TABLE OF CONTENTS
Prospectus Highlights 2
Expenses 3
Financial Highlights 4
Performance Information 5
Investment Objectives and
Policies 6
How You Can Invest in the Fund 8
How Your Shareholder Account is
Maintained 10
How You Can Redeem Your Fund Shares 10
How Net Asset Value is Determined 11
Dividends 11
Tax Treatment of Dividends 12
Shareholder Services 12
The Fund's Management and Investment
Adviser 13
The Fund's Distributor 13
The Fund's Custodian and Transfer Agent 14
Description of the Corporation and Its
Shares 14
ADDRESSES
DISTRIBUTOR:
Legg Mason Wood Walker, Inc.
111 South Calvert Street
P.O. Box 1476, Baltimore, MD 21203-1476
410 (Bullet) 539 (Bullet) 0000 800 (Bullet) 822 (Bullet) 5544
TRANSFER AND SHAREHOLDER SERVICING AGENT:
Boston Financial Data Services
P.O. Box 953, Boston, MA 02103
COUNSEL:
Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP
1800 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20036-1800
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS:
Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.
217 East Redwood Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202
NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY
REPRESENTATIONS NOT CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS OR THE STATEMENT OF
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING MADE BY THE
PROSPECTUS AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST
NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE FUND OR ITS
DISTRIBUTOR. THE PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFERING BY THE FUND OR
BY THE PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFERING MAY
NOT LAWFULLY BE MADE.
[recycled logo] PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER
LMF-015
PROSPECTUS
MAY 1, 1997
REVISED: NOVEMBER 14, 1997
LEGG MASON
TAX
EXEMPT
TRUST, INC.
PUTTING YOUR FUTURE FIRST
[Legg Mason Logo]
FUNDS
<PAGE>
THE LEGG MASON TAX EXEMPT TRUST, INC.
PROSPECTUS
Legg Mason Tax Exempt Trust, Inc. ("Corporation") is a money market
fund seeking to produce high current income exempt from federal income
tax, to preserve capital, and to maintain liquidity.
The Corporation offers a single portfolio ("Fund"), which normally
invests primarily in short-term, high-quality municipal obligations, the
interest on which is exempt from federal income tax and is not a tax
preference item for purposes of the federal alternative minimum tax
("TPI"). Shares in the Fund are issued and redeemed at net asset value,
without an initial sales charge or redemption fee. AN INVESTMENT IN THE
FUND IS NEITHER INSURED NOR GUARANTEED BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT. ALTHOUGH
THE FUND ATTEMPTS TO MAINTAIN A CONSTANT NET ASSET VALUE OF $1.00 PER
SHARE, THERE CAN BE NO ASSURANCE THAT THE FUND WILL ALWAYS BE ABLE TO DO
SO.
This Prospectus sets forth concisely the information about the Fund
that a prospective investor should know before investing. It should be
retained for future reference. A Statement of Additional Information about
the Fund dated May 1, 1997 has been filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC") and, as amended or supplemented from time to time, is
incorporated herein by reference. The Statement of Additional Information
is available without charge upon request from Legg Mason Wood Walker,
Incorporated ("Legg Mason"), the Fund's distributor (address and telephone
number listed at right).
MUTUAL FUND SHARES ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OBLIGATIONS OF, OR GUARANTEED BY,
ANY BANK OR OTHER DEPOSITORY INSTITUTION. SHARES ARE NOT INSURED BY THE
FDIC, THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, OR ANY OTHER AGENCY, AND ARE SUBJECT TO
INVESTMENT RISK, INCLUDING THE POSSIBLE LOSS OF THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT
INVESTED.
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.
Dated: May 1, 1997
Revised: November 14, 1997
Legg Mason Wood Walker, Inc.
111 South Calvert Street
P.O. Box 1476
Baltimore, MD 21203-1476
410 (Bullet) 539 (Bullet) 0000
800 (Bullet) 822 (Bullet) 5544
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS HIGHLIGHTS
THE LEGG MASON TAX EXEMPT TRUST, INC.
The following summary is qualified in its entirety by the more
detailed information appearing in the body of this Prospectus and in the
Statement of Additional Information.
FUND TYPE:
The Fund is a no-load, open-end, diversified management investment
company. You may purchase or redeem shares of the Fund through a brokerage
account with Legg Mason or certain of its affiliates. See "How You Can
Invest in the Fund," page 8, and "How You Can Redeem Your Fund Shares,"
page 10.
FUND STARTED:
July 14, 1983
NET ASSETS:
Over $308 million as of March 31, 1997
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES:
The Fund's investment objectives are to produce high current income
exempt from federal income tax, to preserve capital, and to maintain
liquidity. The Fund normally attempts to meet these investment objectives
by investing its assets primarily in short-term, high-quality municipal
obligations, the interest on which is exempt from federal income tax and
is not a TPI. Of course, there can be no assurance that the Fund will
achieve its objectives. See "Investment Objectives and Policies," page 6.
DISTRIBUTOR:
Legg Mason Wood Walker, Incorporated
MANAGEMENT AND ADVISER:
Legg Mason Fund Adviser, Inc. serves as the Fund's manager and
investment adviser.
TRANSFER AND SHAREHOLDER SERVICING AGENT:
Boston Financial Data Services
CUSTODIAN:
State Street Bank and Trust Company
EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE:
All funds in the Legg Mason Family of Funds. See "Exchange Privilege,"
page 13.
YIELD:
Varies with current tax-exempt money market rates; quoted in the
financial section of most major newspapers.
DIVIDENDS:
Declared daily and paid monthly.
REINVESTMENT:
All dividends are automatically reinvested in Fund shares unless cash
payments are requested.
INITIAL PURCHASE:
$1,000 minimum, generally.
SUBSEQUENT PURCHASES:
$500 minimum, generally.
PURCHASE METHODS:
Send bank/personal check or wire federal funds. See "How You Can
Invest in the Fund," page 8.
PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE PER SHARE:
Net asset value, which the Fund seeks to maintain at $1.00 per share.
CHECKWRITING:
Available to qualified shareholders upon request. Unlimited number of
checks. Minimum amount per check: $250.
2
<PAGE>
EXPENSES
The purpose of the following table is to assist an investor in understanding
the various costs and expenses that an investor in the Fund will bear directly
or indirectly. The expenses and fees set forth in the table are based on average
net assets and annual Fund operating expenses for the year ended December 31,
1996.
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
(AS A PERCENTAGE OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)
Management fees 0.50%
12b-1 fees 0.10%(A)
Other expenses 0.14%
------
Total operating expenses 0.74%
======
- ---------------
(A) Effective January 10, 1997, the Fund began compensating Legg Mason for
distribution costs and services at an annual rate equal to 0.10% of its
average daily net assets. The fee shown reflects determination by Legg Mason
to request payment of, and determination by the Board to pay, less than the
full amount of the authorized 12b-1 fee. If the full amount of the fee were
paid, 12b-1 fees would be 0.20% and total operating expenses would be 0.84%.
EXAMPLE
The following example illustrates the expenses that you would pay on a
$1,000 investment over various time periods assuming (1) a 5% annual rate of
return and (2) full redemption at the end of each time period. The Fund charges
no redemption fees of any kind.
1 YEAR 3 YEARS 5 YEARS 10 YEARS
- -------------------------------------------
$8 $24 $41 $ 92
This example assumes that all dividends are reinvested and that the
percentage amounts listed under "Annual Fund Operating Expenses" remain the same
over the time periods shown. The above table and the assumption in the example
of a 5% annual return are required by regulations of the SEC applicable to all
mutual funds. THE ASSUMED 5% ANNUAL RETURN IS NOT A PREDICTION OF, AND DOES NOT
REPRESENT, THE FUND'S PROJECTED OR ACTUAL PERFORMANCE. THE ABOVE TABLE AND
EXAMPLE SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED REPRESENTATIONS OF PAST OR FUTURE EXPENSES.
ACTUAL EXPENSES MAY BE GREATER OR LESS THAN THOSE SHOWN. The Fund's actual
expenses will depend upon, among other things, the level of average net assets,
the levels of sales and redemptions of shares, and the extent to which the Fund
incurs variable expenses, such as transfer agency costs.
3
<PAGE>
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The financial information in the table below has been audited by
Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P., independent accountants. The Fund's financial
statements for the year ended December 31, 1996 and the report of Coopers &
Lybrand L.L.P. thereon are included in the Fund's annual report and are
incorporated by reference in the Statement of Additional Information. The
annual report is available to shareholders without charge by calling your
Legg Mason or affiliated financial advisor or Legg Mason's Funds Marketing
Department at 800-822-5544.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S><C>
PER SHARE OPERATING PERFORMANCE:
Net asset value, beginning of
year $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net investment income .0282 .0313 .0223 .0174 .0231 .0386 .0518 .0571
Dividends paid from net
investment income (.0282) (.0313) (.0223) (.0174) (.0231) (.0386) (.0518) (.0571)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value, end of year $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00
======================================================================================
Total return 2.85% 3.17% 2.25% 1.75% 2.34% 3.93% 5.30% 5.86%
RATIO/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Ratios to average net
assets:
Total expenses(A) .64% .66% -- -- -- -- -- --
Net expenses(B) .64% .65% .65% .69% .73% .69% .70% .72%
Net investment
income 2.82% 3.14% 2.23% 1.74% 2.33% 3.88% 5.18% 5.69%
Net assets, end of
year (in
thousands) $ 278,492 $ 224,656 $ 222,490 $ 237,611 $ 170,046 $ 176,752 $ 183,756 $ 159,815
<CAPTION>
------------------------
1988 1987
------------------------
<S><C>
PER SHARE OPERATING PERFORMANCE:
Net asset value, beginning of
year $1.00 $1.00
------------------------
Net investment income .0464 .0392
Dividends paid from net
investment income (.0464) (.0392)
------------------------
Net asset value, end of year $1.00 $1.00
Total return 4.74% 3.99%
========================
RATIO/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Ratios to average net
assets:
Total expenses(A) -- --
Net expenses(B) .69% .74%
Net investment
income 4.63% 3.97%
Net assets, end of
year (in
thousands) $ 95,364 $ 81,769
</TABLE>
(A) PURSUANT TO SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION REGULATIONS EFFECTIVE
DECEMBER 31, 1995, THIS RATIO REFLECTS TOTAL EXPENSES BEFORE COMPENSATING
BALANCE CREDITS. PREVIOUSLY, THE CREDITS WERE INCLUDED IN THE RATIO.
(B) THIS RATIO REFLECTS EXPENSES NET OF COMPENSATING BALANCE CREDITS.
4
<PAGE>
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
From time to time, the Fund may quote its yield, including its compound
effective yield, in advertisements or in reports or other communications to
shareholders. The Fund's "yield" refers to the income generated by an investment
in the Fund over a stated seven-day period. This income is then "annualized,"
that is, the average daily net income generated by the investment during that
week is assumed to be generated each day over a 365-day period and is shown as a
percentage of the investment. The "effective yield" is calculated similarly but
assumes that the shareholder reinvests income earned by an investment. The
Fund's effective yield will be slightly higher than the Fund's yield because of
the compounding effect of this assumed reinvestment.
The Fund also may quote its tax-equivalent yield and tax-equivalent
effective yield. Tax-equivalent yield shows the taxable yield that would produce
the same after-tax income at a stated tax rate as the Fund's tax-exempt yield.
Tax-equivalent effective yield shows the taxable effective yield that would
produce the same after-tax income at a stated tax rate as the Fund's tax-exempt
effective yield.
Yield information may be useful in reviewing the Fund's performance and
providing a basis for comparison with other investment alternatives. However,
the Fund's yield may change in response to fluctuations in market interest rates
and Fund expenses. Past performance is not a guarantee of future performance.
The Fund's yield for the seven-day period ended December 31, 1996 was 3.15%.
The effective yield for the same period was 3.20%.
5
<PAGE>
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES
The Fund is a diversified, open-end management investment company which
seeks to produce high current income exempt from federal income tax, to preserve
capital, and to maintain liquidity. Under normal conditions, the Fund invests
primarily in short-term, high-quality municipal securities, the interest on
which is exempt from federal income tax and is not a TPI. The Fund may also
invest, to a limited extent, in taxable short-term money market instruments. The
Fund attempts to maintain a constant net asset value of $1.00 per share. There
is, of course, no assurance that the Fund will always be able to maintain a net
asset value of $1.00 per share or that it will achieve its investment
objectives.
The Fund is not intended to be a balanced investment program and is not
designed for investors who are unable to benefit from tax-exempt income or for
investors seeking capital appreciation or maximum tax-exempt income irrespective
of fluctuations in principal. The Fund is not an appropriate investment for
"substantial users" of certain facilities financed by industrial development or
private activity bonds or persons related to such "substantial users." See
"Additional Tax Information" in the Statement of Additional Information.
Municipal Obligations
The Fund normally invests substantially all of its assets in a diversified
portfolio of obligations issued by or on behalf of the states, territories and
possessions of the United States and the District of Columbia and their
political subdivisions, agencies, instrumentalities or authorities, the interest
on which, in the opinion of counsel to the issuer, is exempt from federal income
tax and is not a TPI ("Municipal Obligations"). As a matter of fundamental
policy, except during defensive periods, the Fund will maintain at least 80% of
its assets invested in Municipal Obligations that have remaining maturities of
one year or less or that are variable or floating rate demand notes. The balance
of the Fund's assets normally is invested in Municipal Obligations that have
remaining maturities of 397 days or less or that are variable or floating rate
demand notes. For purposes of the above policy, the remaining maturities of
variable or floating rate demand notes are calculated under the applicable SEC
guidelines. The Fund maintains a dollar-weighted average maturity of 90 days or
less.
The Fund limits its investments to obligations which, pursuant to procedures
adopted by the Board of Directors, present minimal credit risk in the opinion of
the Adviser, and are rated in one of the two highest short-term ratings
categories by at least two nationally recognized statistical rating
organizations ("NRSROs"), or one NRSRO if only rated by one or, if unrated by
any NRSRO, are determined to be of comparable quality by the Adviser. Currently,
there are six NRSROs, including Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") and
Standard & Poor's ("S&P"). A discussion of the S&P and Moody's ratings is
contained in the Statement of Additional Information. The Fund does not intend
to invest more than 25% of its net assets in (1) Municipal Obligations whose
issuers are located in the same state, (2) Municipal Obligations which are
repayable out of revenue streams generated from economically related projects or
facilities, or (3) industrial development bonds or private activity bonds issued
by issuers in the same industries, provided that, for the purpose of this
restriction, there is no limitation with respect to investments in U.S. Treasury
bills or other obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its
agencies or instrumentalities. The Fund considers the "issuer" of a Municipal
Obligation to be the entity responsible for payment. Thus, the District of
Columbia, each state, each political subdivision, agency, instrumentality and
authority thereof, and each multi-state agency of which a state is a member is a
separate "issuer" as that term is used in this Prospectus. In certain
circumstances, the non-government user of facilities financed by industrial
development bonds or private activity bonds is considered to be the issuer.
The yields on Municipal Obligations are dependent on a variety of factors,
including general money market conditions, general conditions of the Municipal
Obligations market, the financial condition of the issuer, the size of the
particular offering, the maturity of the obligation, the credit quality and
ratings of the issue and expectations regarding changes in income tax rates. The
ratings
6
<PAGE>
of NRSROs represent their opinion as to the quality of the Municipal Obligations
that they undertake to rate. The ratings are not guarantees as to quality and
may change after the Fund has acquired a security.
Municipal Obligations include debt obligations issued to obtain funds for
various public purposes, including constructing a wide range of public
facilities, refunding outstanding obligations, obtaining funds for general
operating expenses and making loans to other public institutions and facilities.
Industrial development bonds and private activity bonds are issued by or on
behalf of public authorities to finance various privately operated facilities,
including pollution control facilities.
"General obligation bonds" are secured by the issuer's pledge of its full
faith and credit, including its taxing power. "Revenue bonds" are payable only
from the revenues derived from a particular facility or class of facilities or
from the proceeds of a special excise tax or other specific revenue source, such
as the corporate user of the facility being financed. Industrial development
bonds and private activity bonds are usually revenue bonds and are not payable
from the unrestricted revenues of a municipality. The credit quality of
industrial development bonds and private activity bonds is usually directly
related to the credit standing of the corporate user of the facilities.
Municipal Obligations also include short-term tax anticipation notes, bond
anticipation notes, revenue anticipation notes and other forms of short-term
debt obligations. Such notes may be issued with a short-term maturity in
anticipation of the receipt of tax funds, the proceeds of bond placements or
other revenues.
The Fund's portfolio will be affected by general changes in market interest
rates resulting in increases or decreases in the value of the Municipal
Obligations held by the Fund. Investors should recognize that, in periods of
declining interest rates, the Fund's yield will tend to be somewhat higher than
prevailing market rates, and in periods of rising interest rates, the Fund's
yield will tend to be somewhat lower. Also, when interest rates are falling, the
inflow of net new money to the Fund from the continuous sale of its shares will
likely be invested in portfolio instruments producing lower yields than the
balance of its portfolio, thereby reducing the current yield of the Fund. In
periods of rising interest rates, the opposite can be expected to occur.
Current efforts to restructure the federal budget and the relationship
between the federal government and state and local governments may adversely
impact the financing of some issuers of municipal securities. Some states and
localities are experiencing substantial deficits and may find it difficult for
political or economic reasons to increase taxes. Some local jurisdictions have
invested heavily in derivative instruments and may now hold portfolios of
uncertain valuation. Efforts are also under way that may result in a
restructuring of the federal income tax system. These developments could reduce
the value of all municipal securities, or the securities of particular issuers.
When-Issued Securities
The Fund may enter into commitments to purchase Municipal Obligations on a
when-issued basis. When-issued securities are often the most efficiently priced
and have the best liquidity in the bond market. As with the purchase of any
security, when the Fund purchases securities on a when-issued basis, it assumes
the risks of ownership, including the risk of price fluctuation, at the time of
purchase, not at the time of receipt. However, the Fund does not pay for such
securities until they are delivered to the Fund, normally 7 to 45 days later. To
meet that payment obligation, the Fund will establish a segregated account with
its custodian and maintain cash or appropriate liquid securities, in an amount
at least equal in value to the payment that will be due. Failure by the issuer
to deliver a security purchased on a when-issued basis may result in a loss or
missed opportunity by the Fund to make an alternative investment. Commitments to
purchase when-issued securities will not exceed, in the aggregate, 25% of the
Fund's total assets.
Stand-By Commitments
The Fund may acquire "stand-by commitments" with respect to its investments
in Municipal Obligations. A stand-by commitment is a put (that is, the right to
sell the underlying security within a specified period of time at a specified
7
<PAGE>
exercise price that may be sold, transferred or assigned only with the
underlying security) that entitles the Fund to same-day settlement. Under a
stand-by commitment, a broker, dealer or bank agrees to purchase, at the Fund's
option, specified Municipal Obligations at amortized cost plus accrued interest.
The total amount paid for outstanding stand-by commitments held by the Fund will
not exceed 1/2 of 1% of the Fund's total asset value calculated immediately
after each stand-by commitment is acquired.
Variable Rate and Floating Rate Obligations
The Fund may invest in variable and floating rate Municipal Obligations and
notes. Variable rate obligations have an interest rate that is adjusted
periodically based upon market conditions.
The Fund may also invest in floating rate and variable rate demand notes.
Demand notes provide that the holder may demand payment of the note at its par
value plus accrued interest. These notes may be supported by an unconditional
bank letter of credit guaranteeing payment of the principal or both the
principal and accrued interest. The Fund, as permitted by the SEC, may rely on
the credit enhancement in purchasing demand notes. Because the Fund invests in
such securities backed by banks and other financial institutions, changes in the
credit quality of these institutions could cause losses to the Fund and affect
its share price. Floating rate demand notes have an interest rate related to a
known lending rate, such as the prime rate, and are automatically adjusted when
such known rate changes. The Fund may invest in variable rate and floating rate
notes carrying stated maturities in excess of 397 days at the date of purchase
by the Fund if such obligations carry demand features that comply with
conditions established by the SEC. In such cases, the Fund is entitled to
consider the note as having a maturity of 397 days or less, based on the date
the interest rate will be reset or when the principal can be recovered through
demand.
Temporary Investments
From time to time for liquidity purposes or pending the investment of the
proceeds of the sale of shares, the Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets
in: obligations of the U.S. Government, its agencies and instrumentalities;
certificates of deposit and bankers' acceptances of U.S. domestic banks with
assets of one billion dollars or more; commercial paper or other corporate notes
of high grade quality; and any of such items subject to short-term repurchase
agreements. Interest earned from such taxable investments will be taxable to
investors as ordinary income when distributed to them. For temporary defensive
purposes, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in U.S. government
securities and other taxable short-term instruments.
Investment Limitations
The Fund has adopted certain fundamental limitations that, like its
investment objectives and its policy of investing (except during defensive
periods) at least 80% of its assets in short-term Municipal Obligations, can be
changed only by the vote of Fund shareholders. These investment limitations are
set forth under "Investment Limitations" in the Statement of Additional
Information. Other Fund policies, unless described as fundamental, can be
changed by action of the Board of Directors.
HOW YOU CAN INVEST IN THE FUND
You may purchase shares of the Fund through a brokerage account with Legg
Mason or with an affiliate that has a dealer agreement with Legg Mason. Your
Legg Mason or affiliated financial advisor will be pleased to explain the
shareholder services available from the Fund and answer any questions you may
have.
The minimum initial investment in the Fund for each account, including
investments made by exchange from other Legg Mason funds, is $1,000, and the
minimum investment for each purchase of additional shares is $500, except as
noted below. Those investing through the Fund's Future First Systematic
Investment Plan, payroll deduction plans and plans involving automatic transfer
of funds from Legg Mason brokerage accounts, accounts with other financial
institutions and certain unit investment trusts are subject to lower minimum
initial and subsequent investments. The Fund reserves the right to change the
minimum amount requirements at its discretion. You should always furnish your
shareholder account number when making additional purchases of shares.
8
<PAGE>
Clients of certain institutions that maintain omnibus accounts with the
Fund's transfer agent may obtain shares through those institutions. Such
institutions may receive payments from the Fund's distributor for account
servicing, and may receive payments from their clients for other services
performed. Investors can purchase Fund shares from Legg Mason without receiving
or paying for such other services.
Cash held in Legg Mason brokerage accounts of Fund shareholders may be
invested in the Fund during regularly scheduled "sweeps" of such accounts made
twice each month. (Brokerage accounts participating in the Premier Asset
Management Account described on page 12 are swept daily for free credit balances
of $100 or more and weekly for free credit balances of less than $100.)
There are four ways you can invest:
1. BY MAIL
Once you have opened an account with the Fund, you may purchase shares in
person or by mailing a check for $500 or more (payable to "Legg Mason Tax Exempt
Trust, Inc.") to your Legg Mason or affiliated financial advisor.
2. BY TELEPHONE OR WIRE TRANSFER OF FUNDS
Once you have opened an account with the Fund, you may also purchase shares
by telephone from available cash balances in your Legg Mason or affiliated
brokerage account or by wire transfer of funds from your bank directly to Legg
Mason. Please contact any Legg Mason or affiliated financial advisor for further
information. Wire transfers may be subject to a service charge by your bank.
3. THROUGH THE FUTURE FIRST SYSTEMATIC INVESTMENT PLAN
You may also buy shares in the Fund through the Future First Systematic
Investment Plan. Under this plan, you may arrange for automatic monthly
investments in the Fund of $50 or more by authorizing Boston Financial Data
Services ("BFDS"), the Fund's transfer agent, to transfer funds each month from
your Legg Mason account or your checking account. Please contact any Legg Mason
or affiliated financial advisor for further information.
4. THROUGH AUTOMATIC INVESTMENTS
Arrangements may be made with some employers and financial institutions,
such as banks or credit unions, for regular automatic monthly investments of $50
or more in shares of the Fund. In addition, it may be possible for dividends
from certain unit investment trusts to be invested automatically in Fund shares.
Persons interested in establishing such automatic investment programs should
contact the Fund through any Legg Mason or affiliated financial advisor.
Shares of the Fund are issued at the net asset value next determined after
receipt of a purchase order and payment in proper form. Many instruments in
which the Fund invests must be paid for in immediately available money called
"federal funds." Therefore, payments received from you for the purchase of
shares in other than federal funds form will require conversion into federal
funds before your purchase order may be executed. For checks, this normally will
take two days but may take up to nine days. All checks are accepted subject to
collection at full face value in federal funds and must be drawn in U.S. dollars
on a domestic bank. Purchases made by telephone from available cash balances in
your Legg Mason or affiliated brokerage account or by wire payments representing
federal funds will normally be completed on the same or the next business day.
If an order and payment in federal funds is received by your Legg Mason or
affiliated financial advisor prior to 12:00 noon, Eastern time, on any day that
the New York Stock Exchange ("Exchange") is open, the shares will be purchased
and earn dividends on that day; if such an order is received at 12:00 noon or
later, or on days the Exchange is closed, the shares will be purchased at the
next determined net asset value and will earn dividends on the next day the
Exchange is open. See "How Net Asset Value is Determined," page 11.
The Fund reserves the right to reject any order for shares of the Fund or to
suspend the offering of shares for a period of time.
9
<PAGE>
HOW YOUR SHAREHOLDER ACCOUNT IS
MAINTAINED
When you initially purchase shares of the Fund, a shareholder account is
automatically established for you. Any shares that you purchase or receive as a
dividend will be credited directly to your account at the time of purchase or
receipt. Shares may not be held in or transferred to an account with any
brokerage firm other than Legg Mason or its affiliates. The Fund no longer
issues share certificates.
HOW YOU CAN REDEEM YOUR FUND
SHARES
All redemptions will be made in cash at the net asset value per share next
determined after the receipt by the Fund of a redemption request in proper form
either in writing or by telephone as described below. Requests for redemption
received after 12:00 noon, Eastern time, will be executed on the next day the
Exchange is open, at the net asset value next determined. However, payment of
redemption proceeds for shares purchased by check and shares acquired through
reinvestment of dividends on such shares may be delayed for up to 10 days after
receipt of the check in order to allow time for the check to clear. Any of the
following methods may be used to redeem shares:
1. REDEMPTION BY TELEPHONE
Telephone redemptions may be made by calling your Legg Mason or affiliated
financial advisor. The minimum amount for telephone redemptions is $100 unless
you require a lesser amount to complete a transaction in your Legg Mason or
affiliated brokerage account. Proceeds of redemptions requested by telephone
will be transmitted only to you. They may be transferred by mail or wire, at
your direction (see below). Proceeds of redemptions authorized by telephone will
be credited to your Legg Mason or affiliated brokerage account the same day.
Wire transfers of proceeds to you or your Legg Mason or affiliated brokerage
account will normally be transmitted the same day.
To make a telephone redemption, you should call your Legg Mason or
affiliated financial advisor and provide your name, the Fund's name, your Fund
account number and the number of shares or dollar amount you wish to redeem. In
the event that you are unable to reach your Legg Mason or affiliated financial
advisor by telephone, you may make a redemption request by mail. There is no fee
for telephone redemptions with the exception of wire redemptions made by
telephone, as described below.
You may request by telephone that your shares be redeemed and the proceeds
wired to your account at a commercial bank in the United States. In order to
initiate a wire redemption by telephone, you must inform your Legg Mason or
affiliated financial advisor of the name and address of your bank and your bank
account number. If your designated bank is not a member of the Federal Reserve
System, the proceeds will be wired to a member bank that has a correspondent
relationship with your bank. The failure of the member bank to notify your bank
immediately of the wire transfer could delay the crediting of redemption
proceeds to your bank. An $18 fee for using the wire redemption service will be
deducted by Legg Mason or its affiliate from the redemption proceeds that are
wired to your bank.
The Fund will not be responsible for the authenticity of redemption
instructions received by telephone, provided it follows reasonable procedures to
identify the caller. The Fund may request identifying information from callers
or employ identification numbers. The Fund may be liable for losses due to
unauthorized or fraudulent instructions if it does not follow reasonable
procedures. Telephone redemption privileges are available automatically to all
shareholders unless certificates have been issued. Shareholders who do not wish
to have telephone redemption privileges should call their Legg Mason or
affiliated financial advisor for further instructions.
2. REDEMPTION BY CHECK
The Fund offers a free checkwriting service that permits you to write checks
to anyone in amounts of $250 or more. The checks will be paid at the time they
are received by BFDS by redeeming the appropriate number of shares in your
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account; the shares will earn dividends until the check clears BFDS for payment.
Please contact your Legg Mason or affiliated financial advisor for further
information regarding this service.
3. REDEMPTION BY MAIL
You may request the redemption of your shares by sending a letter signed by
all of the registered owners of the account to: "Legg Mason Tax Exempt Trust,
Inc., c/o Legg Mason Funds Processing, P.O. Box 1476, Baltimore, Maryland
21203-1476." Any stock certificates issued for the shares must be surrendered at
the same time. For your protection, certificates, if any, should be sent by
registered mail. On all requests for the redemption of shares valued at $10,000
or more, or when the proceeds of the redemption are to be paid to someone other
than you, your signature must have been guaranteed without qualification by a
national bank, a state bank, a member firm of a principal stock exchange or
other entity described in Rule 17Ad-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934. Legg Mason or its affiliates may request further documentation from
corporations, executors, partnerships, administrators, trustees or custodians.
Checks normally will be mailed within three business days of receipt of a proper
redemption request to your address of record or, in accordance with your written
request, to some other person.
4. REDEMPTION TO PAY FOR SECURITIES PURCHASES AT LEGG MASON
Legg Mason has established special redemption procedures for Fund
shareholders who wish to purchase stocks, bonds or other securities at Legg
Mason. You may place an order to buy securities through your Legg Mason or
affiliated financial advisor and, in the absence of any indication that you wish
to make payment in another manner, Fund shares will be redeemed on the
settlement date for the amount due. Fund shares may also be redeemed by Legg
Mason to cover debit balances in your brokerage account. Contact your Legg Mason
or affiliated financial advisor for details.
Because of the relatively high cost of maintaining small accounts, the Fund
may elect to close any account with a current value due to redemptions of less
than $500 by redeeming all of the shares in the account and mailing the proceeds
to you. If the Fund elects to redeem the shares in your account, you will be
notified that your account is below $500 and will be allowed 60 days to make an
additional investment to avoid having your account closed.
To the extent permitted by law, the Fund reserves the right to take up to
seven days to make payment upon redemption if, in the judgment of the Adviser,
the Fund could be adversely affected by immediate payment. (The Statement of
Additional Information describes several circumstances in which the date of
redemption may be postponed or the right of redemption suspended.)
HOW NET ASSET VALUE IS DETERMINED
Net asset value per Fund share is determined twice daily, as of 12:00 noon,
Eastern time, and as of the close of business of the Exchange (normally 4:00
p.m., Eastern time), on every day that the Exchange is open, by subtracting the
Fund's liabilities from its total assets and dividing the result by the number
of shares outstanding. The Fund attempts to maintain a per share net asset value
of $1.00 by using the amortized cost method of valuation. The Fund cannot
guarantee that net asset value will always remain at $1.00 per share.
DIVIDENDS
Dividends are declared daily and paid monthly. Dividends are automatically
reinvested on payment dates in shares of the Fund unless cash payments are
requested by writing to a Legg Mason or affiliated financial advisor. Requests
for payments of dividends in cash must be received at least 10 days prior to a
payment date in order to be honored on that date.
If a shareholder has elected to receive dividends in cash and the postal or
other delivery service is unable to deliver checks to the shareholder's address
of record, such shareholder's distribution option will automatically be
converted to having all dividends reinvested in additional shares. No interest
will accrue on amounts represented by uncashed distribution or redemption
checks.
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In certain cases, you may reinvest your dividends in shares of another Legg
Mason fund. Please contact your Legg Mason or affiliated financial advisor for
additional information about this option.
Because the Fund's policy is, under normal circumstances, to hold portfolio
securities to maturity and to value portfolio securities at amortized cost, it
does not expect to realize any capital gain or loss. If the Fund does realize
any net short-term capital gains, it will distribute them at least once every 12
months.
TAX TREATMENT OF DIVIDENDS
The Fund intends to continue to qualify for treatment as a regulated
investment company under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. If the Fund so
qualifies and, at the close of each quarter of its taxable year, at least 50% of
the value of its total assets consists of certain obligations the interest on
which is excludable from gross income for federal income tax purposes, the Fund
may pay "exempt-interest" dividends to its shareholders. Those dividends
constitute the portion of the aggregate dividends (other than distributions of
net short-term capital gains, if any, and any other taxable income), as
designated by the Fund, equal to the excess of the excludable interest over
certain amounts disallowed as deductions. Exempt-interest dividends are
excludable from a shareholder's gross income; however, the amount of such
dividends must be reported on the recipient's federal income tax return.
Interest on indebtedness incurred or maintained by a shareholder in order to
purchase or hold Fund shares is not deductible. Dividends derived from interest
on Municipal Obligations may not be exempt from taxation under state or local
law.
Shareholders receive information after the close of each calendar year
concerning the federal income tax status of all dividends.
The foregoing is only a summary of some of the important federal income tax
considerations generally affecting the Fund and its shareholders; see the
Statement of Additional Information for a further discussion. In addition to
those considerations, which are applicable to any investment in the Fund, there
may be other federal, state or local tax considerations applicable to a
particular investor. Prospective shareholders are urged to consult their tax
advisers with respect to the effects of this investment on their own tax
situations.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
CONFIRMATIONS AND REPORTS
An account statement will be sent to you monthly unless there has been no
activity in the account or you are purchasing shares through the Future First
Systematic Investment Plan or through automatic investments, in which case an
account statement will be sent quarterly. Reports will be sent to shareholders
at least semiannually showing the Fund's portfolio and other information; the
annual report will contain financial statements audited by the Fund's
independent accountants.
Shareholder inquiries should be addressed to "Legg Mason Tax Exempt Trust,
Inc., c/o Legg Mason Funds Processing, P.O. Box 1476, Baltimore, Maryland
21203-1476."
SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN
You may elect to make systematic withdrawals from your Fund account of a
minimum of $50 on a monthly basis if you are purchasing or already own shares
with a net asset value of $5,000 or more. Please contact your Legg Mason or
affiliated financial advisor for further information.
PREMIER ASSET MANAGEMENT ACCOUNT
Shareholders may participate in Legg Mason's Premier Asset Management
Account, which combines the Fund account, a preferred customer VISA Gold debit
card, a Legg Mason brokerage account with margin borrowing availability and
unlimited checks with no minimum check amount. Other services include automatic
transfer of free credit balances in a participant's brokerage account to the
Fund account and automatic redemption of Fund shares to offset debit balances in
the participant's brokerage account. Legg Mason charges an annual fee for the
Premier Asset Management Account, which is currently $85 for individuals and
$100 for corporations and businesses. For further information, contact your Legg
Mason or affiliated financial advisor.
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EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE
As a Fund shareholder, you are entitled to exchange your shares of the Fund
for shares of any of the Legg Mason Funds, provided that such shares are
eligible for sale in your state of residence.
Investments by exchange into the Legg Mason funds sold without an initial
sales charge are made at the per share net asset value next determined on the
same business day as redemption of the Fund shares you wish to exchange.
Investments by exchange into the Legg Mason funds sold with an initial sales
charge are made at the per share net asset value, plus the applicable sales
charge, determined on the same business day as redemption of the Fund shares you
wish to redeem; except that no sales charge will be imposed upon proceeds from
the redemption of Fund shares to be exchanged that were originally purchased by
exchange from a fund on which the same or higher initial sales charge previously
was paid. There is no charge for the exchange privilege, but the Fund reserves
the right to terminate or limit the exchange privilege of any shareholder who
makes more than four exchanges from the Fund in one calendar year.
To obtain further information concerning the exchange privilege and
prospectuses of other Legg Mason funds, or to make an exchange, please contact
your Legg Mason or affiliated financial advisor. To effect an exchange by
telephone, please call your Legg Mason or affiliated financial advisor with the
information described in the section "How You Can Redeem Your Fund Shares --
Redemption by Telephone," page 10. The other factors relating to telephone
redemptions described in that section apply also to telephone exchanges. Please
read the prospectus for the other fund(s) carefully before you invest by
exchange. The Fund reserves the right to modify or terminate the exchange
privilege upon 60 days' notice to shareholders.
THE FUND'S MANAGEMENT AND INVESTMENT
ADVISER
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The business and affairs of the Fund are managed under the direction of the
Corporation's Board of Directors.
ADVISER
Pursuant to an advisory agreement with the Fund, which was approved by the
Corporation's Board of Directors, Legg Mason Fund Adviser, Inc. ("Adviser"),
serves as the Fund's investment adviser and manager. The Adviser manages the
investment and other affairs of the Fund and directs the investments of the Fund
in accordance with its investment objectives, policies and limitations. The Fund
pays the Adviser, pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, a fee equal to an annual
rate of 0.50% of the Fund's average daily net assets.
The Adviser acts as investment adviser, manager or consultant to eighteen
investment company portfolios which had aggregate assets under management of
over $7.0 billion as of March 31, 1997. The Adviser's address is 111 South
Calvert Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202.
Legg Mason receives a fee from BFDS for assisting it with its transfer agent
and shareholder servicing functions. For the year ended December 31, 1996, Legg
Mason received $42,000 for performing such services in connection with this
Fund.
THE FUND'S DISTRIBUTOR
Legg Mason acts as distributor of the Fund's shares pursuant to an
Underwriting Agreement with the Fund. Pursuant to the Fund's Distribution Plan,
the Fund may pay a distribution fee for distribution services not to exceed an
annual rate of 0.20% of the Fund's average daily net assets. Effective January
10, 1997, the Fund began compensating Legg Mason for distribution costs and
services at an annual rate equal to 0.10% of its average daily net assets.
Activities for which payments may be made include, but are not limited to,
compensation to persons, including Legg Mason financial advisors, who engage in
or support distribution of shares or
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who provide shareholder services, printing of prospectuses and reports for
persons other than existing shareholders, advertising, preparation and
distribution of sales literature, overhead and telephone expenses.
The fees received by Legg Mason during any year may be more or less than its
costs of providing distribution and shareholder services for the Fund.
NASD rules limit the amount of annual distribution and service fees that may
be paid by mutual funds, and impose a ceiling on the cumulative distribution
fees paid. The Fund's Distribution Plan complies with those rules.
Legg Mason is a wholly owned subsidiary of Legg Mason, Inc., which is also
the parent of the Adviser.
The Chairman, President and Treasurer of the Fund are employed by Legg
Mason.
THE FUND'S CUSTODIAN AND TRANSFER
AGENT
State Street Bank and Trust Company, P.O. Box 1713, Boston, MA 02105, is
custodian for the securities and cash of the Fund. Boston Financial Data
Services, P.O. Box 953, Boston, MA 02103 is transfer agent for Fund shares, and
dividend-disbursing agent for the Fund.
DESCRIPTION OF THE CORPORATION AND ITS
SHARES
The Corporation is a diversified, open-end management investment company
which was incorporated in Maryland on July 26, 1982. The Corporation is
authorized to issue multiple series of capital stock, each with a par value of
$.001 per share, at the discretion of the Board of Directors. To date, the
directors have authorized the issuance of only one series: shares in the Fund.
Each share in the Fund is entitled to one vote for the election of directors and
any other matter submitted to a shareholder vote. Fractional shares have
fractional voting rights. Voting rights are not cumulative. All shares in the
Fund are fully paid and nonassessable and have no preemptive or conversion
rights.
Shareholder meetings will not be held except where the 1940 Act requires a
shareholder vote on certain matters (including the election of directors,
approval of an advisory contract, and approval of a plan of distribution
pursuant to Rule 12b-1). The Corporation will call a special meeting of the
shareholders at the request of 10% or more of the shares entitled to vote;
shareholders wishing to call such a meeting should submit a written request to
the Fund at 111 South Calvert Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202, stating the
purpose of the proposed meeting and the matters to be acted upon.
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