IDS STRATEGY FUND INC
PRE 14A, 1994-08-03
Previous: WASHINGTON TRUST BANCORP INC, S-8 POS, 1994-08-03
Next: GILBERT ASSOCIATES INC/NEW, 10-Q, 1994-08-03



<PAGE>
                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

                  Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
             the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.   )

    Filed by the Registrant / /
    Filed by a Party other than the Registrant /X/
    Check the appropriate box:
    /X/  Preliminary Proxy Statement
    / /  Definitive Proxy Statement
    / /  Definitive Additional Materials
    / /  Soliciting  Material  Pursuant  to  Section  240.14a-11(c)  or  Section
         240.14a-12

                           IDS Strategy Fund, Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

/X/  $125 per Exchange Act Rules 0-11(c)(1)(ii), 14a-6(i)(1), or 14a-6(j)(2)
/ /  $500 per  each party  to  the controversy  pursuant  to Exchange  Act  Rule
     14a-6(i)(3)
/ /  Fee   computed  on   table  below   per  Exchange   Act  Rules  14a-6(i)(4)
     and 0-11
     1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:


        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
     2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:


        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
     3) Per unit  price  or  other  underlying  value  of  transaction
        computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11:*


        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
     4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:


        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
*    Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it
     was determined.
/ /  Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
     0-11(a)(2)  and identify the  filing for which the  offsetting fee was paid
     previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement  number,
     or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

     1) Amount Previously Paid:


        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
     2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:


        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
     3) Filing Party:


        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
     4) Date Filed:


        ------------------------------------------------------------------------

<PAGE>
                             AGGRESSIVE EQUITY FUND
                                  EQUITY FUND
                                    FUNDS OF
                            IDS STRATEGY FUND, INC.
                             901 S. MARQUETTE AVE.
                                   SUITE 2810
                       MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA 55402-3268

                   NOTICE OF REGULAR MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
                          TO BE HELD NOVEMBER 9, 1994

                                                              September 17, 1994

Dear Shareholder:

    We will hold a regular meeting of the shareholders of Aggressive Equity Fund
and  Equity Fund  (individually a  "Fund" and  collectively the  "Funds"), funds
making up IDS Strategy Fund, Inc.  (the "Corporation") at 2:00 p.m. on  November
9,  1994, at the  Marquette Hotel, 7th and  Marquette, Minneapolis, Minnesota in
the Lake Superior Room on the fourth floor. The purposes of the meeting  include
the  election of  Board members,  consideration of  a new  agreement between the
Corporation and  IDS  Financial Corporation  ("IDS")  with changes  in  the  fee
structure,  and changes  to the Funds'  investment policies. The  agenda for the
meeting is on the next page.
    Please take the time to read the proxy statement which discusses each agenda
item. The Board of Directors has approved the proposals and recommends that  you
vote in favor of each item. If you were a shareholder on September 11, 1994, you
may  vote at  the meeting  or any adjournment  of the  meeting. We  hope you can
attend. For those of you who cannot attend, the enclosed card is for your  vote.
Please  be sure to sign the card and return  it to us as soon as possible in the
enclosed postage-paid envelope. The latest  annual report was previously  mailed
to you.

                                                                   LESLIE L. OGG
                                                                Secretary

IT  IS IMPORTANT THAT  YOU VOTE PROMPTLY.  PLEASE FILL IN  AND SIGN THE ENCLOSED
CARD. PROMPT RESPONSE WILL SAVE YOUR FUND THE COST OF ADDITIONAL MAILINGS.

                                       1
<PAGE>
                                     AGENDA

(1) To elect   Board members;

(2) To ratify or reject  the selection of KPMG  Peat Marwick as the  independent
    auditors;

(3) To approve or reject a new Investment Management and Services Agreement with
    IDS;

(4)  To approve or  reject a change in  the investment policies  of each Fund to
    permit the Fund to  invest all of its  assets in another investment  company
    with substantially the same investment objectives, policies and restrictions
    as the Fund;

(5)  To  approve  or  reject  changes  to  certain  of  each  Fund's fundamental
    investment policies;

(6) To approve or reject a new Plan of Distribution with IDS Financial  Services
    Inc.;

(7) To transact any other business that comes before the meeting.

                                       2
<PAGE>
                                PROXY STATEMENT

    As  a shareholder of Aggressive Equity  Fund ("Aggressive Equity") or Equity
Fund ("Equity") (individually a "Fund" and collectively the "Funds"), two of the
five funds  making up  IDS  Strategy Fund,  Inc.  (the "Corporation"),  you  are
invited  to attend a  regular meeting of  the Funds. The  other three funds also
will be holding meetings at the same time. They will be considering merging into
other investment companies. Shareholders of all five funds will as a group  vote
on  the election of directors and ratification  of auditors. At the meeting, the
shareholders will vote on the matters described below. Each share is entitled to
one vote.  For those  of  you who  cannot  come to  the  meeting, the  Board  of
Directors (the "Board") is asking permission to vote for you. The shares will be
voted  the  way  you  mark the  boxes  on  the enclosed  card.  For  purposes of
determining whether a quorum is present, abstentions and broker "non-votes" will
be counted as  shares that  are present  but have  not voted.  For this  reason,
abstentions and broker "non-votes" will have the effect of a "no" vote.
    To  avoid the cost of further solicitation,  it is important for you to vote
promptly. If you think you might not  attend, please complete the card. If  your
plans  change and you  can attend, simply  see the Secretary  at the meeting and
tell him you will be voting your shares in person. Also, if you change your mind
after you send in the card, you may change your vote or revoke it by writing  us
or  by sending another card. Make sure you  sign and date the card and return it
to us.
    On September 11, 1994.  Aggressive Equity had           shares  outstanding.
Equity  had           shares outstanding. As  far as the Board  has been able to
determine, as of  September 1,  1994, no  shareholder owned  5% or  more of  the
outstanding  shares of  either Fund. It  is estimated that  this proxy statement
will be mailed to shareholders on September 17, 1994.

                         (1) ELECTION OF BOARD MEMBERS

    The Board has set the number of persons who  serve on the Board at   .  Each
Board member will serve until the next regular shareholders' meeting or until he
or  she reaches  the mandatory retirement  age established by  resolution of the
Board. Under the current  resolution of the Board,  members who were serving  on
the  Board of any fund in the IDS  MUTUAL FUND GROUP (the "GROUP") on January 1,
1988, serve until  the end  of the  meeting of  the Board  following their  75th
birthday  and all other  members serve through the  meeting following their 70th
birthday.
    In voting for Board members, you  may vote all of your shares  cumulatively.
This means that you have the right to give each nominee an equal number of votes
or  divide the votes among the  nominees as you wish. You  have as many votes as
the number of  shares you own,  including fractional shares,  multiplied by  the
number of members to be elected. By completing

                                       3
<PAGE>
the card, you give the proxies the right to vote for the persons named below. If
you  elect to withhold authority for any individual nominee or nominees, you may
do so by marking the  box labeled "Exception," and by  striking the name of  any
excepted nominee, as is further explained on the card itself. If you do withhold
authority,  the proxies  will not  vote shares  equivalent to  the proportionate
number applicable to the names for which authority is withheld.
    The persons nominated to serve on the Board are set forth below. Each of the
nominees is a nominee for trustee or director of each of the other funds  within
the GROUP. The GROUP currently consists of 42 funds with assets of approximately
$44  billion.  Each  nominee was  elected  a member  of  the Board  at  the last
shareholders' meeting except for Ms. Cheney and Mr. Hubers.
    All of the nominees have agreed to serve. If an unforeseen event prevents  a
nominee  from serving, your votes will be  cast for the election of a substitute
selected by the  Board. Information  about each  nominee is  provided below.  It
includes  the period  of service as  a Board member  of funds in  the GROUP, the
number of shares each  owns in the Funds  and in all the  funds in the GROUP  on
September 1, 1994 and the current committee assignments. The shareholders of the
Corporation vote as a group in electing directors. Election requires a vote by a
majority of the shares present or represented at the meetings.

LYNNE V. CHENEY         Board member since 1994                           Age 53

Distinguished  Fellow, American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research.
Former Chair of  National Endowment  of the Humanities.  Director, The  Reader's
Digest  Association  Inc., Lockhead  Corporation, and  the Interpublic  Group of
Companies, Inc. (advertising).

<TABLE>
<S>                                                    <C>
Shares owned: Aggressive Equity                        Equity
Committee assignment: Audit         Shares owned:      GROUP
</TABLE>

WILLIAM H. DUDLEY**     Board member since 1991                           Age 62

Executive vice president and director of IDS Financial Corporation ("IDS").

<TABLE>
<S>                                                    <C>
Shares owned: Aggressive Equity                        Equity
Committee assignment: Executive      Shares owned:     GROUP
</TABLE>

                                       4
<PAGE>
ROBERT F. FROEHLKE      Board member since 1987                           Age 71

Former president of all funds in  the GROUP. Director, the ICI Mutual  Insurance
Co.,  Institute  for  Defense  Analyses, Marshall  Erdman  and  Associates, Inc.
(architectural engineering) and Public Oversight Board of the American Institute
of Certified Public Accountants.

<TABLE>
<S>                                                    <C>
Shares owned: Aggressive Equity                        Equity
Shares owned: GROUP
Committee assignment: Contracts, Executive, Personnel
</TABLE>

DAVID R. HUBERS**       Board member since 1993                           Age 51

President, chief executive officer and director of IDS. Previously, senior  vice
president, finance and chief financial officer of IDS.

<TABLE>
<S>                                                    <C>
Shares owned: Aggressive Equity                        Equity
Shares owned: GROUP
</TABLE>

ANNE P. JONES           Board member since 1985                           Age 59

Partner,  law firm of Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan. Director, Motorola, Inc. and
C-Cor Electronics, Inc.

<TABLE>
<S>                                                    <C>
Shares owned: Aggressive Equity                        Equity
Committee assignment: Contracts      Shares owned:     GROUP
</TABLE>

DONALD M. KENDALL       Board member since 1968                           Age 73

Former chairman and chief executive officer, PepsiCo, Inc.

<TABLE>
<S>                                                    <C>
Shares owned: Aggressive Equity                        Equity
Committee assignment: Audit         Shares owned:      GROUP
</TABLE>

MELVIN R. LAIRD         Board member since 1974                           Age 72

Senior counsellor for  national and international  affairs, The Reader's  Digest
Association,  Inc. Chairman of  the board, COMSAT  Corporation, former nine-term
congressman, secretary of defense and presidential counsellor. Director,  Martin
Marietta   Corp.,  Metropolitan   Life  Insurance   Co.,  The   Reader's  Digest
Association, Inc., Science  Applications International  Corp., Wallace  Reader's
Digest  Funds  and  Public  Oversight  Board  (SEC  Practice  Section,  American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants).

<TABLE>
<S>                                                    <C>
Shares owned: Aggressive Equity                        Equity
Committee assignment: Personnel     Shares owned:      GROUP
</TABLE>

                                       5
<PAGE>
LEWIS W. LEHR           Board member since 1986                           Age 73

Former chairman of the board and  chief executive officer, Minnesota Mining  and
Manufacturing  Company  (3M).  Director, Jack  Eckerd  Corporation (drugstores).
Advisory Director, Peregrine Inc. (microelectronics).

<TABLE>
<S>                                                    <C>
Shares owned: Aggressive Equity                        Equity
Committee assignment: Audit, Personnel  Shares owned: GROUP
</TABLE>

WILLIAM R. PEARCE*      Board member since 1980                           Age 66

President of all funds in the GROUP since June 1993. Former vice chairman of the
board, Cargill, Incorporated (commodity merchants and processors).

<TABLE>
<S>                                                    <C>
Shares owned: Aggressive Equity                        Equity
Committee assignment: Contracts, Executive  Shares owned: GROUP
</TABLE>

EDSON W. SPENCER        Board member since 1991                           Age 68

President, Spencer Associates  Inc. (consulting).  Chairman of  the board,  Mayo
Foundation  (healthcare).  Former  chairman  of the  board  and  chief executive
officer, Honeywell Inc.  Director, Boise Cascade  Corporation (forest  products)
and  CBS Inc. Member of International  Advisory Councils, Robert Bosch (Germany)
and NEC (Japan).

<TABLE>
<S>                                                    <C>
Shares owned: Aggressive Equity                        Equity
Committee assignment: Audit, Executive  Shares owned: GROUP
</TABLE>

JOHN R. THOMAS**        Board member since 1987                           Age 57

Senior vice president and director of IDS.

<TABLE>
<S>                                                    <C>
Shares owned: Aggressive Equity                        Equity
Shares owned: GROUP
</TABLE>

WHEELOCK WHITNEY        Board member since 1977                           Age 68

Chairman, Whitney Management Company (manages family assets).

<TABLE>
<S>                                                    <C>
Shares owned: Aggressive Equity                        Equity
Shares owned: GROUP
Committee assignment: Audit, Contracts, Executive, Personnel
</TABLE>

 *Interested person by reason of being an officer and employee of the Fund.

**Interested person  by reason  of being  an officer,  director,  securityholder
  and/or employee of IDS or American Express Company ("American Express").

 +Shares  owned  by family  members in  which  nominee disclaims  any beneficial
  ownership.

                                       6
<PAGE>
    As of September 1, 1994, all executive officers and Board members as a group
beneficially owned directly  or indirectly  less than 1%  of the  shares of  any
Fund.
    The  committees have been appointed to facilitate the work of the Board. The
Executive Committee has authority to act for the full Board between meetings. It
focuses on investment  activities, routine  compliance issues  and oversight  of
various   operational   functions.  The   Joint   Audit  Committee   meets  with
representatives of  the independent  auditors to  consider the  scope of  annual
audits  and reviews the  results of those  audits. It receives  reports from IDS
Internal Audit that pertain to the Funds' operations and addresses special areas
of  concern.  The  Contracts  Committee,  under  the  full  Board's   direction,
negotiates  contracts  and  monitors, evaluates  and  reports to  the  Board the
performance under the terms  of those contracts.  The Joint Personnel  Committee
makes  recommendations  with respect  to the  composition of  the Board  and the
compensation of the  members, officers and  staff of the  Funds. Candidates  for
vacancies  on the Board  must have a  background that gives  promise of making a
significant contribution  to  furthering  the  interests  of  all  shareholders.
Shareholders  wishing  to  suggest  candidates should  write  in  care  of Joint
Personnel Committee, IDS MUTUAL  FUND GROUP, 901  Marquette Avenue South,  Suite
2810, Minneapolis, MN 55402-3268.
    Over  the  last  fiscal year,  the  Board  held 10  meetings,  the Executive
Committee met twice a month, and  the Audit, Contracts and Personnel  Committees
met  5, 4 and 7 times respectively. Average  attendance at the Board was 93% and
no nominee  attended  less  than 75%  of  the  meetings of  the  Board  and  the
committees on which she or he serves.
    Members  who are not  officers of the  Funds or directors  of IDS receive an
annual fee and retirement benefits from the Funds. They also receive  attendance
and  other fees, the cost of  which the Funds share with  the other funds in the
GROUP. Members of the  Funds' Board receive an  annual fee of  $       and  upon
retirement  at age 70,  or earlier if  for health reasons,  such members receive
monthly payments equal to 1/2 of the annual fee divided by 12 for as many months
as the member served on the Board up  to 120 months or until the date of  death.
There  are no death  benefits and the plan  is not funded.  The fees shared with
other funds are those for attendance for meetings of the Contracts Committee  or
Board,  $500, meetings of the Audit,  Executive, and Personnel Committees, $300,
out-of state, $500, and Chair of Contracts Committee, $5,000. Expenses also  are
reimbursed.
    During  the last fiscal year, the members  of the Board, for attending up to
50 meetings, received the following compensation,  in total, from all the  funds
in the GROUP.

                                       7
<PAGE>
                        NOMINEE COMPENSATION FROM GROUP
                             AGGRESSIVE EQUITY FUND

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                         Retirement     Estimated
                          Aggregate       Benefits       Annual      Total Cash
                        Compensation     Accrued as    Benefit on   Compensation
Nominee                   from Fund    Fund Expenses   Retirement    from GROUP
- ----------------------  -------------  --------------  -----------  -------------
<S>                     <C>            <C>             <C>          <C>
Lynne V. Cheney
Robert F. Froehlke
 (part of year)
Anne P. Jones
Donald M. Kendall
Melvin R. Laird
Lewis W. Lehr
William R. Pearce
 (part of year)
Edson W. Spencer
Wheelock Whitney
</TABLE>

                                  EQUITY FUND

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                         Retirement     Estimated
                          Aggregate       Benefits       Annual      Total Cash
                        Compensation     Accrued as    Benefit on   Compensation
Nominee                   from Fund    Fund Expenses   Retirement    from GROUP
- ----------------------  -------------  --------------  -----------  -------------
<S>                     <C>            <C>             <C>          <C>
Lynne V. Cheney
Robert F. Froehlke
 (part of year)
Anne P. Jones
Donald M. Kendall
Melvin R. Laird
Lewis W. Lehr
William R. Pearce
 (part of year)
Edson W. Spencer
Wheelock Whitney
</TABLE>

    Besides Mr. Pearce, who is president, the Funds' other officer is:
    Leslie  L.  Ogg, 56,  Vice  president and  general  counsel of  all publicly
offered funds in the GROUP since 1978. Vice president and secretary of the  Life
Funds  and treasurer and  secretary of all  publicly offered funds  in the GROUP
since July 1989.
    Officers serve at the pleasure of the Board.

                                       8
<PAGE>
    During the last fiscal  year, no officer earned  more than $60,000 from  any
Fund.  All officers as a group (two persons) earned cash compensation, including
salaries and thrift plan, of $         from Aggressive Equity and $         from
Equity for the last fiscal year.

                     (2) RATIFY OR REJECT THE SELECTION OF
                   KPMG PEAT MARWICK AS INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

    For  the  fiscal year  ending March  31,  1995, KPMG  Peat Marwick  has been
selected to serve as the independent auditors for the Funds. This selection  was
made by the members of the Board who are not officers of the Funds or associated
with  the investment  manager pursuant  to a  recommendation by  the Joint Audit
Committee. When  a  meeting of  shareholders  is  held, the  selection  also  is
considered by the shareholders.
    The  audit services provided to the funds  in the GROUP by KPMG Peat Marwick
include the  examination  of  the annual  financial  statements,  assistance  in
connection  with filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC")
and meeting  with the  Joint  Audit Committee.  A  representative of  KPMG  Peat
Marwick is expected to be at the meeting and will have the opportunity to make a
statement and answer questions.
    RECOMMENDATION  AND VOTE  REQUIRED.  The  Board recommends that  you vote to
ratify the selection of the independent auditors. Ratification of the  selection
requires  a  vote by  a majority  of the  shares present  or represented  at the
meeting. If the selection of the independent auditors is not ratified, the Board
will consider what further action must be taken.

                     (3) APPROVE OR REJECT A NEW INVESTMENT
                       MANAGEMENT AND SERVICES AGREEMENT

    IDS has  provided  the  Funds investment  advice,  administrative  services,
transfer  agent services and distribution since the Funds began operation. These
services are now provided under four separate contracts.
    The Funds are  considering two  changes in their  current structure.  First,
they  are  considering issuing  multiple classes  of  shares. This  would permit
investors to choose when and how to  pay a sales charge. Second, at some  future
time,  the Funds  may separate the  asset management function  from the investor
services function, creating what  are known as  master/feeder funds. The  master
fund  will offer  its shares only  to other investment  companies and investment
groups including pension plans and trust accounts. The master/ feeder  structure
facilitates  the  use  of  a  number  of  different  distribution  channels. The
master/feeder structure will not necessarily be  used by all funds in the  GROUP
and will be implemented for the Funds only if the Board determines that it is in
the best interests of the Funds and their shareholders.

                                       9
<PAGE>
    In  order to proceed with the changes, new contracts with IDS are necessary.
Under the proposed contracts, based  on the net asset  values and the number  of
shareholder  accounts in the Funds in 1993, Aggressive Equity shareholders would
have paid  an additional  $2.30 for  each $1,000  invested. Equity  shareholders
would  have paid an additional $2.30. In  return for that increase, IDS believes
it can provide more and better services to shareholders.
    The proposed contracts  will become  effective only  if and  when the  Funds
issue  multiple classes of  shares. If the proposed  contracts are approved, the
Funds plan to offer multiple classes of shares before the end of March 1995.
    BOARD DELIBERATIONS.   In considering the  desirability of issuing  multiple
classes  of shares,  the members  of the Board  took several  steps. First, they
asked  the  Board's  Contracts  Committee,  composed  of  members  who  are  not
affiliated  with IDS  ("independent members"),  to test  and evaluate  a plan to
offer multiple classes of shares. The Committee determined that many  investment
companies  are  now  offering  multiple  classes  of  shares  because  they give
investors the choice  among several  sales load options.  Also, they  determined
that  issuing multiple classes of shares  enables an investment company to offer
shares more effectively  to institutional and  retirement accounts. Second,  the
Board  asked the Committee to consider terms of the new contracts. By the end of
1993, proposed contract terms were deemed sufficiently complete to be considered
and evaluated by all independent members of the Board. Third, the members of the
Board approved  the filing  of an  application with  the SEC  for the  necessary
authority   to  offer  multiple  classes  of  shares.  An  order  approving  the
application was granted  on March  16, 1994.  Fourth, the  Board authorized  the
Funds  to seek  a private  letter ruling  from the  Internal Revenue  Service to
assure the plan to  offer multiple classes  of shares would  not create any  tax
problems for the Funds or their shareholders. Multiple classes of shares will be
issued  only if that assurance is provided. If the private letter ruling has not
yet been issued at the  time the Fund intends  to implement multiple classes  of
shares, the Funds may rely on an opinion of tax counsel.
    In February, the independent members of the Board began an evaluation of the
plan  and the proposed contracts against two standards: first, they had to offer
important benefits both to  the Funds and their  shareholders and, second,  they
had  to be  fair to  the Funds  and their  shareholders. In  the course  of this
evaluation, independent members  met with representatives  of American  Express,
the  parent  company of  IDS,  and IDS  to discuss  the  business plans  of both
companies. Also, they reviewed the changes taking place in the money  management
industry  with  noted  research  analysts  and  industry  executives.  And, they
considered the benefits  existing shareholders derive  from continued growth  of
the Funds and tested the fairness of contract terms by employing the services of
consultants considered experts in their fields.

                                       10
<PAGE>
    Independent  members  of the  Board also  reviewed five  performance reports
prepared by IDS and an extensive review of those reports by Price Waterhouse,  a
service  it  has provided  the GROUP  in each  of  the past  13 years.  The five
reports, prepared for the Funds each year by IDS, cover investment  performance,
shareholder  services, compliance,  sales and marketing,  and IDS' profitability
from its relationships with all funds in the GROUP. In addition, they considered
information provided by IDS  in response to questions  asked by the  independent
members  and the  Funds' staff  and from various  periodic reports  given to the
Board or to committees of the Board.
    CURRENT  INVESTMENT  MANAGEMENT  AND  SERVICES  AGREEMENT.    Currently  IDS
provides  investment advice  and administrative services  to the  Funds under an
Investment Management and  Services Agreement  (the "IMS  Agreement") which  was
last  approved by shareholders on November  13, 1991. At that time, shareholders
approved a  change in  the rate  of the  fee payable  to IDS,  a change  in  the
language  pertaining  to  payment  of  expenses,  and  the  elimination  of  the
contractual provisions applicable  to services  provided as  transfer agent  and
dividend-disbursing  agent.  The  Funds and  IDS  then entered  into  a separate
Transfer Agent Agreement (the "TA Agreement").
    The fee paid IDS for  its services under the IMS  Agreement is based on  two
components.  The first component of the fee, a group asset charge, is based on a
graduated scale  applied  to  the  net  assets of  all  the  funds,  except  the
money-market  funds, in the GROUP.  The scale begins at  0.46% of net assets for
the first $5 billion and declines for each additional $5 billion until a fee  of
0.32%  is paid for  net assets exceeding  $50 billion. The  second component, an
individual asset charge, is calculated at a rate equal to 0.25% annually of  the
net  assets of Aggressive  Equity's and Equity's daily  net assets. The complete
group asset charge schedule  and net assets  for all funds  in the GROUP  appear
under  the caption "Certain  Information Concerning IDS"  which follows later in
this proxy statement.
    Each Fund pays  its taxes, brokerage  commissions and nonadvisory  expenses,
which  include  custodian  fees; audit  and  certain legal  fees;  fidelity bond
premiums; registration fees for shares; office expenses of the Fund;  consultant
fees;  compensation of Board members, officers  and employees (except anyone who
is also an officer,  director or employee of  IDS or its affiliates);  corporate
filing  fees; a portion of the Investment Company Institute dues; organizational
expenses; expenses incurred in connection with lending portfolio securities; and
other expenses properly payable by the Fund, approved by the Board.
    If, at the end  of any month, the  fees payable by each  Fund under the  IMS
Agreement  and its nonadvisory  expenses exceed the  most restrictive applicable
state expense limitation -- which at the  current time is 2.5% of the first  $30
million  of  the  average daily  net  assets, 2%  of  the next  $70  million and

                                       11
<PAGE>
1.5% of average daily  net assets over  $100 million on an  annual basis --  IDS
will  assume all expenses in excess of the limit. IDS then may bill the Fund for
those expenses in subsequent months up to  the end of that fiscal year, but  not
after that date.
    PROPOSED  INVESTMENT  MANAGEMENT  AND  SERVICES  AGREEMENT.    The  proposed
agreement covering investment advice and administration retains features of  the
current  IMS  Agreement. Under  the proposed  contract each  Fund pays  the same
expenses it now pays, and the services to be provided by IDS are the same.  But,
there  are also two important differences. The fee is based solely on the assets
of each Fund, not on  assets of the GROUP and  on the unique characteristics  of
each Fund, including the Fund's use of the services provided by IDS in the areas
of  investment research, portfolio management and investment services. Moreover,
the contract  is  designed  to  become  two  separate  contracts  if  the  Board
ultimately  approves  a master/  feeder structure.  A copy  of the  proposed IMS
Agreement is set forth as Exhibit A. The proposed fee is shown below:

                                  PROPOSED FEE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
      Aggressive Equity                      Equity
- ------------------------------  --------------------------------
 Assets    Annual Rate At Each    Assets     Annual Rate At Each
(Billions)     Asset Level      (Billions)       Asset Level
- ---------  -------------------  -----------  -------------------
<S>        <C>                  <C>          <C>
First $1            0.65%       First $0.5            0.57%
Next $1             0.62        Next $0.5             0.54
Next $1             0.59        Next $1               0.51
Next $3             0.56        Next $1               0.48
Over $6             0.53        Next $3               0.45
                                Over $6               0.42
</TABLE>

    For Aggressive Equity,  based on the  current net assets  in the GROUP,  the
effective  rate paid by  the Fund under  the current IMS  Agreement is 0.63% and
under the proposed IMS Agreement is 0.65%. For Equity, based on the current  net
assets  in the GROUP, the effective rate paid  by the Fund under the current IMS
Agreement is 0.54% and under the proposed IMS Agreement is 0.57%. Should the IMS
Agreement  become  two   separate  contracts,   the  fee   for  accounting   and
administration would be as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
     Aggressive Equity                    Equity
- ----------------------------  ------------------------------
 Assets     Annual Rate At      Assets      Annual Rate At
(Billions) Each Asset Level   (Billions)   Each Asset Level
- ---------  -----------------  -----------  -----------------
<S>        <C>                <C>          <C>
First $1          0.050%      First $0.5          0.040%
Next $1           0.045       Next $0.5           0.035
Next $1           0.040       Next $1             0.030
Next $3           0.035       Next $1             0.025
Over $6           0.030       Next $3             0.020
                              Over $6             0.020
</TABLE>

                                       12
<PAGE>
The  fee for investment advice would be the same as it is under the proposed IMS
Agreement less  those amounts.  In subsequent  years, the  Board could  consider
changing the fees for administration without shareholder approval.
    On  July 31, 1994,  Aggressive Equity's daily  net assets were approximately
$    billion; for 1993, approximately $0.6 billion; and for 1992,  approximately
$0.5  billion. On  July 31, 1994,  Equity's daily net  assets were approximately
$    billion; for 1993, approximately $0.8 billion; and for 1992,  approximately
$0.6 billion.
    The  Board's independent members based their  evaluation of the proposed IMS
Agreement  on  a  number  of  factors.  The  IDS  annual  report  on  investment
performance  describes  the total  return of  each  of the  funds in  the GROUP;
reviews IDS'  organizational  structure and  the  performance of  the  portfolio
managers;  and provides other information about  IDS' qualifications to serve as
investment advisor.  Periodic reports  to committees  of the  Board reflect  the
ability  of IDS to actually carry out the duties of administrator which include,
among other things, pricing portfolios, maintaining accurate accounting records,
issuing timely financial and tax reports,  and complying with federal and  state
requirements. Terms of the proposed contract, especially the graduated fee scale
and  the types of  expenses paid by the  Funds, were compared  to those of other
investment companies deemed by a respected, independent industry authority  most
comparable  to the  Funds. The  independent members  concluded that  IDS has the
qualifications needed to serve the Funds as investment adviser and administrator
under the IMS Agreement. Overall the funds in the GROUP have benefited from IDS'
accurate and  timely recordkeeping  and, as  a GROUP,  a majority  of funds  are
consistently in the second quartile of their competitive groupings.
    NEW  CONTRACTS TO  BE APPROVED  BY THE BOARD.   If  shareholders approve the
proposed IMS Agreement, the Board will approve the other contracts necessary for
issuing multiple classes  of shares.  The Fund intends  to offer  shares with  a
front-end  sales charge and  a service fee  (Class A), a  rear-end sales charge,
service fee and 12b-1  fee (Class B) and,  for certain institutional  retirement
and  fixed fee accounts, no sales charge or service fee (Class Y). The contracts
the Board will approve  are discussed below. For  most shareholders, the  shares
you  currently own will become Class B shares. Shareholders entitled to a waiver
of the sales charge will receive Class A shares.
    - TRANSFER AGENT SERVICES.  The Board reviewed the annual report provided by
IDS with  respect  to  the  scope  and  quality  of  the  services  it  provides
shareholders  as transfer agent. The report describes the standards by which IDS
measures the quality of transfer agent services and assesses how well it has met
those  standards.  The  report  describes  the  types  of  services  IDS  offers
(including   providing  shareholders  with  an   average  cost  basis  of  their
investments in  the Funds  made over  time) and  compares them  to the  services
offered by others.

                                       13
<PAGE>
    Under  the proposed TA  Agreement, IDS will be  paid a fee  by the Funds for
these services out of the assets of Class A shares determined by multiplying the
number of Class A shareholder  accounts by $15 and, from  the assets of Class  B
shares, by multiplying the Class B accounts by $16 and, from the assets of Class
Y  shares, by multiplying the Class Y accounts  by $15. The members of the Board
will approve the proposed TA Agreement if shareholders approve the proposed  IMS
Agreement.  The TA Agreement is reviewed annually. It may be changed at any time
by agreement between the IDS and the Funds.
    - DISTRIBUTION.    The  distribution  contract between  IDS  and  the  Funds
provides  that IDS has the  exclusive right to act  as principal underwriter for
the Funds. The contract will be modified to reflect the changes that result from
implementation of the multiple class structure.
    - BROKERAGE.   Each Fund  executes portfolio  transactions through  American
Enterprise Investment Services Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of IDS. Execution
of  the Funds' portfolio transactions through  other brokerage firms enables IDS
to receive services, such as market research, that benefit the Funds.
    - CUSTODIAN.  IDS Trust  Company serves as custodian  for the assets of  the
Funds.  The contract  is reviewed annually  to determine that  IDS Trust Company
provides required custodial  services at  least equal  in scope  and quality  to
those  provided by others at rates that are  fair and reasonable in light of the
usual and customary charges made by others.
    - MERGERS AND FUND NAME CHANGES.   If approved by shareholders, at the  time
the multiple class structure is implemented, the other three funds making up the
Corporation  will  be  merged  with  other  IDS  funds  with  similar investment
objectives and  policies. The  Corporation  originally was  formed in  order  to
provide  investors with an  alternative method of paying  the sales charge. Once
the multiple class structure is implemented,  it will no longer be necessary  to
offer separate funds in order to give investors that flexibility. The Funds will
change  their names to avoid confusion with other funds in the GROUP. Aggressive
Equity will be renamed IDS Strategy Aggressive Fund. Equity will be renamed  IDS
Equity Value Fund.

                                       14
<PAGE>
    CURRENT  AND PRO FORMA DATA.  For  the last calendar year, fees and expenses
the Funds actually paid as well as  fees and expenses the Funds would have  paid
if  the proposed  IMS Agreement,  proposed distribution  and shareholder service
agreements (described  in Proposal  6) and  proposed TA  Agreement had  been  in
effect are shown below:

                                 FUND EXPENSES

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                     Aggressive Equity                 Equity
                                 --------------------------  --------------------------
                                                Pro Forma                   Pro Forma
                                    Actual       Class B        Actual       Class B
                                 ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------
<S>                              <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>
Shareholder Transaction Expense  $  1,759,851  $  1,759,851  $  2,004,145  $  2,004,145
Annual Operating Expenses
  IMS Agreement                     3,802,372     3,903,297     4,511,247     4,636,918
  12b-1 Plan                        4,270,139     4,503,804     5,857,838     6,231,831
  Other Expenses                      535,283       535,283       744,236       744,236
Total Fund Operating Expenses      10,367,645    11,753,123    13,117,466    15,071,224
</TABLE>

    EXAMPLE:  Suppose for each year for the  next 10 years, fund expenses are as
above and their annual return is 5%. If  you sold your shares at the end of  the
following years, for each $1,000 invested, you would pay total expenses of:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                       1 year       3 years      5 years     10 years
                                     -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
<S>                                  <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
Aggressive Equity                     $      69    $     108    $     151    $     268
Equity                                $      67    $     104    $     143    $     253
</TABLE>

    For  the fiscal year ended March 31,  1994, IDS received fees from the Funds
as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                            Aggressive
                                              Equity          Equity
                                         ----------------  ------------
<S>                                      <C>               <C>
IMS Agreement                              $  3,959,394    $  4,938,986
12b-1 Plan                                    4,455,232       6,464,137
TA Agreement                                  1,796,377       2,116,737
</TABLE>

    If the proposed IMS Agreement  had been in effect,  in the last fiscal  year
Aggressive  Equity would  have paid $4,086,301  to IDS under  that agreement, an
increase of 3.2%. Equity would have paid $5,092,112, an increase of 3.1%.
    In addition, IDS Financial Services Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of  IDS,
received  $544,083  from Aggressive  Equity and  $551,640  from Equity  in sales
charges.
    BASIS OF RECOMMENDATION  BY THE  BOARD ON THE  PROPOSED IMS  AGREEMENT.   In
reaching its recommendation to shareholders, the members of the Board considered
the  scope and quality of  all services IDS has  provided and expects to provide
under the proposed contracts. They considered IDS'

                                       15
<PAGE>
present distribution strategies, its past success and its willingness to  invest
additional  resources in developing  new markets for the  Funds. They noted IDS'
commitment to  compliance  with all  applicable  laws and  regulations  and  the
benefits  IDS  receives  from  its relationships  with  the  Funds.  The members
considered  IDS'  investment   performance;  the  Funds'   expense  ratio;   the
profitability IDS realizes from its investment company operations; and the trend
of  IDS profitability from fund  operations as well as  that of other investment
managers. The members of the Board concluded the services provided, measured  in
both  scope and  quality, have  been above  average in  the industry; investment
performance for all funds  in the GROUP  in most years  has been consistent  and
generally  above the median of  a group of competitive  funds; the expense ratio
remains in line with  other funds; and IDS'  profitability is not  unreasonable.
Based  on its conclusions, the  members of the Board  have approved the proposed
IMS Agreement and recommend unanimously that the shareholders approve it.
    On May 12,  1994, at a  meeting called  for the purpose  of considering  the
proposed  IMS Agreement, the independent  members first and then  the Board as a
whole, by  vote,  cast  in  person,  approved the  terms  of  the  proposed  IMS
Agreement.  After the second year, the proposed IMS Agreement will continue from
year to year provided  continuance is approved at  least annually by the  Board.
The  proposed  IMS Agreement  may be  terminated without  penalty either  by the
Board, by IDS or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of a Fund.
    RECOMMENDATION AND VOTE REQUIRED.  The Board recommends that shareholders of
each Fund approve the proposed IMS Agreement. Approval requires the  affirmative
vote  of the majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund which the Investment
Company Act  of 1940  (the "1940  Act") defines  as 67%  or more  of the  shares
represented  at the  meeting held  to consider  the issue  if more  than 50% are
represented or more than 50% of the shares entitled to vote, whichever is less.

               (4) APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE A NEW INVESTMENT POLICY
              TO PERMIT THE FUND TO INVEST ALL OF ITS ASSETS IN AN
                 INVESTMENT COMPANY WITH SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME
                      INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES, POLICIES AND
                            RESTRICTIONS AS THE FUND

    As discussed  in  Proposal  3 above,  at  some  future time  the  Board  may
determine  that it is in the best interests of each Fund and its shareholders to
create what is known as a master/feeder fund structure. Such a structure  allows
several  investment companies  and other  investment groups,  including pensions
plans and  trust accounts,  to have  their investment  portfolios managed  as  a
combined pool called the master fund. The purpose of the structure is to achieve
operational efficiencies.

                                       16
<PAGE>
    Currently,  the Funds'  investment policies,  including those  pertaining to
investing all of  its assets in  one company, would  prohibit the  master/feeder
structure. The Board recommends that shareholders adopt the following investment
policy:  "NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OF THE FUND'S  OTHER INVESTMENT POLICIES, THE FUND
MAY INVEST  ITS  ASSETS IN  AN  OPEN-END MANAGEMENT  INVESTMENT  COMPANY  HAVING
SUBSTANTIALLY  THE SAME INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES,  POLICIES AND RESTRICTIONS AS THE
FUND FOR THE PURPOSE OF HAVING THOSE ASSETS MANAGED AS PART OF A COMBINED POOL."
    Adoption of this  policy will permit  each Fund  to invest its  assets in  a
master  fund, without any additional vote of shareholders. The Fund's operations
and shareholder  services will  not  be affected.  Even  though the  assets  are
invested  in  securities  of  the  master fund,  you  will  continue  to receive
information about the underlying investments the same as you now receive in your
annual and semi-annual reports. Proposal 3 discusses that the IMS Agreement will
become two agreements, the Investment Advisory Agreement and the  Administration
Agreement,  if the Board determines to  create the master/feeder structure. Fees
and expenses are not expected to increase as a result of that split.
    RECOMMENDATION AND VOTE  REQUIRED.  The  Board recommends that  shareholders
approve the new investment policy. Approval requires the affirmative vote of 67%
or  more  of  the  shares  represented  at the  meeting  if  more  than  50% are
represented or more than 50% of the shares entitled to vote, whichever is  less.
If  the change is not  approved, the Funds will continue  to operate in the same
fashion as they are now operating.

             (5) APPROVE OR REJECT CHANGES TO FUNDAMENTAL POLICIES

    Each Fund has a number of investment policies that can be changed only  with
approval  of  shareholders.  These  policies are  referred  to  as "fundamental"
policies.  Policies  that  can  be  changed  by  the  Board  are  called   "non-
fundamental".  The Board recommends changing  the fundamental policies described
below. The  policies were  established a  number of  years ago.  New  investment
strategies  and new investment instruments continue to be created and developed.
If the policies  are changed to  non-fundamental or revised,  the Board will  be
able to change those policies in order to allow the Funds the flexibility to use
those  strategies  and  instruments  promptly  without  incurring  the  cost  of
shareholder  meetings.  Some  policies  were  established  to  conform  to   the
requirements of federal or state law that existed at the time. These policies do
not  need to be fundamental under those laws and, if changed to non-fundamental,
the Board could react to changes in the laws.
    A.  PERMIT THE FUND TO PLEDGE  ASSETS AS COLLATERAL TO THE EXTENT  PERMITTED
BY  THE BOARD.  Each Fund is  prohibited from pledging more than    % of its
assets  as  collateral  for   loans  or  other  purposes.   If  the  policy   is

                                       17
<PAGE>
changed  to non-fundamental, when appropriate, the  Board would be able to raise
or lower the maximum percentage in  order to implement investment strategies  or
to meet other possible needs.
    B.  PERMIT THE BOARD TO CHANGE THE LIMIT ON INVESTMENTS IN ISSUERS WITH LESS
THAN THREE YEARS OF OPERATING HISTORY.  The Funds may not invest more than 5% of
their      assets  in companies  that have  less than  three years  of operating
history. This percentage currently is set by a state law which may change in the
future. If the policy is made non-fundamental and the state changes its law, the
Board could take such action as appropriate.
    C.  PERMIT THE BOARD TO ESTABLISH POLICIES FOR INVESTING IN OTHER INVESTMENT
COMPANIES.  Each Fund is prohibited from investing in other investment companies
except by purchases in the open market where the dealer's or sponsor's profit is
the regular commission. This policy  was adopted to conform  to a state law.  It
may  be appropriate  to make  such investments  in ways  other than  open market
purchases in the  future if the  state changes  its position. If  the policy  is
changed to non-fundamental, the Board could react to changes by the state.
    D.   PERMIT  THE BOARD  TO ESTABLISH  POLICIES WHEN  THE FUND  COULD MAKE AN
INVESTMENT FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXERCISING CONTROL OR MANAGING THE COMPANY.   Each
Fund is prohibited from making investments to control or manage a company. While
it  is not  the intent  of the  Funds to  control or  manage a  company and they
generally are precluded from doing so by various laws, from time to time one  of
their  investments  may  experience financial  difficulties.  It may  be  in the
interest of the Funds to  make an additional investment  while at the same  time
asserting some influence regarding management.
    E.   PERMIT  THE BOARD TO  ESTABLISH POLICIES  FOR INVESTING IN  OIL, GAS OR
OTHER MINERAL  EXPLORATION OR  DEVELOPMENT  PROGRAMS.   Currently, a  state  law
limits  investments by  each Fund  in oil, gas  or other  mineral exploration or
development  programs.  Should  the  law  change,  the  Board  could   establish
appropriate guidelines.
    F.  PERMIT THE BOARD TO ESTABLISH RESTRICTIONS ON OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES OF
COMPANIES  WHOSE SECURITIES ARE OWNED OR MAY BE  PURCHASED BY THE FUND.  Under a
state law, the Funds may not purchase  the securities of a company if  officers,
members of the Board and IDS together own more than 5% of the securities of that
company.  If the  law should change,  the Board could  establish appropriate new
limits.
    G.  REVISE THE FUNDAMENTAL POLICY ON MAKING LOANS.  Currently, each Fund has
a fundamental policy prohibiting  it from making cash  loans. It is proposed  to
revise the policy to state that "THE FUND MAY MAKE CASH LOANS, PROVIDED THAT THE
TOTAL  COMMITMENT AMOUNT  DOES NOT  EXCEED 5%  OF THE  FUND'S TOTAL  ASSETS." In
certain circumstances a Fund may make investments, such as purchasing short-term
debt instruments from banks,  that may be considered  cash loans. The Fund  will
not make loans to affiliated companies or to any individual.

                                       18
<PAGE>
    H.   REVISE THE FUNDAMENTAL POLICY ON  INVESTING IN REAL ESTATE.  Currently,
the Fund has a fundamental policy that states that the Fund will not buy or sell
real estate, commodities or commodity contracts, except the Fund may enter  into
futures  contracts. It is  proposed to separate  the policy into  two parts. The
commodities policy will remain unchanged. The real estate policy will be revised
as follows: "THE FUND  WILL NOT BUY  OR SELL REAL ESTATE,  UNLESS ACQUIRED AS  A
RESULT  OF OWNERSHIP OF  SECURITIES OR OTHER INSTRUMENTS,  EXCEPT THIS SHALL NOT
PREVENT THE FUND  FROM INVESTING IN  SECURITIES OR OTHER  INSTRUMENTS BACKED  BY
REAL ESTATE OR SECURITIES OF COMPANIES ENGAGED IN THE REAL ESTATE BUSINESS." The
Fund  does not expect  to hold real  estate directly. However,  it may invest in
securities issued or guaranteed by companies engaged in acquiring, constructing,
financing, developing or operating real  estate projects, including real  estate
investment trusts (REITs).
    RECOMMENDATION  AND VOTE REQUIRED.   The Board  recommends that shareholders
approve the  proposed  changes in  each  Fund's fundamental  policies.  Approval
requires  the affirmative vote of  67% or more of  the shares represented at the
meeting if more than 50% are represented or more than 50% of the shares entitled
to vote, whichever  is less. If  the changes  are not approved,  the Funds  will
continue to operate in accordance with its current investment policies.

                (6) APPROVE OR REJECT A NEW PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

    CURRENT  PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION.   Shares of the Funds  are distributed by IDS
Financial Services Inc. pursuant to a Distribution Agreement. In addition, under
a Plan of Distribution (the "Plan") that complies with the requirements of  Rule
12b-1  of the 1940 Act, IDS is paid  a distribution fee by the Funds which helps
to defray the portion of its costs of distribution which are not covered by  the
contingent deferred sales charge received under the Distribution Agreement.
    Under  the current Plan, each Fund pays IDS  a distribution fee of 1%, on an
annual basis, that is charged to each  Fund based on whichever of the  following
alternatives  results in the lower fee: (a) the Fund's average daily net assets,
or (b) the net asset value, as of the date of purchase from the Fund  ("original
net asset value"), of all of a Fund's shares since it began doing business minus
the  original  net  asset  value  of all  shares  which  have  been  redeemed or
transferred to another Fund. IDS then combines this amount and its own resources
to maintain and improve its services to shareholders and to finance the sale  of
the  Funds'  shares.  The  services  provided  by  IDS'  representatives include
assisting  investors  with  new  account  applications,  exchange  requests  and
redemption  requests, and answering shareholders'  questions about the Funds and
their operations and about their individual

                                       19
<PAGE>
investment programs.  IDS provides  a written  analysis to  the Board  quarterly
regarding the amounts expensed and the purposes of the expenditures. The current
Plan was last approved by shareholders of the Funds on July 10, 1985.
    PROPOSED PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION.  The proposed Plan will apply only to Class B
shares. For most shareholders the shares you own will become Class B shares when
the  Funds begin offering multiple classes of shares as discussed in Proposal 3.
Shareholders entitled to a waiver of the CDSC will receive Class A shares. Under
the Plan, each Fund will pay IDS 0.75% of the assets of that class each year  to
cover  the sales  costs IDS incurs.  After eight  years, Class B  shares will be
converted to Class A shares. Class  B shares redeemed before being converted  to
Class  A shares will be assessed a  contingent deferred sales charge designed to
approximate the sales charge that would have been paid had the shares been  held
for eight years. The sales charges for Class A and Class B shares are structured
so  that investors will have approximately the  same total returns at the end of
eight years regardless of which class is chosen.
    In order for the Plan to continue in effect for more than one year from  the
date  of  its adoption,  it must  be approved  at least  annually by  the Board,
including a majority of the independent members. The Plan may not be amended  to
increase materially the amount to be spent for distribution by the Funds without
the approval of a majority of the independent members and the Funds' outstanding
shares.  The Plan may be terminated at any time by a majority of the outstanding
shares, by a majority of the independent members, or by IDS.
    SHAREHOLDER SERVICE AGREEMENT.  The  proposed Plan differs from the  current
Plan  in  the  rate  of the  fee  and  in  that the  proposed  Plan  covers only
distribution  expenses.  IDS  will  be  compensated  for  expenses  incurred  in
servicing  shareholder  accounts  under a  shareholder  service  agreement. That
agreement does not cover any distribution costs  and is not a 12b-1 plan.  Under
the  shareholder service agreement,  the Funds will  pay 0.15% of  net assets of
accounts holding Class A or Class B shares directly for the benefit of  planners
and  servicing agents for the services they provide shareholders. The Funds also
will pay  IDS  0.025%  for  use  in  monitoring  those  services  and  providing
additional  training and support to planners  and servicing agents to assure the
Fund shareholders receive good  service. The services  provided are designed  to
help  shareholders consider thoughtfully their  investment goals and monitor the
progress they  are making  in achieving  those  goals. Each  Fund will  pay  the
service  fee only with respect to net assets of accounts actually serviced by an
IDS planner or other servicing agents. The  fee will not be used to finance  the
sale of shares.
    Financial  information showing  the effect  of the  proposed change  and the
amounts paid by  the Funds to  IDS under the  Plan for the  last fiscal year  is
included in the paragraph called CURRENT AND PRO FORMA DATA in Proposal 3 above.

                                       20
<PAGE>
    BASIS  OF RECOMMENDATION  BY BOARD.   The  independent members  of the Board
concluded that  the proposed  Plan  should contribute  to positive  cash  flows,
growing  asset size,  and services  of enhanced  scope and  quality that  can be
provided by a  growing and  profitable investment manager  and distributor.  The
ability  to offer multiple classes of shares should help IDS develop new markets
for the Funds in light of current  trends in the investment market. The  members
of  the  Board  have  approved  the adoption  of  the  multiple  class structure
believing that it serves the best interest of the Funds and their  shareholders.
In  evaluating the  proposed service  contract, the  independent members  of the
Board considered both  the general  use of  such fees  in the  industry and  the
proposed  level in relation to the services provided and similar fees charged by
others. They concluded the services contemplated will provide important benefits
to shareholders and that the terms of the proposed contract are fair both to the
Funds and their shareholders. Accordingly,  the Board will approve the  contract
for shareholder services if shareholders approve the proposed Plan.
    At  a meeting held  on June    , 1994,  the Board of  each Fund, including a
majority of the  independent members,  voted to  approve the  proposed Plan  and
determined that the proposed Plan was reasonably likely to benefit the Funds and
their shareholders.
    RECOMMENDATION AND VOTE REQUIRED.  The Board recommends that shareholders of
each  Fund approve the proposed Plan.  Approval requires the affirmative vote of
67% or  more of  the shares  represented at  the meeting  if more  than 50%  are
represented  or more than 50% of the shares entitled to vote, whichever is less.
If the Plan is not  approved by the shareholders,  the Board will consider  what
further action must be taken.

                                       21
<PAGE>
                       CERTAIN INFORMATION CONCERNING IDS

    IDS  is the adviser or subadviser for the 42 funds in the GROUP. The size of
each fund, as of  July 31, 1994, and  the fee schedule for  each fund under  its
management agreement are shown below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name                        Net Assets
- -----------------------  ----------------
<S>                      <C>
Publicly Offered Funds
 (Non-Money Market):
- --------------------
Blue Chip
  Advantage............  $
Bond...................
California
  Tax-Exempt...........
Discovery..............
Diversified Equity
  Income...............
Equity Plus............
Extra Income...........
Federal Income.........
Global Bond............
Global Growth..........
Growth.................
High Yield.............
Insured
  Tax-Exempt...........
International..........
Managed
  Retirement...........
Massachusetts
  Tax-Exempt...........

<CAPTION>
Name                        Net Assets
- -----------------------  ----------------
<S>                      <C>

Michigan
  Tax-Exempt...........  $
Minnesota
  Tax-Exempt...........
Mutual.................
New Dimensions.........
New York
  Tax-Exempt...........
Ohio
  Tax-Exempt...........
Precious Metals........
Progressive............
Selective..............
Stock..................
Strategy --
  Aggressive Equity....
  Equity...............
  Income...............
  Short-Term Income....
  Worldwide Growth.....
Tax-Exempt Bond........
Utilities Income.......
</TABLE>

Life Funds Offered Only Through Annuities
 (Non-Money Market):
- --------------------

<TABLE>
<S>                <C>
Aggressive
  Growth.........  $
Capital
  Resource.......

International
  Equity.........  $
Managed..........
Special Income...
</TABLE>

                                       22
<PAGE>
Group Asset Charge
- ----------------------------------------------------------------

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Group Assets
    (in        Annual Rate at      Effective
 billions)    Each Asset Level    Annual Rate
- ------------  -----------------  -------------
<S>           <C>                <C>
First $5               0.46%           0.46 %
Next $5                0.44            0.45
Next $5                0.42            0.44
Next $5                0.40            0.43
Next $5                0.39            0.422
Next $5                0.38            0.415
Next $5                0.36            0.407
Next $5                0.35            0.40
Next $5                0.34            0.393
Next $5                0.33            0.387
Over $50               0.32
</TABLE>

Individual Asset Charge
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
(% of average daily net assets)

<TABLE>
<S>                       <C>
Blue Chip Advantage.....       0.10%
Bond....................       0.13
California Tax-Exempt...       0.13
Discovery...............       0.23
Diversified Equity
  Income................       0.14
Equity Plus.............       0.14
Extra Income............       0.21
Federal Income..........       0.13
Global Bond.............       0.46
Global Growth...........       0.46
Growth..................       0.23
High Yield..............       0.11
Insured Tax-Exempt......       0.13
International...........       0.46
Managed Retirement......       0.14
Massachusetts
  Tax-Exempt............       0.13
Michigan
  Tax-Exempt............       0.13
Minnesota
  Tax-Exempt............       0.13
Mutual..................       0.14
New Dimensions..........       0.23%
New York
  Tax-Exempt............       0.13
Ohio Tax-Exempt.........       0.13
Precious Metals.........       0.46
Progressive.............       0.23
Selective...............       0.13
Stock...................       0.14
Strategy --
  Aggressive Equity.....       0.23
  Equity................       0.14
  Income................       0.13
  Short-Term Income.....       0.13
  Worldwide Growth......       0.46
Tax-Exempt Bond.........       0.13
Utilities Income........       0.14
Life Aggressive
  Growth................       0.25
Life Capital Resource...       0.25
Life International
  Equity................       0.50
Life Managed............       0.25
Life Special Income.....       0.25
</TABLE>

- ----------------------------------------------------------------

Money Market Funds:
- -------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name                        Net Assets
- -------------------------  ------------
<S>                        <C>
Cash
Planned Investment

<CAPTION>
Name                        Net Assets
- -------------------------  ------------
<S>                        <C>
Tax-Free
Life Moneyshare
</TABLE>

- ----------------------------------------------------------------

                                       23
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                  Asset Charge
                                      (in          Cash         Planned
Money Market Funds                 billions)     Tax-Free     Investment     Moneyshare
- --------------------------------  ------------  -----------  -------------  -------------
<S>                               <C>           <C>          <C>            <C>
Cash                              First $1            0.34%         0.20%         0.54 %
Planned Investment                Next 0.5            0.32          0.18          0.52
Tax-Free                          Next 0.5            0.30          0.16          0.50
Life Moneyshare                   Next 0.5            0.28          0.14          0.48
                                  Over 2.5            0.26          0.12          0.46
</TABLE>

    IDS  manages investments for its own  account and has an investment advisory
agreement with a  subsidiary, IDS  Certificate Company ("IDSC"),  a face  amount
certificate  company having total assets, as  of July 31, 1994, of approximately
$       .  The current advisory agreement  between IDS and  IDSC provides for  a
graduated  scale of  fees equal on  an annual basis  to 0.75% of  the first $250
million total book value (carrying  cost) of assets of  IDSC, 0.65% on the  next
$250 million, 0.55% on the next $250 million, 0.50% on the next $250 million and
0.45% on the value in excess of $1 billion. Not included in this computation are
mortgages, real estate and other assets on which IDSC pays a service fee leaving
a balance of approximately $      .
    IDS  has  advisory  agreements  to furnish  investment  advice  to  IDS Life
relative to investment of  the six Life  Funds in the  GROUP described above  as
well  as the three  additional funds listed  below. The fee  under each advisory
agreement is 0.25% of the Fund's average daily net assets. The size of the three
additional funds, as of July 31, 1994 is:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     Net Assets
                                                                   --------------
<S>                                                                <C>
IDS Life Variable Annuity A                                        $
IDS Life Variable Annuity B
IDS Life Series Fund, Inc. --
  Equity Portfolio
  Government Securities Portfolio
  Income Portfolio
  Managed Portfolio
  Money Market Portfolio]
</TABLE>

    In addition to the charges under the advisory agreement, IDS Life  Insurance
Company  ("IDS Life") charges Variable  Annuity Funds A and B  a fee equal on an
annual basis  to  1%  of  the  average net  assets  for  mortality  and  expense
assurance.
    IDS  is paid  at a  rate of 1%  of the  net assets  for providing investment
advice to Sunrise Fund which had net assets of $      as of July 31, 1994.
    PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF IDS.   David R. Hubers is President  and
Chief   Executive   Officer   of   IDS.  Listed   below   are   the   names  and

                                       24
<PAGE>
principal occupations of the  directors of IDS  as of July  31, 1994. Except  as
otherwise  noted below, the address of  each director is IDS Tower, Minneapolis,
MN 55440.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name and Address                         Principal Occupation
- ---------------------------------------  ---------------------------------------
<S>                                      <C>
Peter J. Anderson                        Sr. Vice President
Karl J. Breyer                           Sr. Vice President and General Counsel
James E. Choat                           Sr. Vice President
William H. Dudley                        Executive Vice President
Roger S. Edgar                           Sr. Vice President
Gordon L. Eid                            Sr. Vice President and Deputy General
                                           Counsel
Louis C. Fornetti                        Sr. Vice President and Chief Financial
                                           Officer
Harvey Golub                             Chairman, American Express
    American Express
    New York, New York
David R. Hubers                          President and Chief Executive Officer
Marietta L. Johns                        Sr. Vice President
Susan D. Kinder                          Sr. Vice President
Steven C. Kumagai                        Sr. Vice President
Peter A. Lefferts                        Sr. Vice President
Douglas A. Lennick                       Exec. Vice President
Jonathan S. Linen                        Vice Chairman, American Express
    American Express
    New York, New York

James A. Mitchell                        Exec. Vice President
Barry Murphy                             Sr. Vice President
Erven A. Samsel                          Sr. Vice President
R. Reed Saunders                         Sr. Vice President
Jeffrey E. Stiefler                      President, American Express
    American Express
    New York, New York
Fenton R. Talbot                         Sr. Vice President, American Express
    American Express
    New York, New York
John R. Thomas                           Sr. Vice President
Norman Weaver, Jr.                       Sr. Vice President
William N. Westhoff                      Sr. Vice President
Michael R. Woodward                      Sr. Vice President
</TABLE>

                                       25
<PAGE>
    IDS is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Express. American Express is  a
financial  services company located  at American Express  Tower, World Financial
Center, New York, New York.

                                 MISCELLANEOUS

    INVESTMENT DECISIONS, PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE.  Each investment
decision made for  each Fund is  made independently from  any decision made  for
another  fund  in the  GROUP  or other  account  advised by  IDS  or any  of its
subsidiaries. On occasion  a Fund and  one of the  other funds in  the GROUP  or
another client of the investment manager may simultaneously purchase or sell the
same  security. In that case, IDS executes the transaction in a manner which the
Fund agrees in  advance is fair.  Ordinarily, the transactions  of the Fund  and
another  fund or client of IDS will be  averaged as to price and allocated as to
amount between the  Fund and  the other  fund or  client pursuant  to a  formula
considered  equitable by  the parties to  the transactions.  Although sharing in
large transactions  may  at  times  adversely affect  the  price  or  volume  of
securities  purchased or  sold by the  Fund, the  Fund hopes to  gain an overall
advantage in execution.
    In selecting broker-dealers  to execute transactions,  IDS may consider  the
price  of the security, including commission or mark-up, the size and difficulty
of the  order,  the  reliability, integrity,  financial  soundness  and  general
operation  and execution capabilities  of the broker,  the broker's expertise in
particular markets, and research services provided by the broker.
    IDS is directed to use its best  efforts to obtain the best available  price
and  most favorable execution except where otherwise authorized by the Board. In
so doing,  if,  in  the  professional opinion  of  the  person  responsible  for
selecting  the broker  or dealer, several  firms can execute  the transaction on
that basis,  consideration will  be given  to those  firms that  offer  research
services.  Research services may be  used by IDS in  providing advice to all the
funds in the GROUP or to other accounts advised by IDS and, according to IDS, it
is not possible to relate the benefits to any particular fund or account.
    Research provided by  brokers supplements  the research  activities of  IDS.
Such  services include economic data  on, and analysis of,  the U.S. and foreign
economies;  information  on  specific  industries;  information  about  specific
companies, including earnings estimates; purchase recommendations for stocks and
bonds;  portfolio strategy services; political,  economic, business and industry
trend assessments;  historical  statistical information;  market  data  services
providing  information on specific issues and  prices; and technical analysis of
various aspects of the securities markets, including technical charts.  Research
services  may take  the form of  written reports, computer  software or personal
contact by telephone or at seminars or other meetings. IDS has obtained, and  in
the future may obtain, computer hardware from brokers, including but not limited
to personal computers, that will

                                       26
<PAGE>
be  used exclusively for investment  decision-making purposes, which include the
research, portfolio management and trading functions and such other services  to
the extent permitted under an interpretation by the SEC.
    The  Board also has adopted a policy  authorizing IDS to compensate a broker
for research services, or for brokerage  services, by paying a commission  which
might  not otherwise be charged or a commission in excess of that another broker
might charge to the extent authorized by law, if IDS determines, in good  faith,
that  the amount  of commission is  reasonable in  relation to the  value of the
brokerage or research services provided by a broker or dealer, viewed either  in
the light of that transaction or overall responsibilities of IDS to the funds in
the GROUP.
    When paying a commission that might not otherwise be charged or a commission
in  excess of the amount another broker might charge, IDS must follow procedures
authorized by the  Board. To date,  three procedures have  been authorized.  One
procedure  permits IDS to direct an order to  buy or sell a security traded on a
national securities exchange to a specific  broker for research services it  has
provided.  The second  procedure permits  IDS, in  order to  obtain research, to
direct an order  on an  agency basis to  buy or  sell a security  traded in  the
over-the-counter  market to a firm that does not make a market in that security.
The commission paid generally includes  compensation for research services.  The
third procedure permits IDS, in order to obtain research and brokerage services,
to cause a Fund to pay a commission in excess of the amount another broker might
have  charged. IDS  has assured  the Funds that  under all  three procedures the
amount of commission paid will be reasonable and competitive in relation to  the
value of the brokerage services performed or research provided.
    During  the last  fiscal year, Aggressive  Equity and  Equity paid brokerage
commissions aggregating $        and $        , respectively. Substantially  all
firms  through  whom  transactions  were  executed  provide  research  services.
Transactions amounting to $       , on  which $       in commissions were  paid,
were   specifically  directed  to  firms  for  Aggressive  Equity.  Transactions
amounting to  $         ,  on which  $         in  commissions were  paid,  were
specifically directed to firms for Equity.

                                       27
<PAGE>
    Certain   brokerage   transactions  were   executed   through  broker-dealer
affiliates of IDS as shown in the table below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                               Percent of
                                                                             Total Value of
                                                                              Trades Where
                                Nature of       Amount of    Percent of All   Commissions
Broker                        Affiliation*     Commissions    Commissions      Were Paid]
- --------------------------  -----------------  ------------  --------------  --------------
<S>                         <C>                <C>           <C>             <C>
AGGRESSIVE EQUITY
  Shearson Lehman Hutton,
    Inc...................              1       $
  American Enterprise
    Investment Services
    Inc...................              2
EQUITY
  American Enterprise
    Investment Services
    Inc...................              2
<FN>
 *   Nature of affiliation
(1)  Prior to                   , under common control with IDS as a  subsidiary
     of American Express
(2)  Wholly owned subsidiary of IDS.
</TABLE>

    These  transactions were executed  at rates determined  to be reasonable and
fair as  compared  to  the  rates  another  broker  would  charge,  pursuant  to
procedures adopted by the Board.
    OTHER BUSINESS.  At this time, the Board does not know of any other business
to  come before the  meetings. If something  does come up,  the proxies will use
their best judgment to vote for you on the matter.
    SIMULTANEOUS MEETINGS.  The regular meeting of shareholders of the Funds  is
called  to be held at  the same time as the  regular meetings of shareholders of
the other funds in the GROUP. It  is anticipated that all meetings will be  held
simultaneously.  If any  shareholder objects  to the  holding of  a simultaneous
meeting, the shareholder may move  for an adjournment of  a Fund's meeting to  a
time  immediately after the simultaneous meetings so  that a meeting of the Fund
may be held  separately. Should  such a  motion be  made, the  persons named  as
proxies  will take into consideration the  reasons for the objection in deciding
whether to vote in favor of the adjournment.
    SOLICITATION OF PROXIES.  The Board is  asking for your vote and for you  to
return  the  proxy card  by mail  as promptly  as possible.  The Funds  will pay

                                       28
<PAGE>
the expenses for the proxy material and the postage. Supplementary solicitations
may be  made by  mail, telephone,  telegraph or  personal contact  by  financial
planners. The expenses of supplementary solicitation will be paid by the Funds.
    SHAREHOLDER   PROPOSALS.    The  Funds  do  not  hold  regular  meetings  of
shareholders on an  annual basis.  Therefore, no  anticipated date  of the  next
regular meeting can be provided. If a shareholder has a proposal which she or he
feels  should be presented to all  shareholders, the shareholder should send the
proposal to the President  of the Funds.  The proposal will  be considered at  a
meeting  of the Board as soon as practicable.  Should it be a matter which would
have to be submitted to shareholders, it  will be presented at the next  special
or regular meeting of shareholders. In addition, should it be a matter which the
Board deems of such significance as to require a special meeting, such a meeting
will be called.
    ADJOURNMENT.   In  the event that  sufficient votes  in favor of  any of the
proposals set forth in  the Notice of  the Meeting and  Proxy Statement are  not
received by the time scheduled for the meeting, the persons named as proxies may
move  for one or more adjournments of the meeting for a period or periods of not
more than 60  days in the  aggregate to permit  further solicitation of  proxies
with  respect  to  any  of  the  proposals.  Any  adjournment  will  require the
affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present at the meeting. The persons
named as proxies will vote in favor  of adjournment those shares which they  are
entitled  to vote  which have voted  in favor  of the proposals.  They will vote
against any  adjournment those  proxies  which have  voted  against any  of  the
proposals. The costs of any additional solicitation and of any adjourned session
will be borne by the Funds.

By Order of the Board                                              LESLIE L. OGG
September 17, 1994                                              Secretary

IMPORTANT!  IF YOU DO NOT INTEND TO BE  AT THE MEETING IN PERSON, PLEASE FILL IN
AND SIGN THE ENCLOSED PROXY AND MAIL  IT AT ONCE. A RETURN ENVELOPE IS  ENCLOSED
FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE.

                                       29
<PAGE>
                           IDS FINANCIAL CORPORATION
                      CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
                               DECEMBER 31, 1993
                                 ($ THOUSANDS)

<TABLE>
<S>                                                         <C>
                                 ASSETS
Investments:
  Bonds, notes and stocks at amortized cost -- fair value
    $23,253,854...........................................   $22,156,263
  Other securities generally at cost -- fair value
    $214,108..............................................       191,718
  Mortgage loans -- fair value $2,301,866.................     2,231,302
Cash and cash equivalents.................................        90,715
Life insurance policy and investment certificate loans....       417,931
Accounts and notes receivable.............................       563,450
Deferred acquisition costs................................     1,746,291
Consumer loans............................................       296,161
Land, buildings and equipment -- less accumulated
  depreciation, $103,460..................................       213,984
Goodwill -- less accumulated amortization, $83,970........       251,897
Other assets..............................................       199,805
Assets held in segregated asset accounts -- primarily
  common stocks at market.................................     8,991,694
                                                            -------------
                                                             $37,351,211
                                                            -------------
                                                            -------------

                  LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY
Liabilities:
  Fixed annuity reserves..................................   $18,492,135
  Life and disability insurance reserves..................     3,169,569
  Investment certificate reserves.........................     2,751,825
  Career Distributors' Retirement Plan....................       234,112
  Open securities transactions............................       299,710
  Short-term borrowings...................................       302,894
  Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other
    liabilities...........................................       961,428
  Liabilities related to segregated asset accounts........     8,991,694
                                                            -------------
        Total liabilities.................................    35,203,367
                                                            -------------
Stockholder's Equity:
  Common stock -- $.01 par -- 100 shares authorized,
    issued and outstanding................................            --
  Additional paid-in capital..............................     1,150,119
  Net unrealized appreciation on equity securities........           114
  Retained earnings.......................................       997,611
                                                            -------------
        Total stockholder's equity........................     2,147,844
                                                            -------------
Commitments and contingencies.............................   $37,351,211
                                                            -------------
                                                            -------------
</TABLE>

        See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated balance sheet.

                                      F-1
<PAGE>
                           IDS FINANCIAL CORPORATION
                        NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
                                 BALANCE SHEET
                                 ($ THOUSANDS)

1.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
    IDS Financial Corporation (hereinafter referred to as IDS) is a wholly owned
subsidiary of American Express Company (parent).

    PRINCIPLES  OF  CONSOLIDATION.    The  accompanying  condensed  consolidated
balance sheet  is  prepared in  accordance  with generally  accepted  accounting
principles.  It includes the  accounts of IDS  and all of  its subsidiaries. All
material intercompany accounts have been eliminated in consolidation.

    ANNUITY ACCOUNTING.  Liabilities for  single premium deferred annuities  and
installment  annuities are accumulation values.  Liabilities for fixed annuities
in benefit status  are the present  value of future  benefits using  established
industry mortality tables.

    INSURANCE  ACCOUNTING.  Liabilities for  future benefits on traditional life
and disability income  and health  insurance policies  are generally  calculated
using   anticipated  rates  of  mortality,  morbidity,  policy  persistency  and
investment yields.  Liabilities  for  universal  life-type  life  insurance  are
accumulation values.

    DEFERRED   ACQUISITION  COSTS.    The   costs  of  acquiring  new  business,
principally sales compensation, policy issue  costs and underwriting, have  been
deferred on annuity, life insurance and other long-term products.

    For  annuities,  the costs  are amortized  in  relation to  surrender charge
revenue and a portion of the excess of investment income earned from  investment
of  contract considerations over  the interest credited  to contract owners. For
traditional life insurance, and disability income and health insurance policies,
the costs are  amortized over  an appropriate  period in  proportion to  premium
revenue.  For universal  life-type insurance, the  costs are  amortized over the
lives of the policies as a percentage of the estimated gross profits expected to
be realized on the policies.

    SEGREGATED ASSET ACCOUNTS.   Assets  and liabilities  related to  segregated
asset  accounts represent funds  held for the exclusive  benefit of the variable
annuity and variable life insurance contract owners.

    IDS makes contractual mortality assurances to the variable annuity  contract
owners that the net assets of the segregated asset accounts will not be affected
by  future variations in the actual life expectancy experience of the annuitants
and beneficiaries  from  the  mortality  assumptions  implicit  in  the  annuity
contracts.  IDS  makes  periodic fund  transfers  to, or  withdrawals  from, the
segregated asset accounts for such actuarial adjustments for variable  annuities
that   are   in   the  benefit   payment   period.  IDS   guarantees,   for  the

                                      F-2
<PAGE>
                           IDS FINANCIAL CORPORATION
                        NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
                           BALANCE SHEET -- CONTINUED
                                 ($ THOUSANDS)

1.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES -- CONTINUED
variable life insurance funds, the cost  of the contractual insurance rates  and
that  the death benefit will never be less than the death benefit at the date of
issuance.

    INVESTMENT  CERTIFICATES.    Investment  certificates  entitle   certificate
holders,  who have  either made lump-sum  or installment payments,  to receive a
definite sum  of  money  at  maturity. Payments  from  certificate  holders  are
credited  to  investment certificate  reserves. Investment  certificate reserves
accumulate at specified percentage rates of accumulation. For certificates  that
allow for the deduction of a surrender charge, cash surrender values may be less
than  accumulated  investment  certificate  reserves  prior  to  maturity dates.
Investment  certificate  reserves  are   maintained  for  advance  payments   by
certificate  holders, additional credits  granted and interest  accrued on each.
The payment distribution, reserve accumulation rates, cash surrender values  and
reserve  values, among other matters, are governed by the Investment Company Act
of 1940.

    GOODWILL.   Goodwill represents  the  unamortized excess  of cost  over  the
underlying  fair value  of the  net tangible  assets of  IDS as  of the  date of
acquisition by its parent. Goodwill is being amortized on a straight-line  basis
over the next 30 years.

    INCOME  TAXES.  IDS  taxable income is included  in the consolidated Federal
tax return of IDS' parent. Each eligible subsidiary of IDS' parent provides  for
income taxes on a separate return basis.

    INVESTMENTS.   Bonds  and notes,  mortgage-backed securities,  and preferred
stocks that either  must be redeemed  by the issuer  or may be  redeemed by  the
issuer  at  the holder's  request are  carried at  amortized cost.  The expected
maturities of  these  investments are,  for  the  most part,  matched  with  the
expected   payments  of  fixed  annuity,  life  and  disability  insurance,  and
investment certificate  future  benefits. IDS  has  the ability  to  hold  these
investments  to  their  maturities and  has  the  intent to  hold  them  for the
foreseeable future.  When there  is a  decline  in value,  which is  other  than
temporary, the investments are carried at estimated realizable value.

    Marketable  equity securities  of IDS and  its subsidiaries,  other than the
life insurance subsidiary, are carried at the lower of aggregate cost or  market
value.   Common  and  nonredeemable  preferred  stocks  of  the  life  insurance
subsidiary are  carried  at  market  value.  The  net  unrealized  appreciation/
depreciation  on such securities is included in stockholder's equity. When there
is a decline in value, which is other than temporary, the securities are carried
at estimated realizable value.

                                      F-3
<PAGE>
                           IDS FINANCIAL CORPORATION
                        NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
                           BALANCE SHEET -- CONTINUED
                                 ($ THOUSANDS)

1.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES -- CONTINUED
    Prepayments  are  anticipated  on  certain  investments  in  mortgage-backed
securities  in  determining  the  constant  effective  yield  used  to recognize
interest income. Prepayment  estimates are  based on  information received  from
brokerage firms which deal in mortgage-backed securities.

    INTEREST  RATE CAPS.  IDS purchases interest rate caps as protection against
exposed interest rate positions. Cost is amortized to the expiration dates on  a
straight-line basis. Benefits are recognized when realized.

    MORTGAGE LOANS.  Mortgage loans on real estate are carried at amortized cost
less  reserve for losses. When credit and economic evaluations of the underlying
real estate indicate a  loss on the  loan is likely to  occur, an allowance  for
such  loss is recorded. IDS generally stops accruing interest on loans for which
interest payments are delinquent more than three months.

    The estimated fair value of the mortgage loans is determined by a discounted
cash flow analysis using mortgage interest rates currently offered for mortgages
of similar maturities.

    LAND, BUILDINGS AND EQUIPMENT.  Land, buildings and equipment are carried at
cost less  accumulated depreciation.  IDS generally  utilizes the  straight-line
method of computing depreciation.

2.  QUALIFIED ASSETS AND ASSETS ON DEPOSIT
    IDS' subsidiary, IDS Certificate Company, has issued investment certificates
to  clients. The terms of the investment  certificates and the provisions of the
Investment Company Act of 1940 require the maintenance of qualified assets.  The
carrying  value of qualified  assets at December  31, 1993 aggregated $2,931,737
and exceeded legal requirements.

    Under the terms of the  investment certificates, the Investment Company  Act
of  1940, depository agreements  and the statutes of  various states relating to
investment certificates, assets are required to be on deposit with the states or
authorized depositories. Investments, mortgage loans and other assets on deposit
at December 31, 1993, aggregated $2,814,974 and exceeded legal requirements.

    IDS'  banking  subsidiaries  are  generally  required  to  maintain  reserve
balances  with the Federal Reserve Bank,  the Depository Trust Company and other
institutions. Based upon the  dollar volumes and  types of deposit  liabilities,
the subsidiaries maintained $1,373 in reserves at December 31, 1993.

3.  INVESTMENTS
    Fair  values of bonds and notes,  mortgage-backed securities, and common and
preferred  stocks   represent  quoted   market   prices  where   available.   In

                                      F-4
<PAGE>
                           IDS FINANCIAL CORPORATION
                        NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
                           BALANCE SHEET -- CONTINUED
                                 ($ THOUSANDS)

3.  INVESTMENTS -- CONTINUED
the  absence of  quoted market prices,  estimated fair values  are determined by
established procedures involving, among other things, review of market  indices,
price  levels of  current offerings and  comparable issues,  price estimates and
market data from independent brokers.

    Fair values,  and gross  unrealized gains  and losses  of bonds,  notes  and
stocks carried at amortized cost at December 31, 1993 were:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  Gross         Gross
                                                    Fair        Unrealized   Unrealized
                                     Cost           Value         Gains        Losses
                                 -------------  -------------  ------------  -----------
<S>                              <C>            <C>            <C>           <C>
Mortgage-backed Securities       $  10,697,725  $  10,995,052  $    358,609   $  61,284
Corporate Bonds and Obligations     10,373,609     11,112,009       792,684      54,282
Preferred Stocks                       801,747        839,941        40,851       2,657
State and Municipal Obligations        258,447        283,010        24,602          39
U.S. Government Agency
 Obligations                            24,735         23,842           484       1,377
                                 -------------  -------------  ------------  -----------
Total Debt Securities            $  22,156,263  $  23,253,854  $  1,217,230   $ 119,639
                                 -------------  -------------  ------------  -----------
                                 -------------  -------------  ------------  -----------
</TABLE>

    Contractual  maturities of debt  securities carried at  amortized cost as of
December 31, 1993 are:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       Fair
                                                        Cost           Value
                                                    -------------  -------------
<S>                                                 <C>            <C>
Due within 1 year                                   $     553,129  $     558,107
Due after 1 year through 5 years                        2,062,332      2,174,664
Due after five years through 10 years                   6,107,705      6,581,514
Due after 10 years                                      2,735,372      2,944,517
                                                    -------------  -------------
                                                       11,458,538     12,258,802
Mortgage-backed Securities                             10,697,725     10,995,052
                                                    -------------  -------------
Total Debt Securities                               $  22,156,263  $  23,253,854
                                                    -------------  -------------
                                                    -------------  -------------
</TABLE>

    (The timing  of  actual receipts  will  differ from  contractual  maturities
because issuers may call or prepay obligations.)

    At  December 31, 1993, IDS had a  valuation allowance of $114 reflecting the
net unrealized appreciation of equity securities  carried at fair value at  that
date.  The amount is net  of $160 of gross  unrealized appreciation and deferred
taxes of $46.

    IDS will  implement,  effective  January 1,  1994,  Statement  of  Financial
Accounting  Standards  No.  115,  "Accounting for  Certain  Investments  in Debt

                                      F-5
<PAGE>
                           IDS FINANCIAL CORPORATION
                        NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
                           BALANCE SHEET -- CONTINUED
                                 ($ THOUSANDS)

3.  INVESTMENTS -- CONTINUED
and Equity Securities". Under the new  rules, debt securities that IDS has  both
the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity will be carried at amortized
cost.  Debt securities that IDS does not have the positive intent and ability to
hold to  maturity,  as  well  as  all  marketable  equity  securities,  will  be
classified  as  available  for  sale  or  trading  and  carried  at  fair value.
Unrealized gains and losses on securities classified as available for sale  will
be  carried as a separate component  of Shareholder's Equity. Unrealized holding
gains and  losses  on securities  classified  as  trading will  be  reported  in
earnings.  The effect of the new rules  will be to increase Shareholder's Equity
by approximately  $200  million,  net of  taxes,  as  of January  1,  1994.  The
measurement  of unrealized securities gains  (losses) in Shareholder's Equity is
affected by market conditions, and therefore, subject to volatility.

    Other securities,  at cost,  include shares  in affiliated  mutual funds  at
December 31, 1993 of $106,131. The fair value was $115,465.

    Included  in bonds and notes at December  31, 1993 are interest rate caps at
amortized cost  of  $51,733 with  an  estimated  fair value  of  $21,117.  These
interest  rate caps carry a notional amount  of $5,570,000 and expire on various
dates from 1994 to 1998.
4.  SHORT-TERM BORROWINGS
    IDS has  lines of  credit with  various banks  totaling $495,000,  of  which
$302,894 was outstanding at December 31, 1993. $75,000 of the amount outstanding
was  borrowed from a  related party. The  weighted average interest  rate on the
borrowings was 3.71 percent at December 31, 1993.

    IDS has  entered into  an  interest rate  swap  agreement expiring  in  1999
enabling  it  to convert  $21,000  of its  variable-rate  borrowings to  a fixed
interest rate  of 8.88  percent. IDS  has estimated  the cost  to terminate  the
agreement  in the current interest rate  environment at $2.0 million at December
31, 1993.
5.  RETIREMENT PLANS
    IDS and  its subsidiaries  have qualified  and non-qualified  pension  plans
which cover all permanent employees age 21 and over and certain other employees.
Pension benefits generally depend upon length of service, compensation and other
factors.  Funding of retirement  costs for the qualified  plan complies with the
applicable minimum  funding requirements  specified by  the Employee  Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

                                      F-6
<PAGE>
                           IDS FINANCIAL CORPORATION
                        NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
                           BALANCE SHEET -- CONTINUED
                                 ($ THOUSANDS)

5.  RETIREMENT PLANS -- CONTINUED
    The  funded status  of the plans  at December 31,  1993 is set  forth in the
table below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        Unfunded
                                                          Funded Plan     Plan
                                                          -----------  -----------
<S>                                                       <C>          <C>
Actuarial present value of benefit obligations:
  Accumulated benefit obligation........................  $   (67,260)  $  (2,283)
                                                          -----------  -----------
                                                          -----------  -----------
  Projected benefit obligation for service rendered to
    date................................................     (107,261)     (7,003)
Fair value of plan assets, primarily invested in bonds
 and equities...........................................      131,637          --
                                                          -----------  -----------
Plan assets in excess of projected benefit obligation...       24,376      (7,003)
Unrecognized prior service cost being recognized over
 14.2 years.............................................       (1,395)      2,978
Unrecognized net gain from past experience different
 from assumptions and effects of changes in
 assumptions............................................      (10,266)        801
Unrecognized net asset transition being recognized over
 13.7 years.............................................      (10,812)         --
                                                          -----------  -----------
Prepaid pension cost included in other assets...........  $     1,903   $  (3,224)
                                                          -----------  -----------
                                                          -----------  -----------
</TABLE>

    The weighted average discount rate used in determining the actuarial present
value of the  projected benefit obligation  of all plans  was 7.25 percent.  The
rate of increase in future compensation levels used in determining the actuarial
present  value of the projected benefit obligation of all plans was 6.0 percent.
The weighted average expected long-term rates  of return on plan assets was  9.5
percent.

    The  Career Distributors'  Retirement Plan is  an unfunded, noncontributory,
non-qualified deferred compensation  plan for IDS  financial planners,  district
managers  and division  vice presidents,  based on  their independent contractor
earnings.

    IDS sponsors defined benefit health care plans that provide health care  and
life  insurance benefits  to employees and  financial planners  who retire after
having worked five years and  attained age 55 while in  service with IDS or  its
subsidiaries.  Upon retirement, annual health care premiums will be paid through
participant contributions and fixed amounts contributed by IDS based on years of
service. For employees and financial planners who retired

                                      F-7
<PAGE>
                           IDS FINANCIAL CORPORATION
                        NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
                           BALANCE SHEET -- CONTINUED
                                 ($ THOUSANDS)

5.  RETIREMENT PLANS -- CONTINUED
prior to April, 1990, IDS contributes  a percentage of their annual health  care
premiums.  The cost of retiree life insurance  will be paid entirely by IDS. IDS
funds the cost of these benefits as they are incurred.

    The accrued postretirement  benefit cost  included in  other liabilities  at
December 31, 1993 was $31,883.

    The   weighted  average  discount   rates  used  in   determining  the  1993
postretirement benefit obligation  was 7.25.  The rate  of increase  in the  per
capita  cost of covered benefits was assumed to be 13 percent for 1994; the rate
was assumed to decrease one percent per year to seven percent in 2000 and remain
at the level thereafter. An increase in the assumed health care cost trend rates
by  one  percentage  point,  in  each  year,  would  increase  the   accumulated
postretirement benefit obligation as of December 31, 1993 by $1,653.

6.  STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY
    Various  state  laws,  the  Investment  Company Act  of  1940  and  terms of
investment certificates restrict the amount  of dividends that the  subsidiaries
may  pay  to  IDS.  The  amount  of net  assets  of  subsidiaries  which  may be
transferred to IDS was approximately $699.

7.  COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
    IDS is committed to pay aggregate minimum rentals under noncancelable leases
for office facilities and equipment in  future years as follows: 1994,  $57,313;
1995,  $50,341; 1996, $40,737; 1997, $30,572;  1998, $24,337 and an aggregate of
$70,334 thereafter.

    Life insurance in force  aggregated $46.1 billion at  December 31, 1993,  of
which  $3.0 billion was  reinsured. Reinsured risks could  become a liability in
the event  the  reinsurers become  unable  to  meet the  obligations  they  have
assumed.

    Approved but unused consumer lines of credit aggregated $457,038 at December
31,  1993. Of the  amount approved, 95 percent  is in lines of  $25 or less, and
less than 1 percent is in lines exceeding $100.

    IDS and certain of its subsidiaries  are defendants in various lawsuits.  In
the  opinion of management, the ultimate  resolution of these lawsuits, taken in
the aggregate, will not materially affect IDS' consolidated financial position.

                                      F-8
<PAGE>
                           IDS FINANCIAL CORPORATION
                        NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
                           BALANCE SHEET -- CONTINUED
                                 ($ THOUSANDS)

8.  CREDIT RISK CONCENTRATIONS
    Concentrations of credit risk of bonds, notes and stocks at cost at December
31, 1993 were:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                 On Balance
                                                    Sheet
                                                -------------
<S>                                             <C>
By Investment Grade:
  Mortgage-backed Securities                    $  10,697,725
  Aaa/AAA                                             493,228
  Aa/AA                                               288,727
  Aa/A                                                144,222
  A/A                                               2,619,628
  A/BBB                                               671,159
  Baa/BBB                                           5,182,582
  Below Investment Grade                            2,058,992
                                                -------------
                                                $  22,156,263
                                                -------------
                                                -------------
</TABLE>

    Mortgage-backed  securities  are  FHLMC,  FNMA  and  GNMA  pools  which  are
guaranteed  as to  principal and  interest by  agencies of  the U.S. Government.
Other debt securities are rated by Moody's and Standard & Poors (S&P) except for
approximately $2.4  billion  which is  rated  by IDS'  analysts  using  criteria
similar  to Moody's  and S&P. Commitments  to purchase investments  were $nil at
December 31, 1993.

    Concentrations of credit risk of mortgage loans at December 31, 1993 were:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                             On Balance    Commitments
Region                                         Sheet       to Purchase
- ------------------------------------------  ------------  -------------
<S>                                         <C>           <C>
Mortgage Loans By Region:
    North Central                           $    896,174   $    36,325
    Atlantic                                     819,082        94,345
    New England                                  162,227        18,130
    South Central                                137,707           900
    Pacific                                      128,311        15,140
    Mountain                                      87,801        14,600
                                            ------------  -------------
                                            $  2,231,302   $   179,440
                                            ------------  -------------
                                            ------------  -------------
</TABLE>

                                      F-9
<PAGE>
                           IDS FINANCIAL CORPORATION
                        NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
                           BALANCE SHEET -- CONTINUED
                                 ($ THOUSANDS)

8.  CREDIT RISK CONCENTRATIONS -- CONTINUED

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                             On Balance    Commitments
                                               Sheet       to Purchase
                                            ------------  -------------
<S>                                         <C>           <C>
Mortgage Loans By Property Type:
    Apartments                              $    821,645   $    78,560
    Shopping Ctrs/Retail                         705,319        67,355
    Office Buildings                             261,673        15,675
    Industrial Buildings                         253,557         9,250
    Retirement Homes                              85,338         1,000
    Hotels/Motels                                 36,743            --
    Medical Buildings                             30,430         6,100
    Residential                                      142            --
    Other                                         36,455         1,500
                                            ------------  -------------
                                            $  2,231,302  $    179,440
                                            ------------  -------------
                                            ------------  -------------
</TABLE>

    Mortgage loans are first mortgages on real estate. IDS' underwriting  policy
is  that  at the  time of  loan origination,  the loan  amount cannot  exceed 75
percent of  appraised  value.  If  a  mortgage is  in  default,  IDS  can  begin
foreclosure  proceedings.  Commitments to  purchase  mortgages are  made  in the
ordinary  course  of  business.  The  estimated  fair  value  of  the   mortgage
commitments is $nil.

    Concentrations  of credit risk  of unsecured consumer  loans at December 31,
1993 were:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                             On Balance     Approved
                                                Sheet      But Unused
                                             -----------  -------------
<S>                                          <C>          <C>
Consumer Loans By Region:
    North Central                             $  88,790    $   165,829
    Atlantic                                     76,827        120,307
    Pacific                                      51,707         80,205
    South Central                                34,696         38,637
    New England                                  25,805         27,541
    Mountain                                     18,336         24,519
                                             -----------  -------------
                                              $ 296,161    $   457,038
                                             -----------  -------------
                                             -----------  -------------
</TABLE>

    Consumer loans have a variable rate of interest. As a result, the  estimated
fair  value of the consumer loans is  approximated to be the carrying value. The
estimated fair value of the approved but unused lines of credit is $nil.

                                      F-10
<PAGE>
                           IDS FINANCIAL CORPORATION
                        NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
                           BALANCE SHEET -- CONTINUED
                                 ($ THOUSANDS)

8.  CREDIT RISK CONCENTRATIONS -- CONTINUED
    Included in  accounts  receivable at  December  31, 1993  are  interest  and
dividends  receivable  on  investments  of  $350,098  and  fees  receivable from
affiliated mutual funds of $25,507.

9.  FAIR VALUES OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
    The following  are  fair  values  of  financial  instruments  not  presented
elsewhere   in  the  condensed  consolidated  balance  sheet,  and  methods  and
assumptions that were used to estimate these fair values.

    The estimated fair values for short-term financial instruments, such as cash
and  cash  equivalents,  short-term  borrowings  and  customers'  deposits   are
approximated  to be the carrying amounts disclosed in the condensed consolidated
balance sheet.

    The estimated fair value of fixed annuities future policy benefits is  based
on  the status of the  annuities at December 31,  1993. The estimated fair value
for deferred  annuities  approximates the  carrying  amount less  any  surrender
charges  and related loans.  The estimated fair value  for annuities in non-life
contingent payout status  approximates the  present value  of projected  benefit
payments  at the rate appropriate for contracts  issued in 1993. At December 31,
1993, the  carrying amount  and  fair value  of  fixed annuities  future  policy
benefits,  after excluding life insurance-related  contracts carried at $913,127
was $17,579,008 and $16,881,747, respectively. The  fair value is net of  policy
loans of $59,132 at December 31, 1993.

    The  estimated fair value of investment certificate reserves is based upon a
method appropriate for each class of  certificate. The estimated fair value  for
investment  certificates that  reprice within  a year  approximates the carrying
value. The estimated fair value for other investment certificates is  determined
by  a discounted cash flow analysis using investment rates currently offered for
investment certificates  of  similar  remaining maturities.  These  amounts  are
reduced by applicable surrender charges and related loans. At December 31, 1993,
the  estimated fair value of the investment certificate reserves was $2,694,720,
net of certificate loans of $67,429.

    The estimated fair value of liabilities related to segregated asset accounts
is the carrying amount less variable insurance contracts carried at $346,276 and
surrender charges, if applicable. At December 31, 1993, the estimated fair value
of these liabilities was $8,305,209.

10.  RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
    IDS has entered into various related party transactions with its parent  and
the parent's other affiliates.

                                      F-11
<PAGE>
                           IDS FINANCIAL CORPORATION
                        NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
                           BALANCE SHEET -- CONTINUED
                                 ($ THOUSANDS)

10.  RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS -- CONTINUED
    IDS  has a  reinsurance agreement  to assume a  single premium  life line of
business from  an affiliated  company. The  accompanying condensed  consolidated
balance  sheet at December 31, 1993  includes $759,714 of liabilities for future
policy benefits related to this agreement.

    IDS has a  reinsurance agreement to  cede 50 percent  of its long-term  care
insurance   business  to  an  affiliated  company.  The  accompanying  condensed
consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 1993 includes $44,086 of  reinsurance
receivables related to this agreement.

    IDS  purchased a $35,000 five year  secured note from an affiliated company.
The note bears  a market interest  rate, revised semi-annually,  which was  8.42
percent at December 31, 1993.

    Included  in other liabilities  is $30,420 at December  31, 1993 for federal
income taxes payable to the parent.

11.  INCOME TAXES
    At December 31,  1993, the  life insurance subsidiary  had a  policyholders'
surplus  account balance of $19,032. The  policyholders' surplus is only taxable
if dividends to shareholders exceed the shareholders' surplus account and/or the
company is  liquidated.  Deferred taxes  of  $6,661 have  not  been  established
because no distributions of such amounts are contemplated.

                                      F-12
<PAGE>
                                 DRAFT CONSENT

The Board of Directors and Shareholders
IDS Financial Corporation

    We  have audited, in accordance  with generally accepted auditing standards,
the consolidated financial statements of  IDS Financial Corporation at  December
31,  1993, not presented separately herein, and  in our report dated February 3,
1994, we  expressed  an  unqualified opinion  on  those  consolidated  financial
statements.  In  our  opinion, the  information  set forth  in  the accompanying
condensed consolidated balance sheet is  fairly stated in all material  respects
in  relation to  the consolidated  financial statements  from which  it has been
derived.

Ernst & Young
Minneapolis, Minnesota
February 3, 1994

                                      F-13
<PAGE>
                                                                       EXHIBIT A

                                    FORM OF
                  INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AND SERVICES AGREEMENT

    AGREEMENT  made the   th  day of        , 199  , by and between IDS Strategy
Fund, Inc. (the "Corporation") on behalf of its underlying series funds Strategy
Aggressive Fund and Equity  Value Fund (individually  a "Fund" and  collectively
the  "Funds"), a Minnesota corporation, and IDS Financial Corporation ("IDS"), a
Delaware corporation.

PART ONE: INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AND OTHER SERVICES

    (1) The  Corporation hereby  retains IDS,  and IDS  hereby agrees,  for  the
period  of this  Agreement and  under the  terms and  conditions hereinafter set
forth,  to  furnish  the  Corporation  continuously  with  suggested  investment
planning;  to determine,  consistent with  the Funds'  investment objectives and
policies, which securities in IDS' discretion  shall be purchased, held or  sold
and to execute or cause the execution of purchase or sell orders; to prepare and
make  available  to the  Funds all  necessary research  and statistical  data in
connection therewith;  to  furnish  all  administrative,  accounting,  clerical,
statistical, correspondence, corporate and all other services of whatever nature
required  in connection with  the management and administration  of the Funds as
provided under this Agreement; and to pay  such expenses as may be provided  for
in  Part Three;  subject always  to the  direction and  control of  the Board of
Directors (the "Board"), the Executive Committee and the authorized officers  of
the  Corporation. IDS agrees  to maintain an  adequate organization of competent
persons to provide the services and  to perform the functions herein  mentioned.
IDS agrees to meet with any persons at such times as the Board deems appropriate
for the purpose of reviewing IDS' performance under this Agreement.
    (2) IDS agrees that the investment planning and investment decisions will be
in  accordance with general investment policies of the Funds as disclosed to IDS
from time  to time  by  the Funds  and  as set  forth  in its  prospectuses  and
registration  statements filed  with the  United States  Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC").
    (3) IDS  agrees  that it  will  maintain all  required  records,  memoranda,
instructions  or authorizations  relating to  the acquisition  or disposition of
securities for the Funds.
    (4) The Corporation agrees that it will furnish to IDS any information  that
the  latter may reasonably request with respect  to the services performed or to
be performed by IDS under this Agreement.
    (5) IDS is authorized to select the brokers or dealers that will execute the
purchases and sales of portfolio securities for the Funds and is directed to use
its best  efforts  to  obtain  the  best  available  price  and  most  favorable

                                      A-1
<PAGE>
execution,  except as prescribed  herein. Subject to  prior authorization by the
Board of appropriate policies and procedures, and subject to termination at  any
time  by the Board, IDS  may also be authorized  to effect individual securities
transactions at  commission rates  in  excess of  the minimum  commission  rates
available, to the extent authorized by law, if IDS determines in good faith that
such  amount  of commission  was  reasonable in  relation  to the  value  of the
brokerage and research  services provided by  such broker or  dealer, viewed  in
terms  of either  that particular  transaction or  IDS' overall responsibilities
with respect  to the  Funds and  other funds  for which  it acts  as  investment
adviser.
    (6)  It  is understood  and agreed  that  in furnishing  the Funds  with the
services as herein  provided, neither IDS,  nor any officer,  director or  agent
thereof  shall be  held liable to  a Fund  or its creditors  or shareholders for
errors of judgment  or for anything  except willful misfeasance,  bad faith,  or
gross  negligence in the performance of its duties, or reckless disregard of its
obligations and  duties  under  the  terms of  this  Agreement.  It  is  further
understood  and  agreed  that IDS  may  rely  upon information  furnished  to it
reasonably believed to be accurate and reliable.

PART TWO: COMPENSATION TO INVESTMENT MANAGER

    (1) The Corporation agrees to  pay to IDS, and  IDS covenants and agrees  to
accept from the Corporation in full payment for the services furnished a fee for
each  calendar day of each  year equal to the total  of 1/365th (1/366th in each
leap year) of the amount computed  in accordance with paragraph (ii) below.  The
computation  shall be made  for each day  on the basis  of net assets  as of the
close of business of the  full business day two (2)  business days prior to  the
day  for which the computation  is being made. In the  case of the suspension of
the computation of net asset  value, the asset charge  for each day during  such
suspension  shall  be computed  as of  the close  of business  on the  last full
business day on which the net assets  were computed. Net assets as of the  close
of  a full business  day shall include  all transactions in  shares of the Funds
recorded on the books of the Funds for that day.

                                      A-2
<PAGE>
    (ii) The asset charge shall be based on  the net assets of each Fund as  set
forth in the following table.

                                  ASSET CHARGE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
       Aggressive Equity                       Equity
- --------------------------------  ---------------------------------
 Assets     Annual Rate At Each     Assets     Annual Rate At Each
(Billions)      Asset Level       (Billions)       Asset Level
- ---------  ---------------------  ----------  ---------------------
<S>        <C>                    <C>         <C>
First $1               0.%        First $.5               0.%
Next $1                0.         Next $.5                0.
Next $1                0.         Next $1                 0.
Next $3                0.         Next $1                 0.
Over $6                0.         Next $3                 0.
                                  Over $6                 0.
</TABLE>

    (2)  The fee  shall be  paid on  a monthly  basis and,  in the  event of the
termination of this Agreement, the fee accrued shall be prorated on the basis of
the number  of days  that this  Agreement is  in effect  during the  month  with
respect to which such payment is made.
    (3) The fee provided for hereunder shall be paid in cash by the Funds to IDS
within five business days after the last day of each month.

PART THREE: ALLOCATION OF EXPENSES

    (1) The Corporation agrees to pay:
        (a)  Fees  payable to  IDS  for its  services  under the  terms  of this
    Agreement.
        (b) Taxes.
        (c) Brokerage commissions  and charges in  connection with the  purchase
    and sale of assets.
        (d) Custodian fees and charges.
        (e) Fees and charges of its independent certified public accountants for
    services the Funds request.
        (f)  Premium on  the bond  required by  Rule 17g-1  under the Investment
    Company Act of 1940.
        (g) Fees  and  expenses of  attorneys  (i)  it employs  in  matters  not
    involving the assertion of a claim by a third party against the Corporation,
    its  directors and  officers, (ii)  it employs  in conjunction  with a claim
    asserted by  the Board  against IDS,  except that  IDS shall  reimburse  the
    Corporation  for such fees and expenses if  it is ultimately determined by a
    court of competent jurisdiction, or IDS  agrees, that it is liable in  whole
    or  in  part to  the Corporation,  and (iii)  it employs  to assert  a claim
    against a third party.
        (h) Fees paid for the qualification and registration for public sale  of
    the  securities of the Funds under the laws  of the United States and of the
    several states in which such securities shall be offered for sale.

                                      A-3
<PAGE>
        (i) Fees of consultants employed by the Funds.
        (j) Directors, officers and employees expenses which shall include fees,
    salaries, memberships, dues, travel, seminars, pension, profit sharing,  and
    all  other  benefits  paid  to  or  provided  for  directors,  officers  and
    employees, directors and officers liability insurance, errors and  omissions
    liability  insurance,  worker's  compensation insurance  and  other expenses
    applicable to the directors, officers and employees, except the  Corporation
    will  not  pay any  fees or  expenses of  any  person who  is an  officer or
    employee of IDS or its affiliates.
        (k) Filing fees and  charges incurred by  the Corporation in  connection
    with  filing any amendment to its  articles of incorporation, or incurred in
    filing any  other document  with the  State of  Minnesota or  its  political
    subdivisions.
        (l) Organizational expenses of the Corporation.
        (m) One half of the Investment Company Institute membership dues charged
    jointly to the IDS MUTUAL FUND GROUP and IDS.
        (n) Expenses incurred in connection with lending portfolio securities of
    the Funds.
        (o) Expenses properly payable by the Funds, approved by the Board.
    (2)  IDS agrees to pay all expenses associated with the services it provides
under the terms of this  Agreement. Further, IDS agrees that  if, at the end  of
any  month, the expenses of a Fund  under this Agreement and any other agreement
between the Fund and IDS, but excluding  those expenses set forth in (1)(b)  and
(1)(c) of this Part Three, exceed the most restrictive applicable state expenses
limitation,  the Fund shall not  pay those expenses set  forth in (1)(a) and (d)
through (o)  of this  Part Three  to the  extent necessary  to keep  the  Fund's
expenses from exceeding the limitation, it being understood that IDS will assume
all  unpaid expenses and bill  the Fund for them in  subsequent months but in no
event can the accumulation of unpaid expenses or billing be carried past the end
of the Fund's fiscal year.

PART FOUR: MISCELLANEOUS

    (1) IDS  shall be  deemed to  be an  independent contractor  and, except  as
expressly  provided or authorized in this  Agreement, shall have no authority to
act for or represent the Funds.
    (2) A "full business day" shall be as defined in the By-laws.
    (3) Each Fund  recognizes that IDS  now renders and  may continue to  render
investment  advice and other services to  other investment companies and persons
which may or may not have  investment policies and investments similar to  those
of  the Funds  and that  IDS manages its  own investments  and/ or  those of its
subsidiaries. IDS  shall be  free to  render such  investment advice  and  other
services and each Fund hereby consents thereto.

                                      A-4
<PAGE>
    (4)  Neither this Agreement nor any transaction had pursuant hereto shall be
invalidated or in any way affected by the fact that directors, officers,  agents
and/or  shareholders  of  the Funds  are  or may  be  interested in  IDS  or any
successor  or  assignee  thereof,   as  directors,  officers,  stockholders   or
otherwise; that directors, officers, stockholders or agents of IDS are or may be
interested  in the Funds as directors,  officers, shareholders, or otherwise; or
that IDS or any successor or assignee, is  or may be interested in the Funds  as
shareholder  or otherwise, provided, however, that neither IDS, nor any officer,
director or employee  thereof or of  the Funds, shall  sell to or  buy from  the
Funds  any property or security other than shares issued by the Funds, except in
accordance with applicable regulations or orders of the SEC.
    (5) Any notice under  this Agreement shall be  given in writing,  addressed,
and  delivered, or mailed postpaid,  to the party to  this Agreement entitled to
receive such,  at  such party's  principal  place of  business  in  Minneapolis,
Minnesota,  or to such  other address as  either party may  designate in writing
mailed to the other.
    (6) IDS agrees that no officer, director or employee of IDS will deal for or
on behalf  of  the  Funds with  himself  as  principal or  agent,  or  with  any
corporation  or partnership  in which he  may have a  financial interest, except
that this shall not prohibit:
        (a) Officers,  directors or  employees of  IDS from  having a  financial
    interest in the Funds or in IDS.
        (b)  The purchase of securities for the Funds, or the sale of securities
    owned by the  Funds, through a  security broker  or dealer, one  or more  of
    whose  partners, officers, directors or employees is an officer, director or
    employee of IDS, provided such transactions  are handled in the capacity  of
    broker  only  and  provided  commissions  charged  do  not  exceed customary
    brokerage charges for such services.
        (c) Transactions with the Funds by  a broker-dealer affiliate of IDS  as
    may  be  allowed  by rule  or  order of  the  SEC  and if  made  pursuant to
    procedures adopted by the Fund's Board.
    (7) IDS agrees that, except as herein otherwise expressly provided or as may
be permitted consistent with the use  of a broker-dealer affiliate of IDS  under
applicable  provisions of the federal securities laws, neither it nor any of its
officers, directors or  employees shall at  any time during  the period of  this
Agreement, make, accept or receive, directly or indirectly, any fees, profits or
emoluments  of  any  character  in  connection  with  the  purchase  or  sale of
securities (except shares issued  by the Funds)  or other assets  by or for  the
Funds.

PART FIVE: RENEWAL AND TERMINATION

    (1)  This Agreement shall continue in effect until        , 199 , or until a
new agreement is approved by a vote of the majority of the outstanding shares of
each  Fund   and   by  vote   of   the   Fund's  Board,   including   the   vote

                                      A-5
<PAGE>
required  by (b) of this paragraph, and if no new agreement is so approved, this
Agreement  shall  continue  from  year  to  year  thereafter  unless  and  until
terminated by either party as hereinafter provided, except that such continuance
shall  be  specifically approved  at  least annually  (a)  by the  Board  of the
Corporation or by a vote of the majority of the outstanding shares of the  Funds
and  (b) by the vote of a majority of  the Directors who are not parties to this
Agreement or interested persons of any such  party, cast in person at a  meeting
called  for the purpose of  voting on such approval.  As used in this paragraph,
the term "interested person"  shall have the  same meaning as  set forth in  the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act").
    (2)  This Agreement may be terminated by either a Fund or IDS at any time by
giving the other party 60 days'  written notice of such intention to  terminate,
provided  that any termination shall be made without the payment of any penalty,
and provided further that termination may be effected either by the Board or  by
a vote of the majority of the outstanding voting shares of the Fund. The vote of
the  majority of the outstanding voting shares of a Fund for the purpose of this
Part Five shall be  the vote at  a shareholders' regular  meeting, or a  special
meeting duly called for the purpose, of 67% or more of the Fund's shares present
at such meeting if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding voting shares
are  present or represented by proxy, or more than 50% of the outstanding voting
shares of the Fund, whichever is less.
    (3) This Agreement shall terminate in the event of its assignment, the  term
"assignment"  for this purpose having the same  meaning as set forth in the 1940
Act.
    IN WITNESS THEREOF, the parties hereto have executed the foregoing Agreement
as of the day and year first above written.

                                          IDS STRATEGY FUND, INC.
                                          IDS Strategy Aggressive Fund
                                          IDS Equity Value Fund

                                          By: --------------------------

                                          IDS FINANCIAL CORPORATION

                                          By: --------------------------

                                      A-6
<PAGE>

                               FORM OF PROXY CARD

VOTE THIS PROXY CARD TODAY!
YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE WILL SAVE YOUR FUND
THE EXPENSE OF ADDITIONAL MAILINGS

Aggressive Equity Fund, a series of
IDS STRATEGY FUND, INC.

PROXY/VOTING
INSTRUCTION CARD

_______________________________________________________________________________

THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

The undersigned hereby appoints Leslie L. Ogg and _____________________________,
or either of them, as proxies, with full power of substitution, to represent and
to vote all of the shares of the undersigned at the regular meeting to be held
on November 9, 1994, and any adjournment thereof.


TO HAVE YOUR VOTE COUNTED, YOU MUST SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY.  IT WILL
BE VOTED AS MARKED, OR IF NOT MARKED, WILL BE VOTED "FOR" EACH PROPOSAL.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" ALL PROPOSALS.


(client name and address)

X_______________________________________

X_______________________________________

Date ____________________, 1994

Owners please sign as names appear at left.  Executors, administrators,
trustees, etc., should indicate position when signing.


<PAGE>

                                              For        With-      Excep-
                                                         held       tion

1.  Election of Board Members                 ( )        ( )        ( )

TO VOTE FOR ALL NOMINEES, MARK THE "FOR" BOX IN ITEM 1.  TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY
TO VOTE FOR ALL NOMINEES, MARK THE "WITHHOLD" BOX.  TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO
VOTE FOR ANY NOMINEE, MARK THE "EXCEPTION" BOX AND STRIKE A LINE THROUGH THE
NOMINEE'S NAME.

Twelve board members are to be elected at the meeting.  The nominees are LYNNE
V. CHENEY, WILLIAM H. DUDLEY, ROBERT F. FROEHLKE, DAVID R. HUBERS, ANNE P.
JONES, DONALD M. KENDALL, MELVIN R. LAIRD, LEWIS W. LEHR, WILLIAM R. PEARCE,
EDSON W. SPENCER, JOHN R. THOMAS, WHEELOCK WHITNEY.


                                               For     Against    Abstain
2.  Ratification of
    Independent Auditors                       ( )        ( )        ( )

3.  Approval of New Investment
    Management and
    Services Agreement                         ( )        ( )        ( )

4.  Approval of a Change in
    Investment Policies to Permit
    the Fund to Invest All its
    Assets in Another Investment
    Company                                    ( )        ( )        ( )

5.  Approval of Changes in
    Fundamental Investment
    Policies                                   ( )        ( )        ( )

6.  Approval of a New Plan of
    Distribution                               ( )        ( )        ( )

<PAGE>

                               FORM OF PROXY CARD

VOTE THIS PROXY CARD TODAY!
YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE WILL SAVE YOUR FUND
THE EXPENSE OF ADDITIONAL MAILINGS

Equity Fund, a series of
IDS STRATEGY FUND, INC.

PROXY/VOTING
INSTRUCTION CARD

_______________________________________________________________________________

THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

The undersigned hereby appoints Leslie L. Ogg and _____________________________,
or either of them, as proxies, with full power of substitution, to represent and
to vote all of the shares of the undersigned at the regular meeting to be held
on November 9, 1994, and any adjournment thereof.


TO HAVE YOUR VOTE COUNTED, YOU MUST SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY.  IT WILL
BE VOTED AS MARKED, OR IF NOT MARKED, WILL BE VOTED "FOR" EACH PROPOSAL.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" ALL PROPOSALS.


(client name and address)

X_______________________________________

X_______________________________________

Date ____________________, 1994

Owners please sign as names appear at left.  Executors, administrators,
trustees, etc., should indicate position when signing.


<PAGE>

                                              For        With-      Excep-
                                                         held       tion

1.  Election of Board Members                 ( )        ( )        ( )

TO VOTE FOR ALL NOMINEES, MARK THE "FOR" BOX IN ITEM 1.  TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY
TO VOTE FOR ALL NOMINEES, MARK THE "WITHHOLD" BOX.  TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO
VOTE FOR ANY NOMINEE, MARK THE "EXCEPTION" BOX AND STRIKE A LINE THROUGH THE
NOMINEE'S NAME.

Twelve board members are to be elected at the meeting.  The nominees are LYNNE
V. CHENEY, WILLIAM H. DUDLEY, ROBERT F. FROEHLKE, DAVID R. HUBERS, ANNE P.
JONES, DONALD M. KENDALL, MELVIN R. LAIRD, LEWIS W. LEHR, WILLIAM R. PEARCE,
EDSON W. SPENCER, JOHN R. THOMAS, WHEELOCK WHITNEY.


                                               For     Against    Abstain
2.  Ratification of
    Independent Auditors                       ( )        ( )        ( )

3.  Approval of New Investment
    Management and
    Services Agreement                         ( )        ( )        ( )

4.  Approval of a Change in
    Investment Policies to Permit
    the Fund to Invest All its
    Assets in Another Investment
    Company                                    ( )        ( )        ( )

5.  Approval of Changes in
    Fundamental Investment
    Policies                                   ( )        ( )        ( )

6.  Approval of a New Plan of
    Distribution                               ( )        ( )        ( )



© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission