan* Director June 29, 1998
- ------------------- ----------------
William T. Morgan
Director
- ------------------- ----------------
William L. Rogers
Director
- ------------------- ----------------
Frank J. Ross, Jr.
/s/Eleanor B. Schwartz* Director June 29, 1998
- ------------------- ----------------
Eleanor B. Schwartz
/s/Frederick Vogel III* Director June 29, 1998
- ------------------- ----------------
Frederick Vogel III
/s/Paul S. Wise* Director June 29, 1998
- ------------------- ----------------
Paul S. Wise
*By
Sharon K. Pappas
Attorney-in-Fact
ATTEST:
Kristen Richards
Assistant Secretary
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, That each of the undersigned, UNITED FUNDS,
INC., UNITED INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND, INC., UNITED MUNICIPAL BOND FUND, INC.,
UNITED VANGUARD FUND, INC., UNITED HIGH INCOME FUND, INC., UNITED CASH
MANAGEMENT, INC., UNITED NEW CONCEPTS FUND, INC., UNITED GOVERNMENT SECURITIES
FUND, INC., UNITED MUNICIPAL HIGH INCOME FUND, INC., UNITED GOLD & GOVERNMENT
FUND, INC., UNITED HIGH INCOME FUND II, INC., UNITED CONTINENTAL INCOME FUND,
INC., UNITED RETIREMENT SHARES, INC., UNITED ASSET STRATEGY FUND, INC.,
TMK/UNITED FUNDS, INC. AND WADDELL & REED FUNDS, INC. (each hereinafter called
the "Corporation"), and certain directors and officers for the Corporation, do
hereby constitute and appoint KEITH A. TUCKER, ROBERT L. HECHLER, and SHARON K.
PAPPAS, and each of them individually, their true and lawful attorneys and
agents to take any and all action and execute any and all instruments which said
attorneys and agents may deem necessary or advisable to enable each Corporation
to comply with the Securities Act of 1933 and/or the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended, and any rules, regulations, orders or other requirements of
the United States Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, in connection
with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933 and/or the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended, including specifically, but without limitation
of the foregoing, power and authority to sign the names of each of such
directors and officers in his/her behalf as such director or officer as
indicated below opposite his/her signature hereto, to any Registration Statement
and to any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933 and/or the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and to any instruments or documents
filed or to be filed as a part of or in connection with such Registration
Statement or amendment or supplement thereto; and each of the undersigned hereby
ratifies and confirms all that said attorneys and agents shall do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.
Date: May 13, 1998 /s/Keith A. Tucker
--------------------------
Keith A. Tucker, President
/s/Ronald K. Richey Chairman of the Board May 13, 1998
- -------------------- ----------------
Ronald K. Richey
/s/Keith A. Tucker President and Director May 13, 1998
- -------------------- (Principal Executive ----------------
Keith A. Tucker Officer)
/s/Theodore W. Howard Vice President, Treasurer May 13, 1998
- -------------------- and Principal Accounting ----------------
Theodore W. Howard Officer
/s/Robert L. Hechler Vice President and May 13, 1998
- -------------------- Principal Financial ----------------
Robert L. Hechler Officer
/s/James M. Concannon Director May 13, 1998
- -------------------- ----------------
James M. Concannon
/s/John A. Dillingham Director May 13, 1998
- -------------------- ----------------
John A. Dillingham
/s/Linda Graves Director May 13, 1998
- -------------------- ----------------
Linda Graves
/s/John F. Hayes Director May 13, 1998
- -------------------- ----------------
John F. Hayes
/s/Glendon E. Johnson Director May 13, 1998
- -------------------- ----------------
Glendon E. Johnson
/s/William T. Morgan Director May 13, 1998
- -------------------- ----------------
William T. Morgan
Director
- -------------------- ----------------
William L. Rogers
Director
- -------------------- ----------------
Frank J. Ross, Jr.
/s/Eleanor Schwartz Director May 13, 1998
- -------------------- ----------------
Eleanor Schwartz
/s/Frederick Vogel III Director May 13, 1998
- -------------------- ----------------
Frederick Vogel III
/s/Paul S. Wise Director May 13, 1998
- -------------------- ----------------
Paul S. Wise
Attest:
/s/Sharon K. Pappas
- --------------------------------
Sharon K. Pappas, Vice President
and Secretary
EX-99.B9-gsssa
SHAREHOLDER SERVICING AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT, made as of the 1ST day of November, 1992, by and between
UNITED GOVERNMENT SECURITIES FUND, INC., and Waddell & Reed Services Company
(the "Agent"), as amended and restated as of April 1, 1996,
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS, the Company wishes, as applicable, to appoint the Agent or to
continue the appointment of the Agent to be its shareholder servicing agent
upon, and subject to, the terms and provisions of this Agreement;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained in this
Agreement, the parties agree as follows:
1. Appointment of Agent as Shareholder Servicing Agent for the Company;
Acceptance.
(1) The Company hereby appoints the Agent to act as Shareholder
Servicing Agent for the Company upon, and subject to, the terms and provisions
of this Agreement.
(2) The Agent hereby accepts the appointment as Shareholder Servicing
Agent for the Company and agrees to act as such upon, and subject to, the terms
and provisions of this Agreement.
(3) The Agent may appoint an entity or entities approved by the
Company in writing to perform any portion of Agent's duties hereunder (the
"Subagent").
2. Definitions.
(1) In this Agreement -
(a) The term the "Act" means the Investment Company Act of 1940
as amended from time to time;
(b) The term "account" means the shares of the Company
registered on the books of the Company in the name of a shareholder under a
particular account registration number and includes shares subject to
instructions by the shareholder with respect to periodic redemptions and/or
reinvestment in additional shares of any dividends payable on said shares;
(c) The term "affiliate" of a person shall mean a person
controlling, controlled by, or under common control with that person;
(d) The term "Class" shall mean each separate sub-class of a
class of shares of the Company, as may now or in the future exist;
(e) The term "Fund" shall mean each separate class of shares of
the Company, as may now or in the future exist;
(f) The term "officers' instruction" means an instruction given
on behalf of the Company to the Agent and signed on behalf of the Company by any
one or more persons authorized to do so by the Company's Board of Directors;
(g) The term "prospectus" means the prospectus and Statement of
Additional Information of the applicable Fund or Class from time to time in
effect;
(h) The term "shares" means shares including fractional shares
of capital stock of the Company, whether or not such shares are evidenced by an
outstanding stock certificate issued by the Company;
(i) The term "shareholder" shall mean the owner of record of
shares of the Company;
(j) The term "stock certificate" means a certificate
representing shares in the form then currently in use by the Company.
3. Duties of the Agent.
The Agent shall perform such duties as shall be set forth in this
paragraph 3 and in accordance with the practice stated in Exhibit A of this
Agreement or any amendment thereof, any or all of which duties may be delegated
to or performed by one or more Subagents pursuant to Paragraph 1(3) above.
(1) Transfers.
Subject to the provisions of this Agreement the Agent hereby
agrees to perform the following functions as transfer agent for the Company:
(a) Recording the ownership, transfer, exchange and cancellation
of ownership of shares of the Company on the books of the Company;
(b) Causing the issuance, transfer, exchange and cancellation of
stock certificates;
(c) Establishing and maintaining records of accounts;
(d) Computing and causing to be prepared and mailed or otherwise
delivered to shareholders payment checks and notices of reinvestment in
additional shares of dividends, stock dividends or stock splits declared by the
Company on shares and of redemption proceeds due by the Company on redemption of
shares;
(e) Causing checking accounts to be available and maintained for
shareholders who elect to redeem shares by drawing checks on such accounts,
including accepting or rejecting signatures on all checks drawn on the checking
account and notifying the payor bank to dishonor any check the Agent deems not
to be validly signed;
(f) Furnishing to shareholders such information as may be
reasonably required by the Company, including appropriate income tax
information;
(g) Addressing and mailing to shareholders prospectuses, annual
and semi-annual reports and proxy materials for shareholder meetings prepared by
or on behalf of the Company;
(h) Replacing allegedly lost, stolen or destroyed stock
certificates in accordance with and subject to procedures and conditions agreed
upon and set out in officers' instructions;
(i) Maintaining such books and records relating to transactions
effected by the Agent pursuant to this Agreement as are required by the Act, or
by rules or regulations thereunder, or by any other applicable provisions of
law, to be maintained by the Company or its transfer agent with respect to such
transactions; preserving, or causing to be preserved, any such books and records
for such periods as may be required by any such law, rule or regulation;
furnishing the Company such information as to such transactions and at such time
as may be reasonably required by it to comply with applicable laws and
regulations;
(j) Providing such services and carrying out such
responsibilities on behalf of the Company, or imposed on the Agent as the
Company's transfer agent, not otherwise expressly provided for in this Paragraph
3, as may be required by or be reasonably necessary to comply with any statute,
act, governmental rule, regulation or directive or court order, including,
without limitation, the requirements imposed by the Tax Equity and Fiscal
Responsibility Act of 1982 and the Income and Dividend Tax Compliance Act of
1983 relating to the withholding of tax from distributions to shareholders.
(2) Correspondence.
The Agent agrees to deal with and answer all correspondence from
or on behalf of shareholders relating to its functions under this Agreement.
4. Compensation of the Agent.
The Company agrees to pay the Agent for its services under this
Agreement in accordance with the schedule as then in effect set forth in Exhibit
B of this Agreement or any amendment thereof. In addition, the Company agrees
to reimburse the Agent for the following "out-of-pocket" expenses of the Agent
within five days after receipt of an itemized statement of such expenses, to the
extent that payment of such expenses has not been or is not to be made directly
by the Company: (i) costs of stationery, appropriate forms, envelopes, checks,
postage, printing (except cost of printing prospectuses, annual and semi-annual
reports and proxy materials) and mailing charges, including returned mail and
proxies, incurred by the Agent with respect to materials and communications sent
to shareholders in carrying out its duties to the Company under this Agreement,
and maintenance of shareholder checking accounts pursuant to Section 3(1)(e)
herein above; (ii) long distance telephone costs incurred by the Agent for
telephone communications and microfilm and storage costs for transfer agency
records and documents; (iii) costs of all ancillary and supporting services and
related expenses (other than insurance premiums) reasonably required by and
provided to the Agent, other than by its employees or employees of an affiliate,
with respect to functions of the Company being performed by it in its capacity
as Agent hereunder, including legal advice and representation in litigation to
the extent that such payments are permitted under Paragraph 7 of this Agreement
and charges to Agent made by any Subagent; (iv) costs for special reports or
information furnished on request pursuant to this Agreement and not specifically
required by the Agent by Paragraph 3 of this Agreement; and (v) reasonable costs
and expenses incurred by the Agent in connection with the duties of the Agent
described in Paragraph (3)(1)(i). In addition, the Company agrees to promptly
pay over to the Agent any fees or payment of charges it may receive from a
shareholder for services furnished to the shareholder by the Agent.
Services and operations incident to the sale and distribution of the
Company's shares, including sales communications, confirmations of investments
(not including reinvestment of dividends) and the clearing or collection of
payments will not be for the account or at the expense of the Company under this
Agreement.
5. Right of Company to Inspect Records, etc.
The Company will have the right under this Agreement to perform on
site inspection of records and accounts and to perform audits directly
pertaining to the Company shareholder accounts serviced by the Agent hereunder
at the Agent's or any Subagent's facilities in accordance with reasonable
procedures at the frequency necessary to assure proper administration of the
Agreement. The Agent will cooperate with the Company's auditors or
representatives of appropriate regulatory agencies and furnish all reasonably
requested records and data.
6. Insurance.
The Agent now has the insurance coverage described in Exhibit C,
attached hereto, and the Agent will not take any action to eliminate or decrease
such coverage during the term of this Agreement without receiving the approval
of the Fund in advance of any change, except the Agent, after giving reasonable
notice to the Company, may eliminate or decrease any coverage if the premiums
for such coverage are substantially increased.
The Company, at its expense, will include as part of its insurance
coverages maintained pursuant to Section 17(j) of the Investment Company Act of
1940 fidelity insurance with respect to forgery or alteration of checks drawn on
its checking account referred to in Section 3(1)(e) of this Agreement subject to
such deductible for this particular coverage as it may deem appropriate. The
Agent will maintain at is expense such insurance coverages with respect to the
Agent's duties under Section 3(1)(e) for loss caused by errors or omissions as
it deems appropriate. Any loss to the Company by reason of the deductible on
coverages maintained by it hereunder shall be paid by the Agent.
7. Standard of Care; Indemnification.
The Agent will at all times exercise due diligence and good faith in
performing its duties hereunder. The Agent will make every reasonable effort
and take all reasonably available measures to assure the adequacy of its
personnel and facilities as well as the accurate performance of all services to
be performed by it hereunder within, at a minimum, the time requirements of any
applicable statutes, rules or regulations or as set forth in the prospectus.
The Agent shall not be responsible for, and the Company agrees to
indemnify the Agent for any losses, damages or expenses (including reasonable
counsel fees and expenses) (i) resulting from any claim, demand, action or suit
not resulting from the Agent's failure to exercise good faith or due diligence
and arising out of or in connection with the Agent's duties on behalf of the
Company hereunder; (ii) for any delay, error or omission by reason of
circumstances beyond its control, including acts of civil or military authority,
national emergencies, labor difficulties (except with respect to the Agent's
employees), fire, mechanical breakdown beyond its control, flood or catastrophe,
acts of God, insurrection, war, riots, or failure beyond its control of
transportation, communication or power supply; or (iii) for any action taken or
omitted to be taken by the Agent in good faith in reliance on (a) the
authenticity of any instrument or communication reasonably believed by it to be
genuine and to have been properly made and signed or endorsed by an appropriate
person, (b) the accuracy of any records or information provided to it by the
Company, (c) any authorization or instruction contained in any officers'
instruction, or (d) with respect to the functions performed for the Company
listed under Paragraph 3(1) of this Agreement, any advice of counsel approved by
the Company who may be internally employed counsel or outside counsel, in either
case for the Company and/or the Agent.
In order for the rights to indemnification to apply, it is understood
that if in any case the Company may be asked to indemnify or hold the Agent
harmless, the Company shall be advised of all pertinent facts concerning the
situation in question, and it is further understood that the Agent will use
reasonable care to identify and notify the Company promptly concerning any
situation which presents or appears likely to present a claim for
indemnification against the Company. The Company shall have the option to
defend the Agent against any claim which may be the subject of this
indemnification and, in the event that the Company so elects, it will so notify
the Agent and thereupon the Company shall take over complete defense of the
claim and the Agent shall sustain no further legal or other expenses in such
situation for which the Agent shall seek indemnification under this paragraph.
The Agent will in no case confess any claim or make any compromise in any case
in which the Company will be asked to indemnify the Agent except with the
Company's prior written consent.
8. Term of the Agreement; Taking Effect; Amendments.
This Agreement shall become effective at the start of business on the
date hereof and shall continue, unless terminated as hereinafter provided, for a
period of one year and from year to year thereafter, provided that such
continuance shall be specifically approved as provided below.
This Agreement shall go into effect, or may be continued, or may be
amended or a new agreement between the Company and the Agent covering the
substance of this Agreement may be entered into only if the terms of this
Agreement, such continuance, the terms of such amendment or the terms of such
new agreement have been approved by the Board of Directors of the Company,
including the vote of a majority of the directors who are not "interested
persons," as defined in the Act, of either party to this Agreement or of Waddell
& Reed, Inc. or Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company, cast in person at
a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. Such a vote is
hereinafter referred to as a "disinterested director vote."
Any disinterested director vote shall include a determination that (i)
the Agreement, amendment, new agreement or continuance in question is in the
best interests of the Company and its shareholders; (ii) the services to be
performed under the Agreement, the Agreement as amended, new agreement or
agreement to be continued, are services required for the operation of the
Company; (iii) the Agent can provide services the nature and quality of which
are at least equal to those provided by others offering the same or similar
services; and (iv) the fees for such services are fair and reasonable in the
light of the usual and customary charges made by others for services of the same
nature and quality.
9. Termination.
(1) This Agreement may be terminated by the Agent at any time without
penalty upon giving the Company 120 days' written notice (which notice may be
waived by the Company) and may be terminated by the Company at any time without
penalty upon giving the Agent sixty (60) days' written notice (which notice may
be waived by the Agent), provided that such termination by the Company shall be
directed or approved by the vote of a majority of the Board of Directors of the
Company in office at the time or by the vote of the holders of a majority (as
defined in or under the Act) of the outstanding shares of the Company.
(2) On termination, the Agent will deliver to the Company or its
designee all files, documents and records of the Company used, kept or
maintained by the Agent in the performance of its services hereunder, including
such of the Company's records in machine readable form as may be maintained by
the Agent, as well as such summary and/or control data relating thereto used by
or available to the Agent.
(3) In the event of any termination which involves the appointment of
a new shareholder servicing agent, including the Company's acting as such on its
own behalf, the Company shall have the non-exclusive right to the use of the
data processing programs used by the Agent in connection with the performance of
its duties under this Agreement without charge.
(4) In addition, on such termination or in preparation therefore, at
the request of the Company and at the Company's expense the Agent shall provide
to the extent that its capabilities then permit such documentation, personnel
and equipment as may be reasonably necessary in order for a new agent or the
Company to fully assume and commence to perform the agency functions described
in this Agreement with a minimum disruption to the Company's activities.
10. Construction; Governing Law.
The headings used in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall
not be deemed to constitute a part hereof. Whenever the context requires, words
denoting singular shall be read to include the plural. This Agreement and the
rights and obligations of the parties hereunder, shall be construed and
interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Kansas, except to the
extent that the laws of the State of Maryland apply with respect to share
transactions.
11. Representations and Warranties of Agent.
Agent represents and warrants that it is a corporation duly organized
and existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Missouri, that
it is duly qualified to carry on its business in the State of Kansas and
wherever its duties require, that it has the power and authority under laws and
by its Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws to enter into this Shareholder
Servicing Agreement and to perform the services contemplated by this Agreement.
12. Entire Agreement.
This Agreement and the Exhibits annexed hereto constitutes the entire
and complete agreement between the parties hereto relating to the subject matter
hereof, supersedes and merges all prior discussions between the parties hereto,
and may not be modified or amended orally.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have hereto caused this Agreement to
be duly executed on the day and year first above written.
UNITED GOVERNMENT SECURITIES FUND, INC.
By:_________________________________
Sharon K. Pappas, Vice President
ATTEST:
By:____________________________
Sheryl Strauss, Assistant Secretary
WADDELL & REED SERVICES COMPANY
By:__________________________________
Robert L. Hechler, President
ATTEST:
By:___________________________
Sharon K. Pappas, Secretary
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT A
A. DUTIES IN SHARE TRANSFERS AND REGISTRATION
1. The Agent in carrying out its duties shall follow general commercial
practices and the Rules of the Stock Transfer Association, Inc. except as they
may conflict or be inconsistent with the specific provisions of the Company's
Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, prospectus, applicable Federal and state
laws and regulations and this Agreement.
2. The Agent shall not require that the signature of the appropriate
person be guaranteed, witnessed or verified in order to effect a redemption,
transfer, exchange or change of address except as may from time to time be
directed by the Company as set forth in an officers' instruction. In the event
a signature guarantee is required by the Company, the Agent shall not inquire as
to the genuineness of the guarantee.
3. The Agent shall not replace a lost, stolen or misplaced stock
certificate without requiring and being furnished with an open penalty surety
bond protecting the Company and the Agent against loss.
B. The practices, procedures and requirements specified in A above may be
modified, altered, varied or supplemented as from time to time may be mutually
agreed upon by the Company and the Agent and evidenced on behalf of the Company
by an officers' instruction. Any such change shall not be deemed to be an
amendment to the Agreement within the meaning of Paragraph 8 of the Agreement.
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT B
COMPENSATION
Class A Shares
An amount payable on the first day of each month of $1.3125 for each account of
the Company which was in existence during any portion of the immediately
preceding month and, in addition, to pay to the Agent the sum of $0.30 for each
account for which, during such month, a record date was established for payment
of a dividend, in cash or otherwise (which term includes a distribution),
irrespective of whether such dividend was payable in that month or later or was
payable directly or was to be reinvested and $.75 for each check drawn on the
checking account of the Company maintained for its shareholders presented to
the Agent for review during the immediately preceding month.
Class Y Shares
An amount payable on the first day of each month equal to 1/12 of .15 of 1% of
the average daily net assets of the Class for the preceding month.
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT C
Bond or
Name of Bond Policy No. Insurer
Investment Company 87015197B ICI
Blanket Bond Form Mutual
Insurance
Company
Fidelity $18,800,000
Audit Expense 50,000
On Premises 18,800,000
In Transit 18,800,000
Forgery or Alteration 18,800,000
Securities 18,800,000
Counterfeit Currency 18,800,000
Uncollectible Items of
Deposit 25,000
Voice-Initiated Transactions 500,000
Total Limit 18,800,000
Directors and Officers/ 87015197D ICI
Errors and Omissions Liability Mutual
Insurance Form Insurance
Total Limit $ 5,000,000 Company
Blanket Lost Instrument Bond (Mail Loss) 30S100639551 Aetna
Life &
Casualty
Blanket Undertaking Lost Instrument
Waiver of Probate 42SUN339806 Hartford
Casualty
Insurance
EX-99.B11-gsconsnt
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT
We consent to the use in Post-Effective Amendment No. 23 to Registration
Statement No. 2-77329 of our report dated May 8, 1998 appearing in the Statement
of Additional Information, which is a part of such Registration Statement, and
to the reference to us under the caption "Financial Highlights" appearing in the
Prospectuses, which also are a part of such Registration Statement.
Deloitte & Touche LLP
Kansas City, Missouri
June 29, 1998
EX-99.B15-gsdsp
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE PLAN
FOR CLASS A SHARES
(Adopted on October 1, 1993,
Restated on February 8, 1995 and
amended on July 24, 1997)
This Plan is adopted by United Government Securities Fund, Inc. (the "Fund"),
pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the
"Act") to provide for payment by the Fund of certain expenses in connection with
the distribution of the Fund's Class A shares, provision of personal services to
the Fund's Class A shareholders and/or maintenance of its Class A shareholder
accounts. Payments under the Plan are to be made to Waddell & Reed, Inc.
("W&R") which serves as the principal underwriter for the Fund under the terms
of the Underwriting Agreement pursuant to which W&R offers and sells the shares
of the Fund.
Distribution Fee and Service Fee
The Fund is authorized to pay to W&R an amount not to exceed on an annual basis
.25 of 1% of the Fund's average net assets of the Class A shares as either (1) a
"distribution fee" to finance the distribution of the Fund's Class A shares, or
(2) a "service fee" to finance shareholder servicing by W&R, its affiliated
companies, broker-dealers who may sell Class A shares and other third-parties to
encourage and foster the maintenance of Class A shareholder accounts, or as a
combination of the two fees. The amounts shall be payable to W&R monthly or at
such other intervals as the board of directors may determine to reimburse W&R
for costs and expenses incurred.
NASD Definition
For purposes of this Plan, the "distribution fee" may be considered as a sales
charge that is deducted from the Class A net assets of the Fund and does not
include the service fee. The "service fee" shall be considered a payment made
by the Fund for personal service and/or maintenance of Class A shareholder
accounts, as such is now defined by the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. ("NASD"), provided, however, if the NASD adopts a definition of
"service fee" for purposes of Rule 2830 of the NASD Conduct Rules that differs
from the definition of "service fee" as presently used, or if the NASD adopts a
related definition intended to define the same concept, the definition of
"service fee" as used herein shall be automatically amended to conform to the
NASD definition.
Quarterly Reports
W&R shall provide to the board of directors of the Fund and the board of
directors shall review at least quarterly a written report of the amounts so
expended of the distribution fee and/or service fee paid or payable to it under
this Plan and the purposes for which such expenditures were made.
Approval of Plan
This Plan shall become effective when it has been approved by a vote of at least
a majority of the outstanding Class A voting securities of the Fund (as defined
in the Act) and by a vote of the board of directors of the Fund and of the
directors who are not interested persons of the Fund and have no direct or
indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan or any agreement
related to this Plan (other than as directors or shareholders of the Fund)
("independent directors") cast in person at a meeting called for the purposes of
voting on such Plan.
Continuance
This Plan shall continue in effect for a period of one (1) year and thereafter
from year to year only so long as such continuance is approved by the directors,
including the independent directors, as specified hereinabove for the adoption
of the Plan by the directors and independent directors.
Director Continuation
In considering whether to adopt, continue or implement this Plan, the directors
shall have a duty to request and evaluate, and W&R shall have a duty to furnish,
such information as may be reasonably necessary to an informed determination of
whether this Plan should be adopted, implemented or continued.
Termination
This Plan may be terminated at any time by a vote of a majority of the
independent directors of the Fund or by a vote of the majority of the
outstanding Class A voting securities of the Fund without penalty. On
termination, the payment of all distribution fees and service fees shall cease,
and the Fund shall have no obligation to W&R to reimburse it for any cost or
expenditure it has made or may make to distribute the Class A shares or service
Class A shareholder accounts.
Amendments
This Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount to be spent for
distribution of Class A shares, personal service and/or maintenance of
shareholder accounts without approval of the Class A shareholders, and all
material amendments of this Plan must be approved in the manner prescribed for
the adoption of the Plan as provided hereinabove.
Directors
While this Plan is in effect, the selection and nomination of the directors who
are not interested persons of the Fund shall be committed to the discretion of
the directors who are not interested persons of the Fund.
Records
Copies of this Plan, the Underwriting Agreement and reports made pursuant to
this Plan shall be preserved as provided in Rule 12b-1(f) under the Act.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE ANNUAL REPORT TO
SHAREHOLDERS DATED MARCH 31, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE
TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000702331
<NAME> UNITED GOVERNMENT SECURITIES FUND, INC.
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-1998
<PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 126,890,810
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 131,581,949
<RECEIVABLES> 2,965,120
<ASSETS-OTHER> 11,379
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 9,878
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 134,568,326
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> (1,219,230)
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> (1,219,230)
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 244,112
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 131,150,090
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 24,411,246
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (2,736,245)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 4,691,139
<NET-ASSETS> 133,349,096
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 9,135,432
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (1,155,879)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 7,979,553
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 1,266,760
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 5,459,364
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 14,705,677
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (7,979,553)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 3,094,326
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (5,015,584)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 1,344,624
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 3,748,129
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 516,182
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 1,155,879
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 129,961,539
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 5.19
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.33
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.27
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.33)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 5.46
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.89
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
June 29, 1998
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
450 Fifth Street, N. W.
Judiciary Plaza
Washington, D. C. 20549
RE: United Government Securities Fund, Inc.
Post-Effective Amendment No. 23
Dear Sir or Madam:
In connection with the filing of the above-referenced Post-Effective Amendment,
I hereby represent that the Amendment does not contain disclosures which would
render it ineligible to become effective pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485.
Yours truly,
Sharon K. Pappas
General Counsel
SKP:fr
