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. 26 [X]
and/or
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 [X]
Amendment No. 30 [X]
(Check appropriate box or boxes.)
AMERICAN CENTURY CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE AND MUNICIPAL FUNDS
_________________________________________________________________
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
4500 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64141-6200
_________________________________________________________________
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's Telephone Number, including Area Code: (816) 531-5575
William M. Lyons, 4500 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64141-6200
_________________________________________________________________
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering: December 14, 1998
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check
appropriate box)
[ ] immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
[ ] on (date) pursuant to paragraph (b)
[X] 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.
If appropriate, check the following box:
[ ] This post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a
previously filed post-effective amendment.
<PAGE>
[left margin]
[american century logo(reg.sm)]
American
Century
PROSPECTUS
December 14, 1998
AMERICAN CENTURY
California Tax-Free Money Market Fund
California Municipal Money Market Fund
California Limited-Term Tax-Free Fund
California Intermediate-Term Tax-Free Fund
California Long-Term Tax-Free Fund
California Insured Tax-Free Fund
California High-Yield Municipal Fund
INVESTOR CLASS
The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these
securities or determined if this Prospectus is truthful or complete. Anyone who
tells you otherwise is committing a crime.
Distributed by Funds Distributor, Inc.
[inside front cover]
Dear Investor,
American Century prospectuses have a new personality, highlighted by
easy-to-read and easy-to-understand language. Designed with you, the investor,
in mind, the new prospectus provides comprehensive fund information that doesn't
get lost in lengthy, technical language. As you read through this prospectus,
please take note of the many improvements we've made, especially:
* A less-cluttered, larger-sized booklet
* A new section that discusses a fund's risk and return potential
* A new fund performance section that shows a fund's returns from
year to year
* Charts and tables that help illustrate important information about
the funds
* Key information and definitions highlighted in the margins
The prospectus is your tool to understanding American Century funds. If you have
questions or comments about the prospectus, please give us a call. You can reach
one of our Investor Services Representatives at 1-800-345-2021 weekdays, 7 a.m.
to 7 p.m. Central time.
Sincerely,
/s/Mark Killen
Mark Killen
Senior Vice President
American Century Investment Services, Inc.
Table of Contents
An Overview of the Funds.......................................................2
Fees and Expenses..............................................................3
Detailed Information about the Funds...........................................4
California Tax-Free Money Market Fund
California Municipal Money Market Fund................................4
California Limited-Term Tax-Free Fund
California Intermediate-Term Tax-Free Fund
California Long-Term Tax-Free Fund....................................6
California Insured Tax-Free Fund...............................................8
California High-Yield Municipal Fund..........................................10
Basics of Fixed Income Investing..............................................12
Management....................................................................15
How to Invest in American Century.............................................18
Share Price and Distributions.................................................21
Taxes.........................................................................22
Financial Highlights..........................................................23
Fund Reference
Fund Code Ticker Newspaper Listing
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
California Tax-Free Money Market 930 BCTXX BenhmCaTF
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
California Municipal Money Market 935 BNCXX BenhmCaMu
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
California Limited-Term Tax-Free 936 BCSTX CALtdTxF
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
California Intermediate-Term Tax-Free 931 BCITX CAIntTxF
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
California Long-Term Tax-Free 932 BCLTX CALgTxF
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
California Insured Tax-Free 934 BCINX CAInsTxF
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
California High-Yield Municipal 933 BCHYX CAHYldMu
[LEFT MARGIN CALLOUTS]
Throughout this book you'll find definitions to key investment terms and
phrases. When you see a word printed in green italics, look for its definition
in the left margin.
[pointed index finger] This symbol highlights special information and helpful
tips.
An Overview of the Funds
What are the funds' investment goals?
These conservatively managed funds seek income that is exempt from federal and
California income tax. They also attempt to protect the value of your
investments.
What are the funds' primary investments and risks?
The funds invest in debt securities issued by cities, counties and other
California municipalities. Each of the funds invests in different types of these
municipal debt securities and involves different risks. The chart below shows
the primary differences among the funds. Additional important information about
the funds' investment strategies and risks begins on page 4.
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Fund Primary Investments Primary Risks
------------------------ ---------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
Lower Income California Tax-Free High-quality, very short term debt securities California economic risk
More Liquid Money Market Fund Some credit risk
Shorter Term ------------------------ ---------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
California Municipal High-quality, very short term debt California economic risk
Money Market Fund securities, including private activity bonds Some credit risk
------------------------ ---------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
California Quality debt securities that mature in one California economic risk
Limited-Term Tax-Free to five years Credit risk
Fund Some interest rate risk
------------------------ ---------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
California Quality debt securities that mature in four California economic risk
Intermediate-Term or more years Credit risk
Tax-Free Fund Interest rate risk
------------------------ ---------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
California Long-Term Quality debt securities that mature in seven California economic risk
Tax-Free Fund or more years Credit risk
High interest rate risk
------------------------ ---------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
California Insured Quality debt securities that are covered by California economic risk
Tax-Free Fund insurance that guarantees interest and Some credit risk
principal payments High interest rate risk
------------------------ ---------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
Higher Income California High-Yield Debt securities that provide high income, California economic risk
Less Liquid Municipal Fund including non-investment grade debt High credit risk
Longer Term securities and private activity bonds High interest rate risk
</TABLE>
Who may want to invest in the funds?
The funds may be a good investment if you are
* a California resident or taxpayer
* seeking current tax-free income
* comfortable with risk based on California's economy
* comfortable with the funds' other investment risks
Who may not want to invest in the funds?
The funds may not be a good investment if you are
* investing through an IRA or other tax-advantaged retirement plan
* investing for long-term growth
* looking for the added security of FDIC insurance
[LEFT MARGIN CALLOUTS]
An investment in the funds is not a bank deposit and is not insured or
guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government
agency.
Although the money market funds seek to preserve the value of your investment at
$1.00 per share, it is possible to lose money by investing in them.
2 American Century Investments 1-800-345-2021
Fees and Expenses
There are no sales loads or fees or other charges
* to buy fund shares directly from American Century
* to reinvest dividends in additional shares
* to exchange into the Investor Class shares of other American Century
funds.
The following tables describe the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy
and hold shares of the funds.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Annual Operating Expenses (expenses that are deducted from fund assets)
Management Distribution and Other Total Annual Fund
Fee(1) Service (12b-1) Fees Expenses(2) Operating Expenses
- ------------------------------------------- ---------------- ------------------------ -------------- -----------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
California Tax-Free Money Market 0.50% None 0.00% 0.50%
California Municipal Money Market
- ------------------------------------------- ---------------- ------------------------ -------------- -----------------------
California Limited-Term Tax-Free 0.51% None 0.00% 0.51%
California Intermediate-Term Tax-Free
California Long-Term Tax-Free
California Instured Tax-Free
- ------------------------------------------- ---------------- ------------------------ -------------- -----------------------
California High-Yield Municipal 0.54% None 0.00% 0.54%
1 Based upon fund assets at August 31, 1998. The funds have a stepped fee
schedule, as a result, the funds' management fees generally decrease as fund
assets increase. Please consult the Statement of Additional Information for
more details about the funds' management fees.
2 Other expenses, which include the fees and expenses of the funds'
independent trustees, their legal counsel, interest and extraordinary
expenses, were less than 0.005% for the most recent fiscal year.
Examples of Hypothetical Fund Costs
The examples in the table below are intended to help you compare the costs of
investing in a fund with those of other mutual funds. Assuming you
* invest $10,000 in the fund
* redeem all of your shares at the end of the periods shown below
* earn a 5% return each year and
* incur the same operating expenses shown above,
your cost of investing in the fund would be:
1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years
- -------------------------------------------- ------------------ ------------------- ------------------- -------------------
California Tax-Free Money Market $50 $160 $280 $630
California Municipal Money Market
- -------------------------------------------- ------------------ ------------------- ------------------- -------------------
California Limited-Term Tax-Free $51 $168 $290 $640
California Intermediate-Term Tax-Free
California Long-Term Tax-Free
California Instured Tax-Free
- -------------------------------------------- ------------------ ------------------- ------------------- -------------------
California High-Yield Municipal $54 $173 $300 $670
</TABLE>
[LEFT MARGIN CALLOUTS]
[pointed index finger] Use this example to compare the costs of investing in
other funds. Of course, your actual costs may be higher or lower.
www.americancentury.com American Century Investments 3
Detailed Information about the Funds
California Tax-Free Money Market Fund
California Municipal Money Market Fund
What are the funds' investment objectives?
These money market funds seek safety of principal and high current income that
is exempt from federal and California income taxes. This is a fundamental policy
and cannot be changed without shareholder approval.
How do the funds implement their investment objectives?
The funds invest in high quality, very short-term debt securities that produce
income that is exempt from California state and federal income taxes. The
weighted average maturity of the funds is 90 days or less.
What is the difference between the two funds?
* California Tax-Free Money Market's income is exempt from all federal
income taxes.
* California Municipal Money Market's income is exempt from regular
federal income taxes, but not necessarily the alternative minimum tax.
What kinds of debt securities do the funds buy?
The funds buy high quality, very short-term debt securities with income payments
exempt from California and federal income taxes. Cities, counties and other
municipalities in California usually issue these securities for public projects,
such as schools and roads.
California Municipal Money Market also buys high quality, very short-term debt
securities whose payments are exempt from California and regular federal income
taxes, but not the federal alternative minimum tax. Cities, counties and other
municipalities in California usually issue these securities (called private
activity bonds) to fund for-profit private projects, such as athletic stadiums
and hospitals.
What are the primary risks of investing in the funds?
Because the funds invest primarily in California municipal securities, they will
be sensitive to events that affect California's economy. They may be riskier
than funds that invest in a larger universe of securities.
Although the funds seek to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per
share, it is possible to lose money by investing in the funds.
[LEFT MARGIN CALLOUTS]
[pointed index finger] Income from California Municipal Money Market may be
subject to the alternative minimum tax, which is described under the heading
"Taxes" on page 23.
[pointed index finger] Weighted average maturity is a measure of a fund's
interest rate sensitivity. It is discussed on page 11.
A high quality debt security is one that has been determined to be in the top
two credit quality categories. This can be established in a number of ways. For
example, independent rating agencies may rate the security in their higher
rating categories. The funds' advisor also can analyze an unrated security to
determine if its credit quality is high enough for investment. The details of
the fund's credit quality standards are described in the funds' Statement of
Additional Information.
4 American Century Investments 1-800-345-2021
Fund Performance History
The performance information on this page is designed to help you how fund
returns can vary. Keep in mind that past performance does not predict how the
funds will perform in the future.
Annual Total Returns
The following bar chart shows the performance of the funds' Investor Class
shares for each of the last 10 calendar years (or for each full year in the life
of the fund if less than 10 years). It indicates the volatility of the funds'
historical returns from year to year.
[GRAPH DEPICTING 10 YEAR ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS FOR CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE MONEY
MARKET AND 7 YEAR ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS FOR CALIFORNIA MUNICIPAL MONEY MARKET;
UPDATED FIGURES NOT AVAILABLE]
Highest and Lowest Quarterly Returns
The highest and lowest returns of the funds' Investor Class shares for a
calendar quarter during the last 10 calendar years (or during the life of the
fund if less than 10 years) are provided below to indicate the funds' historical
short-term volatility.
[GRAPH DEPICTING HIGHEST AND LOWEST RETURNS FOR CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE MONEY MARKET
AND CALIFORNIA MUNICIPAL MONEY MARKET; UPDATED FIGURES NOT AVAILABLE]
Average Annual Returns
The following table shows the average annual returns of the funds' Investor
Class shares for the periods indicated during the last 10 calendar years. A
benchmark is included for performance comparison. The benchmark is an unmanaged
index that has no operating costs.
1 year 5 years 10 years Life of Fund*
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
California Tax-Free Money Market ..... 3.17% 3.12% 3.31% 3.33%
----
----
California Municipal Money Market .... 3.15% 3.23% 3.35% 3.35%
----
----
Index Performance .................... ?.??% ?.??% ?.??% ?.??%
* The inception dates for the funds are: Tax-Free Money Market, November 9,
1983; and Municipal Money Market, December 31, 1991.
[LEFT MARGIN CALLOUTS]
The funds' total returns for the period from January 1, 1998 to September 30,
1998 are:
California Tax-Free Money Market X.XX%
- ------------------------------------- -----
California Municipal Money Market X.XX%
[pointed index finger] For current performance information, including yields,
please call us at 1-800-345-2021 or visit American Century's Web site at
www.americancentury.com.
www.americancentury.com American Century Investments 5
California Limited-Term Tax-Free Fund
California Intermediate-Term Tax-Free Fund
California Long-Term Tax-Free Fund
What are the funds' investment objectives?
These funds seek safety of principal and high current income that is exempt from
federal and California income taxes.
How do the funds implement their investment objectives?
The funds invest in quality debt securities of differing maturities. The income
from these securities is exempt from California state and federal income taxes.
What is the difference between the three funds?
The funds differ in the maturity of the debt securities they purchase. This
difference is shown on the chart to the right.
<TABLE>
Typical Maturity of Investments Weighted Average Maturity
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
California Limited-Term Tax-Free Fund 1-5 years 1-5 years
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
California Intermediate-Term Tax-Free Fund 4 or more years 5-10 years
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
California Long-Term Tax-Free Fund 7 or more years 10 or more years
</TABLE>
What kinds of debt securities do the funds buy?
The funds primarily buy quality debt securities whose income payments are exempt
from California and federal income taxes. Cities, counties and other
municipalities in California usually issue these securities for public projects.
The funds may also use futures contracts and options to pursue their investment
objectives. For more information, please see the Statement of Additional
Information.
During unusual market conditions, the funds are permitted to keep a significant
amount of their assets in cash or cash equivalents. If they do, they may not
achieve their investment objectives and may generate taxable income.
What are the primary risks of investing in the funds?
The funds have different weighted average maturities. Because of this, the funds
will respond differently to changes in interest rates. Funds with longer
weighted average maturities are more sensitive to interest rate changes. When
interest rates rise, the values of the funds usually fall, but the values of
funds with longer weighted average maturities generally will fall farther.
Because the funds invest primarily in California municipal securities, they will
be sensitive to events that affect California's economy. They may be riskier
than funds that invest in a larger universe of securities.
The funds' share values will fluctuate. In general, the funds that have higher
potential income have a higher potential loss. If you sell your shares when
their value is less than the price you paid, you will lose money.
<TABLE>
Potential Loss Potential Income
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
California Limited-Term Tax-Free Fund Lower Lower
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
California Intermediate-Term Tax-Free Fund Moderate Moderate
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
California Long-Term Tax-Free Fund Higher Higher
</TABLE>
[LEFT MARGIN CALLOUTS]
A quality debt security is one that has been determined to be investment grade.
This can be established in a number of ways. For example, independent rating
agencies may rate the security in their higher rating categories. The funds'
advisor also can analyze an unrated security to determine if its credit quality
is high enough for investment. The details of the fund's credit quality
standards are described in the funds' Statement of Additional Information.
6 American Century Investments 1-800-345-2021
Fund Performance History
The performance information on this page is designed to help you how fund
returns can vary. Keep in mind that past performance does not predict how the
funds will perform in the future.
Annual Total Returns
The following bar chart shows the performance of the funds' Investor Class
shares for each of the last 10 calendar years (or for each full year in the life
of the fund if less than 10 years). It indicates the volatility of the funds'
historical returns from year to year.
[GRAPH DEPICTING 10 YEAR ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS FOR CALIFORNIA LIMITED-TERM
TAX-FREE, CALIFORNIA INTERMEDIATE-TERM TAX-FREE AND CALIFORNIA LONG-TERM
TAX-FREE; UPDATED FIGURES NOT AVAILABLE]
Highest and Lowest Quarterly Returns
The highest and lowest returns of the funds' Investor Class shares for a quarter
during the last 10 calendar years (or the life of the fund if less than 10
years) are provided below to indicate the funds' historical short-term
volatility.
[GRAPH DEPICTING HIGHEST AND LOWEST QUARTERLY RETURNS FOR CALIFORNIA
LIMITED-TERM TAX-FREE, CALIFORNIA INTERMEDIATE-TERM TAX-FREE AND CALIFORNIA
LONG-TERM TAX-FREE; UPDATED FIGURES NOT AVAILABLE]
Average Annual Returns
The following table shows the average annual returns of the funds' Investor
Class Shares for the periods indicated during the last 10 calendar years. The
benchmarks for long-term performance are included for performance comparison.
The benchmarks are unmanaged indices that have no operating costs.
1 year 5 years 10 years Life of Fund*
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
California Limited-Term Tax-Free ........ 3.17% 3.12% 3.31% 3.33%
----
[INDEX PERFORMANCE] ..................... ?.??% ?.??% ?.??% ?.??%
----
California Intermediate-Term Tax-Free ... 3.17% 3.12% 3.31% 3.33%
----
[INDEX PERFORMANCE] ..................... ?.??% ?.??% ?.??% ?.??%
----
California Long-Term Tax-Free ........... 3.17% 3.12% 3.31% 3.33%
----
[INDEX PERFORMANCE] ..................... ?.??% ?.??% ?.??% ?.??%
* The inception dates for the funds are: Limited-Term Tax-Free, June 1, 1992;
Intermediate-Term Tax-Free, November 9, 1983; and Long-Term Tax-Free,
November 9, 1983.
[LEFT MARGIN CALLOUTS]
The funds' total returns for the period from January 1, 1998 to September 30,
1998 are
California Limited-Term Tax-Free X.XX%
- ------------------------------------------- -----
California Intermediate-Term Tax-Free X.XX%
- ------------------------------------------- -----
Californiat Long-Term Tax-Free X.XX%
[pointed index finger] For current performance information, including yields,
please call us at 1-800-345-2021 or visit American Century's Web site at
www.americancentury.com.
www.americancentury.com American Century Investments 7
California Insured Tax-Free Fund
What is the fund's investment objective?
The fund seeks safety of principal and high current income that is exempt from
federal and California income taxes. The fund invests in "insured" California
municipal securities.
How does the fund implement its investment objective?
The fund invests in long-term insured debt securities.
* These debt securities feature income payments exempt from California and
federal income taxes. Cities, counties and other municipalities in
California usually issue these securities for public projects.
* A debt security's insurance cannot be cancelled and guarantees that
interest and other payments will be made as scheduled.
The weighted average maturity of the fund is 10 years or longer.
The fund also may use futures contracts and options to pursue its investment
objectives. For more information, please see the Statement of Additional
Information.
During unusual market conditions, the fund is permitted to keep a significant
amount of its assets in cash or cash equivalents. If it does, it may not achieve
its investment objective and may generate taxable income.
What are the primary risks of investing in the funds?
The fund invests in long-term debt securities. Generally, funds with longer
weighted average maturities are more sensitive to interest rate changes. When
interest rates rise, the values of bond funds usually fall, but the values of
funds with longer weighted average maturities generally will fall farther.
Because the fund invests primarily in California tax-free securities, it will be
sensitive to events that affect California's economy. It may be riskier than
funds that invest in a larger universe of securities.
The fund's investments are insured. This is significant because
* the credit risk is less than for funds that invest in long-term debt
securities without insurance
* potential income is lower than for funds that invest in long-term debt
securities without insurance
The fund's share value will fluctuate. In general, funds that have higher
potential income have a higher potential loss. If you sell your shares when
their value is less than the price you paid, you will lose money.
[LEFT MARGIN CALLOUTS]
An insured debt security is a debt security that
1) is rated in the highest category by an independent rating agency;
2) comes with insurance that guarantees that interest and other payments
will be made; OR
3) has interest and principal payments secured by a special account holding
U.S. government securities.
The fund's primary focus on insurance features is essentially a way to pursue
very high credit quality standards.
[pointed index finger] The insurance feature of the fund's investments is not a
guarantee; the fund can still lose money.
8 American Century Investments 1-800-345-2021
Fund Performance History
The performance information on this page is designed to help you how fund
returns can vary. Keep in mind that past performance does not predict how the
funds will perform in the future.
Annual Total Returns
The following bar chart shows the performance of the the fund's Investor Class
shares for each of the last 10 calendar years. It indicates the volatility of
the fund's historical returns from year to year.
[GRAPH DEPICTING 10 YEAR ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS FOR CALIFORNIA INSURED TAX-FREE;
UPDATED FIGURES NOT AVAILABLE]
Highest and Lowest Quarterly Returns
The highest and lowest returns of the fund's Investor Class shares for a quarter
during the last 10 calendar years are provided below to indicate the fund's
historical short-term volatility.
[GRAPH DEPICTING HIGHEST AND LOWEST QUARTERLY RETURNS FOR CALIFORNIA INSURED
TAX-FREE; UPDATED FIGURES NOT AVAILABLE]
Average Annual Returns
The following table shows the average annual returns of the fund's Investor
Class shares for the periods indicated during the last 10 calendar years. The
benchmark for long-term performance is included for performance comparison. The
benchmark is an unmanaged index that has no operating costs.
1 Year 5 years 10 years Life of Fund*
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
California Insured Tax-Free 3.17% 3.12% 3.31% 3.33%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[INDEX PERFORMANCE] ?.??% ?.??% ?.??% ?.??%
* The inception date for the fund is December 30, 1986.
[LEFT MARGIN CALLOUTS]
The fund's total return for the period from January 1, 1998 to September 30,
1998 is:
California Tax-Free Insured X.XX%
[pointed index finger] For current performance information, including yields,
please call us at 1-800-345-2021 or visit American Century's Web site at
www.americancentury.com.
www.americancentury.com American Century Investments 9
California High-Yield Municipal Fund
What is the fund's investment objective?
The fund seeks high current income that is exempt from federal and California
income taxes.
How does the fund implement its investment objective?
The fund invests in long-term and intermediate-term debt securities.
* These debt securities feature income payments that are exempt from
California and federal income taxes. Cities, counties and other
municipalities in California usually issue these securities for public
projects, such as schools and roads.
* The fund also buys debt securities whose payments are exempt from
California and regular federal income taxes, but not the federal
alternative minimum tax. Cities, counties and other municipalities in
California usually issue these securities to fund for-profit private
projects, such as athletic stadiums and hospitals.
* Many of the debt securities that the fund buys are considered below
investment grade, including so-called "junk bonds." Issuers of these
securities often have short financial histories or have questionable
credit.
The fund also may use futures contracts and options to pursue its investment
objectives. For more information, please see the Statement of Additional
Information.
During unusual market conditions, the fund is permitted to keep a significant
amount of its assets in cash or cash equivalents. If it does, it may not achieve
its investment objective and may generate taxable income.
What are the primary risks of investing in the fund?
The fund's investments often have high credit risk. The fund's share value may
fluctuate significantly more than other bond funds because the fund invests in
lower-rated debt securities. If you sell your shares when their value is less
than the price you paid, you will lose money.
The fund invests in long-term debt securities. Generally, funds with longer
weighted average maturities are more sensitive to interest rate changes. When
interest rates rise, the values of bond funds usually fall, but the values of
funds with longer weighted average maturities generally will fall farther.
Because the fund invests primarily in California tax-free securities, it will be
sensitive to events that affect California's economy. It may be riskier than
funds that invest in a broader universe of securities.
The fund has the highest potential income and the highest potential loss of any
of our California funds.
[LEFT MARGIN CALLOUTS]
[pointed index finger] Income from California High Yield Municipal may be
subject to the alternative minimum tax, which is described on page 19.
10 American Century Investments 1-800-345-2021
Fund Performance History
The performance information on this page is designed to help you how fund
returns can vary. Keep in mind that past performance does not predict how the
funds will perform in the future.
Annual Total Returns
The chart below shows the performance of the fund's Investor Class shares for
each of the last 10 calendar years. It indicates the volatility of the fund's
historical returns from year to year.
[GRAPH DEPICTING 10 YEAR ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS FOR CALIFORNIA HIGH-YIELD
MUNICIPAL; UPDATED FIGURES NOT AVAILABLE]
Highest and Lowest Quarterly Returns
The highest and lowest returns of the fund's Investor Class shares for a quarter
during the last 10 calendar years are provided below to indicate the fund's
historical short-term volatility.
[GRAPH DEPICTING HIGHEST AND LOWEST QUARTERLY RETURNS FOR CALIFORNIA HIGH-YIELD
MUNICIPAL; UPDATED FIGURES NOT AVAILABLE]
Average Annual Returns
The following table shows the average annual returns of the fund's Investor
Class shares for the periods indicated during the last 10 calendar years. The
benchmark for long-term performance is included for performance comparison. The
benchmark is an unmanaged index that has no operating costs.
1 Year 5 years 10 years Life of Fund*
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
California High-Yield Municipal 3.17% 3.12% 3.31% 3.33%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[INDEX PERFORMANCE] ?.??% ?.??% ?.??% ?.??%
* The inception date for the fund is 12/30/1986.
[LEFT MARGIN CALLOUTS]
The fund's total return for the period from January 1, 1998 to September 30,
1998 is
California High-Yield Municipal X.XX%
[pointed index finger] For current performance information, including yields,
please call us at 1-800-345-2021 or visit American Century's Web site at
www.americancentury.com.
www.americancentury.com American Century Investments 11
Basics of Fixed Income Investing
Debt Securities
When a fund buys a debt security, which is also called a fixed income security,
it is essentially lending money to the issuer of the security. Debt securities
also are referred to as fixed income securities. Notes, bonds, commercial paper
and Treasury bills are examples of debt securities. After the issuer first sells
the debt security, it may be bought and sold by other investors. The price of
the security may rise or fall based on many factors, including changes in
interest rates, inflation and liquidity.
The advisor decides which debt securities to buy and sell by
0 determining which securities help a fund meet its maturity requirements
0 eliminating securities that do not satisfy a fund's credit quality
standards
0 evaluating the current economic conditions and assessing the risk of
inflation
0 evaluating special features of the securities that may make them more or
less attractive
Weighted Average Maturity
Like most loans, debt securities eventually must be repaid (or refinanced) at
some date. This date is called the maturity date. The number of days left to a
debt security's maturity date is called the remaining maturity. The longer a
debt security's remaining maturity, the more sensitive it is to changes in
interest rates.
Because a bond fund will own many debt securities, the advisor calculates the
average of the remaining maturities of all of the debt securities the fund owns
to evaluate the interest rate sensitivity of the entire portfolio. This average
is weighted according to the size of the fund's individual holdings and is
called weighted average maturity. The following chart shows how an advisor would
calculate the weighted average maturity for a fund that owned only two debt
securities.
<TABLE>
Amount of Security Owned Percent of Portfolio Remaining Maturity Weighted Maturity
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Debt Security A $100,000 25% 1,000 days 250 days
- ----------------- -------------------------- --------------------- -------------------- -----------------
Debt Security B $300,000 75% 10,000 days 7500 days
- ----------------- -------------------------- --------------------- -------------------- -----------------
Weighted Average Maturity 7750 days
</TABLE>
Types of Risk
The basic types of risk that the funds face are described below.
Interest Rate Risk
Generally, interest rates and the prices of debt securities move in opposite
directions. So when interest rates fall, the prices of most debt securities
rise; when interest rates rise, prices fall. Because the funds invest primarily
in debt securities, changes in interest rates will affect the funds'
performance.
The degree to which interest rate changes affect the funds' performance varies
and is related to the weighted average maturity of the fund. For example, when
interest rates rise, you can expect the share value of a long-term bond fund to
fall more than that of a short-term bond fund. When rates fall, the opposite is
true. This sensitivity to interest rate changes is called interest rate risk.
[LEFT MARGIN CALLOUTS]
[pointed index finger] Weighted average maturity is a tool that the advisor uses
to approximate the remaining maturity of a fund's investment portfolio.
[pointed index finger] The longer a fund's weighted average maturity, the more
sensitive it is to changes in interest rates.
12 American Century Investments 1-800-345-2021
When interest rates change, longer maturity bonds experience a greater change in
price. The following table shows the effect of a 1% increase in interest rates
on the price of 7% coupon bonds of differing maturities:
Remaining Maturity Current Price Price after 1% increase Change in price
- ------------------- -------------- ------------------------ ----------------
1 year $100.00 $99.06 -0.94%
- ------------------- -------------- ------------------------ ----------------
3 years 100.00 97.38 -2.62%
- ------------------- -------------- ------------------------ ----------------
10 years 100.00 93.20 -6.80%
- ------------------- -------------- ------------------------ ----------------
30 years 100.00 88.69 -11.31%
Credit Risk
Credit risk is the risk that an obligation won't be paid and a loss will result.
A high credit rating indicates a high degree of confidence that the issuer will
be able to make interest and principal payments on time.
It's not as simple as buying the highest rated debt securities, though. Higher
credit ratings usually mean lower interest rates, so investors often purchase
securities that aren't the highest-rated to increase return. If a fund purchases
lower-rated securities, it has assumed additional credit risk.
The following chart shows the authorized credit quality ranges for the funds
offered by this Prospectus.
Quality
- ----------------------------------------
High-Quality
A-1 A-2 A-3
P-1 P-2 P-3
MIG-1 MIG-2 MIG-3
SP-1 SP-2 SP-3
AAA AA A BBB BB B CCC CC C D
- ------------- ------ ------- ----------- -------- --------- ----- ---- ---- ---
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX CA Tax-Free Money Market
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX CA Municipal Money Market
XXXX CA Limited-Term Tax-Free XXXXXXXX
X CA Intermediate-Term Tax-Free XXXXXX
XXXXXX CA Long-Term Tax-Free XXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXX CA Insured Tax-Free*
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX CA High Yield Municipal XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*******Investment Grade **************** ######## Non-investment grade ########
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Securities must be rated AAA or be insured by a third party with a AAA rating.
Liquidity Risk
Debt securities can become difficult to sell for a variety of reasons, such as
lack of an active trading market. When a fund's investments become difficult to
sell, it is said to have a problem with liquidity. The chance that a fund will
have liquidity issues is called liquidity risk.
Inflation Risk
The safest investments usually have the lowest potential income and performance.
There is a risk, then, that the investment may fail to significantly outpace
inflation. Even if the value of your investment has not gone down, your money
will not be worth as much as if there had been no inflation. Your
after-inflation return may be quite small. This risk is called inflation risk.
[LEFT MARGIN CALLOUTS]
[pointed index finger] Credit quality may be reduced when
* the issuer has a less reliable cash flow
* the issuer's finances are more sensitive to adverse economic
conditions or changing circumstances
* the securities may be repaid after the issuer's other (more senior)
debt.
* the issuer has a shorter financial history
[pointed index finger] The Statement of Additional Information provides a
detailed description of these securities ratings.
www.americancentury.com American Century Investments 13
A Comparison of Basic Risk Factors
The following chart depicts the basic risks of investing in the funds. It is
designed to help you compare these funds with each other; it shouldn't be used
to compare these funds with other mutual funds.
<TABLE>
Interest Rate Credit Risk Liquidity Risk Inflation Risk
Risk
- ----------------------------------------- ----------------- ---------------- ----------------- -----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
California Tax-Free Money Market Lowest Lowest Lowest Highest
- ----------------------------------------- ----------------- ---------------- ----------------- -----------------
California Municipal Money Market Lowest Lowest Lowest Highest
- ----------------------------------------- ----------------- ---------------- ----------------- -----------------
California Limited-Term Tax-Free Low Medium Medium High
- ----------------------------------------- ----------------- ---------------- ----------------- -----------------
California Intermediate-Term Tax-Free Medium Medium Medium Medium
- ----------------------------------------- ----------------- ---------------- ----------------- -----------------
California Long-Term Tax-Free High Medium Medium Low
- ----------------------------------------- ----------------- ---------------- ----------------- -----------------
California Insured Tax-Free High Low Medium Medium
- ----------------------------------------- ----------------- ---------------- ----------------- -----------------
California High-Yield Municipal Highest Highest Highest Lowest
</TABLE>
The funds engage in a variety of investment techniques as they pursue their
investment objectives. Each technique has its own characteristics, and may pose
some level of risk to the funds. If you would like to learn more about these
techniques, you should review the Statement of Additional Information before
making an investment.
14 American Century Investments 1-800-345-2021
Management
Who manages the funds?
The Board of Trustees, investment advisor and portfolio management team play key
roles in the management of the funds.
The Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees oversees the management of the funds and meets at least
quarterly to review reports about fund operations. Although the Board of
Trustees does not manage the funds, it has hired an investment advisor to do so.
More than half of the Trustees are independent of the funds' advisor, that is,
they are not employed by and have no financial interest in the advisor.
The Investment Advisor
The funds' investment advisor is American Century Investment Management, Inc.
The advisor has been managing mutual funds since it was founded in 1958.
American Century is headquartered at 4500 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri
64111.
The advisor manages the investment portfolios of the funds and directs the
purchase and sale of their investment securities. The advisor also arranges for
transfer agency, custody and all other services necessary for the funds to
operate.
For the services it provides to the funds, the advisor receives a unified
management fee based on a percentage of the average net assets of each fund. The
rate of the management fee for a fund is determined monthly using a two-step
formula that takes into account the fund's strategy (money market, bond or
equity) and the total amount of mutual fund assets the advisor manages. The
Statement of Additional Information contains detailed information about the
calculation of the management fee. Out of that fee, the advisor pays all
expenses of managing and operating the fund except brokerage expenses, taxes,
interest, fees and expenses of the independent Trustees (including counsel fees)
and extraordinary expenses.
Fees Paid by the Funds to the Advisor in Most Recent Fiscal Year
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
California Tax-Free Money Market X.XX%
- -------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------
California Municipal Money Market X.XX%
- -------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------
California Limited-Term Tax-Free X.XX%
- -------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------
California Intermediate-Term Tax-Free X.XX%
- -------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------
California Long-Term Tax-Free X.XX%
- -------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------
California Insured Tax-Free X.XX%
- -------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------
California High-Yield Municipal X.XX%
www.americancentury.com American Century Investments 15
The Portfolio Management Team
The advisor uses teams of portfolio managers, assistant portfolio managers and
analysts to manage the funds. Teams meet regularly to review portfolio holdings
and to discuss purchase and sale activity. Team members buy and sell securities
for a fund as they see fit, guided by the fund's investment objective and
strategy.
Portfolio manager members of the investment team include:
G. David MacEwen
Mr. MacEwen, Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager, is a member of the
teams that manage California Long-Term Tax-Free and California Insured Tax-Free.
He joined American Century in 1991 as Municipal Portfolio Manager. He has an MBA
in finance from the University of Delaware and a BA in Economics from Boston
University.
Todd Pardula
Mr. Pardula, Municipal Portfolio Manager, has been a member of the teams that
manage California Tax-Free Money Market and California Municipal Money Market
since 1994. He joined American Century in 1990 as an Investor Services
Representative. He also was an Associate Municipal Credit Analyst for two years.
He has a BS in Finance from Santa Clara University. He is a Chartered Financial
Analyst
Joel Silva
Mr. Silva, Municipal Portfolio Manager, has been a member of the team that
manages California Limited-Term Tax-Free since June 1993. He has a BS from
California Polytechnic University and an MBA from California State University in
Hayward.
Steven M. Permut
Mr. Permut, Senior Portfolio Manager and Director of Municipal Research, has
been a member of the team that manages California High-Yield Municipal since
1993. He has a bachelor's degree in Business and Geography from State University
of New York and an MBA in Finance from Golden Gate University in San Francisco.
Colleen M. Denzler
Ms. Denzler, Senior Municipal Portfolio Manager, has a member of the team that
manages California Intermediate-Term Tax Free since January 1996. Prior to
joining American Century, Ms. Denzler was a Portfolio Manager with the Calvert
Group for 10 years, specializing in state tax-exempt portfolios. She has a
bachelor's degree in Finance from Radford University. She also is a Chartered
Financial Analyst.
[LEFT MARGIN CALLOUTS]
[pointed index finger] Code of Ethics
American Century has a Code of Ethics designed to ensure that the interests
of fund shareholders come before the interests of the people who manage the
funds. Among other provisions, the Code of Ethics prohibits portfolio
managers and other investment personnel from buying securities in an
initial public offering or from profiting from the purchase and sale of the
same security within 60 calendar days. In addition, the Code of Ethics
requires portfolio managers and other employees with access to information
about the purchase or sale of securities by the funds to obtain approval
before executing permitted personal trades.
16 American Century Investments 1-800-345-2021
Fundamental Investment Policies
Fundamental investment policies contained in the Statement of Additional
Information and the investment objectives of the funds may not be changed
without a shareholder vote. The Board of Trustees may change any other policies
and investment strategies.
Year 2000 Issues
Many of the world's computer systems currently cannot properly recognize or
process date-sensitive information relating to the Year 2000 and beyond. Because
this may impact the computer systems of various American Century-affiliated and
external service providers for the funds, American Century formally initiated a
Year 2000 readiness project in July 1997. It involves a team of information
technology professionals assisted by outside consultants and guided by a
senior-level steering committee. The team's goal is to assess the impact of the
Year 2000 on American Century's systems, renovate or replace noncompliant
critical systems and test those systems. In addition, the team has been working
to gather information about the Year 2000 efforts of the funds' other major
service providers. Although American Century believes its critical systems will
function properly in the Year 2000, this is not guaranteed. If the efforts of
American Century or its external service providers are not successful, the
funds' business, particularly the provision of shareholder services, may be
hampered.
In addition, the issuers of securities the funds own could have Year 2000
computer problems. These problems could negatively affect the value of their
securities, which, in turn, could impact the funds' performance. The advisor has
established a process to gather publicly available information about the Year
2000 readiness of these issuers. However, this process may not uncover all
relevant information, and the information gathered may not be complete and
accurate. Moreover, an issuer's Year 2000 readiness is only one of many factors
the advisor may consider when making investment decisions, and other factors may
receive greater weight.
www.americancentury.com American Century Investments 17
How to Invest in American Century
Services Automatically Available to You
You automatically will have access to the services listed below when you open
your account. If you do not want these services, see "Conducting Business in
Writing" below.
Conducting Business in Writing
If you prefer to conduct business in writing only, you can indicate this on the
account application. If you choose to do business in writing only, you must
provide written instructions to invest, exchange and redeem. All account owners
must sign transaction instructions (with signatures guaranteed for redemptions
in excess of $100,000). If you want to add services later, you can complete an
Investor Service Options form.
<TABLE>
Ways to Manage Your Account
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
By telephone Open an account Make additional investments
1800 345-2021 If you are a current investor, you can Call us or use our Automated Information Line
7 a.m. to 7 p.m. open an account by exchanging shares if you have authorized us to withdraw from
Central time from another American Century account. your bank account.
(This service is not available if you
Automated \information Line have chosen to do business in writing Sell shares
1-800-345-8765 only.) Call an Investor Services Representative.
24 hours
Exchange shares Call us or use our Automated
[telephone icon] Information Line if you have authorized us to
accept telephone instructions.
- ------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
By mail or fax Open an account Make additional investments
PO Box 419200 Send a signed and completed Send us your check or money order for at
Kansas City, MO 64141-6200 application and check or money order least $50 with an investment slip or $250
payable to American Century without an investment slip. If you don't have
Fax 816 340-7962 Investments. an investment slip, include your name,
address, and account number on your check or
Exchange shares money order.
[icon of envelope and Send us written instructions to
icon of fax machine] exchange your shares from one American Sell shares
Century account to another. Send us written instructions to sell shares
or send us a redemption form. Call an
Investor Services Representative to request a
form.
- ------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
Online Open an account Make additional investments
www.americancentury.com If you are a current investor, you can Follow the wire instructions provided in the
open an account by exchanging shares Open an account section
from another American Century account.
(This service is not available if you Sell shares
[icon of computer] have chosen to do business in writing Not available.
only.)
Exchange shares
Exchange shares from another American Century
account.
</TABLE>
18 American Century Investments 1-800-345-2021
A Note About Mailings to Shareholders
To reduce expenses and demonstrate respect for our environment, we will deliver
most financial reports, prospectuses and account statements to households in a
single envelope, even if the accounts are registered under different names. If
you would like additional copies of financial reports and prospectuses or
separate mailing of account statements, please call us.
Your Guide to Services and Policies
When you open an account, you will receive an Investor Services Guide, which
explains the services available to you and the policies of the fund and the
transfer agent.
<TABLE>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
By wire Open an account Make additional investments
Commerce Bank N.A. Call us to set up your account or mail Follow the wire instructions provided in the
Routing No. 101000019 a completed application to the address Open an account section
ACMF Account No. 2804918 provided above and give your bank:
[icon of high wires]
[pointed index finger] * The fund name Sell shares
Please remember that if * Your American Century account You can receive redemption proceeds by
you request redemptions number wire or electronic transfer. . (This
by wire, $10 will be * Name of the investor service is not available if you have
deducted from the amount * The contribution year (for IRAs chosen to do business in writing only.)
wired. Your bank also only)
may charge a fee. Exchange shares
Not available.
- ------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
Automatically Open an account Make additional investments
Not available. Select "Establish Automatic Investments" on
your application to make automatic purchases
Sell shares of shares on a regular basis. You must invest
If you have at least $10,000 in your at least $600 per year per account.
account, sell shares automatically by
Check-a-Month, or by Automatic Exchange shares
Redemption. Send us written instructions to exchange your
shares from one American Century account to
another.
- ------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In Person If you prefer to handle your transactions in person, visit one of our Investor Centers and
a representative can help you open an account, make additional investments, sell or exchange
shares. Here are the Investor Centers you can visit
[icon of office building]
4500 Main Street 4917 Town Center Dr.
Kansas City, Missouri Leawood, Kansas
1665 Charleston Road 2000 S. Colorado Blvd.
Mountain View, California Denver, Colorado
</TABLE>
www.americancentury.com American Century Investments 19
Minimum Initial Investment Amounts
To open an account the minimum
investment is as follows for Money Markets Other funds
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Individual or Joint $2,500 $5,000
...............................................................................
Traditional IRA $1,000 $1,000
...............................................................................
Roth IRA $1,000 $1,000
...............................................................................
Education IRA $500 $500
...............................................................................
UGMA/UTMA $1,000 $1,000
...............................................................................
403(b) No minimum No minimum
Redemption of shares in low-balance accounts
If your account falls below the minimum balance we will notify you and give you
90 days to meet the minimum or, for most types of equity accounts, to establish
an automatic monthly investment. If you do not meet the deadline, American
Century will redeem the shares in the account and send the proceeds to your
address of record.
Investing Through Financial Intermediaries
If you do business with us through a financial intermediary or a retirement
plan, your ability to purchase, exchange and redeem shares will depend on the
policies of that entity. Some policy differences may include
* minimum investment requirements
* exchange policies
* fund choices
* cut-off time for investments
Please contact your financial intermediary or plan sponsor for a complete
description of its policies. Copies of the funds' annual reports, semiannual
reports and Statements of Additional Information are available from your
intermediary or plan sponsor.
Certain financial intermediaries perform recordkeeping and administrative
services for their clients that would otherwise be performed by American
Century's transfer agent. In some circumstances, American Century will pay the
service provider a fee for performing those services.
Although transactions in fund shares may be made directly with American Century
at no charge, you also may purchase, redeem and exchange fund shares through
financial intermediaries that charge a transaction-based or other fee for their
services. Those charges are retained by the intermediary and are not shared with
American Century or the funds.
American Century has contracts with certain financial intermediaries in which
they represent that they will track the time investment orders are received. The
funds have authorized those intermediaries to accept orders on each funds'
behalf up to the time net asset value is determined. Such orders will be priced
at the net asset value next determined after acceptance of the order on a fund's
behalf.
LEFT MARGIN CALLOUTS
[pointed index finger] Financial intermediaries include bankers, broker-dealers,
insurance companies and investment advisors.
20 American Century Investments 1-800-345-2021
Share Price and Distributions
Share Price
We determine the net asset value of the funds as of the close of regular trading
on the New York Stock Exchange (usually 4 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the
Exchange is open. On days when the Exchange is not open, we do not calculate the
net asset value. The net asset value of a fund share is the current value of the
fund's investments, minus any liabilities, divided by the number of fund shares
outstanding.
If current prices of securities owned by a fund are not readily available from
an independent pricing service, the advisor may determine their fair value in
accordance with procedures adopted by the fund's Board of Trustees. Trading of
securities in foreign markets may not take place on every day the Exchange is
open. Also, trading in some foreign markets may take place on weekends or
holidays when a fund's net asset value is not calculated. So, the value of a
fund's portfolio may be affected on days when you can't purchase or redeem
shares of the fund.
We will price your purchase, exchange or redemption at the net asset value next
determined after we receive your transaction request in good order.
Distributions
Federal tax laws require each fund to make distributions to its shareholders.
The distributions generally consist of dividends and interest received by a
fund, as well as capital gains realized on the sale of investment securities.
Each fund pays distributions from net income quarterly. Each fund generally pays
distributions of capital gains, if any, once a year. A fund may make more
frequent distributions if necessary to avoid taxes.
You will begin to participate in fund distributions the day after your purchase
is effective. If you redeem shares, you will receive the distribution declared
for the day you redeem. If you redeem all shares, we will include the
distribution on the redeemed with your redemption proceeds. For the money market
funds, if you notify us of your purchase prior to ______and pay for your
purchase by bank wire transfer prior to ___________on the same day, you will
begin to participate in fund distributions on the day your notice is received.
Participants in employer-sponsored retirement or savings plans must reinvest all
distributions. For shareholders investing through taxable accounts, we will
reinvest distributions unless you elect to receive them in cash. Please consult
our Investor Services Guide for further information regarding distributions and
your distribution options.
[LEFT MARGIN CALLOUTS]
The net asset value of a fund is the price of the fund's shares.
www.americancentury.com American Century Investments 21
Taxes
Fund distributions are taxable to most investors. The taxability of
distributions is not affected by how long you have been in the fund or whether
you reinvest your distributions or take them in cash. In general, distributions
are taxable as follows:
Taxability of distributions
Tax-Exempt Income. Most of the income that the funds receive from California
municipal securities is exempt from California and regular federal income taxes.
However, corporate shareholders should be aware that these distributions are
subject to California's corporate franchise tax.
Certain funds may also purchase private activity bonds. The income from these
securities is subject to the federal alternative minimum tax. If you are subject
to the alternative minimum tax, then distributions from the funds that represent
income derived from private activity bonds is taxable to you. Consult your tax
advisor to determine whether you are subject to the alternative minimum tax.
Taxable Income. The funds' investment performance is also based on sources other
than income from California municipal securities. These investment performance
sources, while not the primary source of fund distributions, will generate
taxable income to you. Some of these investment performance sources are:
* Market Discount Purchases. The funds may buy a tax-exempt security for a
price less than the principal amount of the bond. If the price of the bond
increases over time, a portion of the gain may be treated as ordinary income
and taxable as ordinary income to shareholders if it is distributed to you.
* Capital Gains. When a fund sells a security, even a tax-exempt municipal
security, it can generate a capital gain or loss.
* Temporary Investments. Some temporary investments, such as securities loans
and repurchase agreements, can generate taxable income.
<TABLE>
Type of distribution Tax rate for 15% bracket Tax rate for 28% bracket or above
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Income Ordinary income rate Ordinary income rate
- ------------------------- -------------------------- -----------------------------------
Short-term capital gains Ordinary income rate Ordinary income rate
- ------------------------- -------------------------- -----------------------------------
Long-term capital gains 10% 20%
</TABLE>
American Century will detail the tax status of fund distributions for each
calendar year in an annual tax statement from the fund.
Distributions may also be subject to state and local taxes. Because everyone's
tax situation is unique, always consult your tax professional about federal,
state and local tax consequences.
Taxes on transactions. Your redemptions -- including exchanges to other American
Century funds -- are subject to capital gains tax. A capital gain or loss is the
difference between the cost of your shares and the price you receive when you
sell them.
The table above can provide a general guide for your potential tax liability
when selling or exchanging fund shares. "Short-term capital gains," are gains on
fund shares held less than or equal to 12 months. "Long-term capital gains," are
gains on fund shares held for more than 12 months.
[LEFT MARGIN CALLOUTS]
[pointed index finger] Buying a Dividend
Purchasing fund shares in a taxable account shortly before a distribution
is sometimes known as "buying a dividend." In taxable accounts, you must
pay income taxes on the distribution whether you take the distribution in
cash or reinvest it. In addition, you will have to pay taxes on the
distribution whether the value of your investment decreased, increased or
remained the same after you bought the fund shares.
The risk in buying a dividend is that a fund's portfolio may build up
taxable gains throughout the period covered by a distribution, as securities
are sold at a profit. We distribute those gains to your, after subtracting
any losses, even if you did not own the shares when the gains occurred.
Thus if you buy a divided, you incur the full tax liability of the
distribution period, but you may not enjoy the full benefit of the gains
realized in the fund's portfolio.
22 American Century Investments 1-800-345-2021
Financial Highlights
Understanding the Financial Highlights
This table itemizes what contributed to the changes in share price during the
period, and compares this to changes over the last five fiscal years (or less,
if the share class is not five years old).
On a per-share basis, it includes:
* share price at the beginning of the period
* investment income and capital gains or losses
* distributions of income and capital gains paid to shareholders
* share price at the end of the period
It also includes some key statistics for the period:
* total return--the overall percentage of return of the fund, assuming the
reinvestment of all distributions
* expense ratio--operating expenses as a percentage of average net assets
* net income ratio--net investment income as a percentage of average net
assets
* portfolio turnover--the percentage of the fund's buying and selling activity
The Financial Highlights have been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP,
independent auditors. Their report is in the funds' annual report, which is
incorporated by reference into the Statement of Additional Information, and is
available upon request. Prior years' information was audited by other
independent auditors.
www.americancentury.com American Century Investments 23
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
California Tax-Free Money Market
1997 1996 1995 1994 1993
PER-SHARE DATA
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year ....................$ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Income from Investment Operations
Net Investment Income (dividends) .................. 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.02 0.02
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on
Investment Transactions ............................ -.- -.- -.- -.- -.-
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Total From Investment Operations ................... 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.02 0.02
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Less Distributions
From Net Investment Income (dividends) ............. (0.03) (0.03) (0.03) (0.02) (0.02)
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Net Asset Value, End of Year ..........................$ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00
=========== =========== =========== =========== ===========
Total Return(1) ....................................... 3.17% 3.12% 3.31% 2.09% 2.13%
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
Ratio of Operating Expenses to Average Net Assets ..... 0.49% 0.49% 0.52% 0.50% 0.51%
Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets .. 3.10% 3.12% 3.28% 2.07% 2.09%
Net Assets, End of Year (in thousands) ................$ 417,784 $ 425.846 $ 414,099 $ 371,074 $ 338,731
(1) Total return assumes reinvestment of dividends and capital gains, if any.
</TABLE>
24 American Century Investments 1-800-345-2021
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
California Municipal Money Market
1997 1996 1995 1994 1993
PER-SHARE DATA
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year ....................$ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Income from Investment Operations
Net Investment Income (dividends) .................. 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.02 0.02
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Less Distributions
From Net Investment Income (dividends) ............. (0.03) (0.03) (0.03) (0.02) (0.02)
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Net Asset Value, End of Year ..........................$ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00
=========== =========== =========== =========== ===========
Total Return(1) ....................................... 3.15% 3.23% 3.35% 2.15% 2.25%
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
Ratio of Operating Expenses to Average Net Assets ..... 0.52% 0.53% 0.53% 0.51% 0.46%
Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets .. 3.10% 3.20% 3.31% 2.13% 2.21%
Net Assets, End of Year (in thousands) ................$ 170,447 $ 196,520 $ 191,722 $ 243,701 $ 247,621
(1) Total return assumes reinvestment of dividends and capital gains, if any.
</TABLE>
www.americancentury.com American Century Investments 25
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
California Limited-Term Tax-Free
1997 1996 1995 1994 1993
PER-SHARE DATA
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year ....................$ 10.19 $ 10.23 $ 10.12 $ 10.34 $ 10.12
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Income from Investment Operations
Net Investment Income (dividends) .................. 0.43 0.43 0.41 0.38 0.38
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on
Investment Transactions ............................ 0.11 (0.04) 0.11 (0.18) 0.22
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Total From Investment Operations ................... 0.54 0.39 0.52 0.20 0.60
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Less Distributions
From Net Investment Income (dividends) ............. (0.43) (0.43) (0.41) (0.38) (0.38)
In Excess of Net Realized Gains .................... -.- -.- -.- (0.04) -.-
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Total Distributions ................................ (0.43) (0.43) (0.41) (0.42) (0.38)
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Net Asset Value, End of Year ..........................$ 10.30 $ 10.19 $ 10.23 $ 10.12 $ 10.34
=========== =========== =========== =========== ===========
Total Return(1) ....................................... 5.42% 3.87% 5.33% 1.90% 6.15%
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
Ratio of Operating Expenses to Average Net Assets ..... 0.49% 0.49% 0.51% 0.51% 0.36%
Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets .. 4.20% 4.20% 4.10% 3.68% 3.76%
Portfolio Turnover Rate ............................... 47% 44% 50% 66% 54%
Net Assets, End of Year (in thousands) ................$ 126,631 $ 103,707 $ 104,723 $ 120,627 $ 114,019
(1) Total return assumes reinvestment of dividends and capital gains, if any.
</TABLE>
26 American Century Investments 1-800-345-2021
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
California Intermediate-Term Tax-Free
1997 1996 1995 1994 1993
PER-SHARE DATA
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year ....................$ 11.05 $ 11.06 $ 10.86 $ 11.36 $ 10.85
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Income from Investment Operations
Net Investment Income (dividends) .................. 0.54 0.54 0.54 0.54 0.56
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on
Investment Transactions ............................ 0.25 (0.01) 0.20 (0.41) 0.53
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Total From Investment Operations ................... 0.79 0.53 0.74 0.13 1.09
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Less Distributions
From Net Investment Income (dividends) ............. (0.54) (0.54) (0.54) (0.54) (0.56)
From Net Realized Gains on Investment Transactions . (0.03) -.- -.- (0.08) (0.02)
In Excess of Net Realized Gains .................... -.- -.- -.- (0.01) -.-
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Total Distributions ................................ (0.57) (0.54) (0.54) (0.63) (0.58)
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Net Asset Value, End of Year ..........................$ 11.27 $ 11.05 $ 11.06 $ 10.86 $ 11.36
=========== =========== =========== =========== ===========
Total Return(1) ....................................... 7.39% 4.79% 7.09% 1.11% 10.42%
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
Ratio of Operating Expenses to Average Net Assets ..... 0.48% 0.48% 0.48% 0.48% 0.50%
Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets .. 4.81% 4.87% 5.02% 4.82% 5.05%
Portfolio Turnover Rate ............................... 42% 36% 25% 44% 27%
Net Assets, End of Year (in thousands) ................$ 435,440 $ 430,950 $ 417,550 $ 428,293 $ 444,460
(1) Total return assumes reinvestment of dividends and capital gains, if any.
</TABLE>
www.americancentury.com American Century Investments 27
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
California Long-Term Tax-Free
1998 1997 1996 1995 1994
PER-SHARE DATA
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year ....................$ 11.06 $ 10.94 $ 10.88 $ 12.02 $ 11.44
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Income from Investment Operations
Net Investment Income (dividends) .................. 0.61 0.61 0.62 0.63 0.66
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on
Investment Transactions ............................ 0.44 0.12 0.12 (0.71) 0.85
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Total From Investment Operations ................... 1.05 0.73 0.74 (0.08) 1.51
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Less Distributions
From Net Investment Income (dividends) ............. (0.61) (0.61) (0.62) (0.63) (0.66)
From Net Realized Gains on Investment Transactions . (0.02) -.- (0.06) (0.43) (0.27)
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Total Distributions ................................ (0.63) (0.61) (0.68) (1.06) (0.93)
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Net Asset Value, End of Year ..........................$ 11.48 $ 11.06 $ 10.94 $ 10.88 $ 12.02
=========== =========== =========== =========== ===========
Total Return(1) ....................................... 9.70% 6.77% 7.21% (0.78)% 14.02%
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
Ratio of Operating Expenses to Average Net Assets ..... 0.48% 0.48% 0.49% 0.48% 0.49%
Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets .. 5.40% 5.48% 5.84% 5.51% 5.76%
Portfolio Turnover Rate ............................... 50% 42% 60% 62% 55%
Net Assets, End of Year (in thousands) ................$ 304,671 $ 288,022 $ 276,085 $ 277,477 $ 338,075
(1) Total return assumes reinvestment of dividends and capital gains, if any.
</TABLE>
28 American Century Investments 1-800-345-2021
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
California Insured Tax-Free
1998 1997 1996 1995 1994
PER-SHARE DATA
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year ....................$ 10.00 $ 9.89 $ 9.67 $ 10.64 $ 9.97
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Income from Investment Operations
Net Investment Income (dividends) .................. 0.53 0.53 0.53 0.53 0.55
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on
Investment Transactions ............................ 0.37 0.11 0.22 (0.69) 0.76
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Total From Investment Operations ................... 0.90 0.64 0.75 (0.16) 1.31
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Less Distributions
From Net Investment Income (dividends) ............. (0.53) (0.53) (0.53) (0.53) (0.55)
From Net Realized Gains on Investment Transactions . -.- -.- -.- (0.21) (0.09)
In Excess of Net Realized Gains .................... -.- -.- -.- (0.07) -.-
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Total Distributions ................................ (0.53) (0.53) (0.53) (0.81) (0.55)
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Net Asset Value, End of Year ..........................$ 10.37 $ 10.00 $ 9.89 $ 9.67 $ 10.64
=========== =========== =========== =========== ===========
Total Return(1) ....................................... 9.25% 6.60% 8.09% (1.68)% 13.74%
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
Ratio of Operating Expenses to Average Net Assets ..... 0.48% 0.49% 0.50% 0.49% 0.52%
Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets .. 5.23% 5.30% 5.54% 5.20% 5.37%
Portfolio Turnover Rate ............................... 46% 43% 40% 47% 61%
Net Assets, End of Year (in thousands) ................$ 189,145 $ 191,811 $ 178,913 $ 189,439 $ 223,440
(1) Total return assumes reinvestment of dividends and capital gains, if any.
</TABLE>
www.americancentury.com American Century Investments 29
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
California High-Yield Municipal
1998 1997 1996 1995 1994
PER-SHARE DATA
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year ....................$ 9.27 $ 9.11 $ 9.06 $ 9.66 $ 9.12
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Income from Investment Operations
Net Investment Income (dividends) .................. 0.55 0.56 0.56 0.56 0.57
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on
Investment Transactions ............................ 0.41 0.16 0.05 (0.48) 0.54
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Total From Investment Operations ................... 0.96 0.72 0.61 0.08 1.11
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Less Distributions
From Net Investment Income (dividends) ............. (0.55) (0.56) (0.56) (0.56) (0.57)
From Net Realized Gains on Investment Transactions . -.- -.- -.- (0.12) -.-
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Total Distributions ................................ (0.55) (0.56) (0.56) (0.68) (0.57)
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Net Asset Value, End of Year ..........................$ 9.68 $ 9.27 $ 9.11 $ 9.06 $ 9.66
=========== =========== =========== =========== ===========
Total Return(1) ....................................... 10.61% 8.02% 7.09% 0.87% 12.61%
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
Ratio of Operating Expenses to Average Net Assets ..... 0.50% 0.51% 0.51% 0.51% 0.55%
Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets .. 5.77% 5.99% 6.30% 6.02% 6.14%
Portfolio Turnover Rate ............................... 46% 36% 40% 43% 27%
Net Assets, End of Year (in thousands) ................$ 192,831 $ 144,675 $ 116,166 $ 166,000 $ 114,564
(1) Total return assumes reinvestment of dividends and capital gains, if any.
</TABLE>
30 American Century Investments 1-800-345-2021
[back inside cover]
AT YOUR SERVICE
Make virtually any transaction online
The next time you're surfing the Net, stop by American Century's Web site
(www.americancentury.com), which can make managing your American Century
portfolio easier. Current shareholders can open new accounts by exchanging
shares (provided the account registration does not change). In addition, you can
view transactions and check your account balances . You can also sign up to
receive annual updates to your prospectuses and financial reports via the Net
instead of the through the mail.
Expand your investment options with American Century Brokerage
If you're looking for a wide range of investment options-from trading individual
securities to purchasing mutual funds offered by hundreds of companies-look to
American Century Brokerage. With this new investment service, you can take
advantage of 24-hour trading on our Web site or TeleSelect automated telephone
service. Or, if you prefer, you can do business directly with a Brokerage
Associate. With service features including a Gold MasterCard(reg.tm) ATM/Debit
Card, unlimited CheckWriting and cost basis reporting (all available with the
American Century Brokerage Access Account[reg.sm]), our brokerage service can
simplify your life now while you prepare financially for the years to come. For
information about opening a brokerage account, please call an American Century
Brokerage Associate at 1-888-345-2071.
Send your distributions straight to the bank
If you opt to have your dividend and capital gain distributions paid to you in
cash rather than reinvesting them into your account, consider an electronic
transfer to your bank account. It will save you time and a trip to the bank.
Call an Investor Services Representative for more information.
Check out our library
Are you looking for additional information on bond basics? Or, are you trying to
decide if municipal bonds have a place in your portfolio? Perhaps you would like
to test your knowledge of bonds and how they work. These are subjects covered in
our Financial FYI library that are available to you. Financial FYI, a growing
library of one-page resources, clearly and quickly explains various financial
subjects to help you make informed decisions. To request one of these articles,
call an Investor Services Representative.
[back cover]
American Century Investments
P.O. Box 419200
Kansas City, Missouri 64141-6200
Investor Services
1-800-345-2021 or 816-531-5575
Automated Information Line
1-800-345-8765
Fax
816-340-7962
www.americancentury.com
Telecommunications Device for the Deaf
1-800-634-4113 or 816-444-3485
Institutional, Corporate, Keogh,
SEP/SARSEP, SIMPLE and 403(b) Services
1-800-345-3533
More information about the funds is contained in these documents:
ANNUAL AND SEMIANNUAL REPORTS. Contain more information about the fund's
investments and the market conditions and investment strategies that
significantly affected the fund's performance during the most recent six-month
fiscal period.
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. Contains a more detailed, legal description
of the funds' operations, investment restrictions, policies and practices. The
SAI is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus. This means that it is
legally part of this Prospectus, even if you don't request a copy.
You can also get information about the funds (including the SAI) from the SEC.
v In person. Go to the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Call
1-800-SEC-0330 for information about location and hours of operation.
v On the internet. Go to www.sec.gov.
v By mail. Write to Public Reference Section of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, Washington, D.C. 20549-6009. The SEC will charge a fee for
copying the documents you request.
Investment Company Act File No. 811-3706
<PAGE>
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
December 14, 1998
AMERICAN CENTURY
CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE AND MUNICIPAL FUNDS
California Tax-Free Money Market Fund
California Municipal Money Market Fund
California Limited-Term Tax-Free Fund
California Intermediate-Term Tax-Free Fund
California Long-Term Tax-Free Fund
California Insured Tax-Free Fund
California High-Yield Municipal Fund
This Statement of Additional Information adds to the discussion in the funds'
Prospectus, dated December 14, 1998, but is not a prospectus. If you would like
a copy of the Prospectus, please contact us at one of the addresses or phone
numbers listed on the back cover or visit American Century's Web site at
www.americancentury.com.
This Statement of Additional Information incorporates by reference certain
information that appears in the funds' annual and semiannual reports, which are
delivered to all shareholders. You may obtain a free copy of the funds' annual
or semiannual report by calling 1-800-345-2021.
[american century logo(reg.sm)]
American
Century
Distributed by Funds Distributor, Inc.
Table of Contents
THE FUNDS' HISTORY ......................................................... 1
FUND INVESTMENT OUTLINES ................................................... 1
California Tax-Free Money Market Fund
California Municipal Money Market Fund .................................. 2
California Limited-Term Tax-Free Fund
California Intermediate-Term Tax-Free Fund
California Long-Term Tax-Free Fund ...................................... 2
California Insured Tax-Free Fund ........................................ 2
California High-Yield Municipal Fund .................................... 3
DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDS ....................................... 3
Investment Strategies and Risks ......................................... 3
Investment Policies ..................................................... 13
Temporary Defensive Measures ............................................ 14
Portfolio Turnover ...................................................... 14
MANAGEMENT ................................................................. 15
The Board of Trustees ................................................... 15
Officers ................................................................ 17
THE FUNDS' BIGGEST SHAREHOLDERS ............................................ 18
SERVICE PROVIDERS 18
Investment Advisor ...................................................... 18
Distributor ............................................................. 20
Transfer Agent and Administrator ........................................ 21
Other Service Providers ................................................. 21
BROKERAGE ALLOCATION ....................................................... 21
INFORMATION ABOUT FUND SHARES .............................................. 22
BUYING AND SELLING FUND SHARES ............................................. 22
VALUATION OF PORTFOLIO SECURITIES .......................................... 22
Money Market Funds ...................................................... 22
Non-Money Market Funds .................................................. 23
TAXES ...................................................................... 23
HOW FUND PERFORMANCE INFORMATION IS CALCULATED ............................. 26
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ....................................................... 27
EXPLANATION OF FIXED INCOME SECURITIES RATINGS ............................. 27
Bond Ratings ............................................................ 27
Commercial Paper Ratings ................................................ 28
Note Ratings ............................................................ 28
QUALITY OF PORTFOLIO SECURITIES HELD BY THE NON-MONEY MARKET FUNDS ......... 29
The Funds' History
American Century California Tax-Free and Municipal Funds (the "Trust") is a
registered open-end management investment company that was organized as a
Massachusetts business trust on February 18, 1983. The Trust was known as
"Benham California Tax-Free and Municipal Funds" until January 1997.
Each fund is a separate series of the Trust and operates for many purposes as if
it were an independent company. Each fund has its own tax identification and
stock registration number. The funds may have different inception dates.
<TABLE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------
Inception Date
Fund-Class (Ticker Symbol)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------
<S> <C>
American Century California Tax-Free Money Market Fund--Investor Class (BCTXX) 11/09/1983
American Century California Municipal Money Market Fund--Investor Class (BNCXX) 12/31/1990
American Century California Limited-Term Tax-Free Fund--Investor Class (BCSTX) 06/01/1992
American Century California Intermediate-Term Tax-Free Fund--Investor Class (BCITX) 11/09/1983
American Century California Long-Term Tax-Free Fund--Investor Class (BCLTX) 11/09/1983
American Century California Insured Tax-Free Fund--Investor Class (BCINX) 12/30/1986
American Century California High-Yield Municipal Fund--Investor Class (BCHYX) 12/30/1986
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------
</TABLE>
Fund Investment Outlines
This section explains the extent to which American Century Investment
Management, Inc. (the "advisor") can use various investment vehicles and
strategies in managing a fund's assets. Descriptions of the investment
techniques and risks associated with each appear in the section, "Investment
Strategies and Risks," which begins on page 3. In the case of the funds'
principal investment strategies, these descriptions elaborate upon discussion
contained in the Prospectus.
Each fund is a diversified open-end investment company as defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940 (the Investment Company Act), with the exception
of the California Municipal Money Market which is non-diversified. "Diversified"
means that, with respect to 75% of its total assets, each fund will not invest
more than 5% of its total assets in the securities of a single issuer.
California Municipal Money Market also will seek to meet this test.
To meet federal tax requirements for qualification as a regulated investment
company, each fund must limit its investments so that at the close of each
quarter of its taxable year (1) no more than 25% of its total assets are
invested in the securities of a single issuer (other than the U.S government or
a regulated investment company), and (2) with respect to at least 50% of its
total assets, no more than 5% of its total assets are invested in the securities
of a single issuer.
Each fund intends to remain fully invested in municipal obligations. As a
fundamental policy, each fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets in
California municipal obligations. A municipal obligation is a "California"
municipal obligation if its income is exempt from California state income taxes.
The remaining 20% of net assets may be invested in (1) municipal obligations
issued in other states and (2) U.S. government obligations. For temporary
defensive purposes, each fund may invest more than 20% of its net assets in
these obligations. For liquidity purposes, each non-money market fund may invest
up to 5% of its total assets in shares of money market funds, including
California Municipal Money Market and California Tax-Free Money Market.
Each fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets in obligations with
interest exempt from regular federal income tax. California Municipal Money
Market and California High-Yield Municipal, unlike the other funds, may invest
substantially all of their assets in securities that are subject to the
alternative minimum tax. See "Alternative Minimum Tax," page 25.
For an explanation of the securities ratings referred to in the Prospectus and
this Statement of Additional Information, see "Explanation of Fixed Income
Securities Ratings" beginning on page 27.
CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE MONEY MARKET FUND
CALIFORNIA MUNICIPAL MONEY MARKET FUND
The money market funds may be appropriate for investors seeking share price
stability who can accept the lower yields that short-term obligations typically
provide.
In selecting investments for the money market funds, the advisor adheres to
regulatory guidelines concerning the quality and maturity of money market fund
investments as well as to internal guidelines designed to minimize credit risk.
In particular, each fund
* buys only U.S. dollar-denominated obligations with remaining maturities of
13 months or less (and variable- and floating-rate obligations with demand
features that effectively shorten their maturities to 13 months or less)
* maintains a dollar-weighted average maturity of 90 days or less
* restricts its investments to high-quality obligations determined by the
advisor, pursuant to procedures established by the Board of Trustees, to
present minimal credit risks
To be considered high-quality, an obligation must be
* a U.S. government obligation
* rated (or issued by an issuer rated with respect to a class of comparable
short-term obligations) in one of the two highest rating categories for
short-term obligations by at least two nationally recognized statistical
rating agencies ("rating agencies") (or one if only one has rated the
obligation)
* an obligation judged by the advisor, pursuant to guidelines established by
the Board of Trustees, to be of quality comparable to the securities listed
above
While it adheres to the same quality and maturity criteria as California
Tax-Free Money Market, California Municipal Money Market may purchase private
activity municipal securities. The interest from these securities is treated as
a tax-preference item in calculating federal alternative minimum tax (AMT)
liability. In the past, private activity securities have provided somewhat
higher yields than comparable municipal securities whose interest is not a
tax-preference item. Under normal circumstances, the advisor expects to invest
between 50% and 80% of California Municipal Money Market's total assets in
private activity securities. Therefore, the fund is designed for investors who
do not expect to pay alternative minimum taxes. See "Taxes," page 23.
CALIFORNIA LIMITED-TERM TAX-FREE FUND
CALIFORNIA INTERMEDIATE-TERM TAX-FREE FUND
CALIFORNIA LONG-TERM TAX-FREE FUND
California Limited-Term Tax-Free, California Intermediate-Term Tax-Free and
California Long-Term Tax-Free have identical policies governing the quality of
securities in which they may invest. The funds differ in their maturity criteria
as stated in the Prospectus.
In terms of credit quality, each of these funds restricts its investments to
* municipal bonds rated, when acquired, within the four highest categories
designated by a rating agency
* municipal notes (including variable-rate demand obligations) and tax-exempt
commercial paper rated, when acquired, within the two highest categories
designated by a rating agency
* unrated obligations judged by the advisor, under the direction of the Board
of Trustees, to be of quality comparable to the securities listed above
CALIFORNIA INSURED TAX-FREE FUND
California Insured Tax-Free invests primarily in long-term municipal obligations
covered by insurance that guarantees the timely payment of interest and
repayment of principal.
Under normal conditions, at least 65% of the fund's total assets are invested in
insured municipal obligations. Securities held by the fund may be (1) insured
under a new-issue insurance policy obtained by the issuer of the security, (2)
insured under a secondary market insurance policy purchased by the fund or a
previous bondholder, (3) secured by an escrow or trust account holding U.S.
government securities, or (4) rated AAA by a rating agency based upon the
issuer's credit quality.
California Insured Tax-Free also may invest in short-term securities carrying
one of the two highest ratings designated by a rating agency.
CALIFORNIA HIGH-YIELD MUNICIPAL FUND
Like California Long-Term Tax-Free, California High-Yield Municipal invests
primarily in long- and intermediate-term California municipal obligations.
Although California High-Yield Municipal typically invests a significant portion
of its assets in investment-grade bonds, the advisor does not adhere to specific
rating criteria in selecting investments for this fund. The fund invests in
securities rated or judged by the advisor to be of below investment-grade
quality (e.g., bonds rated BB/Ba or lower, which are sometimes referred to as
junk bonds) or unrated bonds. California High-Yield Municipal currently expects
to invest between 15% and 50% of its total assets in below investment grade
securities.
Many issuers of medium- and lower-quality bonds choose not to have their
obligations rated and a large portion of California High-Yield Municipal's
portfolio may consist of obligations that, when acquired, were not rated. While
there is no limit on the percentage of assets the fund may invest in unrated
securities, the advisor will not select investments for the fund that, at the
time of purchase, (1) are not paying interest, (2) are rated C (lowest grade) by
Moody's Investors Service, Inc. (Moody's) or C or D by Standard & Poor's
Corporation (S&P) or (3) are considered by the advisor, under direction of the
Board of Trustees, to be of a quality as low as obligations rated C or D by
Moody's or S&P.
California High-Yield Municipal may invest in investment-grade municipal
obligations if the advisor considers it appropriate to do so. Investments of
this nature may be made due to market considerations (e.g., a limited supply of
medium- and lower-grade municipal obligations) or to increase liquidity of the
fund. Investing in high-grade obligations may lower the fund's return.
California High-Yield Municipal may purchase private activity municipal
securities. The interest from these securities is treated as a tax-preference
item in calculating federal AMT liability. Under normal circumstances, the
advisor expects to invest between 10% and 30% of the fund's total assets in
private activity securities. Therefore, the fund is better suited for investors
who do not expect alternative minimum tax liability. See "Taxes," page 23.
DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDS
INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS
This section describes each of the investment vehicles and strategies that the
advisor can use in managing a fund's assets. It also details the risks
associated with each, because each technique contributes to a fund's overall
risk profile.
Concentration in Types of Municipal Activities
From time to time, a significant portion of a fund's assets may be invested in
municipal obligations that are related to the extent that economic, business or
political developments affecting one of these obligations could affect the other
obligations in a similar manner. For example, if a fund invested a significant
portion of its assets in utility bonds and a state or federal government agency
or legislative body promulgated or enacted new environmental protection
requirements for utility providers, projects financed by utility bonds could
suffer as a group. Additional financing might be required to comply with the new
environmental requirements, and outstanding debt might be downgraded in the
interim. Among other factors that could negatively affect bonds issued to
finance similar types of projects are state and federal legislation regarding
financing for municipal projects, pending court decisions relating to the
validity or means of financing municipal projects, material or manpower
shortages and declining demand for projects or facilities financed by the
municipal bonds.
About the Risks affecting California Municipal Securities
As noted in the Prospectus, the funds are susceptible to political, economic and
regulatory events that affect issuers of California municipal obligations. These
include possible adverse affects of California constitutional amendments,
legislative measures, voter initiatives and other matters described below.
The following information about risk factors is provided in view of the funds'
policies of concentrating their assets in California municipal securities. This
information is based on recent official statements relating to securities
offerings of California issuers, although it does not constitute a complete
description of the risk associated with investing in securities of these
issuers. While the advisor has not independently verified the information
contained in the official statements, it has no reason to believe the
information is inaccurate.
* Economic Overview
California's economy is the largest among the 50 states and one of the largest
in the world. The state's 1996 population of approximately 32.4 million,
representing approximately 12% of the U.S. population, has grown by 36% since
1980. Total personal income, an estimated $810 billion in 1996, accounted for
approximately 12% of personal income nationwide.
From 1990-1993, the state suffered through a severe recession, the worst since
the 1930s, heavily influenced by large cutbacks in defense/aerospace industries
and military base closures and a major drop in real estate construction.
California's economy has been recovering and growing steadily since the start of
1994, to the point where the state's economic growth is outpacing the rest of
the nation. More than 300,000 non-farm jobs were added in the state in 1996,
while personal income grew by more than $55 billion. Another 380,000 jobs are
expected to be created in 1997. The unemployment rate, while still higher than
the national average, fell to the low 6% range in mid-1997, compared to over 10%
at the worst of the recession.
California's economic expansion is being fueled by strong growth in
high-technology industries, including computer software, electronics
manufacturing and motion picture/television production. Growth is also strong in
business services, export trade and manufacturing, with even the aerospace
sector showing increasing employment. Non-residential and residential
construction have been moderately growing since the depths of the recession, but
remain much lower (as measured by annual new unit permits) than the late 1980s.
* Constitutional Limitations on Taxes
Many California issuers rely on ad valorem property taxes as a source of
revenue. The taxing powers of California local governments and districts are
limited by Article XIIIA of the California Constitution, enacted by voters in
1978 and commonly known as "Proposition 13." Article XIIIA limits to 1% of full
cash value the rate of ad valorem taxes on real property and restricts the
reassessment of property to 2% per year, except where new construction or
changes of ownership have occurred (subject to a number of exemptions). Taxing
entities may, however, raise ad valorem taxes above the 1% limit to pay debt
service on voter-approved bonded indebtedness. The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld
Proposition 13 against claims that it has unlawfully resulted in widely varying
tax liability on similarly situated properties.
Article XIIIA also requires voters of any governmental unit to give two-thirds
approval to levy any special tax. Subsequent court decisions, however, have
allowed non-voter approved general taxes so long as they are not dedicated to a
specific use. In response to these decisions, voters adopted an initiative in
1986 that imposed new limits on the ability of local government entities to
raise or levy general taxes without voter approval. Based upon a 1991
intermediate appellate court decision, it was believed that significant parts of
this initiative, known as Proposition 62, were unconstitutional. On September
28, 1995, the California Supreme Court rendered a decision in the case of Santa
Clara County Local Transportation Authority v. Guardino that rejected the prior
decision and upheld Proposition 62, while striking down a 1/2-cent sales tax for
transportation purposes that was approved by a majority, but less than
two-thirds, vote. Proposition 62 does not apply to charter cities, but other
local governments may be constrained in raising any taxes without voter
approval.
On November 5, 1996, the voters of the state approved Proposition 218. This
proposition adds Articles XIIIC and XIIID to the state Constitution, which
affect the ability of local governments, including charter cities, to levy and
collect both existing and future taxes, assessments, fees and charges.
Proposition 218 became effective on November 6, 1996, although application of
some of its provisions was deferred until July 1, 1997. This proposition could
negatively impact a local government's ability to make its debt service
payments, and thus could result in a lowering of credit ratings.
* Constitutional Limitations on Appropriations
The state and its local governments are subject to an annual appropriations
limit imposed by Article XIIIB of the California Constitution. This article was
enacted by voters in 1979 and was significantly amended by Propositions 98 and
111 in 1988 and 1990, respectively. Article XIIIB prohibits the state and
subject local governments from spending "appropriations subject to limitation"
in excess of an appropriations limit. The appropriations limit is adjusted
annually to reflect population changes and changes in the cost of living as well
as transfers of responsibility between government units. "Appropriations subject
to limitation" are authorizations to spend "proceeds of taxes" consisting of tax
revenues and certain other charges and fees to the extent that such proceeds
exceed the cost of providing the product or service. However, proceeds of taxes
exclude most state subventions to local governments.
"Excess revenues" under Article XIIIB are measured over a two-year cycle. Local
governments must return any excess revenues to taxpayers through tax rate
reductions. The state must refund 50% of any excess and pay the other 50% to
schools and community colleges. With the application of more liberal annual
adjustment factors since 1988 and depressed revenues since 1990 due to the
recession, few governments are currently operating near their spending limits,
but this condition may change over time. Local governments may, by voter
approval, exceed their spending limits for a limited time.
Because of the complex nature of Articles XIIIA and XIIIB, the ambiguities and
possible inconsistencies in their terms and the impossibility of predicting
future appropriations, population changes, changes in the cost of living or the
probability of continuing legal challenges, it is difficult to measure the full
impact of these Articles on the California municipal market or on the ability of
California issuers to pay debt service on their obligations.
* Obligations of the State of California
As of September 1, 1997, the state had approximately $17.9 billion of general
obligation bonds outstanding, and approximately $4.6 billion remained authorized
but unissued. Of the state's outstanding general obligation debt, 21% is
presently self-liquidating (i.e., program revenues are expected to be sufficient
to reimburse the General Fund for debt service payments). In fiscal year
1996-97, debt service on general obligation bonds and lease-purchase debt was
approximately 5.00% of General Fund revenues down from 5.25% in fiscal year
1994-95.
The state's principal sources of General Fund revenues for fiscal year 1996-97
were the California personal income tax (45% of total revenues), the sales tax
(35%), bank and corporations taxes (13%) and the gross premium tax on insurance
(2%). Historically, the state has paid the principal of and interest on its
general obligation bonds, lease-purchase debt and short-term obligations when
due.
General. Pressures on the state's budget in the late 1980s and early 1990s were
caused by a combination of external economic conditions and growth of the
largest General Fund expenditure programs--K-12 education, health, welfare and
corrections--at rates faster than the revenue base. The largest state
expenditure program is assistance to local public school districts. In 1988, an
initiative (Proposition 98) was enacted that essentially guarantees local school
districts and community college districts a minimum share of the state's General
Fund revenues (currently 35%).
Expenditures pressures could continue as the state's overall population and
school age population continue to grow, and as the state's corrections program
responds to a "Three Strikes" law enacted in 1994 (which requires mandatory life
prison terms for certain third-time felony offenders). In addition, the
long-term impact of federal welfare reform on the state's budget is uncertain.
Recent Budgets. State finances have improved over the past two fiscal years, due
primarily to stronger than anticipated revenue and lower than anticipated social
spending. The state finished fiscal year 1996-97 with $408 million in the
state's budget reserve. The past two fiscal years' budgets contained the
following features:
* Expenditures for K-14 schools grew significantly as the new revenues were
directed to school spending under Proposition 98.
* The budgets restrained health and welfare spending levels.
* General Fund support for the University of California and California State
Universities grew by an average of 5.2% and 3.3% per year.
* General Fund support for corrections grew as needed to meet increased prison
population.
* There was a 5% corporate income tax cut.
Current Budget. The Budget Act anticipates General Fund revenues and transfers
of $52.5 billion (6.8% increase from the prior fiscal year) and expenditures of
$52.8 billion (an 8.0% increase). On a budgetary basis, the budget reserve is
projected to decrease from $408 million as of June 30, 1997 to $112 million as
of June 30, 1998. The following are major features of the 1997-98 Budget Act:
* For the second year in a row, the budget contains a large increase in
funding for K-14 education under Proposition 98, reflecting strong revenues
that have exceeded initial budgeted amounts.
* The budget reflects a $1.235 billion pension judgment payment to the Public
Employees Retirement System (PERS).
* General Fund support for the University of California and California State
University is increased by approximately 6%.
* Health and welfare costs are contained, continuing generally the grant
levels from prior years, as part of the initial implementation of welfare
reform.
* Unlike prior years, this budget does not include uncertain federal budget
actions.
* The budget does not have any tax increases or tax cuts.
Due to the improvement in the state's economy and financial condition, the State
of California was upgraded by Standard and Poor's in August 1996 from A to A+
and by Fitch Investors Service in September 1997 from A+ to AA-.
* Obligations of Other Issuers in California
Property tax revenues received by local governments declined more than 50%
following passage of Proposition 13 in 1978. Subsequently, the California
legislature enacted measures to provide for the redistribution of the state's
General Fund surplus to local agencies, the reallocation of certain state
revenues to local agencies, and the assumption of certain government functions
by the state to assist the state's municipalities. However, in response to the
fiscal crisis at the state level, the Legislature in 1992-93 and 1993-94
effectively reversed the post-Proposition 13 bailout aid and directed over $3
billion of city, county and special district property taxes to school districts,
which enabled the state to reduce its aid to schools by the same amount. Part of
this shortfall is to be covered by a 0.5% sales tax allocated to local
government public safety purposes. The 0.5% sales tax increase was imposed by
Proposition 172, which was approved by a majority of voters at the statewide
election on November 2, 1993.
Even with these cuts and property tax shifts, more than 70% of the state General
Fund expenditures are for local government assistance. To the extent that the
state is constrained by its Article XIIIB appropriations limit, its obligation
to conform to Proposition 98 or other fiscal considerations, the absolute level
or rate of growth of state assistance to local governments may be reduced. Any
such reductions in state aid could compound the serious fiscal constraints
already experienced by many local governments, particularly counties.
Municipal Notes
Municipal notes are issued by state and local governments or government entities
to provide short-term capital or to meet cash flow needs.
Tax Anticipation Notes (TANs) are issued in anticipation of seasonal tax
revenues, such as ad valorem property, income, sales, use and business taxes,
and are payable from these future taxes. Tax anticipation notes usually are
general obligations of the issuer. General obligations are secured by the
issuer's pledge of its full faith and credit (i.e., taxing power) for the
payment of principal and interest.
Revenue Anticipation Notes (RANs) are issued with the expectation that receipt
of future revenues, such as federal revenue sharing or state aid payments, will
be used to repay the notes. Typically, these notes also constitute general
obligations of the issuer.
Bond Anticipation Notes (BANs) are issued to provide interim financing until
long-term financing can be arranged. In most cases, the long-term bonds provide
the money for repayment of the notes.
Tax-Exempt Commercial Paper is an obligation with a stated maturity of 365 days
or less issued to finance seasonal cash flow needs or to provide short-term
financing in anticipation of longer-term financing.
Revenue Anticipation Warrants, or reimbursement warrants, are issued to meet the
cash flow needs of the State of California at the end of a fiscal year and in
the early weeks of the following fiscal year. These warrants are payable from
unapplied money in the state's General Fund, including the proceeds of revenue
anticipation notes issued following enactment of a state budget or the proceeds
of refunding warrants issued by the state.
Municipal Bonds
Municipal bonds, which generally have maturities of more than one year when
issued, are designed to meet longer-term capital needs. These securities have
two principal classifications: general obligation bonds and revenue bonds.
General Obligation (GO) Bonds are issued by states, counties, cities, towns and
regional districts to fund a variety of public projects, including construction
of and improvements to schools, highways, and water and sewer systems. General
obligation bonds are backed by the issuer's full faith and credit based on its
ability to levy taxes for the timely payment of interest and repayment of
principal, although such levies may be constitutionally or statutorily limited
as to rate or amount.
Revenue Bonds are not backed by an issuer's taxing authority; rather, interest
and principal are secured by the net revenues from a project or facility.
Revenue bonds are issued to finance a variety of capital projects, including
construction or refurbishment of utility and waste disposal systems, highways,
bridges, tunnels, air and sea port facilities, schools and hospitals. Many
revenue bond issuers provide additional security in the form of a debt-service
reserve fund that may be used to make payments of interest and repayments of
principal on the issuer's obligations. Some revenue bond financings are further
protected by a state's assurance (without obligation) that it will make up
deficiencies in the debt-service reserve fund.
Industrial Development Bonds (IDBs), a type of revenue bond, are issued by or on
behalf of public authorities to finance privately operated facilities. These
bonds are used to finance business, manufacturing, housing, athletic and
pollution control projects, as well as public facilities such as mass transit
systems, air and sea port facilities and parking garages. Payment of interest
and repayment of principal on an IDB depend solely on the ability of the
facility's user to meet financial obligations, and on the pledge, if any, of the
real or personal property financed. The interest earned on IDBs may be subject
to the federal alternative minimum tax.
Variable- and Floating-Rate Obligations
The funds may buy variable- and floating-rate demand obligations (VRDOs and
FRDOs). These obligations carry rights that permit holders to demand payment of
the unpaid principal plus accrued interest, from the issuers or from financial
intermediaries. Floating-rate securities, or floaters, have interest rates that
change whenever there is a change in a designated base rate; variable-rate
instruments provide for a specified, periodic adjustment in the interest rate,
which typically is based on an index. These rate formulas are designed to result
in a market value for the VRDO or FRDO that approximates par value.
Obligations with Term Puts Attached
Each fund may invest in fixed-rate bonds subject to third-party puts and in
participation interests in such bonds held by a bank in trust or otherwise.
These bonds and participation interests have tender options or demand features
that permit the funds to tender (or put) their bonds to an institution at
periodic intervals and to receive the principal amount thereof.
The advisor expects that the funds will pay more for securities with puts
attached than for securities without these liquidity features. The advisor may
buy securities with puts attached to keep a fund fully invested in municipal
securities while maintaining sufficient portfolio liquidity to meet redemption
requests or to facilitate management of the fund's investments.
To ensure that the interest on municipal securities subject to puts is
tax-exempt to the funds, the advisor limits the funds' use of puts in accordance
with applicable interpretations and rulings of the Internal Revenue Service
(IRS).
Because it is difficult to evaluate the likelihood of exercise or the potential
benefit of a put, puts normally will be determined to have a value of zero,
regardless of whether any direct or indirect consideration is paid. Accordingly,
puts as separate securities are not expected to affect the funds' weighted
average maturities. When a fund has paid for a put, the cost will be reflected
as unrealized depreciation on the underlying security for the period the put is
held. Any gain on the sale of the underlying security will be reduced by the
cost of the put.
There is a risk that the seller of a put will not be able to repurchase the
underlying obligation when (or if) a fund attempts to exercise the put. To
minimize such risks, the funds will purchase obligations with puts attached only
from sellers deemed creditworthy by the advisor under the direction of the Board
of Trustees.
Tender Option Bonds
Tender option bonds (TOBs) were created to increase the supply of high-quality,
short-term tax-exempt obligations, and thus they are of particular interest to
the money market funds. However, any of the funds may purchase these
instruments.
TOBs are created by municipal bond dealers who purchase long-term tax-exempt
bonds in the secondary market, place the certificates in trusts, and sell
interests in the trusts with puts or other liquidity guarantees attached. The
credit quality of the resulting synthetic short-term instrument is based on the
guarantor's short-term rating and the underlying bond's long-term rating.
There is some risk that a remarketing agent will renege on a tender option
agreement if the underlying bond is downgraded or defaults. Because of this, the
advisor monitors the credit quality of bonds underlying the funds' TOB holdings
and intends to sell or put back any TOB if the rating on its underlying bond
falls below the second-highest rating category designated by a rating agency.
The advisor also takes steps to minimize the risk that the fund may realize
taxable income as a result of holding TOBs. These steps may include
consideration of (a) legal opinions relating to the tax-exempt status of the
underlying municipal bonds, (b) legal opinions relating to the tax ownership of
the underlying bonds, and (c) other elements of the structure that could result
in taxable income or other adverse tax consequences. After purchase, the advisor
monitors factors related to the tax-exempt status of the fund's TOB holdings in
order to minimize the risk of generating taxable income.
When-Issued and Forward Commitment Agreements
The funds may engage in municipal securities transactions on a when-issued or
forward commitment basis in which the transaction price and yield are each fixed
at the time the commitment is made, but payment and delivery occur at a future
date (typically 15 to 45 days later).
When purchasing securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis, a fund
assumes the rights and risks of ownership, including the risks of price and
yield fluctuations. While the fund will make commitments to purchase or sell
securities with the intention of actually receiving or delivering them, it may
sell the securities before the settlement date if doing so is deemed advisable
as a matter of investment strategy.
In purchasing securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis, a fund
will establish and maintain until the settlement date a segregated account
consisting of cash, cash equivalents or other appropriate liquid securities in
an amount sufficient to meet the purchase price. When the time comes to pay for
the when-issued securities, the fund will meet its obligations with available
cash, through the sale of securities, or, although it would not normally expect
to do so, by selling the when-issued securities themselves (which may have a
market value greater or less than the fund's payment obligation). Selling
securities to meet when-issued or forward commitment obligations may generate
taxable capital gains or losses.
As an operating policy, no fund will commit more than 50% of its total assets to
when-issued or forward commitment agreements. If fluctuations in the value of
securities held cause more than 50% of a fund's total assets to be committed
under when-issued or forward commitment agreements, the advisor need not sell
such agreements, but it will be restricted from entering into further agreements
on behalf of the fund until the percentage of assets committed to such
agreements is below 50% of total assets.
Municipal Lease Obligations
Each fund may invest in municipal lease obligations. These obligations, which
may take the form of a lease, an installment purchase, or a conditional sale
contract, are issued by state and local governments and authorities to acquire
land and a wide variety of equipment and facilities. Generally, the funds will
not hold such obligations directly as a lessor of the property but will purchase
a participation interest in a municipal lease obligation from a bank or other
third party.
Municipal leases frequently carry risks distinct from those associated with
general obligation or revenue bonds. state constitutions and statutes set forth
requirements that states and municipalities must meet to incur debt. These may
include voter referenda, interest rate limits or public sale requirements.
Leases, installment purchases or conditional sale contracts (which normally
provide for title to the leased asset to pass to the government issuer) have
evolved as a way for government issuers to acquire property and equipment
without meeting constitutional and statutory requirements for the issuance of
debt.
Many leases and contracts include nonappropriation clauses, which provide that
the governmental issuer has no obligation to make future payments under the
lease or contract unless money is appropriated for such purposes by the
appropriate legislative body on a yearly or other periodic basis. Municipal
lease obligations also may be subject to abatement risk. For example,
construction delays or destruction of a facility as a result of an uninsurable
disaster that prevents occupancy could result in all or a portion of a lease
payment not being made.
California and its municipalities are the largest issuers of municipal lease
obligations in the United States.
Inverse Floaters
The funds (except the money market funds) may hold inverse floaters. An inverse
floater is a type of derivative that bears an interest rate that moves inversely
to market interest rates. As market interest rates rise, the interest rate on
inverse floaters goes down, and vice versa. Generally, this is accomplished by
expressing the interest rate on the inverse floater as an above-market fixed
rate of interest, reduced by an amount determined by reference to a market-based
or bond-specific floating interest rate (as well as by any fees associated with
administering the inverse floater program).
Inverse floaters may be issued in conjunction with an equal amount of Dutch
Auction floating-rate bonds (floaters), or a market-based index may be used to
set the interest rate on these securities. A Dutch Auction is an auction system
in which the price of the security is gradually lowered until it meets a
responsive bid and is sold. Floaters and inverse floaters may be brought to
market by a broker-dealer who purchases fixed-rate bonds and places them in a
trust or by an issuer seeking to reduce interest expenses by using a
floater/inverse floater structure in lieu of fixed-rate bonds.
In the case of a broker-dealer structured offering (where underlying fixed-rate
bonds have been placed in a trust), distributions from the underlying bonds are
allocated to floater and inverse floater holders in the following manner:
(i) Floater holders receive interest based on rates set at a six month interval
or at a Dutch Auction, which is typically held every 28 to 35 days. Current and
prospective floater holders bid the minimum interest rate that they are willing
to accept on the floaters, and the interest rate is set just high enough to
ensure that all of the floaters are sold.
(ii) Inverse floater holders receive all of the interest that remains on the
underlying bonds after floater interest and auction fees are paid.
Procedures for determining the interest payment on floaters and inverse floaters
brought to market directly by the issuer are comparable, although the interest
paid on the inverse floaters is based on a presumed coupon rate that would have
been required to bring fixed-rate bonds to market at the time the floaters and
inverse floaters were issued.
Where inverse floaters are issued in conjunction with floaters, inverse floater
holders may be given the right to acquire the underlying security (or to create
a fixed-rate bond) by calling an equal amount of corresponding floaters. The
underlying security may then be held or sold. However, typically, there are time
constraints and other limitations associated with any right to combine interests
and claim the underlying security.
Floater holders subject to a Dutch Auction procedure generally do not have the
right to "put back" their interests to the issuer or to a third party. If a
Dutch Auction fails, the floater holder may be required to hold its position
until the underlying bond matures, during which time interest on the floater is
capped at a predetermined rate.
The secondary market for floaters and inverse floaters may be limited. The
market value of inverse floaters tends to be significantly more volatile than
fixed-rate bonds. The interest rates on inverse floaters may be significantly
reduced, even to zero, if interest rates rise.
Lower-Quality Bonds
As indicated in the Prospectus, an investment in California High-Yield Municipal
carries greater risk than an investment in the other funds because the fund may
invest without limitation in lower-rated bonds and unrated bonds judged by the
advisor to be of comparable quality (collectively, lower-quality bonds).
While the market values of higher-quality bonds tend to correspond to market
interest rate changes, the market values of lower-quality bonds tend to reflect
the financial condition of their issuers.
Projects financed through the issuance of lower-quality bonds are often highly
leveraged. The issuer's ability to service its debt obligations may be adversely
affected by an economic downturn, a period of rising interest rates, the
issuer's inability to meet projected revenue forecasts, or a lack of needed
additional financing.
Lower-quality bonds generally are unsecured and often are subordinated to other
obligations of the issuer. These bonds frequently have call or buy-back features
that permit the issuer to call or repurchase the bond from the holder. Premature
disposition of a lower-quality bond due to a call or buy-back feature,
deterioration of the issuer's creditworthiness, or a default may make it
difficult for the advisor to manage the flow of income to the fund, which may
have negative tax implications for shareholders.
The market for lower-quality bonds tends to be concentrated among a smaller
number of dealers than the market for higher-quality bonds. This market is
dominated by dealers and institutions (including mutual funds), rather than by
individuals. To the extent that a secondary trading market for lower-quality
bonds exists, it may not be as liquid as the secondary market for higher-quality
bonds. Limited liquidity in the secondary market may adversely affect market
prices and hinder the advisor's ability to dispose of particular bonds when it
determines that it is in the best interest of the fund to do so. Reduced
liquidity also may hinder the advisor's ability to obtain market quotations for
purposes of valuing the fund's portfolio and determining its net asset value.
The advisor continually monitors securities to determine their relative
liquidity.
A fund may incur expenses in excess of its ordinary operating expenses if it
becomes necessary to seek recovery on a defaulted bond, particularly a
lower-quality bond.
Short-Term Securities
Under certain circumstances, California Long-Term Tax-Free, California
High-Yield Municipal and California Insured Tax-Free may invest in short-term
municipal or U.S. government securities, including money market instruments
(short-term securities). If a fund invests in U.S. government securities, a
portion of dividends paid to shareholders will be taxable at the federal level,
and may be taxable at the state level, as ordinary income. However, the advisor
intends to minimize such investments and, when suitable short-term municipal
securities are unavailable, may allow the funds to hold cash to avoid generating
taxable dividends.
Except as otherwise required for temporary defensive purposes, the advisor does
not expect California Long-Term Tax-Free, California High-Yield Municipal or
California Insured Tax-Free to invest more than 35% of total assets in
short-term securities.
Pursuant to an exemptive order from the Securities and Exchange Commission
(SEC), each non-money market fund may invest in shares of the money market funds
to facilitate cash management provided that the investment is consistent with
the funds' investment policies and restrictions.
The non-money market funds may invest up to 5% of their total assets in shares
of the money market funds. To avoid generating dividend income subject to the
federal alternative minimum tax (AMT), the non-money market funds (excluding
California High-Yield Municipal) will limit their money market fund investments
to California Tax-Free Money Market. California High-Yield Municipal, which
ordinarily invests in AMT securities, may invest up to 5% of its total assets in
shares of either of the money market funds.
Futures and Options
Each non-money market fund may enter into futures contracts, options or options
on futures contracts. Some futures and options strategies, such as selling
futures, buying puts and writing calls, hedge a fund's investments against price
fluctuations. Other strategies, such as buying futures, writing puts and buying
calls, tend to increase market exposure. The funds do not use futures and
options transactions for speculative purposes.
Although other techniques may be used to control a fund's exposure to market
fluctuations, the use of futures contracts may be a more effective means of
hedging this exposure. While a fund pays brokerage commissions in connection
with opening and closing out futures positions, these costs are lower than the
transaction costs incurred in the purchase and sale of the underlying
securities.
Futures contracts provide for the sale by one party and purchase by another
party of a specific security at a specified future time and price. Futures
contracts are traded on national futures exchanges. Futures exchanges and
trading are regulated under the Commodity Exchange Act by the Commodity Futures
Trading Commission (CFTC), a U.S. government agency. The funds may engage in
futures and options transactions based on securities indexes such as the Bond
Buyer Index of Municipal Bonds that are consistent with the fund's investment
objectives. The fund also may engage in futures and options transactions based
on specific securities such as U.S. Treasury bonds or notes.
Bond Buyer Municipal Bond Index futures contracts differ from traditional
futures contracts in that when delivery takes place, no bonds change hands.
Instead, these contracts settle in cash at the spot market value of the Bond
Buyer Municipal Bond Index.
Although other types of futures contracts by their terms call for actual
delivery or acceptance of the underlying securities, in most cases the contracts
are closed out before the settlement date. A futures position may be closed by
taking an opposite position in an identical contract (i.e., buying a contract
that has previously been sold or selling a contract that has previously been
bought).
To initiate and maintain open positions in a futures contract, a fund would be
required to make a good faith margin deposit in cash or government securities
with a futures broker or custodian. A margin deposit is intended to assure
completion of the contract (delivery or acceptance of the underlying security)
if it is not terminated prior to the specified delivery date. Minimum initial
margin requirements are established by the futures exchanges and may be revised.
In addition, brokers may establish margin deposit requirements that are higher
than the exchange minimums.
Once a futures contract position is opened, the value of the contract is marked
to market daily. If the futures contract price changes to the extent that the
margin on deposit does not satisfy margin requirements, the contract holder is
required to pay additional variation margin. Conversely, changes in the contract
value may reduce the required margin, resulting in a repayment of excess margin
to the contract holder. Variation margin payments are made to or from the
futures broker for as long as the contract remains open and do not constitute
margin transactions for purposes of the funds' investment restrictions.
* Risks Related to Futures and Options Transactions
Futures and options prices can be volatile, and trading in these markets
involves certain risks. If the advisor applies a hedge at an inappropriate time
or judges interest rate trends incorrectly, futures and options strategies may
lower a fund's return.
A fund could suffer losses if it were unable to close out its position because
of an illiquid secondary market. Futures contracts may be closed out only on an
exchange that provides a secondary market for these contracts, and there is no
assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular futures
contract at any particular time. Consequently, it may not be possible to close a
futures position when the advisor considers it appropriate or desirable to do
so. In the event of adverse price movements, a fund would be required to
continue making daily cash payments to maintain its required margin. If the fund
had insufficient cash, it might have to sell portfolio securities to meet daily
margin requirements at a time when the advisor would not otherwise elect to do
so. In addition, a fund may be required to deliver or take delivery of
instruments underlying futures contracts it holds. The advisor will seek to
minimize these risks by limiting the contracts entered into on behalf of the
funds to those traded on national futures exchanges and for which there appears
to be a liquid secondary market.
A fund could suffer losses if the prices of its futures and options positions
were poorly correlated with its other investments, or if securities underlying
futures contracts purchased by a fund had different maturities than those of the
portfolio securities being hedged. Such imperfect correlation may give rise to
circumstances in which a fund loses money on a futures contract at the same time
that it experiences a decline in the value of its "hedged" portfolio securities.
A fund also could lose margin payments it has deposited with a margin broker,
if, for example, the broker became bankrupt.
Most futures exchanges limit the amount of fluctuation permitted in futures
contract prices during a single trading day. The daily limit establishes the
maximum amount that the price of a futures contract may vary either up or down
from the previous day's settlement price at the end of the trading session. Once
the daily limit has been reached in a particular type of contract, no trades may
be made on that day at a price beyond the limit. However, the daily limit
governs only price movement during a particular trading day and, therefore, does
not limit potential losses. In addition, the daily limit may prevent liquidation
of unfavorable positions. Futures contract prices have occasionally moved to the
daily limit for several consecutive trading days with little or no trading,
thereby preventing prompt liquidation of futures positions and subjecting some
futures traders to substantial losses.
* Options On Futures
By purchasing an option on a futures contract, a fund obtains the right, but not
the obligation, to sell the futures contract (a put option) or to buy the
contract (a call option) at a fixed strike price. A fund can terminate its
position in a put option by allowing it to expire or by exercising the option.
If the option is exercised, the fund completes the sale of the underlying
security at the strike price. Purchasing an option on a futures contract does
not require a fund to make margin payments unless the option is exercised.
Although they do not currently intend to do so, the funds may write (or sell)
call options that obligate it to sell (or deliver) the option's underlying
instrument upon exercise of the option. While the receipt of option premiums
would mitigate the effects of price declines, the funds would give up some
ability to participate in a price increase on the underlying security. If a fund
were to engage in options transactions, it would own the futures contract at the
time a call were written and would keep the contract open until the obligation
to deliver it pursuant to the call expired.
* Restrictions on the Use of Futures Contracts and Options
Each non-money market fund may enter into futures contracts, options or options
on futures contracts.
Under the Commodity Exchange Act, a fund may enter into futures and options
transactions (a) for hedging purposes without regard to the percentage of assets
committed to initial margin and option premiums or (b) for other than hedging
purposes, provided that assets committed to initial margin and option premiums
do not exceed 5% of the fund's total assets. To the extent required by law, each
fund will set aside cash and appropriate liquid assets in a segregated account
to cover its obligations related to futures contracts and options.
The funds intend to comply with tax rules applicable to regulated investment
companies, including a requirement that capital gains from the sale of
securities held less than three months constitute less than 30% of a fund's
gross income for each fiscal year. Gains on some futures contracts and options
are included in this 30% calculation, which may limit the funds' investments in
such instruments.
Municipal Bond Insurers
Securities held by California Insured Tax-Free may be (a) insured under a
new-issue insurance policy obtained by the issuer of the security or (b) insured
under a secondary market insurance policy purchased by the fund or a previous
bond holder. The following paragraphs provide some background on the bond
insurance organizations most frequently relied upon for municipal bond insurance
in the United States.
AMBAC Indemnity Corporation (AMBAC Indemnity) is a Wisconsin-domiciled stock
insurance corporation with admitted assets of approximately $2.1 billion
(unaudited) and statutory capital of approximately $1.2 billion (unaudited) as
of December 31, 1994. Statutory capital consists of AMBAC Indemnity's
policyholders' surplus and statutory contingency reserve. AMBAC Indemnity is a
wholly owned subsidiary of AMBAC Inc., a publicly held company. Moody's
Investors Service, Inc. (Moody's) and Standard & Poor's Corporation (S&P) have
rated AMBAC Indemnity's claims-paying ability Aaa and AAA, respectively.
Financial Guaranty Insurance Company (FGIC) is a wholly owned subsidiary of FGIC
Corporation, a Delaware corporation with admitted assets of $2.1 billion and a
statutory capital base of $1.1 billion as of December 31, 1994. Statutory
capital consists of total capital and surplus as well as contingency reserve.
FGIC's claims-paying ability was rated Aaa/AAA/AAA by Moody's, S&P and Fitch,
respectively.
Municipal Bond Investors Assurance Corporation (MBIA) is a monoline insurance
company organized as a New York corporation. As of December 31, 1994, MBIA
(consolidated) had admitted assets of $3.4 billion (unaudited), total
liabilities of $1.6 billion (unaudited), and total capital and surplus of $1.7
billion (unaudited). All bond issues insured by MBIA are rated "Aaa" by Moody's
and all short-term loans insured by MBIA "MIG-1." All bond issues insured by
MBIA are rated "AAA" by S&P.
Restricted and Illiquid Securities
The funds may, from time to time, purchase restricted or illiquid securities,
including Rule 144A securities, when they present attractive investment
opportunities that otherwise meet the funds' criteria for selection. Rule 144A
securities are securities that are privately placed with and traded among
qualified institutional investors rather than the general public. Although Rule
144A securities are considered "restricted securities," they are not necessarily
illiquid.
With respect to securities eligible for resale under Rule 144A, the staff of the
SEC has taken the position that the liquidity of such securities in the
portfolio of a fund offering redeemable securities is a question of fact for the
Board of Trustees to determine, such determination to be based upon a
consideration of the readily available trading markets and the review of any
contractual restrictions. Accordingly, the Board of Trustees is responsible for
developing and establishing the guidelines and procedures for determining the
liquidity of Rule 144A securities. As allowed by Rule 144A, the Board of
Trustees of the funds has delegated the day-to-day function of determining the
liquidity of Rule 144A securities to the advisor. The board retains the
responsibility to monitor the implementation of the guidelines and procedures it
has adopted.
Since the secondary market for such securities is limited to certain qualified
institutional investors, the liquidity of such securities may be limited
accordingly and a fund may, from time to time, hold a Rule 144A or other
security that is illiquid. In such an event, the advisor will consider
appropriate remedies to minimize the effect on such fund's liquidity.
Investment Policies
Unless otherwise indicated, with the exception of the percentage limitations on
borrowing, the restrictions apply at the time transactions are entered into.
Accordingly, any later increase or decrease beyond the specified limitation
resulting from a change in a fund's net assets will not be considered in
determining whether it has complied with its investment restrictions.
For purposes of the funds' investment restrictions, the party identified as the
"issuer" of a municipal security depends on the form and conditions of the
security. When the assets and revenues of a political subdivision are separate
from those of the government that created the subdivision and the security is
backed only by the assets and revenues of the subdivision, the subdivision is
deemed the sole issuer. Similarly, in the case of an Industrial Development
Bond, if the bond were backed only by the assets and revenues of a
non-governmental user, the non-governmental user would be deemed the sole
issuer. If, in either case, the creating government or some other entity were to
guarantee the security, the guarantee would be considered a separate security
and treated as an issue of the guaranteeing entity.
Fundamental Investment Policies
The funds' investment restrictions are set forth below. These investment
restrictions are fundamental and may not be changed without approval of a
majority of the outstanding votes of shareholders of a fund, as determined in
accordance with the Investment Company Act.
- ----------------------- --------------------------------------------------------
Subject Policies
- ----------------------- --------------------------------------------------------
Senior Securities A fund may not issue senior securities, except as
permitted under the Investment Company Act.
Borrowing A fund may not borrow money, except that the fund may
borrow money for temporary or emergency purposes (not
for leveraging or investment) in an amount not exceeding
33-1/3% of the fund's total assets (including the amount
borrowed) less liabilities (other than borrowings).
Lending A fund may not lend any security or make any other loan
if, as a result, more than 33-1/3% of the fund's total
assets would be lent to other parties, except, (i)
through the purchase of debt securities in accordance
with its investment objective, policies and limitations
or (ii) by engaging in repurchase agreements with
respect to portfolio securities.
Real Estate A fund may not purchase or sell real estate unless
acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other
instruments. This policy shall not prevent the fund from
investment in securities or other instruments backed by
real estate or securities of companies that deal in real
estate or are engaged in the real estate business.
Concentration A fund may not concentrate its investments in securities
of issuers in a particular industry (other than
securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government
or any of its agencies or instrumentalities).
Underwriting A fund may not act as an underwriter of securities
issued by others, except to the extent that the fund may
be considered an underwriter within the meaning of the
Securities Act of 1933 in the disposition of restricted
securities.
Commodities A fund may not purchase or sell physical commodities
unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities
or other instruments; provided that this limitation
shall not prohibit the fund from purchasing or selling
options and futures contracts or from investing in
securities or other instruments backed by physical
commodities.
Control A fund may not invest for purposes of exercising control
over management.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For purposes of the investment restriction relating to concentration, a fund
shall not purchase any securities that would cause 25% or more of the value of
the fund's total assets at the time of purchase to be invested in the securities
of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the
same industry, provided that (a) there is no limitation with respect to
obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, any state, territory or
possession of the United States, the District of Columbia or any of their
authorities, agencies, instrumentalities or political subdivisions and
repurchase agreements secured by such instruments, (b) wholly owned finance
companies will be considered to be in the industries of their parents if their
activities are primarily related to financing the activities of the parents, (c)
utilities will be divided according to their services, for example, gas, gas
transmission, electric and gas, electric and telephone will each be considered a
separate industry, and (d) personal credit and business credit businesses will
be considered separate industries.
Nonfundamental Investment Policies
In addition, the funds are subject to the following additional investment
restrictions that are not fundamental and may be changed by the Board of
Trustees.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject Policies
- -------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
Diversification [California Municipal Money Market only]The fund, to
meet federal tax requirements for qualification as a
"regulated investment company," limits its investment
so that at the close of each quarter of its taxable
year: (i) with regard to at least 50% of total
assets, no more than 5% of total assets are invested
in the securities of a single issuer, and (ii) no
more than 25% of total assets are invested in the
securities of a single issuer. Limitations (i) and
(ii) do not apply to "Government securities" as
defined for federal tax purposes. The fund does not,
with respect to 75% of its total assets, currently
intend to purchase the securities of any issuer
(other than securities issued or guaranteed by the
U.S. government or any of its agencies or
instrumentalities) if, as a result thereof, the fund
would own more than 10% of the outstanding voting
securities of such issuer.
[All funds except California Municipal Money Market ]
A fund may not purchase additional investment
securities at any time during which outstanding
borrowings exceed 5% of the total assets of the fund.
Futures and options The money market funds may not purchase or sell
[money market funds only] futures contracts or call options. This limitation
does not apply to options attached to, or acquired or
traded together with, their underlying securities,
and does not apply to securities that incorporate
features similar to options or futures contracts.
Liquidity A fund may not purchase any security or enter into a
repurchase agreement if, as a result, more than 15%
of its net assets (10% for the money market funds)
would be invested in repurchase agreements not
entitling the holder to payment of principal and
interest within seven days and in securities that are
illiquid by virtue of legal or contractual
restrictions on resale or the absence of a readily
available market.
Short Sales A fund may not sell securities short, unless it owns
or has the right to obtain securities equivalent in
kind and amount to the securities sold short, and
provided that transactions in futures contracts and
options are not deemed to constitute selling
securities short.
Margin A fund may not purchase securities on margin, except
that the fund may obtain such short-term credits as
are necessary for the clearance of transactions, and
provided that margin payments in connection with
futures contracts and options on futures contracts
shall not constitute purchasing securities on margin.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Temporary Defensive Measures
For temporary defensive purposes, a fund may invest in securities that may not
fit its investment objective or its stated market. During a temporary defensive
period, a fund may direct its assets to the following investment vehicles:
* interest-bearing bank accounts or Certificates of Deposit
* U.S. government securities and repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S.
government securities
* money market funds
Portfolio Turnover
Under normal conditions, the funds' annual portfolio turnover rates are not
expected to exceed 100%. Because a higher turnover rate increases transaction
costs and may increase taxable capital gains, the advisor carefully weighs the
potential benefits of short-term investing against these considerations.
The funds' portfolio turnover rates (except those of the money market funds) are
listed in the Financial Highlights table in the Prospectus. Because of the
short-term nature of the money market funds' investments, portfolio turnover
rates are not generally used to evaluate their trading activities.
MANAGEMENT
The Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees oversees the management of the funds and meets at least
quarterly to review reports about fund operations. Although the Board of
Trustees does not manage the funds, it has hired the advisor to do so. More than
half of the trustees are "independent" of the funds' the advisor, that is, they
are not employed by and have no financial interest in the advisor.
The individuals listed in the table below whose names are marked by an asterisk
(*) are interested persons of the funds (as defined in the Investment Company
Act) by virtue of, among other considerations, their affiliation with either the
funds; the advisor, American Century Investment Management, Inc.; the funds'
agent for transfer and administrative services, American Century Services
Corporation (ACSC); the funds' distribution agent and co-administrator, Funds
Distributor, Inc. (FDI); the parent corporation, American Century Companies,
Inc. (ACC) or ACC's subsidiaries; or other funds advised by the advisor. Each
trustee listed below serves as a trustee or director of seven registered
investment companies in the American Century family of funds, which are also
advised by the advisor.
<TABLE>
- ------------------------------------- ------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------
Name (Age) Position(s) Held With Principal Occupation(s)
Address Fund During Past 5 Years
- ------------------------------------- ------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Albert A. Eisenstat (68) trustee Independent Director, Commercial Metals Co. (1982 to
1665 Charleston Road present)
Mountain View, CA 94043 Independent Director, Sungard Data Systems (1991 to
present)
Independent Director, Business Objects S/A (software &
programming, 1994 to present)
Ronald J. Gilson (52) trustee Charles J. Meyers Professor of Law and Business,
1665 Charleston Road Stanford Law School (since 1979)
Mountain View, CA 94043 Mark and Eva Stern Professor of Law and Business,
Columbia University School of Law (since 1992);
Counsel, Marron, Reid & Sheehy (a San Francisco law
firm, since 1984)
William M. Lyons* (42) trustee President, Chief Operating Officer and Assistant
4500 Main Street Secretary, ACC
Kansas City, MO 64111 Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and
Secretary, ACSC and ACIS
Myron S. Scholes (57) trustee Principal, Long-Term Capital Management (investment
1665 Charleston Road advisor, since 1993)
Mountain View, CA 94043 Frank E. Buck Professor of Finance, Stanford Graduate
School of Business (since 1983)
Director, Dimensional Fund Advisors (investment advisor,
since 1982)
Director, Smith Breeden Family of Funds (since 1992)
Managing Director, Salomon Brothers Inc. (securities
brokerage, 1991 to 1993)
Kenneth E. Scott (69) trustee Ralph M. Parsons Professor of Law and Business, Stanford
1665 Charleston Road Law School (since 1972)
Mountain View, CA 94043 Director, RCM Capital Funds, Inc. (since 1994)
Isaac Stein (51) trustee Director, Raychem Corporation (electrical equipment,
1665 Charleston Road since 1993)
Mountain View, CA 94043 President, Waverley Associates, Inc. (private investment
firm, since 1983)
Director, ALZA Corporation (pharmaceuticals, since
1987).
trustee, Stanford University (since 1994)
Chairman, Stanford Health Services (since 1994)
James E. Stowers III* (39) trustee, Chairman of Chief Executive Officer and Director, ACC
4500 Main Street the Board President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, ACSC
Kansas City, MO 64111 and ACIS
Jeanne D. Wohlers (53) trustee Private Investor
1665 Charleston Road Director and Partner, Windy Hill Productions, LP Mountain
View, CA 94043 Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Sybase, Inc.
(software company, 1988 to 1992)
- ------------------------------------- ------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------
Committees
The Board has three committees to oversee specific functions of the Trust's
operations. Only independent trustees serve on these committees. Information
about these committees appears in the table below:
- -------------------- ------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Committee Members Function of Committee
- -------------------- ------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Audit Albert A. Eisenstat The Audit Committee selects and oversees the activities of the Trust's
Kenneth E. Scott independent auditor. The Committee receives reports from the advisor's
Jeanne D. Wohlers Internal Audit Department, which is accountable solely to the
Committee. The Committee also receives reporting about compliance
matters affecting the Trust.
Nominating Albert A. Eisenstat The Nominating Committee primarily considers and recommends
Ronald J. Gilson individuals for nomination as trustees. The names of potential trustee
Myron S. Scholes candidates are drawn from a number of sources, including
Kenneth E. Scott recommendations from members of the Board, management and
Isaac Stein shareholders. This committee also reviews and makes recommendations to
Jeanne D. Wohlers the Board with respect to the composition of Board committees and
other Board-related matters, including its organization, size,
composition, responsibilities, functions and compensation.
Portfolio Ronald J. Gilson The Portfolio Committee reviews quarterly the investment activities
Myron S. Scholes and strategies used to manage fund assets. The Committee regularly
Isaac Stein receives reports from portfolio managers, credit analysts and other
investment personnel concerning the funds' investments.
Quality of Service Ronald J. Gilson The Quality of Service Committee reviews the level and quality of
Myron S. Scholes transfer agent and administrative services provided to the funds and
Isaac Stein their shareholders. It receives and reviews reports comparing those
services to fund competitors and
seeks to improve such services
where feasible and appropriate.
- -------------------- ------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
Compensation of Trustees
The trustees also serve as trustees for six (6) American Century investment
companies other than American Century California Tax-Free and Municipal Funds.
Each trustee who is not an "interested person" as defined in the Investment
Company Act receives compensation for service as a member of the Board of all
seven such companies based on a schedule that is based on the number of meetings
held and the assets of the funds for which the meetings are held. These fees and
expenses are divided among the seven investment companies based, in part, upon
their relative net assets. Under the terms of the management agreement with the
advisor, the funds are responsible for paying such fees and expenses.
The table presented shows the aggregate compensation paid for the periods
indicated by the Trust and by the American Century family of funds as a whole to
each trustee who is not an "interested person" as defined in the Investment
Company Act.
<TABLE>
Aggregate Trustee Compensation for Fiscal Year Ended August 31, 1998
- ----------------------------- ----------------------- ---------------------- ------------------- -----------------------
Total Compensation
Pension or Estimated Annual from the
Total Compensation Retirement Benefits Benefits Upon American Century
Name of Trustee from Accrued as Part of Retirement Family of Funds
the Funds Fund Expenses
- ----------------------------- ----------------------- ---------------------- ------------------- -----------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Albert A. Eisenstat $ N/A N/A $
Ronald J. Gilson $ N/A N/A $
Myron S. Scholes $ N/A N/A $
Kenneth E. Scott $ N/A N/A $
Isaac Stein $ N/A N/A $
Jeanne D. Wohlers $ N/A N/A $
- ----------------------------- ----------------------- ---------------------- ------------------- -----------------------
</TABLE>
The Trust has adopted the American Century Deferred Compensation Plan for
Non-Interested Directors and trustees. Under the plan, the independent trustees
may defer receipt of all or any part of the fees to be paid to them for serving
as trustees.
Under the plan, all deferred fees are credited to an account established in the
name of the trustees. The amounts credited to the account then increase or
decrease, as the case may be, in accordance with the performance of one or more
of the American Century funds that are selected by the trustee. The account
balance continues to fluctuate in accordance with the performance of the
selected fund or funds until final payment of all amounts credited to the
account. trustees are allowed to change their designation of mutual funds from
time to time.
No deferred fees are payable until such time as a trustee resigns, retires or
otherwise ceases to be a member of the Board of Trustees. trustees may receive
deferred fee account balances either in a lump sum payment or in substantially
equal installment payments to be made over a period not to exceed 10 years. Upon
the death of a trustee, all remaining deferred fee account balances are paid to
the trustee's beneficiary or, if none, to the trustee's estate.
The plan is an unfunded plan and, accordingly, the Trust has no obligation to
segregate assets to secure or fund the deferred fees. The rights of trustees to
receive their deferred fee account balances are the same as the rights of a
general unsecured creditor of the Trust. The plan may be terminated at any time
by the administrative committee of the plan. If terminated, all deferred fee
account balances will be paid in a lump sum.
No deferred fees were paid to any trustee under the plan during the fiscal year
ended August 31, 1998.
Officers
Background for the officers of the Trust is provided below. All persons named as
officers of the Trust also serve in similar capacities for the 12 other
investment companies advised by American Century. Not all officers of the Trust
are listed; only those officers with policy-making functions for the Trust are
listed. No officer is compensated for his or her service as an officer of the
Trust. The individuals listed in the table below are interested persons of the
funds (as defined in the Investment Company Act) by virtue of, among other
considerations, their affiliation with either the funds; the advisor, ACSC, FDI,
ACC or ACC's subsidiaries, as specified in the table.
<TABLE>
- -------------------------------------- ---------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------
Name (Age) Position(s) Principal Occupation(s)
Address Held With Fund During Past 5 Years
- -------------------------------------- ---------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
George A. Rio (43) President Executive Vice President and Director of Client Services, FDI
4500 Main Street (March 1998 to present).
Kansas City, Missouri 64111 Senior Vice President and Senior Key Account Manager, Putnam
Mutual Funds (June 1995 to March 1998)
Director Business Development, First Data Corporation (May
1994 to June 1995)
Senior Vice President and Manager of Client Services and
Director of Internal Audit, The Boston Company, Inc.
(September 1983 to May 1994)
Mary A. Nelson (33) Vice President Vice President and Manager of Treasury Services and
4500 Main Street Administration, FDI, (1994 to present)
Kansas City, Missouri 64111 Assistant Vice President and Client Manager, The Boston
Company, Inc. (1989 to 1994)
Maryanne Roepke, CPA (42) Vice President Vice President, Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer,
4500 Main Street and Treasurer ACSC
Kansas City, Missouri 64111
Patrick A. Looby (39) Vice President Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, ACSC
4500 Main Street
Kansas City, MO 64111
Christopher J. Kelley (33) Vice President Vice President and Associate General Counsel, FDI (since July
4500 Main Street 1996)
Kansas City, MO 64111 Assistant Counsel, Forum Financial Group (April 1994 to July
1996)
Compliance Officer, Putnam Investments (1992 to April 1994)
Douglas A. Paul (51) Secretary and Vice President and Associate General Counsel, ACSC
1665 Charleston Road Vice President
Mountain View, CA 94043
C. Jean Wade (34) Controller Controller--Fund Accounting, ACSC
4500 Main Street
Kansas City, MO 64111
- -------------------------------------- ---------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------
The Funds' Biggest Shareholders
As of November 28, 1998, the following companies were the record owners of more
than 5% of a fund's outstanding shares:
- ----------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ----------------- -----------
% of Shares
Fund Shareholder # of Shares Held Out-standing
- ----------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ----------------- -----------
California Limited-Term Tax-Free Charles Schwab & Co. 2,169,419 17.2%
101 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94101
Bank of America 1,328,888 10.5%
P.O. Box 513577
Los Angeles, CA 90051
California Intermediate-Term Tax-Free Charles Schwab & Co. 5,739,593 14.9%
101 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94101
California Long-Term Tax-Free Charles Schwab & Co. 1,792,649 6.7%
101 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94101
California Insured Tax-Free Charles Schwab & Co. 1,123,069 6.0%
101 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94101
California High-Yield Municipal Charles Schwab & Co. 2,995,086 13.7%
101 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94101
- ----------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ----------------- -----------
</TABLE>
The funds are unaware of any other shareholders, beneficial or of record, who
own more than 5% of a fund's outstanding shares. As of November 28, 1998, the
officers and trustees of the funds, as a group, own less than 1% of any fund's
outstanding shares.
Service Providers
The funds have no employees. To conduct its day-to-day activities, the Trust has
hired a number of service providers. Each service provider has a specific
function to fill on behalf of the Trust and is described below.
The advisor and ACSC are both wholly owned by ACC. James E. Stowers Jr.,
Chairman of ACC, controls ACC by virtue of his ownership of a majority of its
common stock. Investment Advisor Each fund has an investment management
agreement with the advisor, American Century Investment Management, Inc., dated
August 1, 1997. This agreement was approved by the shareholders of each of the
funds on July 30, 1997.
A description of the responsibilities of the advisor appears in the Prospectus
under the caption "Management."
For the services provided to the funds, the advisor receives a monthly fee based
on a percentage of the average net assets of the fund. The annual rate at which
this fee is assessed is determined monthly in a two-step process: First, a fee
rate schedule is applied to the assets of all of the funds of its investment
category managed by the advisor (the "Investment Category Fee"). For example,
when calculating the fee for a money market fund, all of the assets of the money
market funds managed by the advisor are aggregated. The three investment
categories are money market funds, bond funds and equity funds. Second, a
separate fee rate schedule is applied to the assets of all of the funds managed
by the advisor (the "Complex Fee"). The Investment Category Fee and the Complex
Fee are then added to determine the unified management fee payable by the fund
to the advisor.
The schedules by which the Investment Category Fees are determined are as
follows:
------------------ -------------
Investment Category Fee Schedule for Category Assets Fee Rate
------------------ -------------
California Municipal Money Market First $1 billion 0.2700%
California Tax-Free Money Market Next $1 billion 0.2270%
Next $3 billion 0.1860%
Next $5 billion 0.1690%
Next $15 billion 0.1580%
Next $25 billion 0.1575%
Thereafter 0.1570%
------------------ -------------
------------------ -------------
Investment Category Fee Schedule for Category Assets Fee Rate
------------------ -------------
California Limited-Term Tax-Free First $1 billion 0.2800%
California Intermediate-Term Tax-Free Next $1 billion 0.2280%
California Long-Term Tax-Free Next $3 billion 0.1980%
California Insured Tax-Free Next $5 billion 0.1780%
Next $15 billion 0.1650%
Next $25 billion 0.1630%
Thereafter 0.1625%
------------------ -------------
------------------ -------------
Investment Category Fee Schedule for Category Assets Fee Rate
------------------ -------------
California High-Yield Municipal First $1 billion 0.3100%
Next $1 billion 0.2580%
Next $3 billion 0.2280%
Next $5 billion 0.2080%
Next $15 billion 0.1950%
Next $25 billion 0.1930%
Thereafter 0.1925%
------------------ -------------
The Complex Fee is determined according to the schedule on the right.
Complex Fee Schedule
- ---------------------------- -------------------
Complex Assets Fee Rate
- ---------------------------- -------------------
First $2.5 billion 0.3100%
Next $7.5 billion 0.3000%
Next $15.0 billion 0.2985%
Next $25.0 billion 0.2970%
Next $50.0 billion 0.2960%
Next $100.0 billion 0.2950%
Next $100.0 billion 0.2940%
Next $200.0 billion 0.2930%
Next $250.0 billion 0.2920%
Next $500.0 billion 0.2910%
Thereafter 0.2900%
- ---------------------------- -------------------
On the first business day of each month, the funds pay a management fee to the
advisor for the previous month at the specified rate. The fee for the previous
month is calculated by multiplying the applicable fee for the fund by the
aggregate average daily closing value of a fund's net assets during the previous
month by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the
previous month and the denominator of which is 365 (366 in leap years).
The management agreement shall continue in effect until the earlier of the
expiration of two years from the date of its execution or until the first
meeting of shareholders following such execution and for as long thereafter as
its continuance is specifically approved at least annually by (1) the funds'
Board of Trustees, or by the vote of a majority of outstanding votes (as defined
in the Investment Company Act) and (2) by the vote of a majority of the trustees
of the funds who are not parties to the agreement or interested persons of the
advisor, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such
approval.
The management agreement provides that it may be terminated at any time without
payment of any penalty by the funds' Board of Trustees, or by a vote of a
majority of outstanding votes, on 60 days' written notice to the advisor, and
that it shall be automatically terminated if it is assigned.
The management agreement provides that the advisor shall not be liable to the
funds or its shareholders for anything other than willful misfeasance, bad
faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations and duties.
The management agreement also provides that the advisor and its officers,
trustees and employees may engage in other business, devote time and attention
to any other business whether of a similar or dissimilar nature, and render
services to others.
Certain investments may be appropriate for the funds and also for other clients
advised by the advisor. Investment decisions for the funds and other clients are
made with a view to achieving their respective investment objectives after
consideration of such factors as their current holdings, availability of cash
for investment and the size of their investment generally. A particular security
may be bought or sold for only one client or fund, or in different amounts and
at different times for more than one but less than all clients or fund. In
addition, purchases or sales of the same security may be made for two or more
clients or fund on the same date. Such transactions will be allocated among
clients in a manner believed by the advisor to be equitable to each. In some
cases this procedure could have an adverse effect on the price or amount of the
securities purchased or sold by a fund.
The advisor may aggregate purchase and sale orders of the funds with purchase
and sale orders of its other clients when the advisor believes that such
aggregation provides the best execution for the funds. The funds' Board of
Trustees has approved the policy of the advisor with respect to the aggregation
of portfolio transactions. Where portfolio transactions have been aggregated,
the funds participate at the average share price for all transactions in that
security on a given day and share transaction costs on a pro rata basis. The
advisor will not aggregate portfolio transactions of the funds unless it
believes such aggregation is consistent with its duty to seek best execution on
behalf of the funds and the terms of the management agreement. The advisor
receives no additional compensation or remuneration as a result of such
aggregation.
Prior to August 1, 1997, Benham Management Corporation served as the investment
advisor to the funds. Benham Management Corporation was merged into the advisor
in late 1997.
Investment management fees paid by each fund for the fiscal periods ended August
31, 1998, 1997 and 1996, are indicated in the following table. Fee amounts are
net of amounts reimbursed or recouped under the funds' previous investment
advisory agreement with Benham Management Corporation.
Unified Management Fees
- ------------------------------------------- -------------- ------------------
Fund 1998 1997
- ------------------------------------------- -------------- ------------------
California Tax-Free Money Market $1,309,574
California Municipal Money Market 654,212
California Limited-Term Tax-Free 346,562
California Intermediate-Term Tax-Free 1,340,435
California Long-Term Tax-Free 920,960
California Tax-Free Insured 584,652
California High-Yield Municipal 527,834
- ------------------------------------------- -------------- ------------------
Investment Advisory Fees
- ----------------------------------------------------- -----------------------
Fund 1996
- ----------------------------------------------------- -----------------------
California Tax-Free Money Market $1,240,288
California Municipal Money Market 563,912
California Limited-Term Tax-Free 294,665
California Intermediate-Term Tax-Free 1,249,491
California Long-Term Tax-Free 833,863
California Tax-Free Insured 544,813
California High-Yield Municipal 379,805
- ----------------------------------------------------- -----------------------
[right margin CALLOUT BOX]
Other Advisory Relationships
In addition to managing the funds, the advisor also acts as an investment
advisor to 12 institutional accounts and to the following registered investment
companies:
American Century Mutual Funds, Inc.
American Century World Mutual Funds, Inc.
American Century Premium Reserves, Inc.
American Century Variable Portfolios, Inc.
American Century Capital Portfolios, Inc.
American Century Strategic Asset Allocations, Inc.
American Century Municipal Trust
American Century Government Income Trust
American Century Investment Trust
American Century Target Maturities Trust
American Century Quantitative Equity Funds
American Century International Bond Funds.
[END CALLOUT BOX]
Distributor
The funds' shares are distributed by Funds Distributors, Inc., a registered
broker-dealer. The distributor is a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Boston
Institutional Group, Inc. The distributor's principal business address is 60
State Street, Suite 1300, Boston, Massachusetts 02109.
The distributor is the principal underwriter of the funds' shares. The
distributor makes a continuous, best efforts underwriting of the funds' shares.
This means that the distributor has no liability for unsold shares.
Transfer Agent and Administrator
American Century Services Corporation, 4500 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri
64111, acts as transfer agent and dividend paying agent for the funds. It
provides physical facilities, computer hardware and software and personnel, for
the day-to-day administration of the funds and of the advisor. The advisor pays
American Century Services Corporation for such services.
Prior to August 1, 1997, the funds paid American Century Services Corporation
directly for its services as transfer agent and administrative services agent.
Administrative service and transfer agent fees paid by each fund for the fiscal
years ended August 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996, are indicated in the table below.
Fee amounts are net of expense limitations.
Administrative Fees
- ----------------------------------------- ------------------ -----------------
Fund Fiscal 1997 Fiscal 1996
- ----------------------------------------- ------------------ -----------------
California Tax-Free Money Market $368,680 $409,257
California Municipal Money Market 160,175 186,076
California Limited-Term Tax-Free 94,859 97,232
California Intermediate-Term Tax-Free 373,977 412,298
California Long-Term Tax-Free 256,250 275,154
California Tax-Free Insured 163,254 179,812
California High-Yield Municipal 142,879 125,323
- ----------------------------------------- ------------------ -----------------
Transfer Agent Fees
- ----------------------------------------- ------------------ -----------------
Fund Fiscal 1997 Fiscal 1996
- ----------------------------------------- ------------------ -----------------
California Tax-Free Money Market $190,056 $229,922
California Municipal Money Market 112,925 145,450
California Limited-Term Tax-Free 39,157 47,787
California Intermediate-Term Tax-Free 164,081 188,108
California Long-Term Tax-Free 108,533 119,915
California Tax-Free Insured 78,485 91,516
California High-Yield Municipal 70,935 70,036
- ----------------------------------------- ------------------ -----------------
Other Service Providers
Custodian Banks
Chase Manhattan Bank, 770 Broadway, 10th Floor, New York, New York 10003-9598,
and Commerce Bank, N.A., 1000 Walnut, Kansas City, Missouri 64105, each serves
as custodian of the assets of the funds. The custodians take no part in
determining the investment policies of the funds or in deciding which securities
are purchased or sold by the funds. The funds, however, may invest in certain
obligations of the custodians and may purchase or sell certain securities from
or to the custodians.
Independent Auditors
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is the independent auditor of the funds. The address
of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is City Center Square, 1100 Main Street, Suite
900, Kansas City, Missouri 64105-2140. As the independent auditor of the funds,
PricewaterhouseCoopers provides services including (1) audit of the annual
financial statements, (2) assistance and consultation in connection with SEC
filings and (3) review of the annual federal income tax return filed for each
fund.
Brokerage Allocation
Under the management agreement between the funds and the advisor, the advisor
has the responsibility of selecting brokers and dealers to execute portfolio
transactions. In many transactions, the selection of the broker or dealer is
determined by the availability of the desired security and its offering price.
In other transactions, the selection of broker or dealer is a function of the
selection of market and the negotiation of price, as well as the broker's
general execution and operational and financial capabilities in the type of
transaction involved. The advisor will seek to obtain prompt execution of orders
at the most favorable prices or yields. The advisor may choose to purchase and
sell portfolio securities to and from dealers who provide services or research,
statistical and other information to the funds and to the advisor. Such
information or services will be in addition to and not in lieu of the services
required to be performed by the advisor, and the expenses of the advisor will
not necessarily be reduced as a result of the receipt of such supplemental
information.
Information About Fund Shares
The Declaration of Trust permits the Board of Trustees to issue an unlimited
number of full and fractional shares of beneficial interest without par value,
which may be issued in series (or funds). Shares issued are fully paid and
nonassessable and have no preemptive, conversion or similar rights.
Each fund votes separately on matters affecting that fund exclusively. Voting
rights are not cumulative, so that investors holding more than 50% of the
Trust's (i.e., all funds') outstanding shares may be able to elect a Board of
Trustees. The Trust instituted dollar-based voting, meaning that the number of
votes you are entitled to is based upon the dollar amount of your investment.
The election of trustees is determined by the votes received from all Trust
shareholders without regard to whether a majority of shares of any one fund
voted in favor of a particular nominee or all nominees as a group.
Each shareholder has rights to dividends and distributions declared by the fund
he or she owns and to the net assets of such fund upon its liquidation or
dissolution proportionate to his or her share ownership interest in the fund.
Shares of each fund have equal voting rights, although each fund votes
separately on matters affecting that fund exclusively.
Shareholders of a Massachusetts business trust could, under certain
circumstances, be held personally liable for its obligations. However, the
Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer of shareholder liability for
acts or obligations of the Trust. The Declaration of Trust also provides for
indemnification and reimbursement of expenses of any shareholder held personally
liable for obligations of the Trust. The Declaration of Trust provides that the
Trust will, upon request, assume the defense of any claim made against any
shareholder for any act or obligation of the Trust and satisfy any judgment
thereon. The Declaration of Trust further provides that the Trust may maintain
appropriate insurance (for example, fidelity, bonding and errors and omissions
insurance) for the protection of the Trust, its shareholders, trustees,
officers, employees and agents to cover possible tort and other liabilities.
Thus, the risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss as a result of
shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which both inadequate
insurance exists and the Trust is unable to meet its obligations.
Buying and Selling Fund Shares
Information about buying, selling and exchanging fund shares is contained in the
American Century Investor Services Guide. The guide is available to investors
without charge and may be obtained by calling us.
Valuation of Portfolio Securities
Each fund's net asset value per share (NAV) is calculated as of the close of
business of the New York Stock Exchange (the Exchange), usually at 3 p.m.
Central time each day the Exchange is open for business. The Exchange has
designated the following holiday closings for 1999: New Year's Day (observed),
Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day,
Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day (observed).
Although the funds expect the same holiday schedule to be observed in the
future, the Exchange may modify its holiday schedule at any time.
The advisor typically completes its trading on behalf of each fund in various
markets before the Exchange closes for the day. Each fund's share price is
calculated by adding the value of all portfolio securities and other assets,
deducting liabilities and dividing the result by the number of shares
outstanding. Expenses and interest earned on portfolio securities are accrued
daily.
Money Market Funds
Securities held by the money market funds are valued at amortized cost. This
method involves valuing an instrument at its cost and thereafter assuming a
constant amortization to maturity of any discount or premium paid at the time of
purchase. Although this method provides certainty in valuation, it generally
disregards the effect of fluctuating interest rates on an instrument's market
value. Consequently, the instrument's amortized cost value may be higher or
lower than its market value, and this discrepancy may be reflected in the funds'
yields. During periods of declining interest rates, for example, the daily yield
on fund shares computed as described above may be higher than that of a fund
with identical investments priced at market value. The converse would apply in a
period of rising interest rates.
The money market funds operate pursuant to Investment Company Act Rule 2a-7,
which permits valuation of portfolio securities on the basis of amortized cost.
As required by the Rule, the Board of Trustees has adopted procedures designed
to stabilize, to the extent reasonably possible, a money market fund's price per
share as computed for the purposes of sales and redemptions at $1.00. While the
day-to-day operation of the money market funds has been delegated to the
advisor, the quality requirements established by the procedures limit
investments to certain instruments that the Board of Trustees has determined
present minimal credit risks and that have been rated in one of the two highest
rating categories as determined by a rating agency or, in the case of unrated
securities, of comparable quality. The procedures require review of the money
market fund's portfolio holdings at such intervals as are reasonable in light of
current market conditions to determine whether the money market fund's net asset
value calculated by using available market quotations deviates from the
per-share value based on amortized cost. The procedures also prescribe the
action to be taken if such deviation should occur.
The Board of Trustees monitors the levels of illiquid securities, however if the
levels are exceeded, they will take action to rectify these levels.
Actions the Board of Trustees may consider under these circumstances include (i)
selling portfolio securities prior to maturity, (ii) withholding dividends or
distributions from capital, (iii) authorizing a one-time dividend adjustment,
(iv) discounting share purchases and initiating redemptions in kind, or (v)
valuing portfolio securities at market price for purposes of calculating NAV.
Non-Money Market Funds
Securities held by the non-money market funds normally are priced by an
independent pricing service, provided that such prices are believed by the
advisor to reflect the fair market value of portfolio securities.
Because there are hundreds of thousands of municipal issues outstanding, and the
majority of them do not trade daily, the prices provided by pricing services are
generally determined without regard to bid or last sale prices. In valuing
securities, the pricing services generally take into account institutional
trading activity, trading in similar groups of securities, and any developments
related to specific securities. The methods used by the pricing service and the
valuations so established are reviewed by the advisor under the general
supervision of the Board of Trustees. There are a number of pricing services
available, and the advisor, on the basis of ongoing evaluation of these
services, may use other pricing services or discontinue the use of any pricing
service in whole or in part.
Securities not priced by a pricing service are valued at the mean between the
most recently quoted bid and ask prices provided by broker-dealers. The
municipal bond market is typically a "dealer market"; that is, dealers buy and
sell bonds for their own accounts rather than for customers. As a result, the
spread, or difference between bid and asked prices, for certain municipal bonds
may differ substantially among dealers.
Securities maturing within 60 days of the valuation date may be valued at cost,
plus or minus any amortized discount or premium, unless the trustees determine
that this would not result in fair valuation of a given security. Other assets
and securities for which quotations are not readily available are valued in good
faith at their fair value using methods approved by the Board of Trustees.
Taxes
Federal Income Tax
Each fund intends to qualify annually as a "regulated investment company" under
Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). By
so qualifying, a fund will be exempt from federal and California income taxes to
the extent that it distributes substantially all of its net investment income
and net realized capital gains (if any) to shareholders. If a fund fails to
qualify as a regulated investment company, it will be liable for taxes,
significantly reducing its distributions to shareholders and eliminating
shareholders' ability to treat distributions of the funds in the manner they
were realized by the funds.
Certain of the bonds purchased by the funds may be treated as bonds that were
originally issued at a discount. Original issue discount represents interest for
federal income tax purposes and can generally be defined as the difference
between the price at which a security was issued and its stated redemption price
at maturity. Original issue discount, although no cash is actually received by a
fund until the maturity of the bond, is treated for federal income tax purposes
as income earned by a fund over the term of the bond, and therefore is subject
to the distribution requirements of the Code. The annual amount of income earned
on such a bond by a fund generally is determined on the basis of a constant
yield to maturity that takes into account the semiannual compounding of accrued
interest. Original issue discount on an obligation with interest exempt from
federal income tax will constitute tax-exempt interest income to the fund.
In addition, some of the bonds may be purchased by a fund at a discount that
exceeds the original issue discount on such bonds, if any. This additional
discount represents market discount for federal income tax purposes. The gain
realized on the disposition of any bond having market discount generally will be
treated as taxable ordinary income to the extent it does not exceed the accrued
market discount on such bond (unless a fund elects to include market discount in
income in tax years to which it is attributable). Generally, market discount
accrues on a daily basis for each day the bond is held by a fund on a straight
line basis over the time remaining to the bond's maturity. In the case of any
debt security having a fixed maturity date of not more than one year from date
of issue, the gain realized on disposition generally will be treated as
short-term capital gain. In general, gain realized on disposition of a security
held less than one year is treated as short-term capital gain.
It is intended that each fund's assets will be sufficiently invested in
municipal securities so that each fund will be eligible to pay exempt-interest
dividends (as defined in the Code) to shareholders. A fund's dividends payable
from net tax-exempt interest earned from municipal securities will qualify to be
designated as exempt-interest dividends if, at the close of each quarter of the
fund's taxable year, at least 50% of the value of the fund's total assets
consists of municipal securities. Exempt-interest dividends distributed to
shareholders are not included in shareholders' gross income for regular federal
income tax purposes. The percentage of income that is tax-exempt is applied
uniformly to all distributions made during each calendar year. This percentage
may differ from the actual percentage of tax-exempt income received during any
particular month.
Distributions of net investment income received by a fund from investment in
debt securities other than municipal securities, of ordinary income realized
upon the disposition of tax-exempt market discount bonds, and any net realized
short-term capital gains distributed by the fund will be taxable to shareholders
as ordinary income. Because the funds' investment income is derived from
interest rather than dividends, no portion of such distributions is eligible for
the dividends-received deduction available to corporations.
Under the Code, any distribution of a fund's net realized long-term capital
gains designated by the fund as a capital gain dividend is taxable to
shareholders as long-term capital gains, regardless of the length of time shares
are held. If a capital gain dividend is paid with respect to any shares of a
fund sold at a loss after being held for six months or less, the loss will be
treated as a long-term capital loss for tax purposes. The Code also provides
that if a shareholder holds shares of a fund for six months or less, the
deduction of any loss on the sale or exchange of those shares is disallowed to
the extent that the shareholder received exempt-interest dividends with respect
to those shares.
As of August 31, 1998, the funds on the table to the right had the following
capital loss carryovers. When a fund has a capital loss carryover, it does not
make capital gain distributions until the loss has been offset or expired.
- ----------------------------------- --------------------------------------
Fund Capital Loss Carryover
- ----------------------------------- --------------------------------------
California Tax-Free Money Market $298,915 (expiring 1999 through 2004)
California Municipal Money Market $158,606 (expiring 2003 through 2004)
California Limited-Term Tax-Free $833,657 (expiring 2003 and 2004)
- ----------------------------------- --------------------------------------
Interest on certain types of industrial development bonds (small issues and
obligations issued to finance certain exempt facilities that may be leased to or
used by persons other than the issuer) is not exempt from federal income tax
when received by "substantial users" or persons related to substantial users as
defined in the Code. The term "substantial user" includes any "non-exempt
person" who regularly uses in trade or business part of a facility financed from
the proceeds of industrial development bonds. The funds may invest periodically
in industrial development bonds and, therefore, may not be appropriate
investments for entities that are substantial users of facilities financed by
industrial development bonds or "related persons" of substantial users.
Generally, an individual will not be a related person of a substantial user
under the Code unless he or his immediate family (spouse, brothers, sisters,
ancestors and lineal descendants) owns directly or indirectly in aggregate more
than 50% in the equity value of the substantial user.
From time to time, proposals have been introduced in Congress for the purpose of
restricting or eliminating the federal income tax exemption for interest on
municipal securities, and similar proposals may be introduced in the future. If
such a proposal were enacted, the availability of municipal securities for
investment by the funds and the funds' NAVs would be adversely affected. Under
these circumstances, the trustees would re-evaluate the funds' investment
objectives and policies and would consider either changes in the structure of
the Trust or its dissolution.
Alternative Minimum Tax
While the interest on bonds issued to finance essential state and local
government operations is generally exempt from regular federal income tax,
interest on certain "private activity" bonds issued after August 7, 1986, while
exempt from regular federal income tax, constitutes a tax-preference item for
taxpayers in determining alternative minimum tax liability under the Code and
income tax provisions of several states.
California Municipal Money Market and California High-Yield Municipal may each
invest in private activity bonds. The interest on private activity bonds could
subject a shareholder to, or increase liability under, the federal alternative
minimum tax, depending on the shareholder's tax situation. The interest on
California private activity securities is not subject to the California
alternative minimum tax when it is earned (either directly or through investment
in a mutual fund) by a California taxpayer. However, if either fund were to
invest in private activity securities of non-California issuers (due to a
limited supply of appropriate California municipal obligations, for example),
the interest on those securities would be included in California alternative
minimum taxable income.
All distributions derived from interest exempt from regular federal income tax
may subject corporate shareholders to, or increase their liability under, the
alternative minimum tax because these distributions are included in the
corporation's "adjusted current earnings."
In addition, a deductible environmental tax of 0.12% is imposed on a
corporation's modified alternative minimum taxable income in excess of $2
million. The environmental tax will be imposed even if the corporation is not
required to pay an alternative minimum tax. To the extent that exempt-interest
dividends paid by a fund are included in alternative minimum taxable income,
corporate shareholders may be subject to the environmental tax.
The Trust will inform California Municipal Money Market and California
High-Yield Municipal shareholders annually of the amount of distributions
derived from interest payments on private activity bonds.
State and Local Taxes
California law concerning the payment of exempt-interest dividends is similar to
federal law. Assuming each fund qualifies to pay exempt-interest dividends under
federal and California law, and to the extent that dividends are derived from
interest on tax-exempt bonds of California state or local governments, such
dividends also will be exempt from California personal income tax. The Trust
will inform shareholders annually as to the amount of distributions from each
fund that constitutes exempt-interest dividends and dividends exempt from
California personal income tax. The funds' dividends are not exempt from
California state franchise or corporate income taxes.
The funds' dividends may not qualify for exemption under income or other tax
laws of state or local taxing authorities outside California. Shareholders
should consult their tax advisors or state or local tax authorities about the
status of distributions from the funds in this regard.
The information above is only a summary of some of the tax considerations
affecting the funds and their shareholders. No attempt has been made to discuss
individual tax consequences. A prospective investor should consult with his or
her tax advisors or state or local tax authorities to determine whether the
funds are suitable investments.
How Fund Performance Information is Calculated
The funds may quote performance in various ways. Historical performance
information will be used in advertising and sales literature.
Money Market Fund Yields
(seven-day period ended August 31, 1998)
- ----------------------------------------- ------------------- ------------------
Fund 7-Day Yield Effective Yield
- ----------------------------------------- ------------------- ------------------
California Tax-Free Money Market 2.91% 2.95%
California Municipal Money Market 2.97% 3.01%
- ----------------------------------------- ------------------- ------------------
Non-Money Market Fund Yields
(30-day period ended August 31, 1998)
- ---------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------
Fund 30-Day Yield
- ---------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------
California Limited-Term Tax-Free 3.67%
California Intermediate-Term Tax-Free 3.97%
California Long-Term Tax-Free 4.64%
California High-Yield Municipal 5.04%
California Insured Tax-Free 4.55%
- ---------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------
For the money market funds, yield quotations are based on the change in the
value of a hypothetical investment (excluding realized gains and losses from the
sale of securities and unrealized appreciation and depreciation of securities)
over a seven-day period (base period) and stated as a percentage of the
investment at the start of the base period (base-period return). The base-period
return is then annualized by multiplying by 365/7 with the resulting yield
figure carried to at least the nearest hundredth of one percent.
Calculations of effective yield begin with the same base-period return used to
calculate yield, but the return is then annualized to reflect weekly compounding
according to the following formula:
Effective Yield = [(Base-Period Return + 1)365/7] - 1
For the non-money market funds, yield quotations are based on the investment
income per share earned during a particular 30-day period, less expenses accrued
during the period (net investment income), and are computed by dividing the
fund's net investment income by its share price on the last day of the period
according to the following formula:
YIELD = (2 [(a - b + 1)6 - 1])/cd
where a = dividends and interest earned during the period, b = expenses accrued
for the period (net of reimbursements), c = the average daily number of shares
outstanding during the period that were entitled to receive dividends, and d =
the maximum offering price per share on the last day of the period.
The tax-equivalent yield is based on the current double tax-exempt yield and
your combined federal and state marginal tax rate. Assuming all the funds'
dividends are tax-exempt in California (which may not always be the case) and
that your California taxes are fully deductible for federal income tax purposes,
you can calculate your tax equivalent yield for the funds using the equation to
the right.
Fund's Double Tax-Free Yield
- ---------------------------------------------- = Your Tax-Equivalent Yield
(100% - Federal Rate)(100% - California Rate)
Total returns quoted in advertising and sales literature reflect all aspects of
a fund's return, including the effect of reinvesting dividends and capital gain
distributions (if any) and any change in the fund's NAV during the period.
Average annual total returns are calculated by determining the growth or decline
in value of a hypothetical historical investment in a fund during a stated
period and then calculating the annually compounded percentage rate that would
have produced the same result if the rate of growth or decline in value had been
constant throughout the period. For example, a cumulative total return of 100%
over 10 years would produce an average annual return of 7.18%, which is the
steady annual rate that would equal 100% growth on a compounded basis in 10
years. While average annual total returns are a convenient means of comparing
investment alternatives, investors should realize that the funds' performance is
not constant over time, but changes from year-to-year, and that average annual
total returns represent averaged figures as opposed to actual year-to-year
performance.
Average Annual Total Returns
- ------------------------------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ------------
One-Year Five-Years Ten-Years Life of Fund
Fund
- ------------------------------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ------------
Tax-Free Money Market(1) 3.17% 2.76% 3.64% 3.86%
Municipal Money Market(2) 3.15% 2.82% -- 3.12%
Limited-Term Tax-Free(3) 5.42% 4.52% -- 4.74%
Intermediate-Term Tax-Free(1) 7.39% 6.12% 6.67% 6.95%
Long-Term Tax-Free(1) 9.70% 7.27% 7.97% 8.48%
High-Yield Municipal Fund(4) 10.61% 7.76% 8.13% 6.70%
Insured Tax-Free(4) 9.25% 7.08% 7.91% 6.87%
- ------------------------------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ------------
(1) Commenced operations on November 9, 1983.
(2) Commenced operations on December 31, 1990.
(3) Commenced operations on June 1, 1992.
(4) Commenced operations on December 30, 1986.
In addition to average annual total returns, each fund may quote unaveraged or
cumulative total returns reflecting the simple change in value of an investment
over a stated period. Average annual and cumulative total returns may be quoted
as percentages or as dollar amounts and may be calculated for a single
investment, a series of investments, or a series of redemptions over any time
period. Total returns may be broken down into their components of income and
capital (including capital gains and changes in share price) to illustrate the
relationship of these factors and their contributions to total return.
The funds' performance may be compared with the performance of other mutual
funds tracked by mutual fund rating services or with other indexes of market
performance. This may include comparisons with funds that, unlike the American
Century funds, are sold with a sales charge or deferred sales charge. Sources of
economic data that may be used for such comparisons may include, but are not
limited to, U.S. Treasury bill, note and bond yields, money market fund yields,
U.S. government debt and percentage held by foreigners, the U.S. money supply,
net free reserves, and yields on current-coupon GNMAs (source: Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System); the federal funds and discount rates
(source: Federal Reserve Bank of New York); yield curves for U.S. Treasury
securities and AA/AAA-rated corporate securities (source: Bloomberg Financial
Markets); yield curves for AAA-rated tax-free municipal securities (source:
Telerate); yield curves for foreign government securities (sources: Bloomberg
Financial Markets and Data Resources, Inc.); total returns on foreign bonds
(source: J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.); various U.S. and foreign government
reports; the junk bond market (source: Data Resources, Inc.); the CRB Futures
Index (source: Commodity Index Report); the price of gold (sources: London
a.m./p.m. fixing and New York Comex Spot Price); rankings of any mutual fund or
mutual fund category tracked by Lipper Analytical Services, Inc. or Morningstar,
Inc.; mutual fund rankings published in major, nationally distributed
periodicals; data provided by the Investment Company Institute; Ibbotson
Associates, Stocks, Bonds, Bills, and Inflation; major indexes of stock market
performance; and indexes and historical data supplied by major securities
brokerage or investment advisory firms. The funds also may utilize reprints from
newspapers and magazines furnished by third parties to illustrate historical
performance.
Financial Statements
The financial statements of the funds, including the Statements of Assets and
Liabilities and the Statements of Operations for the fiscal year ended August
31, 1998, and the Statements of Changes in Net Assets for the fiscal years ended
August 31, 1997 and 1998, are included in the Annual Reports to shareholders for
the fiscal year ended August 31, 1998. The report on the financial highlights
for the fiscal years 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1996 are included in the Annual
Reports to shareholders for the fiscal year ended August 31, 1996, Each such
Annual Report is incorporated herein by reference. You may receive copies of the
reports without charge upon request to American Century at the address and phone
number shown on the back cover of this Statement of Additional Information.
Explanation of Fixed Income Securities Ratings
As described in the Prospectus, the funds may invest in fixed income securities.
Those investments, however, are subject to certain credit quality restrictions,
as noted in the Prospectus. The following is a summary of the rating categories
referenced in the prospectus disclosure.
Bond Ratings
- ----------- ---------- ---------------------------------------------------------
S&P Moody's Description
- ----------- ---------- ---------------------------------------------------------
AAA Aaa These are the highest ratings assigned by S&P and
Moody's to a debt obligation and indicates an extremely
strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal.
AA Aa Debt rated in this category is considered to have a
very strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal
and differs from AAA/Aaa issues only in a small degree.
A A Debt rated A has a strong capacity to pay interest and
repay principal although it is somewhat more susceptible
to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and
economic conditions than debt in higher-rated categories.
BBB Baa Debt rated BBB/Baa is regarded as having an adequate
capacity to pay interest and repay principal. Whereas it
normally exhibits adequate protection parameters, adverse
economic conditions or changing circumstances are more
likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay interest and
repay principal for debt in this category than in
higher-rated categories.
BB Ba Debt rated BB/Ba has less near-term vulnerability to
default than other speculative issues. However, it faces
major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse
business, financial or economic conditions that could
lead to inadequate capacity to meet timely interest and
principal payments. The BB rating category also is used
for debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an
actual or implied BBB- rating.
B B Debt rated B has a greater vulnerability to default but
currently has the capacity to meet interest payments and
principal repayments. Adverse business, financial or
economic conditions will likely impair capacity or
willingness to pay interest and repay principal. The B
rating category is also used for debt subordinated to
senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied BB/Ba
or BB-/Ba3 rating.
CCC Caa Debt rated CCC/Caa has a currently identifiable
vulnerability to default and is dependent upon favorable
business, financial and economic conditions to meet
timely payment of interest and repayment of principal. In
the event of adverse business, financial or economic
conditions, it is not likely to have the capacity to pay
interest and repay principal. The CCC/Caa rating category
is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is
assigned an actual or implied B or B-/B3 rating.
CC Ca The rating CC/Ca typically is applied to debt
subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or
implied CCC/Caa rating.
C C The rating C typically is applied to debt subordinated
to senior debt, which is assigned an actual or implied
CCC-/Caa3 debt rating. The C rating may be used to cover
a situation where a bankruptcy petition has been filed,
but debt service payments are continued.
CI - The rating CI is reserved for income bonds on which no
interest is being paid.
D D Debt rated D is in payment default. The D rating category
is used when interest payments or principal payments are
not made on the date due even if the applicable grace
period has not expired, unless S&P believes that such
payments will be made during such grace period. The D
rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy
petition if debt service payments are jeopardized.
- ----------- ---------- ---------------------------------------------------------
To provide more detailed indications of credit quality, the Standard & Poor's
ratings from AA to CCC may be modified by the addition of a plus or minus sign
to show relative standing within these major rating categories. Similarly,
Moody's adds numerical modifiers (1,2,3) to designate relative standing within
its major bond rating categories. Fitch Investors Service, Inc. also rates bonds
and uses a ratings system that is substantially similar to that used by Standard
& Poor's.
<TABLE>
Commercial Paper Ratings
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
S&P Moody's Description
- ----------- ---------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
A-1 Prime-1 This indicates that the degree of safety regarding timely payment is strong. Standard &
(P-1) Poor's rates those issues determined to possess extremely strong safety characteristics
as A-1+.
A-2 Prime-2 Capacity for timely payment on commercial paper is satisfactory, but the relative degree
(P-2) of safety is not as high as for issues designated A-1. Earnings trends and coverage
ratios, while sound, will be more subject to variation. Capitalization characteristics,
while still appropriated, may be more affected by external conditions. Ample alternate
liquidity is maintained.
A-3 Prime-3 Satisfactory capacity for timely repayment. Issues that carry this rating are somewhat
(P-3) more vulnerable to the adverse changes in circumstances than obligations carrying the
higher designations.
- ----------- ---------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note Ratings
- ----------- ---------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
S&P Moody's Description
- ----------- ---------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SP-1 MIG-1; VMIG-1 Notes are of the highest quality enjoying strong protection from established cash
flows of funds for their servicing or from established and broad-based access to the market
for refinancing, or both.
SP-2 MIG-2; VMIG-2 Notes are of high quality, with margins of protection ample, although not so large
as in the preceding group.
SP-3 MIG-3; VMIG-3 Notes are of favorable quality, with all security elements accounted for, but lacking
the undeniable strength of the preceding grades. Market access for refinancing,
in particular, is likely to be less well established.
SP-4 MIG-4; VMIG-4 Notes are of adequate quality, carrying specific risk but having protection and
not distinctly or predominantly speculative.
- ----------- ---------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Quality of Portfolio Securities Held by the Non-Money Market Funds
The table below provides a summary of ratings assigned to obligations held by
each of the non-money market funds. These figures are dollar-weighted averages
of month-end holdings during fiscal 1998, presented as a percentage of total
investments. For obligations with different ratings assigned by different rating
agencies, the highest rating assigned is the one relied upon to create this
table. The percentages are historical and are not necessarily indicative of
current or future portfolio holdings, which may vary in quality.
- ------------------------------------------------ ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ---------------
Non-Investment
Aaa/AAA Aa/AA A Baa/BBB Grade
- ------------------------------------------------ ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ---------------
California Limited-Term Tax-Free 65% 14% 21% - -
California Intermediate-Term Tax-Free 69% 14% 17% - -
California Long-Term Tax-Free 47% 15% 38% - -
California High-Yield Municipal 23% 2% 27% 16% 32%
- ------------------------------------------------ ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ---------------
</TABLE>
More information about the funds is contained in the funds' annual and
semiannual reports. These contain more information about the funds' investments
and the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected
the funds' performance during the most recent six-month fiscal period. The
annual and semiannual reports are incorporated by reference into this SAI. This
means that it is legally part of this SAI.
* You can get the annual and semiannual reports for free and ask any
questions about the funds by contacting us at one of the addresses or phone
numbers listed below.
American Century Investments
P.O. Box 419200
Kansas City, Missouri 64141-6200
www.americancentury.com
Investor Services
1-800-345-2021 or 816-531-5575
Automated Information Line
1-800-345-8765
Institutional, Corporate, Keogh, SEP/SARSEP, SIMPLE and 403(b) Services
1-800-345-3533
Telecommunications Device for Deaf
1-800-634-4113 or 816-444-3485
Fax
816-340-7962
* If you own or are considering purchasing fund shares through
* an employer-sponsored retirement plan
* a bank
* a broker-dealer
* an insurance company
* another financial intermediary
you can get the annual and semiannual reports directly from them.
* You can also get information about the funds from the SEC.
* In person. Go to the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C.
Call 1-800-SEC-0330 for information about location and hours of
operation.
* On the internet. Go to www.sec.gov.
* By mail. Write to Public Reference Section of the Securities and
Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. 20549-6009. The SEC will charge
a fee for copying the documents you request.
Investment Company Act File No. 811-XXXX
<PAGE>
AMERICAN CENTURY CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE AND MUNICIPAL FUNDS
1933 Act Post-Effective Amendment No. 26
1940 Act Amendment No. 30
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PART C OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 23 EXHIBITS (All exhibits not filed herewith are being incorporated herein
by reference.)
(1) (a)Amended Declaration of Trust dated May 31, 1995 (filed
electronically as an Exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No.
22 to the Registration Statement on October 27, 1995,
Accession #717316-95-000007).
(b)Amendment to the Declaration of Trust (filed electronically
as an Exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 25 to the
Registration Statement on December 15, 1997, Accession
#717316-97-000012).
(2) Amended and Restated Bylaws dated May 17, 1995 (filed
electronically as an Exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No.
22 to the Registration Statement on October 27, 1995,
Accession # 717316-95-000007).
(3) Not applicable.
(4) Investor Class Management Agreement between American Century
California Tax-Free and Municipal Funds and American Century
Investment Management, Inc., dated August 1, 1997 (filed
electronically as an Exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No.
33 to the Registration Statement of the American Century
Government Income Trust on July 31, 1997, Accession
#773674-97-000014).
(5) (a)Distribution Agreement between American Century California
Tax-Free and Municipal Funds and American Century Investment
Services, Inc. dated as of August 1, 1997 (filed
electronically as an Exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No.
33 to the Registration Statement of the American Century
Government Income Trust on July 31, 1997, Accession
#773674-97-000014).
(b)Amendment No. 1 to Distribution Agreement between American
Century California Tax-Free and Municipal Funds and Funds
Distributor, Inc., dated June 1, 1998 (filed electronically as
an Exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 23 to the
Registration Statement of American Century Quantitative Equity
Funds on June 29, 1998, Accession #827060-98-000010).
(6) Not applicable.
(7) Custodian Agreement between American Century California
Tax-Free and Municipal Funds and The Chase Manhattan Bank,
dated August 9, 1996 (filed electronically as an Exhibit to
Post-Effective Amendment No. 31 to the Registration Statement
of the American Century Government Income Trust on February 7,
1997, Accession #773674-97-000002).
(8) (a)Transfer Agency Agreement between American Century
California Tax-Free and Municipal Funds and American Century
Services Corporation, dated August 1, 1997 (filed
electronically as an Exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No.
33 to the Registration Statement of the American Century
Government Income Trust on July 31, 1997, Accession
#773674-97-000014).
(b)Amendment to Transfer Agency Agreement between American
Century California Tax-Free and Municipal Funds and American
Century Services Corporation, dated June 29, 1998 (filed
electronically as an Exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No.
23 to the Registration Statement of American Century
Quantitative Equity Funds on June 29, 1998, Accession
#827060-98-000010).
(9) Opinion and consent of counsel is included herein.
(10) (a)Consent of Pricewaterhouse Coopers, LLP, independent
auditors to be filed by amendment.
(b)Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick, LLP, independent auditors to
be filed by amendment.
(c)Power of Attorney dated July 9, 1998, is included herein.
(11) Not applicable.
(12) Not applicable.
(13) Not applicable.
(14) (a)FDS - California Tax-Free Money Market Fund.
(b)FDS - California Municipal Money Market Fund.
(c)FDS - California Intermediate-Term Tax-Free Fund.
(d)FDS - California Long-Term Tax-Free Fund.
(e)FDS - California High-Yield Municipal Fund.
(f)FDS - California Insured Tax-Free Fund.
(g)FDS - California Limited-Term Tax-Free Fund.
(15) Not applicable.
Item 24. Persons Controlled by or Under Control with Registrant.
None.
Item 25. Indemnification.
As stated in Article VII, Section 3 of the Declaration of Trust,
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1 to the Registration
Statement, "The Trustees shall be entitled and empowered to the fullest
extent permitted by law to purchase insurance for and to provide by
resolution or in the Bylaws for indemnification out of Trust assets for
liability and for all expenses reasonably incurred or paid or expected
to be paid by a Trustee or officer in connection with any claim,
action, suit, or proceeding in which he or she becomes involved by
virtue of his or her capacity or former capacity with the Trust. The
provisions, including any exceptions and limitations concerning
indemnification, may be set forth in detail in the Bylaws or in a
resolution adopted by the Board of Trustees."
Registrant hereby incorporates by reference, as though set forth fully
herein, Article VI of the Registrant's Bylaws, amended on May 17, 1995,
appearing as Exhibit 2 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 23.
Item 26. Business and Other Connections of Investment Advisor.
American Century Investment Management, Inc., the investment advisor to
each of the Registrant's funds, is engaged in the business of managing
investments for deferred compensation plans and other institutional
investors.
Item 27. Principal Underwriters.
(a) Funds Distributor, Inc. (the "Distributor") acts as principal
underwriter for the following investment companies.
American Century California Tax-Free and Municipal Funds
American Century Capital Portfolios, Inc.
American Century Government Income Trust
American Century International Bond Funds
American Century Investment Trust
American Century Municipal Trust
American Century Mutual Funds, Inc.
American Century Premium Reserves, Inc.
American Century Quantitative Equity Funds
American Century Strategic Asset Allocations, Inc.
American Century Target Maturities Trust
American Century Variable Portfolios, Inc.
American Century World Mutual Funds, Inc.
BJB Investment Funds
The Brinson Funds
Dresdner RCM Capital Funds, Inc.
Dresdner RCM Equity Funds, Inc.
Founders Funds, Inc.
Harris Insight Funds Trust
HT Insight Funds, Inc. d/b/a Harris Insight Funds
J.P. Morgan Institutional Funds
J.P. Morgan Funds
JPM Series Trust
JPM Series Trust II
LaSalle Partners Funds, Inc.
Kobrick-Cendant Investment Trust
Merrimac Series
Monetta Fund, Inc.
Monetta Trust
The Montgomery Funds I
The Montgomery Funds II
The Munder Framlington Funds Trust
The Munder Funds Trust
The Munder Funds, Inc.
National Investors Cash Management Fund, Inc.
Orbitex Group of Funds
SG Cowen Funds, Inc.
SG Cowen Income + Growth Fund, Inc.
SG Cowen Standby Reserve Fund, Inc.
SG Cowen Standby Tax-Exempt Reserve Fund, Inc.
SG Cowen Series Funds, Inc.
St. Clair Funds, Inc.
The Skyline Funds
Waterhouse Investors Family of Funds, Inc.
WEBS Index Fund, Inc.
The Distributor is registered with the Securities and Exchange
Commission as a broker-dealer and is a member of the National
Association of Securities Dealers. The Distributor is located at 60
State Street, Suite 1300, Boston, Massachusetts 02109. The Distributor
is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Boston Institutional Group,
Inc., a holding company all of whose outstanding shares are owned by
key employees.
(b) The following is a list of the executive officers, directors and
partners of the Distributor:
<TABLE>
Name and Principal Business Positions and Offices with Positions and Offices with
Address* Underwriter Registrant
<S> <C> <C>
Marie E. Connolly Director, President and Chief none
Executive Officer
George A. Rio Executive Vice President President, Principal Executive
and Principal Financial Officer
Donald R. Roberson Executive Vice President none
William S. Nichols Executive Vice President none
Michael S. Petrucelli Senior Vice President none
Joseph F. Tower, III Director, Senior Vice President, none
Treasurer and Chief Financial
Officer
Paula R. David Senior Vice President none
Allen B. Closser Senior Vice President none
Bernard A. Whalen Senior Vice President none
William J. Nutt Director none
- --------------------
* All addresses are 60 State Street, Suite 1300, Boston, Massachusetts 02109
</TABLE>
(c) Not applicable.
Item 29. Location of Accounts and Records.
All accounts, books and other documents required to be maintained by
Section 31(a) of the 1940 Act, and the rules promulgated thereunder,
are in the possession of Registrant, American Century Services
Corporation and American Century Investment Management, Inc., all
located at 4500 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111.
Item 30. Management Services.
Not applicable.
Item 31. Undertakings.
Registrant undertakes to furnish each person to whom a Prospectus is
delivered with a copy of the Registrant's latest report to
shareholders, upon request and without charge.
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment
Company Act of 1940, the Registrant has duly caused this Post-Effective
Amendment No. 26/Amendment No. 30 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Kansas City, and State of Missouri, on
the 16th day of October, 1998. I hereby certify that this Amendment meets the
requirements for immediate effectiveness pursuant to Rule 485(a).
AMERICAN CENTURY CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE AND MUNICIPAL FUNDS
By: /s/Patrick A. Looby
Patrick A. Looby
Vice President
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Post-Effective
Amendment No. 26/Amendment No. 30 has been signed below by the following persons
in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Date
<S> <C> <C>
* President, Principal Executive and October 16, 1998
- --------------------------------- Principal Financial Officer
George A. Rio
* Vice President and Treasurer October 16, 1998
- ---------------------------------
Maryanne Roepke
* Trustee October 16, 1998
- ---------------------------------
James E. Stowers III
* Trustee October 16, 1998
- ---------------------------------
William M. Lyons
* Trustee October 16, 1998
- ---------------------------------
Albert A. Eisenstat
* Trustee October 16, 1998
- ---------------------------------
Ronald J. Gilson
* Trustee October 16, 1998
- ---------------------------------
Myron S. Scholes
* Trustee October 16, 1998
- ---------------------------------
Kenneth E. Scott
* Trustee October 16, 1998
- ---------------------------------
Isaac Stein
* Trustee October 16, 1998
- ---------------------------------
Jeanne D. Wohlers
</TABLE>
/s/Patrick a. Looby
*by Patrick a. Looby, Attorney in Fact (pursuant to a Power of Attorney dated
July 9, 1998).
EXHIBIT DESCRIPTION
EX-99.B1a Amended Declaration of Trust dated May 31, 1995 (filed as a part of
Post-Effective Amendment No. 22 to the Registration Statement on
Form N-1A of the Registrant on October 27, 1995, Accession
#717316-95-000007).
EX-99.B1b Amendment to the Declaration of Trust (filed as a part of
Post-Effective Amendment No. 25 to the Registration Statement on
Form N-1A of the Registrant on December 15, 1997, Accession
#717316-97-000012).
EX-99.B2 Amended and Restated Bylaws dated May 17, 1995 (filed as a part of
Post-Effective Amendment No. 22 on Form N-1A of the Registrant on
October 27, 1995, Accession #717316-95-000007).
EX-99.B4 Investor Class Management Agreement between American Century
California Tax-Free and Municipal Funds and American Century
Investment Management, Inc., dated August 1, 1997 (filed as a part
of Post-Effective Amendment No. 33 to the Registration Statement on
Form N-1A of American Century Government Income Trust on July 31,
1997, Accession #773674-97-000014).
EX-99.B5a Distribution Agreement between American Century California Tax-Free
and Municipal Funds and American Century Investment Services, Inc.
dated as of August 1, 1997 (filed as a part of Post-Effective
Amendment No. 33 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of the
American Century Government Income Trust filed on July 31, 1997,
Accession #773674-97-000014).
EX-99.B5b Amendment No. 1 to Distribution Agreement between American Century
California Tax-Free and Municipal Funds and Funds Distributor, Inc.
dated as of June 1, 1998 (filed as a part of Post-Effective
Amendment No. 23 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of
American Century Quantitative Equity Funds on June 29, 1998,
Accession #827060-98-000010).
EX-99.B7 Custodian Agreement between American Century California Tax-Free and
Municipal Funds and The Chase Manhattan Bank, dated August 9, 1996,
(filed as a part of Post-Effective Amendment No. 31 to the
Registration Statement on Form N-1A of American Century Government
Income Trust filed on February 7, 1997, Accession
#773674-97-000002).
EX-99.B8a Transfer Agency Agreement between American Century California
Tax-Free and Municipal Funds and American Century Services
Corporation, dated August 1, 1997, (filed as a part of
Post-Effective Amendment No. 33 to the Registration Statement on
Form N-1A of American Century Government Income Trust on July 31,
1997, Accession #773674-97-000014).
EX-99.B8b Amendment to Transfer Agency Agreement between American Century
California Tax-Free and Municipal Funds and American Century
Services Corporation dated June 29, 1998 (filed as a part of
Post-Effective Amendment No. 23 to the Registration Statement on
Form N-1A of American Century Quantitative Equity Funds on June 29,
1998, Accession #827060-98-000010).
EX-99.B9 Opinion and consent of counsel.
EX-99.B10a Consent of Pricewaterhouse Coopers, LLP, independent auditors, to be
filed by amendment.
EX-99.B10b Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick, LLP, independent auditors, to be filed
by amendment.
EX-99.B10c Power of Attorney dated July 9, 1998, is included herein.
EX-27.4.1 FDS - California Tax-Free Money Market Fund.
EX-27.4.2 FDS - California Municipal Money Market Fund.
EX-27.5.3 FDS - California Intermediate-Term Tax-Free Fund.
EX-27.5.4 FDS - California Long-Term Tax-Free Fund.
EX-27.5.5 FDS - California High-Yield Municipal Fund.
EX-27.5.6 FDS - California Insured Tax-Free Fund.
EX-27.5.7 FDS - California Limited-Term Tax-Free Fund.
CHARLES C.S. PARK
ATTORNEY AT LAW
1665 CHARLESTON ROAD
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA 94043
TELEPHONE (650)965-8300
TELECOPIER (650)964-9591
October 16, 1998
American Century California Tax-Free and Municipal Funds
American Century Tower
4500 Main Street
Kansas City, Missouri 64111
Ladies and Gentlemen:
As counsel to American Century California Tax-Free and Municipal Funds (the
"Trust"), I am generally familiar with its affairs. Based upon this familiarity,
and upon the examination of such documents as I deemed relevant, it is my
opinion that the shares of the Trust described in 1933 Act Post-Effective
Amendment No. 26 and 1940 Act Amendment No. 30 to its Registration Statement on
Form N-1A, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October
16, 1998, will, when issued, be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
For the record, it should be stated that I am an employee of American
Century Services Corporation, an affiliated corporation of American Century
Investment Management, Inc., the investment advisor of the Corporation.
I hereby consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to Post-Effective
Amendment No. 26 and Amendment No. 30, referenced above.
Very truly yours,
/s/Charles C.S. Park
Charles C.S. Park
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, American Century
California Tax-Free and Municipal Funds, hereinafter called the "Trust", and
certain trustees and officers of the Trust, do hereby constitute and appoint
George A. Rio, Douglas A. Paul, Patrick A. Looby, Charles A. Etherington, and
Charles C.S. Park, 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 the Trust 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 name of the Trust
in its behalf and to affix its seal, and to sign the names of each of such
trustees and officers in their capacities as indicated, 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; 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.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust has caused this Power to be executed by
its duly authorized officers on this the 9th day of July, 1998.
AMERICAN CENTURY CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE AND MUNICIPAL FUNDS
By: /s/ George A. Rio
George A. Rio, President
SIGNATURE AND TITLE
/s/ George A. Rio /s/ Ronald J. Gilson
George A. Rio Ronald J. Gilson
President, Principal Executive and Director
Principal Financial Officer
/s/ Maryanne Roepke /s/ Myron S. Scholes
Maryanne Roepke Myron S. Scholes
Vice President and Treasurer Director
/s/ James E. Stowers, III /s/ Kenneth E. Scott
James E. Stowers, III Kenneth E. Scott
Director Director
/s/ William M. Lyons /s/ Isaac Stein
William M. Lyons Isaac Stein
Director Director
/s/ Albert A. Eisenstat /s/ Jeanne D. Wohlers
Albert A. Eisenstat Jeanne D. Wohlers
Director Director
Attest:
By: /s/ Douglas A. Paul
Douglas A. Paul, Secretary
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE ANNUAL
REPORT OF AMERICAN CENTURY CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE AND MUNICIPAL FUNDS AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRELY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH REPORT.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000717316
<NAME> AMERICAN CENTURY CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE & MUNICIPAL FUNDS
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 1
<NAME> BENHAM CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE MONEY MARKET FUND
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-1998
<PERIOD-END> AUG-31-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 456,861,275
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 456,861,275
<RECEIVABLES> 2,351,137
<ASSETS-OTHER> 1,121,640
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 460,334,052
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 2,427,024
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 1,913,468
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 4,340,492
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 455,993,563
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 0
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 455,993,560
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 417,784,475
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 299,086
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (299,089)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 0
<NET-ASSETS> 455,993,560
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 15,542,270
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 2,171,919
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 13,370,351
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 0
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 0
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 13,369,771
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 13,369,357
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 434,812,626
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 409,349,170
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 12,745,632
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 38,209,502
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 397,834
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (398,251)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 2,159,270
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 2,171,919
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 435,217,099
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 1.00
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.03
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.03
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 1.00
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.50
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0.00
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE ANNUAL
REPORT OF AMERICAN CENTURY CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE AND MUNICIPAL FUNDS AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH REPORT.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000717316
<NAME> AMERICAN CENTURY CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE & MUNICIPAL FUNDS
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 2
<NAME> BENHAM CALIFORNIA MUNICIPAL MONEY MARKET FUND
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-1998
<PERIOD-END> AUG-31-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 172,403,052
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 172,403,052
<RECEIVABLES> 783,271
<ASSETS-OTHER> 1,795,748
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 174,982,071
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 2,390,449
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 2,390,449
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 172,628,461
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 0
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 172,591,622
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 170,519,185
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 122,436
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (159,275)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 0
<NET-ASSETS> 172,591,622
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 6,258,285
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 854,000
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 5,404,285
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (669)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 0
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 5,403,616
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 5,398,614
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 153,582,331
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 156,647,128
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 5,174,073
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 2,114,278
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 116,795
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (158,606)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 845,834
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 854,000
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 171,283,170
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 1.00
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.03
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.03
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 1.00
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.50
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0.00
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE ANNUAL
REPORT OF AMERICAN CENTURY CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE AND MUNICIPAL FUNDS AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH REPORT.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000717316
<NAME> AMERICAN CENTURY CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE & MUNICIPAL FUNDS
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 3
<NAME> BENHAM CALIFORNIA INTERMEDIATE TERM TAX-FREE
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-1998
<PERIOD-END> AUG-31-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 439,449,344
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 463,133,282
<RECEIVABLES> 15,078,433
<ASSETS-OTHER> 397,245
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 478,608,960
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 14,363,084
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 3,642,037
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 18,005,121
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 405,064
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 433,907,523
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 40,506,442
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 38,621,249
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 8,020
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 2,559,294
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 23,683,938
<NET-ASSETS> 460,603,839
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 22,679,637
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 2,277,153
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 20,402,484
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 3,919,772
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 5,632,637
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 29,954,893
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 20,402,484
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 5,651,243
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 13,806,443
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 13,662,495
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 1,741,245
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 25,164,000
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 4,338,785
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 2,264,194
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 2,277,153
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 437,512,837
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 11.27
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.52
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.25
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.52
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.15
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 11.37
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.51
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE ANNUAL
REPORT OF AMERICAN CENTURY CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE AND MUNICIPAL FUNDS AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH REPORT.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000717316
<NAME> AMERICAN CENTURY CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE & MUNICIPAL FUNDS
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 4
<NAME> BENHAM CALIFORNIA LONG-TERM TAX-FREE FUND
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-1998
<PERIOD-END> AUG-31-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 299,379,367
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 324,678,249
<RECEIVABLES> 3,906,560
<ASSETS-OTHER> 500,990
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 329,088,799
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 2,243,761
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 1,651,382
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 3,895,143
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 277,428
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 297,953,010
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 27,742,768
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 26,542,552
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 9,033
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 1,655,303
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 25,298,882
<NET-ASSETS> 325,193,656
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 17,485,505
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 1,610,506
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 15,874,999
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 2,963,978
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 8,929,558
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 27,768,535
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 15,874,999
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 5,354,293
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 8,544,372
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 8,606,849
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 1,262,693
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 20,523,088
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 4,054,651
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 1,599,824
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 1,610,506
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 308,905,669
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 11.48
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.59
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.44
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.59
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.20
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 11.72
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.51
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0.00
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE ANNUAL
REPORT OF AMERICAN CENTURY CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE AND MUNICIPAL FUNDS AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH REPORT.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000717316
<NAME> AMERICAN CENTURY CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE & MUNICIPAL FUNDS
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 5
<NAME> BENHAM CALIFORNIA HIGH-YIELD MUNICIPAL FUND
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-1998
<PERIOD-END> AUG-31-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 288,259,202
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 303,455,303
<RECEIVABLES> 5,054,723
<ASSETS-OTHER> 927,416
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 309,437,442
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 4,899,944
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 695,958
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 5,595,902
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 305,942
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 286,338,115
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 30,594,204
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 19,919,066
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 2,001,382
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 15,196,101
<NET-ASSETS> 303,841,540
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 13,998,056
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 1,320,927
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 12,677,129
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 2,562,512
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 6,311,903
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 21,551,544
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 12,677,129
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 2,454,652
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 18,553,052
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 9,015,907
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 1,137,993
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 111,010,249
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 9,693,133
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 2,344,182
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 1,311,664
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 1,320,927
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 233,808,662
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.68
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.51
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.37
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.51
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.12
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.93
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.54
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0.00
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE ANNUAL
REPORT OF AMERICAN CENTURY CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE AND MUNICIPAL FUNDS AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH REPORT.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000717316
<NAME> AMERICAN CENTURY CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE & MUNICIPAL FUNDS
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 6
<NAME> BENHAM CALIFORNIA INSURED FUND TAX-FREE
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-1998
<PERIOD-END> AUG-31-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 200,844,327
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 217,200,278
<RECEIVABLES> 2,887,560
<ASSETS-OTHER> 3,424,965
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 223,512,803
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 6,237,045
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 1,766,541
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 8,003,586
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 203,258
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 198,268,322
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 20,325,822
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 18,241,002
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 681,686
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 16,355,951
<NET-ASSETS> 215,509,217
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 10,968,312
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 1,040,256
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 9,928,056
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 1,583,804
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 5,870,522
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 17,382,382
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 9,928,056
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 2,921,262
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 7,856,824
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 6,627,802
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 855,798
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 26,364,509
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 2,019,144
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 1,031,569
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 1,040,256
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 197,726,150
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 10.37
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.51
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.39
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.51
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.16
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 10.60
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.51
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0.00
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE ANNUAL
REPORT OF AMERICAN CENTURY CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE AND MUNICIPAL FUNDS AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH REPORT.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000717316
<NAME> AMERICAN CENTURY CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE & MUNICIPAL FUNDS
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 7
<NAME> BENHAM CALIFORNIA LIMITED-TERM TAX-FREE
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-1998
<PERIOD-END> AUG-31-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 132,960,099
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 135,798,378
<RECEIVABLES> 1,784,067
<ASSETS-OTHER> 119,932
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 137,702,377
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 4,915,798
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 2,649,992
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 7,565,790
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 124,815
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 127,754,052
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 12,481,523
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 12,292,606
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (580,559)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 2,838,279
<NET-ASSETS> 130,136,587
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 5,824,726
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 664,135
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 5,610,591
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 253,098
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 1,302,650
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 6,716,339
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 5,160,591
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 4,214,707
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 4,357,987
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 332,197
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 3,505,406
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 4,682,931
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 317,683
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 656,701
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 664,135
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 126,543,906
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 10.30
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.42
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.13
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.42
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 10.43
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.52
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0.00
</TABLE>
