PILGRIM GOVERNMENT SECURITIES INCOME FUND INC
485APOS, 1998-08-28
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     As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 28, 1998

                                                 Securities Act File No. 2-91302
                                        Investment Company Act File No. 811-4031

                     U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM N-1A

            Registration Statement Under The Securities Act Of 1933        /x/

                        Pre-Effective Amendment No. ____                   / /

                         Post-Effective Amendment No. 21                   /x/

                                     and/or

       Registration Statement Under The Investment Company Act Of 1940     /x/

                                Amendment No. 21                           /x/
                        (Check appropriate box or boxes)

                 Pilgrim Government Securities Income Fund, Inc.
                 (Exact Name of Registrant Specified in Charter)

                       40 North Central Avenue, Suite 1200
                                Phoenix, AZ 85004
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)
       Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (800) 334-3444

                             James M. Hennessy, Esq.
                           Pilgrim America Group, Inc.
                       40 North Central Avenue, Suite 1200
                                Phoenix, AZ 85004
                     (Name and Address of Agent for Service)


                                 With copies to:
                             Jeffrey S. Puretz, Esq.
                             Dechert Price & Rhoads
                              1775 Eye Street, N.W.
                             Washington, D.C. 20006

 It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box):
<TABLE>
<S>   <C>                                                      <C>       <C>

/ /    Immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)         / /      on (date)  pursuant to paragraph (b)

/x/    60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)         / /      on (date)  pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)

/ /    75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)         / /      on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485
</TABLE>

If appropriate, check the following box:

/ /  This post-effective amendment designated a new effective date for a
     previously filed post-effective amendment.





<PAGE>


                     PILGRIM AMERICA INVESTMENT FUNDS, INC.
                              CROSS REFERENCE SHEET
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

N-1A Item
                                                                           Location in Prospectus
Part A                                                                          (Caption)
<S>       <C>                                                            <C>        

Item 1.    Cover Page................................................      Cover Page
Item 2.    Synopsis..................................................      The Income Funds at a Glance;
                                                                                Summary of Expenses
Item 3.    Condensed Financial Information...........................      Financial Highlights
Item 4.    General Description of Registrant.........................      The Funds' Investment Objectives
                                                                                and Policies; Investment
                                                                                Practices and Risk
                                                                                Considerations
Item 5.    Management of the Registrant..............................      Management of the Funds
Item 5A.   Management's Discussion of Fund Performance...............      *
Item 6.    Capital Stock and Other Securities........................      Dividends, Distributions & Taxes;
                                                                                Additional Information
Item 7.    Purchase of Securities Being Offered......................      Pilgrim America Purchase Options
Item 8.    Redemption or Repurchase..................................      How to Redeem Shares
Item 9.    Pending Legal Proceedings.................................      Not Applicable
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                           Location in Statement of
Part B                                                                     Additional Information
                                                                                (Caption)
<S>       <C>                                                            <C>

Item 10.   Cover Page.................................................     Cover Page
Item 11.   Table of Contents..........................................     Table of Contents
Item 12.   General Information and History............................     General Information
Item 13.   Investment Objectives and Policies.........................     Supplemental Description of
                                                                                Investments and Techniques;
                                                                                Investment Restrictions
Item 14.   Management of the Fund..................................        Management of the Fund
Item 15.   Control Persons and Principal Holders of Securities.....        Management of the Fund; General
                                                                                Information
Item 16.   Investment Advisory and Other Services..................        Management of the Fund
Item 17.   Brokerage Allocation and Other Practices................        Portfolio Transactions
Item 18.   Capital Stock and Other Securities......................        Distributions; General Information
Item 19.   Purchase, Redemption and Pricing of
               Securities Being Offered...........................         Determination of Share Price;
                                                                                Additional Purchase and
                                                                                Redemption Information
Item 20.   Tax Status.............................................         Tax Considerations
Item 21.   Underwriters............................................        Management of the Fund
Item 22.   Calculation of Performance Data.........................        Performance Information
Item 23.   Financial Statements...................................         Financial Statements
</TABLE>

_______________________
*            Contained in the Annual Report of the Registrant

<PAGE>

                              PILGRIM AMERICA FUNDS
                                   PROSPECTUS
                                November 1, 1998


             40 North Central Avenue, Suite 1200, Phoenix, AZ 85004
                                 (800) 992-0180


  The Pilgrim America Funds are a family of diversified, open-end and closed-end
  management  investment  companies.  This  Prospectus  describes  the  open-end
  investment company portfolios, also known as mutual funds (the Funds), each of
  which have its own investment objectives and policies.


<TABLE>
<S>                                               <C>    

 Pilgrim America Bank and Thrift Fund           Pilgrim America High Yield Fund
     (Bank and Thrift Fund)                         (High Yield Fund)
 Pilgrim America MagnaCap Fund                  Pilgrim America Strategic Income Fund
     (MagnaCap Fund)                                (Strategic Income Fund)
 Pilgrim America MidCap Value Fund              Pilgrim Government Securities Income Fund
     (MidCap Value Fund)                             (Government Securities Income Fund)
 Pilgrim America LargeCap Value Fund
     (LargeCap Value Fund)
 Pilgrim America Asia-Pacific Equity Fund
     (Asia-Pacific Equity Fund)

</TABLE>

  Each Fund offers different  classes of shares,  with varying types and amounts
  of sales and distribution  charges.  These Pilgrim America Purchase  OptionsTM
  permit  you to choose  the method of  purchasing  shares  that best suits your
  investment strategy.

  This Prospectus presents information you should know before investing.  Please
  keep it for future reference. A Statement of Additional Information about each
  Fund,  dated  November 1, 1998,  as amended from time to time,  has been filed
  with the Securities and Exchange  Commission and is  incorporated by reference
  into  this  Prospectus  (that  is,  it is  legally  considered  a part of this
  Prospectus).  This Statement is available free upon request by calling Pilgrim
  America Group, Inc. (Shareholder Servicing Agent) at (800) 992-0180.

  Investment in the Funds involves  investment  risk,  including risk of loss of
  principal.  The Funds' shares are not obligations,  deposits, or accounts of a
  bank and are not guaranteed by a bank. In addition,  the Funds' shares are not
  insured by the Federal  Deposit  Insurance  Corporation,  the Federal  Reserve
  Board, or any other agency.

   Like all mutual fund shares, neither the Securities and Exchange Commission
     nor any state securities commission have approved or disapproved these
     securities or passes upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus.
           Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.


<PAGE>
                          THE EQUITY FUNDS AT A GLANCE*

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
       Fund                   Objectives and Policies                                   Strategy
<S>                      <C>                                         <C>

Bank and                  Long-term capital appreciation              Portfolio securities are selected principally
Thrift Fund               and income is its secondary                 on the basis of fundamental investment value
                          objective.                                  and potential for future growth, including
                                                                      securities of institutions that the Fund
                          Invests primarily in equity                 believes are well-positioned to take advantage
                          securities of national and                  of opportunities currently developing in the
                          state-chartered banks (other than           banking and thrift industries.
                          money center banks), thrifts, the
                          holding or parent companies of such         Principal risk factors: exposure to financial
                          depository institutions, and in             and market risks that accompany an investment
                          savings accounts of mutual thrifts.         in equities, and exposure to the financial and
                          Up to 35% of the Fund's total               market risks of the banking and thrift
                          assets may be invested in equity            industries,  which  may present greater risk
                          securities of money center banks,           than a portfolio that is not concentrated in a
                          other financial services companies,         group of related industries.  Bank and thrift
                          other issuers deemed suitable by            stocks may  will be impacted by state and
                          the Investment Manager, debt                federal legislation and regulations and
                          securities, and securities of other         regional and general economic conditions.
                          investment companies.
                                                                      You can expect fluctuation in the value of the
                          Normally fully invested.                    Fund's portfolio securities and the Fund's
                                                                      shares.*
                          Pilgrim America Investments, Inc.
                          serves as Investment Manager for
                          Bank and Thrift Fund.

MagnaCap                  Long term growth of capital with            The Investment Manager generally selects
Fund                      income as a secondary                       companies that meet the Fund's disciplined
                          consideration. Invests in equity            investment strategy : consistent dividend
                          securities that are determined to           increases; substantial dividend substantial
                          be of high quality by the                   increases; reinvested substantial earnings;
                          Investment Manager based upon               strong balance sheets; and attractive prices.
                          certain selection criteria.
                         
                          Normally fully invested.                    Principal risk factors: exposure to financial
                                                                      and market risks that accompany an investment
                                                                      in equities. You can expect fluctuation in
                          Pilgrim America Investments,                the value of the Fund's portfolio securities
                          Inc., serves as Investment                  and the Fund's shares.*
                          Manager for  MagnaCap Fund.

MidCap                    Long-term capital appreciation.             A 'value' manager that seeks to identify
Value Fund                                                            middle capitalization companies having one or
                          Invests in equity securities of             more of the following characteristics:  they
                          companies believed to be                    are undergoing fundamental change; are
                          undervalued that have a market              undervalued; and are misunderstood by the
                          capitalization of between                   investment community.  Investment prospects
                          $200million and $5 billion.                 are viewed on a long-term basis and not on
                                                                      market timing.
                          Normally fully invested.
                          Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn, LLC.,             Principal risk factors:  exposure to financial
                          provides portfolio management               and market risks that accompany an investment in
                          services for the MidCap Value               equities. You can expect fluctuation in the
                          Fund.                                       value of the Fund's portfolio securities and
                                                                      the Fund's shares.*


LargeCap                  Long-term capital appreciation.             Seeks large capitalization companies believed
Value Fund                                                            to present a good value based upon price
                          Invests in equity securities                compared to projected earnings.
                          issued by companies believed to
                          be undervalued that generally               Principal risk factors:  exposure to
                          have a market capitalization of             financial and market risks that accompany an
                          at least $5 billion.                        investment in equities. You can expect
                                                                      fluctuation in the value of the Fund's
                          Normally fully invested.                    portfolio securities and the Fund's shares.*

                          Pilgrim America Investments, Inc.
                          serves as Investment Manager  for
                          LargeCap Value Fund.


Asia-Pacific Equity      Long-term capital appreciation.              A combination of macroeconomic overview of
Fund                                                                  region, specific country analysis, setting
                         Invests in equity securities of              target country weightings, industry analysis
                         companies  based in the Asia-Pacific         and stock selection.
                         region, which includes China, Hong Kong,
                         Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines,     Principal risk factors: exposure to financial
                         Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand, but          and market risks that accompany an investment
                         does not include Japan or Australia.         in equities and exposure to changes in currency
                                                                      exchange rates and other risks of foreign
                         Normally fully invested.                     investment. You can expect fluctuation in the
                                                                      value of the Fund's portfolio securities and
                         HSBC Asset Management Americas Inc.          the Fund's shares.*
                         and HSBC Asset Management Hong Kong
                         Limited, subsidiaries of HSBC
                         Holdings plc, provides portfolio
                         management services for Asia-Pacific
                         Equity Fund.


<FN>
    * This  summary  description  should  be read in  conjunction  with the more
    complete  description of the Fund's  investment  objectives and policies set
    forth elsewhere in this Prospectus.  For information  regarding the purchase
    and redemption of shares of the Fund, refer to the 'Shareholder  Guide.' For
    information  regarding  the risk factors of the Fund,  refer to  'Investment
    Practices and Risk Considerations' below.
</FN>
</TABLE>

<PAGE>
                         THE INCOME FUNDS AT A GLANCE*
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
     Fund                          Objectives and Policies                                     Strategy
<S>                      <C>                                                 <C>

High Yield Fund            High level of current income with capital            The Investment Manager selects
                           appreciation as a secondary objective.               high-yielding fixed income securities
                           Invests at least 65% of its assets in a              that do not, in its opinion, involve
                           diversified portfolio of high-yielding               undue risk relative to the securities'
                           debt securities commonly referred to as              return characteristics.
                           'junk bonds.' May also invest up to 35%
                           of its total assets in other types of                Principal risk factors: exposure to
                           fixed income securities, preferred and               financial, market and interest rate
                           common stocks, warrants and other                    risks and greater credit risks than
                           securities.                                          with higher-rated bonds. You can
                                                                                normally expect greater fluctuation in
                           Normally fully invested.                             the value of the Fund's shares than for
                                                                                the Government Securities Income Fund,
                                                                                particularly in response to economic
                           Pilgrim America Investments, Inc.  serves            downturns.*
                           as Investment Manager for  High Yield                
                           Fund.


Strategic Income Fund      High level of current income.  Invests in            The Investment Manager adjusts the
                           at least two of the following four                   weighting among these four sectors to
                           sectors: in investment-grade debt of U.              seek an attractive balance between
                           S. corporations, U. S. Government                    potential income and potential
                           securities, lower-rated high yield debt              volatility.  The Fund may invest in
                           of U. S. corporations commonly referred              sectors indirectly through investment
                           to as "junk bonds", and senior variable              in open-end and closed-end investment
                           or floating rate loans.                              companies.

                           Normally fully invested.                             Principal Risk Factors:  exposure to
                                                                                financial, market, interest rate and
                           Pilgrim America Investments, Inc.  serves            credit risks.  High yield bonds and senior
                           as Investment Manager for  Strategic                 loans normally present greater credit
                           Income Fund.                                         risks than investment grade bonds.  Senior
                                                                                loans trade on an unregulated limited secondary
                                                                                market, and are less liquid than publicly traded
                                                                                securities.  If the Fund invests in other
                                                                                investment companies and it will bear expenses
                                                                                associated with those investment companies in
                                                                                addition to its own expenses.*

Government Securities      High level of current income consistent              The Investment Manager analyzes various
Income Fund                with liquidity and preservation of                   U.S. Government securities and selects
                           capital. Normally invests at least 70% of            those offering the highest yield
                           its assets in securities issued or                   consistent with maintaining liquidity
                           guaranteed by the U.S. Government, or                and preserving capital.
                           certain of its agencies and
                           instrumentalities. The Fund does not                 Principal risk factors: exposure to
                           invest in highly leveraging derivatives,             financial and interest rate risks, and
                           such as swaps, interest-only or                      prepayment risk on mortgage related
                           principal-only stripped mortgage-backed              securities. You can normally expect
                           securities or interest rate futures                  fluctuation in the value of the Fund's
                           contracts.                                           shares in response to changes in
                                                                                interest rates, and relatively little
                           Normally fully invested.                             fluctuation in the absence of such
                                                                                changes.*
                           Pilgrim America Investments, Inc.  serves
                           as Investment Manager for  for Government
                           Securities Income Fund.
<FN>

* This summary  description should be read in conjunction with the more complete
description of the Fund's investment objectives and policies set forth elsewhere
in this  Prospectus.  For  information  regarding the purchase and redemption of
shares of the Fund, refer to the 'Shareholder Guide.' For information  regarding
the  risk  factors  of  the  Fund,  refer  to  'Investment  Practices  and  Risk
Considerations' below.
</FN>
</TABLE>

<PAGE>


                               SUMMARY OF EXPENSES


Shares of the Funds are available through independent  financial  professionals,
national  and  regional   brokerage  firms  and  other  financial   institutions
(Authorized  Dealers).  For each Fund,  you may select from up to three separate
classes of shares: Class A, Class B and Class M.


                        Shareholder Transaction Expenses

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                             <C>          <C>        <C>
                                                                                 Class A      Class B    Class M(1)

Maximum initial sales charge imposed on purchases of  the Equity Funds
   (as a percentage of offering price)                                           5.75%(2)     None       3.50%(2)
Maximum initial sales charge imposed on purchases of the Income Funds
(as a percentage of offering price)                                              4.75%(2)     None       3.25%(2)
Maximum  contingent  deferred  sales charge (CDSC) on each fund (at the lower
   of original purchase price or the redemption proceeds)                         None (3)    5.00%(4)    None

The Funds have no redemption fees,  exchange fees or sales charges on 
reinvested dividends.
<FN>
     (1) Bank and Thrift  Fund and  Strategic  Income  Fund do not offer Class M
     shares.
     (2) Reduced for purchases of $50,000 and over. See 'Class A Shares: Initial
     Sales Charge  Alternative' and 'Class M Shares:  Lower Initial Sales Charge
     Alternative.
     (3) A CDSC of no more than 1.00% for shares redeemed in the first or second
     year,  depending on the amount of purchase,  is assessed on  redemptions of
     Class A shares that were purchased  without an initial sales charge as part
     of an investment of $1 million or more. See 'Class A Shares:  Initial Sales
     Charge Alternative.
     (4) Imposed upon redemption within 6 years from purchase. Fee has scheduled
     reductions after the first year. See 'Class B Shares: Deferred Sales Charge
     Alternative.'
</FN>
</TABLE>

  The table below reflects the Annual Operating  Expenses  incurred by the Class
  A, B and M shares of each Fund for the fiscal  year ended June 30,  1998.  The
  Annual  Operating  Expenses for certain  Funds are subject to waivers that are
  described in the footnotes following the table. The "Examples" to the right of
  the table show the cumulative  expenses you would pay on a $1,000  investment,
  assuming (i) reinvestment of all dividends and  distributions,  (ii) 5% annual
  return and (iii) redemption at the end of the period (unless otherwise noted):


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                       Annual Operating Expenses                                            Examples
                (As a Percentage of Average Net Assets)
  <S>                             <C>        <C>               <C>             <C>         <C>         <C>     
    Bank and Thrift Fund            Class A   Class B                            Class A     Class B    Class B+
      Management fees                0.__%     0.__%            After 1 year
      Distribution 
        (12b-1 fees)(1)              0.25%     1.00%            After 3 years
      Other Expenses                  0. %      0. %            After 5 years
      Total fund                                                After 10 years                    (2)       (2)
           operating expenses             %         %
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<S>                               <C>        <C>       <C>            <C>             <C>          <C>        <C>         <C>
    MagnaCap Fund                   Class A   Class B   Class M                         Class A     Class B    Class B+    Class M
      Management fees                0.__%     0.__%     0.__%         After 1 year
      Distribution  (12b-1
          fees) (1)                  0.30%     1.00%     0.75%         After 3 years
      Other Expenses                 0.__%     0.__%     0.__%         After 5 years
      Total fund                                                       
          operating expenses             %          %        %         After 10 years                  (2)        (2)
   

    MidCap Value Fund               Class A   Class B   Class M                         Class A     Class B    Class B+    Class M
      Management fees                1.00%     1.00%     1.00%         After 1 year
      Distribution (12b-1
       fees)  (1)                    0.25%     1.00%     0.75%         After 3 years
      Other Expenses                 0.50%     0.50%     0.50%         After 5 years
      Total fund                                                       
          operating expenses(3)      1.75%     2.50%     2.25%         After 10 years                  (2)        (2)


    LargeCap Value Fund             Class A   Class B   Class M                         Class A     Class B    Class B+    Class M
      Management fees                1.00%     1.00%     1.00%         After 1 year
      Distribution (12b-1
        fees) (1)                    0.25%     1.00%     0.75%         After 3 years
      Other Expenses                 0.50%     0.50%     0.50%         After 5 years
      Total fund                                                       
           operating expenses(3)     1.75%     2.50%     2.25%         After 10 years                  (2)        (2)

    Asia-Pacific Equity Fund        Class A   Class B   Class M                         Class A     Class B    Class B+    Class M
      Management fees                1.25%     1.25%     1.25%         After 1 year
      Distribution (12b-1
        fees)  (1)                   0.25%     1.00%     0.75%         After 3 years
      Other Expenses                 0.50%     0.50%     0.50%         After 5 years
      Total fund                                                       After 10 years                  (2)        (2)
           operating expenses(3)     2.00%     2.75%     2.50%


    High Yield Fund                 Class A   Class B   Class M                         Class A     Class B    Class B+    Class M

        Management fees(3)(4)          0.60%     0.60%     0.60%         After 1 year
        Distribution (12b-1
           fees) (1)                   0.25%     1.00%     0.75%         After 3 years
        Other Expenses                 0.15%     0.15%     0.15%         After 5 years
        Total fund                                                       After 10 years                  (2)        (2)
             operating expenses(3)     1.00%     1.75%     1.50%


      Strategic Income Fund           Class A   Class B                                   Class A     Class B    Class B+
        Management fees(3)(5)          0.60%     0.60%                   After 1 year
        Distribution   (12b-1          
          (fees) (1)(6)                0.25%     1.00%                   After 3 years

        Other Expenses                 0.15%     0.15%                   After 5 years
        Total fund                                                       After 10 years                  (2)        (2)
             operating expenses        1.00%     1.75%


      Government Sec. Inc. Fund       Class A   Class B   Class M                         Class A     Class B    Class B+    Class M
        Management fees                0.50%     0.50%     0.50%         After 1 year
        Distribution  (12b-1
         fees) (1)                     0.25%     1.00%     0.75%         After 3 years
        Other Expenses                  0. %      0. %      0. %         After 5 years
        Total fund                                                       After 10 years                  (2)        (2)
             operating expenses(8)         %         %         %

<FN>
          +    Assumes no redemption at end of period.

          (1)  As a result  of  distribution  (Rule  12b-1)  fees,  a long  term
               investor may pay more than the economic equivalent of the maximum
               sales charge allowed by the Rules of the National  Association of
               Securities Dealers, Inc. (NASD).
          (2)  Assumes Class B shares  converted to Class A shares at the end of
               the eighth year following  purchase. 
          (3)  The  Investment  Manager  has  entered  into  expense  limitation
               agreements   under  which  it  will  limit  expenses,   excluding
               distribution fees, interest,  taxes,  brokerage and extraordinary
               expenses to 1.50% for MidCap Value Fund and LargeCap  Value Fund,
               1.75% for Asia-Pacific Equity Fund, and 0.75% for High Yield Fund
               and Strategic Income Fund.  These expense  limitations will apply
               to each  Fund  individually  until at least  December  31,  1998,
               except that the expense limitation for Strategic Income Fund will
               apply until at least  December 31, 1999.  Prior to the waiver and
               reimbursement  of  Fund  expenses,   the  total  annualized  fund
               operating expenses,  excluding interest,  taxes,  brokerage,  and
               extraordinary  expenses,  for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1998
               were __%,  __% and __% of the  average net assets of the Class A,
               Class B, and Class M shares, respectively,  of MidCap Value Fund,
               __%,  __% and __% of the average net assets of the Class A, Class
               B and Class M shares, respectively,  of LargeCap Value Fund, __%,
               __%,  and __% of the  average net assets of the Class A, Class B,
               and Class M shares,  respectively,  of Asia-Pacific  Equity Fund,
               and __%,  __% and __% of the  average  net assets of the Class A,
               Class B and Class M shares, respectively, of High Yield Fund.
          (4)  The  management  fees for High Yield Fund have been  restated  to
               reflect current fees.
          (5)  The Investment  Manager will waive its investment  management fee
               from Strategic Income Fund to the extent such fees arise from the
               Fund's  investment in other investment  companies  managed by the
               Investment Manager ("Affiliated Funds")
          (6)  The  Distributor  will  waive that  portion  of its  distribution
               (12b-1)  fee from  Strategic  Income  Fund in  proportion  to the
               Fund's  investment in an Affiliated Fund to reflect its allocable
               share of the distribution fee paid by the Affiliated Fund.
          (7)  The  Investment  Manager has agreed to reimburse  the  Government
               Securities  Income  Fund to the extent  that the gross  operating
               costs and expenses of the Fund,  excluding any  interest,  taxes,
               brokerage commissions,  amortization of organizational  expenses,
               extraordinary  expenses,  and  distribution  fees on  Class B and
               Class M  shares  in  excess  of an  annual  rate of  0.25% of the
               average  daily net assets of these  classes,  exceed 1.50% of the
               Fund's  average  daily net assets on the first $40 million of net
               assets  and 1.00% of  average  daily net  assets in excess of $40
               million  for  any one  fiscal  year.  Without  such  waiver,  the
               annualized  total fund  operating  expenses  for the fiscal  year
               ended  June 30,  1998  would  have  been __% for Class A, __% for
               Class B and __% for Class M.
</FN>
</TABLE>

  The purpose of the above table is to assist you in  understanding  the various
  costs and expenses  that you will bear directly or indirectly as a shareholder
  in a Fund. For more complete  descriptions  of the various costs and expenses,
  please refer to 'Shareholder  Guide' and 'Management of the Funds.' Use of the
  assumed 5% return in the Examples is required by the  Securities  and Exchange
  Commission.  The Examples are not an illustration of past or future investment
  results,  and  should not be  considered  a  representation  of past or future
  expenses, actual expenses may be more or less than those shown.
<PAGE>

                              FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS


                 For a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

The following tables present  condensed  financial  information about each Fund.
The tables present historical information based upon a share outstanding through
each Fund's fiscal year.  This  information  has been derived from the financial
statements  that are in each Fund's  Annual  Report  dated as of June 30,  1998.
Further  information  about each Fund's  performance is contained in that Fund's
Annual Report, which may be obtained without charge.


                              Bank and Thrift Fund

For the six-month  period ended June 30, 1998 and the periods ended December 31,
1997, 1996, and 1995, the information in the table below,  with the exception of
the information in the row labeled "Total  Investment Return at Net Asset Value"
for periods prior to January 1, 1997, has been audited by KPMG Peat Marwick LLP,
independent  auditors.  For all periods  ending prior to December 31, 1995,  the
financial information,  with the exception of the information in the row labeled
"Total Investment Return at Net Asset Value", was audited by another independent
auditor.  The  information  in the row labeled "Total  Investment  Return at Net
Asset Value" has not been audited for periods prior to January 1, 1997. Prior to
October 17,  1997,  the Class A shares were  designated  as Common Stock and the
Fund operated as a closed-end investment company.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                   SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30,                            YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,

                                    1998*                    1997              1996    1995(b)   1994      1993      1992
                              CLASS A     CLASS B     CLASS A    CLASS B(a)
<S>                          <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>          <C>     <C>       <C>     <C>        <C>
PER SHARE OPERATING
  PERFORMANCE
Net asset value,
  beginning of
  period................      ______      ______       $17.84     $25.25      $14.83  $10.73    $11.87    $12.46    $10.12

Income (loss) from
  investment
  operations:
  Net investment
    income..............      ______      ______         0.34       0.04        0.32    0.31      0.26      0.26      0.22
  Net realized and
    unrealized gain
    (loss) on
    investments.........      ______      ______        10.83       2.92        5.18    4.78     (0.53)     0.75      2.93

Total from
  investment
  operations............      ______      ______        11.17       2.96        5.50    5.09     (0.27)     1.01      3.15

Less distributions:
  Net investment
    income..............      ______      ______        0.31        0.04        0.32    0.31      0.22      0.26     0.22
  In excess of net
    investment
    income..............      ______      ______        --          --          0.03    0.03      --        --        --
  Realized capital
    gains...............      ______      ______        2.65        2.04        2.14    0.65      0.65      0.73      0.47
  Paid-in capital.......      ______      ______        0.18        0.28        --      --        --        --        0.12

Total
  distributions.........      ______      ______        3.14        2.36        2.49    0.99      0.87      0.99      0.81

Other:
  Reduction in net
    asset value from
    rights offering..         ______      ______        --          --          --      --        --       (0.61)      --

Net asset value, end
  of period.............      ______      ______      $25.87      $25.85      $17.84  $14.83    $10.73    $11.87    $12.46

Closing Market
  Price, end of
  period................      ______      ______        --          --        $15.75  $12.88     $9.13    $10.88    $11.63

TOTAL INVESTMENT
  RETURN AT MARKET
  VALUE(c)..............      ______      ______        --          --         43.48%  52.81%    (8.85)%  1.95%(d)   31.53%
TOTAL INVESTMENT
  RETURN AT NET ASSET
  VALUE(e)..............      ______      ______       64.86%      11.88%      41.10%  49.69%    (1.89)%  7.79%(f)   32.36(g)%

RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL
  DATA
Net assets, end of
  period
  $(millions)...........      ______      ______         $383         $76        $252    $210       $152   $168       $141
Ratios to average
  net assets
  Expenses..............      ______      ______        1.10%      1.85%(h)     1.01%   1.05%      1.28%    0.91%    1.24%
  Net investment
    income..............      ______      ______        1.39%      0.99%(h)     1.94%   2.37%      2.13%    2.08%    2.00%
Portfolio turnover
  rate..................      ______      ______          22%        22%         21%      13%        14%      17%      20%
Average commission
  rate paid.............      ______      ______        $0.013     $0.013        --       --         --       --       --

<FN>

(a) From the  period  October  20,  1997  (initial  offering  of Class B shares)
through December 31, 1997.

(b) Pilgrim America Investments,  Inc., the Fund's Investment Manager,  acquired
certain assets of Pilgrim Management  Corporation,  the Fund's former investment
manager, in a transaction that closed on April 7, 1995.

(c) Total  return is  calculated  at market  value  without  deduction  of sales
commissions and assuming  reinvestment of all dividends and distributions during
the period.

(d)  Calculation  of total return  excludes the effect of the per share dilution
resulting  from the 1993 Rights  Offering as the total  account value of a fully
subscribed shareholder was minimally impacted.

(e) Total return is  calculated  at net asset value  without  deduction of sales
commissions and assumes  reinvestment of all dividends and distributions  during
the period.  Total  investment  returns  based on net asset value,  which can be
higher or lower than market value, may result in substantially different returns
than total returns  based on market value.  Total returns for less than one year
are not  annualized.  For all periods prior to January 1, 1997 the total returns
presented are unaudited.

(f) Total return is calculated  assuming full  participation  in the 1993 rights
offering.

(g) Total  return is  calculated  assuming no  participation  in the 1992 rights
offering.

(h) Annualized.

* Effective June 30, 1998, Bank and Thrift Fund changed its year end to June 30.
</FN>
</TABLE>
<PAGE>

                                     YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,

                                    1991     1990        1989

PER SHARE OPERATING
  PERFORMANCE
Net asset value,
  beginning of
  period................           $7.49    $10.26      $9.54

Income (loss) from
  investment
  operations:
  Net investment
    income..............            0.24      0.31      0.30

  Net realized and
    unrealized gain
    (loss) on
    investments.........            3.33     (2.20)     1.50

Total from
  investment
  operations............            3.57     (1.89)     1.80

Less distributions:
  Net investment
    income..............            0.24      0.31      0.31
  In excess of net
    investment
    income..............              --        --        --
  Realized capital
    gains...............              --        --      0.44
  Paid-in capital.......            0.70      0.57      0.33

Total
  distributions.........            0.94      0.88      1.08

Other:
  Reduction in net
    asset value from
    rights offering..                 --        --       --
                                      --        --       --
Net asset value, end
  of period.............          $10.12     $7.49    $10.26

Closing Market
  Price, end of
  period................           $9.50     $7.13     $9.13
TOTAL INVESTMENT
  RETURN AT MARKET
  VALUE(c)..............          47.52%    (12.45)%   32.25%
TOTAL INVESTMENT
  RETURN AT NET ASSET
  VALUE(e)..............          49.49%    (18.14)%   20.79%
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL
  DATA
Net assets, end of
  period                            $101       $75      $103
Ratios to average
  net assets
  Expenses..............           1.31%      1.29%     1.26%
  Net investment
    income..............           2.68%      3.59%     4.15%
Portfolio turnover
  rate..................             31%       46%        63%
Average commission
  rate paid.............              --        --         --

<PAGE>



                                 MagnaCap Fund


For the fiscal  year ended June 30, 1998 and the  periods  ended June 30,  1997,
1996 and 1995, the  information in the table below has been audited by KPMG Peat
Marwick LLP, independent auditors. For all periods ending prior to July 1, 1994,
the financial information was audited by another independent auditor.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                    Class A
                                                                                 Year Ended June 30,

                                      1998    1997      1996      1995(b)   1994      1993      1992      1991      1990
<S>                                 <C>      <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>    

Per Share Operating Performance
Net asset value, beginning of
 period ..........................   _____   $16.69    $14.03    $12.36    $12.05    $11.98    $10.93    $10.74    $10.52

Income from investment operations:
 Net investment income ...........   _____     0.10      0.09      0.12      0.15      0.14      0.13      0.20      0.15
 Net realized and unrealized gain
   (loss) on investments .........   _____     4.16      2.87      2.29      0.89      0.82      1.16      0.33      1.24

   Total from investment
     operations ..................   _____     4.26      2.96      2.41      1.04      0.96      1.29      0.53      1.39

Less distributions from:
 Net investment income ...........   _____     0.10      0.06      0.14      0.14      0.12      0.24      0.16      0.17
 Distributions in excess of net
   investment income .............   _____     0.02   --        --        --        --        --        --        --
 Realized gains on investments ...   _____     4.16      0.24      0.60      0.59      0.77   --           0.18      1.00
 Distributions in excess of net
   realized gains ................   _____     0.75   --        --        --        --        --        --        --

   Total distributions ...........   _____     5.03      0.30      0.74      0.73      0.89      0.24      0.34      1.17


Net asset value, end of period ...   _____   $15.92 $   16.69 $   14.03 $   12.36 $   12.05 $   11.98 $   10.93 $   10.74



Total Return(c) ..................   _____    30.82%    21.31%    20.61%     9.13%     8.21%    11.93%     5.21%    13.84%
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
Ratios/Supplemental Data
<S>                             <C>           <C>        <C>      <C>        <C>        <C>         <C>         <C>        <C>
Net assets, end of period (in
 thousands)                        __________  $290,355  $235,393  $211,330   $190,435   $197,250   $196,861    $199,892   $224,059
Ratios to average net assets:
 Expenses                             _____       1.46%     1.68%     1.59%      1.53%      1.53%      1.60%       1.50%      1.50%
 Net investment income.               _____       0.64%     0.54%     0.98%      1.16%      1.09%      1.20%       2.00%      1.40%
Portfolio turnover rate               _____         77%       15%        6%      7%36%        49%       182%         12%        --
Average commission rate paid.         _____       $0.0       686         --        --         --         --          --         --
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                     Class A                  Class B                            Class M

                                     Year           Year       Year       July 17,     Year       Year      July 17,
                                     Ended          Ended      Ended     1995(a) to    Ended      Ended    1995(a) to
                                    June 30,       June 30,   June 30,    June 30,    June 30,   June 30,   June 30,
                                     1989           1998       1997        1996        1998       1997       1996
<S>                                 <C>           <C>          <C>         <C>        <C>        <C>         <C>

Per Share Operating Performance
Net asset value, beginning of
 period...........................     $9.12        _____       $16.59      $14.22     _____       $16.63     $14.22

Income from investment operations:
 Net investment income............      0.17        _____         --          0.06     _____         0.02       0.08
 Net realized and unrealized gain
   (loss) on investments..........      1.39        _____         4.13        2.61     _____         4.16       2.63

   Total from investment
     operations...................      1.56        _____         4.13        2.67     _____         4.18       2.71

Less distributions from:
 Net investment income............      0.16        _____         --          0.06     _____         0.02       0.06
 Distributions in excess of net
   investment income..............        --        _____         --          --       _____         0.01       --
 Realized gains on investments....        --        _____         4.13        0.24     _____         4.16       0.24
 Distributions in excess of net
   realized gains.................        --        _____         0.78        --       _____         0.75       --

   Total distributions............      0.16        _____         4.91        0.30     _____         4.94       0.30

Net asset value, end of period....    $10.52        _____       $15.81      $16.59     _____       $15.87     $16.63

Total Return(c)...................    17.32%        _____       29.92%      18.98%     _____       30.26%     19.26%

Ratios/Supplemental Data

Net assets, end of period (in
 thousands).......................  $204,552        _____       $37,427     $10,509    _____       $6,748     $1,961
Ratios to average net assets:
 Expenses.........................     1.60%        _____         2.16%       2.38%(d) _____        1.91%     2.13%(d)
 Net investment income............     1.80%        _____       (0.04%)       0.07%(d) _____        0.22%     0.32%(d)
Portfolio turnover rate...........      129%        _____           77%         15%    _____          77%        15%
Average commission rate paid......       --         _____       $0.0686         --     _____      $0.0686        --

<FN>
(a) Commencement of offering of shares.

(b) Pilgrim America Investments,  Inc., the Fund's Investment Manager,  acquired
certain assets of Pilgrim Management  Corporation,  the Fund's former Investment
Manager, in a transaction that closed on April 7, 1995.

(c) Total  return is  calculated  assuming  reinvestment  of all  dividends  and
capital gain  distributions  at net asset value and  excluding  the deduction of
sales  charges.  Total  return  information  for  less  than  one  year  is  not
annualized.

(d) Annualized.
</FN>
</TABLE>
<PAGE>

                        Pilgrim America MidCap Value Fund


The  information  in the table below has been  audited by KPMG Peat Marwick LLP,
independent auditors.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                        Class A                        Class B                      Class M

                                                                 Ten                          Ten                           Ten
                                                                Months                        Months                        Months
                                            Year      Year       Ended     Year     Year      Ended    Year       Year      Ended
                                            Ended    Ended       June     Ended     Ended     June     Ended      Ended     June
                                           June 30,  June 30,     30,     June 30,  June 30,   30,     June 30,   June 30,  30,
                                             1998     1997      1996(a)    1998      1997     1996(a)  1998       1997      1996(a)

<S>                                       <C>        <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>        <C>      <C>
Per Share Operating Performance
Net asset value, beginning of period...    _____     $11.99    $10.00     ____      $11.94    $10.00    _____     $11.93   $10.00
Income from investment operations:
  Net investment income (loss).........    _____     (0.02)      0.13     ____      (0.05)     0.07     _____      (0.03)   0.06
  Net realized and unrealized gains on
    investments........................    _____      2.85       1.91     ____       2.76      1.90     _____       2.76    1.91

    Total from investment operations....   _____      2.83       2.04     ____       2.71      1.97     _____       2.73    1.97

Less distributions:
  Net investment income.................   _____      --         0.05     ____        --       0.03     _____        --     0.04
  In excess of net investment income....   _____      0.07       --       ____       0.05       --      _____       0.06     --
  Realized gains on investments.........   _____      0.11       --       ____       0.11       --      _____       0.11     --

    Total distributions.................   _____      0.18       0.05     ____       0.16      0.03     _____       0.17    0.04


Net asset value, end of period..........   _____    $14.64     $11.99     ____     $14.49    $11.94     _____      $14.49   $11.93


Total Return(b).........................   _____    23.89%     20.48%     ____     22.95%    19.80%     _____      23.21%   19.82%
Ratios/Supplemental Data
Net assets, end of period (000's).         _____    $16,985    $2,389     ____     $23,258   $2,123     _____      $8,378   $1,731
Ratios to average net assets:
  Expenses(c)(d)(e).....................   _____     1.75%     1.75%(f)   ____      2.50%    2.50%(f)   _____      2.25%    2.25%(f)
  Net investment income (loss)(c)(d)(e).   _____     (0.13)%   2.00%(f)   ____      (0.90)%  1.27%(f)   _____      (0.63)%  1.16%(f)
Portfolio turnover rate.................   _____     86%       60%(f)     ____      86%      60%(f)     _____      86%      60%(f)
Average commission rate paid............   _____    $0.0592     --        ____     $0.0592    --        _____      $0.0592   --

<FN>
(a) The Fund commenced operations on September 1, 1995.

(b) Total  return is  calculated  assuming  reinvestment  of all  dividends  and
capital gain  distributions  at net asset value and  excluding  the deduction of
sales  charges.  Total  return  information  for  less  than  one  year  is  not
annualized.

(c) Prior to the waiver and  reimbursement of expenses for the period ended June
30,  1997,  the ratios of expenses  to average net assets were 1.94%,  2.69% and
2.44% and the ratios of net investment  income (loss) to average net assets were
(0.32)%, (1.11)% and (0.81)% for Class A, B and M shares, respectively.

(d) Prior to the waiver and  reimbursement of expenses for the period ended June
30, 1996,  the  annualized  ratios of expenses to average net assets were 4.91%,
5.32% and 4.72% and the  annualized  ratios of net  investment  income (loss) to
average  net assets  were  (1.17)%,  (1.56)%  and  (1.32)%  for Class A, B and M
shares, respectively.

(e) Prior to the waiver and  reimbursement of expenses for the period ended June
30, 1998,  the ratios of expenses to average net assets were _____,  _______ and
_____ and the ratios of net investment  income (loss) to average net assets were
_____, ______ and _____ for Class A, B and M shares, respectfully.

(f) Annualized.
</FN>
</TABLE>
<PAGE>

                     Pilgrim America LargeCap Value Fund(a)

The  information  in the table below has been  audited by KPMG Peat Marwick LLP,
independent auditors.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                        Class A                        Class B                      Class M

                                                                 Ten                          Ten                           Ten
                                                                Months                        Months                        Months
                                            Year      Year       Ended     Year     Year      Ended    Year       Year      Ended
                                            Ended    Ended       June     Ended     Ended     June     Ended      Ended     June
                                           June 30,  June 30,     30,     June 30,  June 30,   30,     June 30,   June 30,  30,
                                             1998     1997      1996(b)    1998      1997     1996(b)  1998       1997      1996(b)

<S>                                       <C>        <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>        <C>      <C>
Per Share Operating Performance
Net asset value, beginning of period...    _____     $11.77    $10.00     ____      $11.71    $10.00    _____     $11.73   $10.00
Income from investment operations:
  Net investment income (loss).........    _____       0.06      0.07     ____      (0.02)     0.06     _____        --     0.06
  Net realized and unrealized gains on
    investments........................    _____      2.63       1.87     ____       2.59      1.81     _____       2.62    1.83

    Total from investment operations....   _____      2.69       1.94     ____       2.57      1.87     _____       2.62    1.89

Less distributions:
  Net investment income.................   _____      --         0.07     ____        --       0.06     _____        --     0.06
  In excess of net investment income....   _____      0.05       0.01     ____        --       0.01     _____       0.01    0.01
  Realized gains on investments.........   _____      0.24       0.09     ____       0.24      0.09     _____       0.24    0.09

    Total distributions.................   _____      0.29       0.17     ____       0.24      0.16     _____       0.25    0.16


Net asset value, end of period..........   _____    $14.17     $11.77     ____     $14.04    $11.71     _____      $14.10   $11.73


Total Return(c).........................   _____    23.24%     19.56%     ____     22.23%    18.85%     _____      22.58%   19.06%
Ratios/Supplemental Data
Net assets, end of period (000's).         _____    $8,961     $2,530     ____     $13,611   $1,424     _____      $4,719   $1,240
Ratios to average net assets:
  Expenses(d)(e)(f).....................   _____     1.75%     1.75%(g)   ____      2.50%    2.50%(g)   _____      2.25%    2.25%(g)
  Net investment income (loss)(d)(e)(f).   _____     0.41%     0.65%(g)   ____      (0.35)%  (0.25)%(g) _____      (0.10)%  0.06%(g)
Portfolio turnover rate.................   _____     86%       59%(g)     ____      86%      59%(g)     _____      86%      59%(g)
Average commission rate paid............   _____    $0.0586     --        ____     $0.0586      --      _____      $0.0586   --

<FN>
(a) Since  November 1, 1997,  the  Investment  Manager has  provided  investment
advisory  services  directly to the Fund.  Prior to that date, a different  firm
served as Portfolio Manager to the Fund.

(b) The Fund commenced operations on September 1, 1995.

(c) Total  return is  calculated  assuming  reinvestment  of all  dividends  and
capital gain  distributions  at net asset value and  excluding  the deduction of
sales  charges.  Total  return  information  for  less  than  one  year  is  not
annualized.

(d) Prior to the waiver and  reimbursement of expenses for the period ended June
30,  1997,  the ratios of expenses  to average net assets were 2.33%,  3.08% and
2.83% and the ratios of net investment  income (loss) to average net assets were
(0.18)%, (0.91)% and (0.68)% for Class A, B and M shares, respectively.

(e) Prior to the waiver and  reimbursement of expenses for the period ended June
30, 1996,  the  annualized  ratios of expenses to average net assets were 5.44%,
5.79% and 5.90% and the  annualized  ratios of net  investment  income (loss) to
average  net assets  were  (3.04)%,  (3.53)%  and  (3.59)%  for Class A, B and M
shares, respectively.

(f) Prior to the waiver and  reimbursement of expenses for the period ended June
30, 1998,  the ratios of expenses to average net assets were _____,  _______ and
_____ and the ratios of net investment  income (loss) to average net assets were
_____, ______ and _____ for Class A, B and M shares, respectfully.

(g) Annualized.
</FN>
</TABLE>
<PAGE>


                    Pilgrim America Asia-Pacific Equity Fund

The  information  in the table below has been  audited by KPMG Peat Marwick LLP,
independent auditors.




<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                        Class A                      Class B                      Class M

                                                                Ten                          Ten                          Ten
                                                                Months    Year              Months    Year                Months
                                            Year      Year       Ended    Ended   Year      Ended     Ended    Year       Ended
                                            Ended    Ended       June     June    Ended     June      June     Ended      June
                                           June 30,  June 30,     30,     30,     June 30,   30,      30,      June 30,   30,
                                             1998     1997      1996(a)   1998    1997     1996(a)    1998     1997       1996(a)

<S>                                       <C>        <C>      <C>        <C>     <C>       <C>       <C>      <C>        <C>
Per Share Operating Performance
Net asset value, beginning of period...    _____     $10.35    $10.00     ____    $10.31    $10.00    _____    $10.32     $10.00
Income from investment operations:
  Net investment income (loss).........    _____       0.02      0.03     ____    (0.07)    (0.01)    _____    (0.05)      --
  Net realized and unrealized gains on
    investments and foreign 
    currency transactions..............    _____      0.58       0.34     ____     0.59      0.32     _____     0.59       0.33

    Total from investment operations....   _____      0.60       0.37     ____     0.52      0.31     _____     0.54       0.33

Less distributions:
  Net investment income.................   _____      --          --      ____      --        --      _____     --         -- 
  In excess of net investment income....   _____      --         0.02     ____      --        --      _____     --         0.01
  Realized gains on investments.........   _____      --          --      ____      --        --      _____     --         -- 
  Tax return of capital ................   _____      0.02        --      ____      --        --      _____     --         --

    Total distributions.................   _____      0.02       0.02     ____      --        --      _____      --        0.01


Net asset value, end of period..........   _____    $10.93     $10.35     ____    $10.83    $10.31     _____    $10.86    $10.32


Total Return(b).........................   _____     5.78%      3.76%     ____     5.04%     3.19%     _____    5.26%      3.32%
Ratios/Supplemental Data
Net assets, end of period (000's).         _____    $32,485    $18,371    ____    $30,169   $17,789    _____    $11,155    $6,476
Ratios to average net assets:
  Expenses(c)(d)(e).....................   _____     2.00%     2.00%(f)   ____     2.75%    2.75%(f)   _____    2.50%      2.50%(f)
  Net investment income (loss)(c)(d)(e).   _____     0.00%     0.33%(f)   ____    (0.79)%  (0.38)%(f)  _____    (0.55)%   (0.16)%(f)
Portfolio turnover rate.................   _____     38%       15%(f)     ____     38%      15%(f)     _____    38%        15%(f)
Average commission rate paid............   _____    $0.0096     --        ____    $0.0096      --      _____    $0.0096     --

<FN>
(a) The Fund commenced operations on September 1, 1995.

(b) Total  return is  calculated  assuming  reinvestment  of all  dividends  and
capital gain  distributions  at net asset value and  excluding  the deduction of
sales  charges.  Total  return  information  for  less  than  one  year  is  not
annualized.

(c) Prior to the waiver and  reimbursement of expenses for the period ended June
30,  1997,  the ratios of expenses  to average net assets were 2.54%,  3.29% and
3.04% and the ratios of net investment  income (loss) to average net assets were
(0.53)%, (1.33)% and (1.09)% for Class A, B and M shares, respectively.

(d) Prior to the waiver and  reimbursement of expenses for the period ended June
30, 1996,  the  annualized  ratios of expenses to average net assets were 3.47%,
4.10% and 3.88% and the  annualized  ratios of net  investment  income (loss) to
average  net assets  were  (1.14)%,  (1.73)%  and  (1.53)%  for Class A, B and M
shares, respectively.

(e) Prior to the waiver and  reimbursement of expenses for the period ended June
30, 1998,  the ratios of expenses to average net assets were _____,  _______ and
_____ and the ratios of net investment  income (loss) to average net assets were
_____, ______ and _____ for Class A, B and M shares, respectfully.

(f) Annualized.
</FN>
</TABLE>

<PAGE>


                                 High Yield Fund

For the fiscal  year ended June 30, 1998 and the  periods  ended June 30,  1997,
1996 and the  eight-month  period ended June 30, 1995,  the  information  in the
table below has been audited by KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, independent auditors. For
all periods  ending prior to November 1, 1994,  the  financial  information  was
audited by another independent auditor.  Information for High Yield Fund for the
fiscal years ended October 31, 1986 through October 31, 1989 was not included in
such Fund's 1994 financial statements.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                           Class A

                                                                      Eight Months
                                         Year Ended June 30,            Ended          Year Ended October 31,
                                                                       June 30,
                                       1998    1997    1996          1995(b)(c)      1994       1993      1992
<S>                                   <C>    <C>      <C>             <C>           <C>        <C>       <C>

Per Share Operating Performance
Net asset value, beginning of
 period...........................     ____   $6.36     $6.15           $5.95          $6.47     $5.77     $5.70


Income (loss) from investment
  operations:
 Net investment income............     ____    0.61       0.59            0.35          0.54      0.53      0.63
 Net realized and unrealized gain
   (loss) on investments..........     ____    0.43       0.16            0.21         (0.51)     0.70      0.07


   Total from investment
     operations...................     ____    1.04       0.75            0.56          0.03      1.23      0.70


Less distributions from:
 Net investment income............     ____    0.60       0.54            0.36          0.55      0.53      0.63
 Realized gains on investments....     ____     --         --              --            --        --        --
                                                --         --              --            --        --        --

   Total distributions............     ____    0.60       0.54            0.36          0.55      0.53      0.63


Net asset value, end of period....     ____    $6.80     $6.36           $6.15          $5.95    $6.47      $5.77


Total Return(d)...................     ____    17.14%    12.72%           9.77%         0.47%    22.12%     12.65%

Ratios/Supplemental Data

Net assets, end of period
 (`000's).........................     ____    $35,940   $18,691         $15,950       $16,046    $18,797   $17,034
Ratios to average net assets:
 Expenses.........................     ____    1.00%(e)   1.00%(f)       2.25%(g)(h)    2.00%(h)  2.02%     2.03%
 Net investment income............     ____    9.54%(e)   9.46%(f)       8.84%(g)(h)    8.73%(h)  8.36%     10.93%
Portfolio turnover rate...........     ____    394%       339%           166%           192%      116%      193%
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  Class A                Class B                           Class M

                                                                 Year       Year     July 17,      Year      Year      July 17,
                                          Year Ended             Ended      Ended    1995(a) to    Ended     Ended     1995(a) to
                                             October 31,         June 30,   June 30, June 30,      June 30,  June 30,  June 30,
                                     1991    1990      1989      1998       1997     1996          1998      1997      1996
<S>                                 <C>      <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>          <C>        <C>       <C>       
Per Share Operating
 Performance
Net asset value, beginning of
 period...........................   $5.03    $6.46     $7.29     _____     $6.36     $6.20         _____      $6.36     $6.20

Income (loss) from investment
 operations:
 Net investment income............    0.66     0.82      0.88     _____     0.57       0.48        _____       0.58      0.50
  Net realized and unrealized gain
   (loss) on investments..........    0.74    (1.40)    (0.80)    _____     0.41       0.14        _____       0.41      0.14
 
   Total from investment
     operations...................    1.40    (0.58)     0.08     _____     0.98       0.62        _____       0.99      0.64

Less distributions from:
 Net investment income............    0.68     0.85      0.91     _____     0.56       0.46        _____       0.57      0.48
 Realized gains on investments....    0.05       --        --     _____     --           --        _____       --        --

   Total distributions............    0.73     0.85      0.91     _____     0.56       0.46        _____       0.57      0.48

Net asset value, end of period....   $5.70    $5.03     $6.46     _____    $6.78      $6.36        _____       $6.78     $6.36

 Total Return(d)................... 30.00%   (10.08)%   0.94%     _____    16.04%     10.37%       _____       16.29%    10.69%

Ratios/Supplemental Data

Net assets, end of period
 (in thousands)................... $23,820   $21,598  $31,356   _____     $40,225    $2,374        _____        $8,848   $1,243
Ratios to average net assets:
 Expenses.........................   1.89%     1.75%    1.79%   _____     1.75%(e)   1.75%(f)(g)   _____       1.50%(e)  1.50%(f)(g)
 Net investment income............  12.40%    14.11%   12.61%   _____     8.64%(e)   9.02%(f)(g)   _____       8.93%(e)  9.41%(f)(g)
Portfolio turnover rate...........    173%     183%      210%   _____     394%       339%          _____        394%      339%

<FN>
(a) Commencement of offering of shares.

(b) Pilgrim America Investments,  Inc., the Fund's Investment Manager,  acquired
certain assets of Pilgrim Management  Corporation,  the Fund's former Investment
Manager, in a transaction that closed on April 7, 1995.

(c) Effective November 1, 1994, High Yield Fund changed its year end to June 30.

(d) Total  return is  calculated  assuming  reinvestment  of all  dividends  and
capital gain  distributions  at net asset value and  excluding  the deduction of
sales  charges.  Total  return  information  for  less  than  one  year  is  not
annualized.

(e) Prior to the waiver and  reimbursement  of expenses  for the year ended June
30,  1997,  the ratios of expenses  to average net assets were 1.42%,  2.17% and
1.92% and the ratios of net investment  income to average net assets were 9.09%,
8.18% and 8.47% for Class A, B and M shares, respectively.

(f) Prior to the waiver and  reimbursement of expenses for the period ended June
30,  1996,  the ratios of  expenses  to average  net assets  were  2.19%,  2.94%
(annualized) and 2.69%  (annualized) for Class A, B and M shares,  respectively.
Prior to the waiver and  reimbursement of expenses for the period ended June 30,
1996,  the ratios of net  investment  income to average  net assets  were 8.27%,
8.05%  (annualized)  and  8.51%  (annualized)  for  Class  A,  B and  M  shares,
respectively.

(g) Annualized.

(h) Prior to the waiver of expenses, the annualized ratio of expenses to average
net assets was 2.35% in 1995 and 2.07% in 1994 for Class A shares.  Prior to the
waiver of expenses, the annualized ratio of net investment income to average net
assets was 8.74% in 1995 and 8.66% in 1994 for Class A shares.
</FN>
</TABLE>

<PAGE>


                       Government Securities Income Fund*


For the fiscal  year ended June 30, 1998 and the  periods  ended June 30,  1997,
1996 and 1995, the  information in the table below has been audited by KPMG Peat
Marwick LLP, independent auditors. For all periods ending prior to July 1, 1994,
the financial information was audited by another independent auditor.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                         Class A

                                                                   Year Ended June 30,

                                1998    1997      1996       1995(b)   1994      1993(c)    1992       1991       1990      1989
<S>                            <C>     <C>       <C>        <C>       <C>       <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>       <C>   
Per Share Operating
  Performance
Net asset value, beginning of
  period......................  ____    $12.59    $12.97      $12.73   $13.96    $13.76     $13.76     $13.79     $14.23    $14.23


Income (loss) from investment
 operations:
  Net investment income.......  ____    0.69      0.75        0.84     0.84      1.13       1.19       1.25       1.25      1.31
  Net realized and unrealized
    gain (loss) on
    investments...............  ____    0.20      (0.32)      0.24     (1.17)    0.18       --         (0.03)     (0.38)    0.02


    Total from investment
      operations..............  ____    0.89      0.43        1.08     (0.33)    1.31       1.19       1.22       0.87      1.33


Less distributions from:
  Net investment income.......  ____    0.69      0.75        0.84     0.90      1.11       1.19       1.25       1.31      1.33
  Distributions in excess of
    net investment income.....  ____    0.04          --         --        --        --        --         --         --          --
  Tax return of capital.......  ____    0.04      0.06           --        --        --        --         --         --          --


    Total distributions.......  ____    0.77      0.81        0.84     0.90      1.11       1.19       1.25       1.31      1.33


Net asset value, end of
  period......................  ____    $12.71    $12.59      $12.97   $12.73    $13.96     $13.76     $13.76     $13.79    $14.23



Total Return(d)...............  ____    7.33%     3.34%       8.96%    (2.50)%   9.82%      8.98%      9.27%      6.51%     10.10%

Ratios/Supplemental Data

  Net assets, end of period
    (`000's)..................  ____   $29,900   $38,753     $43,631  $61,100   $87,301   $96,390    $110,674   $122,212    $144,769
Ratios to average net assets:
  Expenses....................  ____    1.42%     1.51%(e)   1.40%(g)  1.21%     1.12%      1.10%      1.14%      1.14%     1.06%
  Net investment income.......  ____    5.78%     5.64%(e)   6.37%(g)  6.44%     8.06%      8.59%      9.09%      9.02%     9.45%
Portfolio turnover rate.......  ____    172%      170%        299%     402%      466%       823%       429%       448%      537%
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                Class B                                 Class M

                                 Year         Year        July 17,          Year      Year       July 17,
                                 Ended        Ended       1995(a) to        Ended     Ended      1995(a) to
                                June 30,      June 30,    June 30,          June 30,  June 30,   June 30,
                                 1998         1997        1996              1998      1997       1996
<S>                              <C>         <C>         <C>                <C>      <C>        <C>                 
Per Share Operating
  Performance
Net asset value, beginning of
  period......................    ____        $12.59       $12.95            ____     $12.59     $12.95


Income (loss) from investment
 operations:
  Net investment income.......     ____         0.67         0.66            ____      0.70      0.68
  Net realized and unrealized
    gain (loss) on
    investments...............     ____         0.11        (0.37)           ____      0.14      (0.36)


    Total from investment
      operations..............     ____         0.78         0.29            ____      0.84      0.32


Less distributions from:
  Net investment income.......     ____         0.67         0.65            ____      0.70      0.68
  Distributions in excess of
    net investment income.....     ____         0.02           --            ____         --     --
  Tax return of capital.......     ____           --           --            ____      0.01      --
                                                  --           --                      ----      --

    Total distributions.......     ____         0.69         0.65            ____      0.71      0.68


Net asset value, end of
  period......................     ____       $12.68       $12.59            ____      $12.72    $12.59



Total Return(d)...............     ____        6.38%        2.25%            ____      6.88%     2.52%

Ratios/Supplemental Data

  Net assets, end of period
    (`000's)..................      ____      $1,534         $73             ____       $61      $24
Ratios to average net assets:
  Expenses....................      ____       2.17%       2.26%(e)(f)       ____       1.92%    2.01%(e)(f)
  Net investment income.......      ____       4.92%       4.98%(e)(f)       ____       5.25%    5.73%(e)(f)
Portfolio turnover rate.......      ____        172%       170%              ____       172%     170%

<FN>
(a) Commencement of offering of shares.

(b) Pilgrim America Investments,  Inc., the Fund's Investment Manager,  acquired
certain assets of Pilgrim Management  Corporation,  the Fund's former Investment
Manager, in a transaction that closed on April 7, 1995.

(c) During this period,  average  daily  borrowings  were  $11,038,044,  average
monthly shares outstanding were 6,429,755 and average daily borrowings per share
were $1.72.  The Fund earned  income and realized  capital  gains as a result of
entering into reverse  repurchase  agreements during the six months from July to
December 1992. Such transactions  constituted  borrowing  transactions and, as a
result,  the Fund  exceeded its 10%  borrowing  limitations  during that period.
Therefore,  the Fund's  performance  was higher  than it would have been had the
Fund  adhered to its  investment  restrictions.  This  borrowing  technique  was
discontinued  subsequent to December 1992 until April 4, 1995, when shareholders
approved a change in the Fund's investment policies.

(d) Total  return is  calculated  assuming  reinvestment  of all  dividends  and
capital gain  distributions  at net asset value and  excluding  the deduction of
sales  charges.  Total  return  information  for  less  than  one  year  is  not
annualized.

(e) Prior to the waiver and  reimbursement of expenses for the period ended June
30,  1996,  the  annualized  ratio of  expenses to average net assets was 1.57%,
2.41% and 2.16% for Class A, B and M shares,  respectively.  Prior to the waiver
and reimbursement of expenses for the period ended June 30, 1996, the annualized
ratio of net investment income to average net assets was 5.74%,  4.83% and 5.58%
for Class A, B and M shares, respectively.

(f) Annualized.

(g) Prior to the waiver of expenses  the ratio of expenses to average net assets
was 1.54% and the ratio of net investment income to average net assets was 6.23%
for Class A shares.

* Prior  to April  4,  1995,  the Fund  had an  investment  policy  of  normally
investing at least 70% of its assets in Government National Mortgage Association
(GNMA)  certificates.  Effective  April 4, 1995,  the Fund's  policy  changed to
normally investing at least 70% of its assets in securities issued or guaranteed
by the U.S. Government, or certain of its agencies and instrumentalities.
</FN>
</TABLE>
<PAGE>

                  THE FUNDS' INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES

Bank and Thrift Fund. The Fund primarily seeks long-term capital appreciation; a
secondary  objective is income.  The Fund pursues its  objectives  by investing,
under  normal  market  conditions,  at least 65% of its  total  assets in equity
securities  of (i) national and  state-chartered  banks (other than money center
banks),  (ii) thrifts,  (iii) the holding or parent companies of such depository
institutions,  and (iv) in savings accounts of mutual thrifts,  which investment
may entitle the  investor to  participate  in future  stock  conversions  of the
mutual thrifts. These portfolio securities are selected principally on the basis
of  fundamental  investment  value and  potential for future  growth,  including
securities of  institutions  that the Fund believes are well  positioned to take
advantage of the attractive investment  opportunities  developing in the banking
and thrift industries. In making decisions concerning the selection of portfolio
securities for the Fund, the Investment  Manager  conducts its own evaluation of
the depository  institution which is a potential investment by the Fund and does
not take into account the credit  rating of the debt  securities  issued by such
institution.  These  equity  securities  include  common  stocks and  securities
convertible  into  common  stock  (including   convertible  bonds,   convertible
preferred  stock,  and  warrants) but do not include  non-convertible  preferred
stocks or adjustable rate preferred  stocks.  An investment in the Fund's shares
cannot  be  considered  a  complete  investment  program.   Because  the  Fund's
investment  portfolio will be concentrated  in specific  segments of the banking
and thrift industries, the shares may be subject to greater risk than the shares
of a fund whose portfolio is less concentrated.

The Investment  Manager  believes that a number of factors may contribute to the
potential   for  growth  in  the  value  of  equity   securities  of  depository
institutions, including the fact that such depository institutions are:

          (i) located in geographic regions  experiencing strong economic growth
          and able to participate in such growth;

          (ii)  well-managed and currently  providing  above-average  returns on
          assets and shareholders' equity;

          (iii) attractive  candidates for acquisition by a money center bank or
          another   regional  bank,  as  defined  in  'The  Banking  and  Thrift
          Industries,' below, or attractive partners for business  combinations,
          as a result of opportunities created by the trend towards deregulation
          and interstate  banking or in order to create  larger,  more efficient
          banking combinations;

          (iv)  expanding   their  business  into  new  financial   services  or
          geographic areas that have become or may become  permissible due to an
          easing of regulatory constraints; or

          (v)  investing  assets in  technology  that is  intended  to  increase
          productivity.

The  Investment  Manager also believes that factors may  contribute to increased
earnings of securities of depository institutions, including the following:

          (i)  changes  in  the  sources  of  revenues  of  banks,  such  as the
          implementation of certain new transaction-based fees;

          (ii) a focus on variable rate pricing of bank products,  which is less
          sensitive than fixed pricing to cyclical interest rate changes;

          (iii) the ability,  as a result of  liberalization  of regulation,  to
          offer financial  products and services which may have a higher rate of
          return than traditional banking and financial services products;

          (iv) the recent implementation of share repurchase programs by certain
          banks; or

          (v) a trend towards increased savings and investing as the average age
          of the population of the United States gets older.

The Fund's policy of investing  under normal  market  conditions at least 65% of
its total assets in the equity  securities  of (i) national and  state-chartered
banks (other than money center banks), (ii) thrifts, (iii) the holding or parent
companies  of such  depository  institutions,  and (iv) in savings  accounts  of
mutual  thrifts is  fundamental  and may only be changed  with  approval  of the
shareholders of the Fund.

The Fund invests the remaining 35% of its total assets in the equity securities,
including  preferred stocks or adjustable rate preferred stocks, of money center
banks, other financial services companies,  other issuers deemed suitable by the
Investment  Manager  (which  may  include  companies  that are not in  financial
services  industries),  in  securities  of  other  investment  companies  and in
nonconvertible debt securities  (including  certificates of deposit,  commercial
paper,  notes,  bonds or debentures) that are either issued or guaranteed by the
United States  Government or agency  thereof or issued by a corporation or other
issuer  and  rated  investment  grade or  comparable  quality  by at  least  one
nationally  recognized  rating  organization.   The  Fund  may  also  invest  in
short-term,  investment  grade debt  securities,  as  described  in  'Investment
Techniques--Temporary Defensive and Other Short-Term Positions.'

MagnaCap Fund. The Fund's  objective is growth of capital,  with dividend income
as  a  secondary   consideration.   In  selecting   investments  for  the  Fund,
preservation  of capital is also an important  consideration.  The Fund normally
seeks its  objectives  by  investing  primarily in equity  securities  issued by
companies that the Investment  Manager determines are of high quality based upon
the selection  criteria described below. The equity securities in which the Fund
may invest  include common stocks,  securities  convertible  into common stocks,
rights or  warrants  to  subscribe  for or purchase  common  stocks,  repurchase
agreements,  and foreign  securities  (including  American  Depository  Receipts
(ADRs)),  although it is anticipated  that the Fund normally will be invested as
fully as  practicable  in equity  securities in accordance  with its  investment
policies.  Assets of the Fund not invested in equity  securities may be invested
in   high   quality    debt    securities,    as   described   in    "Investment
Techniques--Temporary  Defensive and other  Short-Term  Positions."  In a period
that the Investment Manager believes presents weakness in the stock market or in
economic  conditions,  the Fund may establish a defensive position to attempt to
preserve capital and increase its investment in these instruments.

MagnaCap Fund is managed in accordance  with the philosophy  that companies that
can best meet the Fund's  objectives have paid increasing  dividends or have had
the capability to pay rising dividends from their operations.  Normally,  stocks
are acquired only if at least 65% of the Fund's assets are invested in companies
that meet the following criteria:

          1.   Consistent  dividends.  A  company  must  have  paid  or had  the
               financial  capability  from its operations to pay a dividend in 8
               out of the last 10 years.

          2.   Substantial dividend increases. A company must have increased its
               dividend or had the financial  capability  from its operations to
               have increased its dividend at least 100% over the past 10 years.

          3.   Reinvested  earnings.  Dividend  payout  must be less than 65% of
               current earnings.

          4.   Strong balance  sheet.  Long term debt should be no more than 25%
               of the company's total  capitalization  or a company's bonds must
               be rated at least A- or A-3.

          5.   Attractive  price.  A company's  current share price should be in
               the lower half of the stock's  price/earnings ratio range for the
               past  ten  years,  or  the  ratio  of  the  share  price  to  its
               anticipated  future  earnings  must  be an  attractive  value  in
               relation to the average  for its  industry  peer group or that of
               the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index.

The Investment Manager may also consider other factors in selecting  investments
for the Fund.  The  remainder  of the Fund's  assets may be  invested  in equity
securities that the Investment  Manager believes have growth  potential  because
they represent an attractive value. MagnaCap Fund may not invest more than 5% of
its total assets in the securities of companies which,  including  predecessors,
have not had a record of at least three years of continuous  operations,  and it
may not invest in any restricted securities.

MidCap  Value Fund.  This Fund's  investment  objective  is  long-term  capital
appreciation.  The Fund seeks to achieve this  objective  through  investment in
equity securities issued by companies with middle market capitalizations,  i.e.,
market  capitalizations  between $200 million and $5 billion,  although the Fund
may also  invest to a limited  degree in  companies  that have larger or smaller
market  capitalizations.  The  equity  securities  in which the Fund may  invest
include common stock, convertible securities,  preferred stock and warrants. The
Fund will normally be invested as fully as practicable  (at least 80%) in equity
securities of companies  with middle market  capitalizations.  The Fund may also
invest  in   high-quality   debt   securities,   as  described  in   'Investment
Techniques--Temporary Defensive and Other Short-Term Positions.'

The Fund is managed in accordance with the disciplined investment style that the
Portfolio  Manager,  Cramer Rosenthal  McGlynn,  LLC (CRM),  employs in managing
midcap value portfolios. As a value adviser, CRM does not attempt to time market
fluctuations; rather it relies on stock selection to achieve investment results,
seeking out those stocks that are undervalued  and, in some cases,  neglected by
financial  analysts.  The Portfolio Manager's  investment  philosophy is to take
advantage of periodic  inefficiencies  that develop in the valuation of publicly
traded companies.  Generally, its approach to finding such companies is to first
identify dynamic change that can be material to a company's operations.  Dynamic
change means change within a company that is likely to have a material impact on
its operations. Examples include new senior management, new products or markets,
or any material divestitures,  acquisitions,  or mergers. The philosophy is that
this type of change often creates  misunderstanding  in the marketplace that can
result in a company's stock being  undervalued  relative to its future prospects
and peer group. The Portfolio  Manager seeks to identify this change at an early
stage and conduct an  evaluation  of the  company's  business.  In applying this
approach, the Portfolio Manager focuses on middle capitalization companies where
dynamic change can be material.

CRM seeks  companies that it believes will look different in the future in terms
of their operations, finances, and/or management. Once change is identified, the
Portfolio  Manager conducts an evaluation of a company that includes  creating a
financial  model  based  principally  upon  projected  cash flow,  as opposed to
reported  earnings.  The company's stock is evaluated in the context of what the
market is  willing  to pay for the  shares of  comparable  companies  and what a
strategic  buyer would pay for the whole company.  CRM also evaluates the degree
of  investor  recognition  of a company  by  monitoring  the number of sell side
analysts who closely follow the company and the nature of the shareholder  base.
Before  deciding  to  purchase  a stock CRM  conducts  a  business  analysis  to
corroborate its  observations  and  assumptions,  including,  in most instances,
discussions  with  management,  customers  and  suppliers.  Also,  an  important
consideration is the extent to which management holds an ownership interest in a
company.  In its  overall  assessment,  CRM seeks  stocks  that have a favorable
risk/reward ratio over an 18 to 24 month holding period.

LargeCap  Value Fund.  This Fund's  investment  objective is  long-term  capital
appreciation.  The Fund seeks to achieve  this  objective  through  investing at
least 80% of its assets in equity  securities  and at least 65% of its assets in
equity securities issued by companies with large market capitalizations that the
Portfolio Manager believes sell at reasonable prices relative to their projected
earnings.  The  Portfolio  Manager's  investment  goal is to  participate  in up
markets  while  cushioning  the  portfolio  during a downturn.  A company with a
market capitalization (outstanding shares multiplied by price per share) of over
$5 billion is considered to have large market capitalization,  although the Fund
may  also  invest  to  a  limited   degree  in  companies  that  have  a  market
capitalization between $1 billion and $5 billion. The equity securities in which
the Fund may invest  include  common stock,  convertible  securities,  preferred
stock,  ADRs,  and  warrants.  The Fund will  normally  be  invested as fully as
practicable  (at least 80%) in equity  securities  and will  normally  invest at
least 65% of its assets in companies with large market capitalizations. The Fund
may also invest in  high-quality  debt  securities,  as described in 'Investment
Techniques--Temporary Defensive and Other Short-Term Positions.'

Asia-Pacific Equity Fund. This Fund's investment  objective is long-term capital
appreciation.  The Fund seeks to achieve this  objective  through  investment in
equity  securities  listed on stock  exchanges in countries in the  Asia-Pacific
region or issued by companies  based in this region.  Asia-Pacific  countries in
which the Fund  invests  include,  but are not  limited  to,  China,  Hong Kong,
Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines,  Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand, but do
not include  Japan and  Australia.  The equity  securities in which the Fund may
invest include common stock, convertible securities,  preferred stock, warrants,
American  Depositary  Receipts (ADRs),  European  Depositary  Receipts and other
depositary receipts.  The Fund will normally be invested as fully as practicable
(at least 80%) in equity securities of Asia-Pacific  issuers.  The Fund may also
invest  in   high-quality   debt   securities,   as  described  in   'Investment
Techniques--Temporary Defensive and Other Short-Term Positions.'

The Fund will be managed  using the  investment  philosophy  that the  Portfolio
Manager,  HSBC Asset  Management  Americas,  Inc. and HSBC Asset Management Hong
Kong  Limited  (HSBC),  employ  in  managing  private  Asia-Pacific  portfolios.
Investment  decisions  are based  upon a  disciplined  approach  that takes into
consideration the following factors:  (i) macroeconomic  overview of the region;
(ii) specific country analysis;  (iii) setting target country  weightings;  (iv)
evaluation  of  industry  sectors  within each  country;  and (v)  selection  of
specific  stocks.  Decisions  on  company  selection  include  analysis  of such
fundamental  factors as absolute  rates of change of earnings  growth,  earnings
growth relative to the market and industry, quality of earnings and stability of
earnings  growth,   quality  of  management  and  product  line,  interest  rate
sensitivity  and  liquidity  of the stock.  HSBC seeks to take  profits when the
Portfolio  Manager  believes  that  a  market  or  stock  has  risen  fairly  or
disproportionately to other investment opportunities.

The  criteria  used by the Fund to  determine  whether an issuer is based in the
Asia-Pacific region are: (1) the country in which the issuer was organized;  (2)
the country in which the principal securities market for that issuer is located;
(3) the  country in which the issuer  derives  at least 50% of its  revenues  or
profits from goods produced or sold, investments made, or services performed; or
(4) the country in which the issuer has at least 50% of its assets situated.

High Yield Fund.  This Fund's  primary  investment  objective  is to seek a high
level of current  income and its  secondary  objective is capital  appreciation,
with  preservation  of capital as a  consideration.  The Fund normally  seeks to
achieve its  objectives by investing at least 65% of its assets in a diversified
portfolio of higher  yielding debt  securities,  including  preferred  stock and
convertible  securities (High Yield  Securities),  that do not in the opinion of
the  Investment  Manager  involve undue risk relative to their  expected  return
characteristics.  High Yield Securities, which are commonly known as junk bonds,
are ordinarily lower rated and include equivalent unrated securities.

Assets of the Fund not  invested  in High Yield  Securities  (ordinarily  not to
exceed 35% of the Fund's  assets) may be invested  in common  stocks;  preferred
stocks rated Baa or better by Moody's Investor  Services,  Inc. (Moody's) or BBB
or better by Standard and Poor's  Corporation  (S&P);  debt  obligations  of all
types  rated Baa or higher by Moody's or BBB or better by S&P;  U.S.  Government
securities;  warrants;  foreign debt securities of any rating (not to exceed 10%
of the Fund's total assets at the time of investment); money market instruments,
including repurchase agreements on U.S. Government  securities;  other mortgage-
related  securities;  financial  futures and related options;  and participation
interests  and  assignments  in floating rate loans and notes.  See  'Investment
Practices and Risk  Considerations--High  Yield  Securities'  for information on
High Yield Securities.

Strategic Income Fund. This Fund's investment  objective is to seek a high level
of current income. The Fund normally seeks to achieve its objective by investing
in securities from one or more of the following four sectors:

          o    investment-grade debt of U.S. corporations,

          o    U.S. Government securities,

          o    lower-rated high yield debt of U.S. corporations, and

          o    senior  variable  or  floating  rate loans of U.S.  corporations,
               partnerships,  limited  liability  companies or business entities
               organized   under  U.S.  law  or  domiciled  in  Canada  or  U.S.
               territories or possessions.

Based on  current or  anticipated  market  conditions,  the  Investment  Manager
adjusts the weighting of assets among the sectors to seek an attractive  balance
between potential income and potential  volatility.  Under normal circumstances,
the Fund invests in securities from at least two sectors;  however, the Fund may
invest up to 100% of its assets in any sector.

The Fund may seek to achieve its  objective by investing  directly in individual
securities  within  the  above  sectors,   or  by  investing  in  affiliated  or
unaffiliated  open-end or closed-end  investment  companies that invest in these
sectors. For instance,  the Fund could invest in high yield debt by investing in
Pilgrim America High Yield Fund, and could invest in U.S. Government  securities
by investing in Pilgrim Government Securities Income Fund. The Fund could invest
in senior variable or floating rate loans by investing in closed-end  funds that
concentrate in this sector,  sometimes  referred to as "prime rate" funds.  This
may include  investments in Pilgrim  America Prime Rate Trust.  Pilgrim  America
High Yield Fund, Pilgrim  Government  Securities Income Fund and Pilgrim America
Prime Rate Trust are each managed by the  Investment  Manager.  Pilgrim  America
High Yield Fund and Pilgrim  Government  Securities Income Fund are described in
this  prospectus.  The Fund may also invest in open-end or closed-end funds that
are not managed by the Investment Manager.

The Fund has sought and  intends to seek  additional  exemptive  relief from the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission  which,  if granted,  would permit the Fund
considerable  flexibility in investing in affiliated and non-affiliated open-end
and closed-end  funds.  However,  until the exemptive  relief described above is
obtained,  the Fund may only invest in (i) other open-end Pilgrim America Funds,
(ii) U.S. Government  securities and (iii) short-term paper. Until the exemptive
relief described above is obtained, the Fund will be inhibited from investing in
certain of the  sectors  described  above.  There can be no  assurance  that the
exemptive relief described above will be obtained.

Government  Securities Income Fund. This Fund's investment  objective is to seek
high current income,  consistent with liquidity and preservation of capital. The
Fund normally  seeks to achieve its  objectives by investing at least 70% of its
total assets in securities  issued or guaranteed by the U.S.  Government and the
following agencies or instrumentalities  of the U.S.  Government:  GNMA, Federal
National  Mortgage  Association  (FNMA),  and the  Federal  Home  Loan  Mortgage
Corporation (FHLMC). The 70% threshold may not be met due to changes in value of
the  Fund's  portfolio  or  due to  the  sale  of  portfolio  securities  due to
redemptions.  In such instances,  further  purchases by the Fund will be of U.S.
Government  securities  until the 70% level is  restored.  The  remainder of the
Fund's  assets  may be  invested  in  securities  issued by other  agencies  and
instrumentalities  of the U.S.  Government and in instruments  collateralized by
securities  issued or  guaranteed  by the U.S.  Government  or its  agencies  or
instrumentalities.

The U.S. Government securities in which the Fund may invest include, but are not
limited to, the following: (1) direct obligations of the U.S. Treasury including
Treasury bills  (maturities of one year or less),  Treasury notes (maturities of
one to ten years), and Treasury bonds (generally  maturities of greater than ten
years and up to 30 years), and (2) mortgage-backed securities that are issued or
guaranteed  by  GNMA,  FNMA,  or  FHLMC.  The  Fund may  invest  in  short-term,
intermediate-term  and long-term  U.S.  Government  securities.  The  Investment
Manager will determine the exact  composition and weighted  average  maturity of
the Fund's portfolio on the basis of its judgment of existing market conditions.
The Fund  does not  invest  in  highly  leveraged  derivatives,  such as  swaps,
interest-only or principal-only stripped mortgage-backed securities, or interest
rate futures contracts.


                  INVESTMENT PRACTICES AND RISK CONSIDERATIONS

The  following  pages contain  information  about certain types of securities in
which one or more the Funds may  invest and  strategies  the Funds may employ in
pursuit  of  the  investment   objectives.   See  the  Statement  of  Additional
Information for more detailed information on these investment techniques and the
securities in which the Funds may invest.

Risk Considerations

The investment  objectives and policies of the Funds  described  above should be
carefully  considered before  investing.  There is no assurance that a Fund will
achieve its  investment  objectives.  As with any  security,  an investment in a
Fund's shares involves certain risks, including loss of principal.  Each Fund is
subject to varying degrees of financial, market and credit risks.

Temporary  Defensive and Other Short-Term  Positions.  Each Fund's assets may be
invested in certain short-term,  high-quality debt instruments (and, in the case
of  Bank  and  Thrift  Fund,  investment  grade  debt  instruments)  and in U.S.
Government  securities  for the  following  purposes:  (i) to  meet  anticipated
day-to-day  operating  expenses;   (ii)  pending  the  Investment  Manager's  or
Portfolio Manager's ability to invest cash inflows;  (iii) to permit the Fund to
meet redemption  requests;  and (iv) for temporary defensive purposes.  Bank and
Thrift  Fund,  MagnaCap  Fund,  LargeCap  Value  Fund,  MidCap  Value  Fund  and
Asia-Pacific Equity Fund may also invest in such securities if the Fund's assets
are insufficient for effective investment in equities.

Although it is expected that each Fund will normally be invested consistent with
its investment  objectives and policies,  the short-term  instruments in which a
Fund  (except  Government  Securities  Income  Fund)  may  invest  include:  (i)
short-term    obligations   of   the   U.S.   Government   and   its   agencies,
instrumentalities,  authorities or political subdivisions; (ii) other short-term
debt securities;  (iii)  commercial  paper,  including  master notes;  (iv) bank
obligations,  including  certificates  of deposit,  time  deposits  and bankers'
acceptances;  and (v) repurchase  agreements.  LargeCap Value Fund, MidCap Value
Fund and Asia-Pacific  Equity Fund may also invest in long-term U.S.  Government
securities and money market funds, while Asia-Pacific  Equity Fund may invest in
short-term    obligations   of   foreign   governments   and   their   agencies,
instrumentalities,   authorities,  or  political  subdivisions.  The  short-term
instruments  in which  Government  Securities  Income  Fund may  invest  include
short-term  U.S.  Government   securities  and  repurchase  agreements  on  U.S.
Government securities.  The Funds will normally invest in short-term instruments
that do not have a maturity of greater than one year.

Bank and Thrift  Fund:  Securities  of Banks and  Thrifts.  Bank and Thrift Fund
invests  primarily in equity  securities  of banks and thrifts.  A 'money center
bank'  is a bank  or  bank  holding  company  that is  typically  located  in an
international  financial center and has a strong  international  business with a
significant percentage of its assets outside the United States. 'Regional banks'
are banks and bank holding  companies which provide full service banking,  often
operating in two or more states in the same  geographic  area,  and whose assets
are  primarily  related to domestic  business.  Regional  banks are smaller than
money center banks and also may include  banks  conducting  business in a single
state or city and banks  operating in a limited  number of states in one or more
geographic regions.  The third category which constitutes the majority in number
of  banking  organizations  are  typically  smaller  institutions  that are more
geographically  restricted  and  less  well-known  than  money  center  banks or
regional banks and are commonly described as 'community banks.'

The Bank and Thrift Fund may invest in the  securities  of banks or thrifts that
are  relatively  smaller,  engaged in business  mostly  within their  geographic
region, and are less well-known to the general  investment  community than money
center and larger regional banks. The shares of depository institutions in which
the Fund may  invest  may not be  listed  or  traded  on a  national  securities
exchange  or  on  the  National  Association  of  Securities  Dealers  Automated
Quotation System ('NASDAQ');  as a result there may be limitations on the Fund's
ability to dispose of them at times and at prices that are most  advantageous to
the Fund.

The  profitability of banks and thrifts is largely dependent upon interest rates
and the  resulting  availability  and cost of capital  funds  over  which  these
concerns have limited control,  and, in the past, such  profitability  has shown
significant  fluctuation  as a result  of  volatile  interest  rate  levels.  In
addition,  general economic  conditions are important to the operations of these
concerns,  with exposure to credit losses resulting from financial  difficulties
of borrowers.

Changes  in state and  Federal  law are  producing  significant  changes  in the
banking and  financial  services  industries.  Deregulation  has resulted in the
diversification  of certain financial products and services offered by banks and
financial services  companies,  creating increased  competition between them. In
addition,  state and federal legislation  authorizing interstate acquisitions as
well as interstate branching has facilitated the increasing consolidation of the
banking and thrift  industries.  Although  regional banks involved in intrastate
and  interstate  mergers  and  acquisitions  may  benefit  from such  regulatory
changes,  those which do not participate in such  consolidation may find that it
is  increasingly   difficult  to  compete  effectively  against  larger  banking
combinations.  Proposals to change the laws and regulations  governing banks and
companies that control banks are frequently  introduced at the federal and state
levels and before  various  bank  regulatory  agencies.  The  likelihood  of any
changes and the impact such changes might have are impossible to determine.

The last few years have seen a significant  amount of regulatory and legislative
activity focused on the expansion of bank powers and diversification of services
that  banks  may  offer.   These   expanded   powers  have   exposed   banks  to
well-established  competitors and have eroded the distinctions  between regional
banks, community banks, thrifts and other financial institutions.

The thrifts in which the Bank and Thrift Fund invests  generally  are subject to
the same risks as banks  discussed  above.  Such  risks  include  interest  rate
changes,  credit risks, and regulatory risks.  Because thrifts differ in certain
respects  from  banks,  however,  thrifts  may be  affected  by such  risks in a
different  manner than banks.  Traditionally,  thrifts have  different  and less
diversified products than banks, have a greater  concentration of real estate in
their lending portfolio,  and are more concentrated  geographically  than banks.
Thrifts  and  their  holding  companies  are  subject  to  extensive  government
regulation and  supervision  including  regular  examinations  of thrift holding
companies by the Office of Thrift Supervision (the 'OTS'). Such regulations have
undergone  substantial  change since the 1980's and will probably  change in the
next few years.

Midcap   Company   Equity   Securities.   The  MidCap  Value  Fund  will  invest
substantially  all of its  assets,  and  MagnaCap  Fund,  Bank and Thrift  Fund,
LargeCap  Value Fund and  Asia-Pacific  Equity  Fund may  invest,  in the equity
securities   of   middle   capitalization   companies.   Investment   in  middle
capitalization companies may involve greater risk than is customarily associated
with securities of larger, more established  companies.  These securities may be
less  marketable  and subject to more abrupt or erratic  market  movements  than
securities of larger companies.

Investments in Foreign  Securities.  Asia-Pacific Equity Fund invests primarily,
and  MagnaCap  Fund may invest up to 5% of its total  assets in certain  foreign
securities  (including  ADRs). High Yield Fund may invest up to 10% of its total
assets in debt obligations  (including preferred stocks) issued or guaranteed by
foreign corporations,  certain  supranational  entities (such as the World Bank)
and  foreign  governments   (including  political   subdivisions  having  taxing
authority) or their agencies or instrumentalities, including ADRs.

These  securities  may be  denominated  in either  U.S.  dollars or in  non-U.S.
currencies.

There are certain risks in owning foreign securities,  including those resulting
from:  (i)  fluctuations  in  currency   exchange  rates;  (ii)  devaluation  of
currencies; (iii) political or economic developments and the possible imposition
of  currency   exchange   blockages  or  other  foreign   governmental  laws  or
restrictions;   (iv)  reduced  availability  of  public  information  concerning
issuers;  (v) accounting,  auditing and financial  reporting  standards or other
regulatory  practices  and  requirements  that are not uniform when  compared to
those  applicable  to domestic  companies;  and (vi)  settlement  and  clearance
procedures in some  countries  that may not be reliable and can result in delays
in  settlement;  (vii) higher  transactional  and  custodial  expenses  than for
domestic  securities;  and (viii)  limitations  on foreign  ownership  of equity
securities.  Also,  securities of many foreign  companies may be less liquid and
the prices more volatile than those of domestic companies.  With certain foreign
countries,   there  is  the  possibility  of   expropriation,   nationalization,
confiscatory  taxation and  limitations  on the use or removal of funds or other
assets of the Funds, including the withholding of dividends.

Emerging  Market  Investments.  Asia-Pacific  Equity Fund may invest in emerging
market  securities issued by companies based in emerging market countries in the
Asia-Pacific  region. An emerging market country is generally considered to be a
country whose economy is less  developed or mature than  economies in other more
developed  countries or whose  markets are  undergoing  a process of  relatively
basic  development.   'Emerging  market  countries'  consist  of  all  countries
determined  by the  World  Bank or the  United  Nations  to have  developing  or
emerging economies and markets.  Because of less developed markets and economies
and, in some countries,  less mature governments and governmental  institutions,
the risks of investing in foreign  securities  can be intensified in the case of
investments  in issuers  domiciled  or doing  substantial  business  in emerging
market countries.

In addition to the risks generally of investing in emerging  market  securities,
there are particular risks associated with investing in developing  Asia-Pacific
countries including:  (i) certain markets,  such as those of China, being in the
earliest stages of development; (ii) high concentration of market capitalization
and trading volume in a small number of issuers representing a limited number of
industries,  as  well  as  a  high  concentration  of  investors  and  financial
intermediaries;  (iii) political and social uncertainties;  (iv) over-dependence
on  exports,  especially  with  respect to  primary  commodities,  making  these
economies   vulnerable  to  changes  in  commodity   prices;   (v)  overburdened
infrastructure  and obsolete financial  systems;  (vi)  environmental  problems;
(vii) less well developed legal systems than many other industrialized  nations;
and (viii) less reliable custodial services and settlement practices.

Corporate Debt  Securities.  Strategic  Income Fund may invest up to 100% of its
assets in investment-grade debt of U.S. corporations,  while High Yield Fund may
invest in these and in lower-rated corporate debt securities.  In addition, each
Fund may also invest in high quality  short-term  corporate  debt for  temporary
defensive  purposes.  See "Temporary  Defensive and Other Short-Term  Positions"
below. Corporate debt securities include corporate bonds, debentures,  notes and
other similar corporate debt instruments,  including convertible securities. The
investment  return on a corporate debt security  reflects  interest earnings and
changes in the market  value of the  security.  The market  value of a corporate
debt security will generally increase when interest rates decline,  and decrease
when  interest  rates  rise.  There is also the risk  that the  issuer of a debt
security  will be unable to pay  interest or principal at the time called for by
the  instrument.  Investments in corporate debt  securities that are rated below
investment grade are described in "High Yield Securities" below.

High Yield  Securities.  High Yield Fund and Strategic Income Fund may invest in
High Yield  Securities,  which are high yield/high risk debt securities that are
rated  lower than Baa by  Moody's  or BBB by S&P,  or if not rated by Moody's or
S&P, of equivalent quality. High Yield Securities often are referred to as 'junk
bonds' and include certain corporate debt obligations, higher yielding preferred
stock and  mortgage-related  securities,  and  securities  convertible  into the
foregoing. Investments in High Yield Securities generally provide greater income
and increased  opportunity for capital  appreciation  than investments in higher
quality debt securities,  but they also typically entail greater potential price
volatility  and  principal and income risk.  Generally,  the Fund will invest in
securities  rated no lower  than B by  Moody's  or S&P,  unless  the  Investment
Manager  believes  the  financial  condition  of the  issuer or other  available
protections  reduce the risk to the Fund.  For  example,  the Fund may invest in
such a security if the  Investment  Manager  believes  the  issuer's  assets are
sufficient for the issuer to repay its  outstanding  obligations.  Nevertheless,
the  Fund  may  invest  in  securities  rated C or D if the  Investment  Manager
perceives  greater  value in these  securities  than it believes is reflected in
such securities' prevailing market price.

High Yield  Securities  are not  considered  to be  investment  grade.  They are
regarded as  predominantly  speculative  with  respect to the issuing  company's
continuing ability to meet principal and interest  payments.  The prices of High
Yield Securities have been found to be less sensitive to  interest-rate  changes
than higher-rated investments,  but more sensitive to adverse economic downturns
or individual corporate developments. A projection of an economic downturn or of
a period of rising  interest rates,  for example,  could cause a decline in High
Yield  Securities  prices.  In the case of High Yield  Securities  structured as
zero-coupon  or  pay-in-kind  securities,  their market prices are affected to a
greater extent by interest rate changes,  and therefore tend to be more volatile
than securities that pay interest periodically and in cash.

The secondary market in which High Yield Securities are traded is generally less
liquid than the market for higher grade bonds.  Less  liquidity in the secondary
trading market could  adversely  affect the price at which the Fund could sell a
High Yield Security, and could adversely affect the daily net asset value of the
Fund's  shares.  At times of less  liquidity,  it may be more difficult to value
High Yield  Securities  because this  valuation may require more  research,  and
elements of judgment  may play a greater  role in the  valuation  since there is
less reliable,  objective data available. In pursuing the Fund's objectives, the
Investment  Manager seeks to identify  situations  in which the rating  agencies
have not fully perceived the value of the security.

Based upon the weighted average ratings of all High Yield Securities held during
High Yield Fund's most recent fiscal year ended June 30, 1998, the percentage of
the Fund's total High Yield Securities  represented by (1) High Yield Securities
rated by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization, separated into
each applicable  rating category (Aaa, Baa, Ba, B, Caa, or Ca by Moody's or AAA,
BBB, BB, B, CCC, or CC by S&P) by monthly  dollar-weighted  average is AAA--__%,
BBB--__%, BB--____%, B--____%, CCC--____%, and CC--____%,  respectively, and (2)
unrated High Yield Securities as a group--____%.

The  following  are  excerpts  from  Moody's  description  of its bond  ratings:
Ba--judged to have  speculative  elements;  their future cannot be considered as
well  assured.  B--generally  lack  characteristics  of a desirable  investment.
Caa--are of poor standing; such issues may be in default or there may be present
elements of danger with respect to principal or interest.  Ca--speculative  in a
high degree; often in default. C--lowest rate class of bonds; regarded as having
extremely poor prospects.  Moody's also applies numerical  indicators 1, 2 and 3
to rating  categories.  The  modifier 1  indicates  that the  security is in the
higher end of its rating  category;  2  indicates  a  mid-range  ranking;  and 3
indicates a ranking  towards the lower end of the  category.  The  following are
excerpts  from  S&P's  description  of  its  bond  ratings:   BB,  B,  CCC,  CC,
C--predominantly  speculative with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay
principal in accordance  with terms of the  obligation;  BB indicates the lowest
degree  of  speculation  and C the  highest.  S&P  applies  indicators  '+,'  no
character,  and '-' to its  rating  categories.  The  indicators  show  relative
standing within the major rating categories.

Other Investment  Companies.  Strategic Income Fund, LargeCap Value Fund, MidCap
Value Fund, Asia-Pacific Equity Fund and Bank and Thrift Fund may each invest in
other investment  companies  ("Underlying  Funds").  LargeCap Value Fund, MidCap
Value Fund,  Asia-Pacific Equity Fund and Bank and Thrift Fund currently may not
(i) invest more than 10% of their total  assets in other  investment  companies,
(ii) invest more than 5% of their total assets in any one investment company, or
(iii) purchase  greater than 3% of the total  outstanding  securities of any one
Underlying  Fund.  Strategic  Income Fund currently may invest up to 100% of its
assets in open-end  investment  companies ("mutual funds") for which PAII serves
as the Investment Manager.

Strategic Income Fund has sought and intends to seek additional exemptive relief
from the Securities and Exchange Commission which, if granted,  would permit the
Fund to invest in both (i) mutual funds and closed-end  investment companies for
which PAII serves as Investment Manager  ("Affiliated  Funds"),  and (ii) mutual
funds and  closed-end  investment  companies  for  which  PAII does not serve as
Investment Manager  ("Unaffiliated  Funds"). If such relief is granted, the Fund
will  have  considerable  flexibility  in  investing  in  Affiliated  Funds  and
Unaffiliated  Funds.  In addition,  if the exemptive  relief  described above is
granted, the Strategic Income Fund will be able to purchase shares directly from
affiliated closed-end funds. There can be no assurance that the exemptive relief
will be obtained.

To the extent  that the assets of the  Strategic  Income  Fund are  invested  in
Underlying Funds, the Fund's  investment  performance is directly related to the
investment  performance  of  the  Underlying  Funds  held.  The  ability  of the
Strategic  Income Fund to meet its investment  objective is directly  related to
the ability of the Underlying Funds to meet their objectives,  as well as to the
allocation among the Underlying Funds by the Investment Manager. There can be no
assurance  that the  investment  objective of the  Strategic  Income Fund or any
Underlying Fund will be achieved.

There  are some  potential  disadvantages  associated  with  investing  in other
investment  companies.  For example,  you would indirectly bear additional fees.
The   Underlying   Funds  pay  various   fees,   including,   management   fees,
administration  fees, and custody fees. By investing in those  Underlying  Funds
indirectly,  you indirectly pay a  proportionate  share of the expenses of those
funds (including management fees,  administration fees, and custodian fees), and
you also pay the  expenses  of the Fund.  However,  the  Investment  Manager has
agreed to waive a portion of its management  fee from the Strategic  Income Fund
in proportion to the Fund's  investment in an Affiliated Fund. In addition,  you
will bear your  proportionate  share of expenses  related to the distribution of
the Fund's Shares,  and also may indirectly  bear expenses paid by an Underlying
Fund  related to the  distribution  of its shares.  However,  to the extent that
assets  of  Strategic  Income  Fund  are  invested  in  Affiliated   Funds,  the
Distributor has agreed to waive a portion of the Fund's distribution (12b-1) fee
in  proportion to the Fund's  investment  in an  Affiliated  Fund to reflect its
allocable  share  of the  distribution  fee  paid by the  Affiliated  Fund.  The
Strategic  Income  Fund may only buy shares of a load fund where the  Investment
Manager  reasonably  believes the shares may be  purchased  without a sales load
through quantity  discounts,  waivers or otherwise.  The Fund will aggregate any
sales  charges and  distribution  and  shareholder  service  expenses it pays on
Underlying  Funds to ensure  that such  aggregate  amounts do not exceed  limits
imposed by the NASD.

There  are  some  potential  advantages  associated  with  an  investment  in  a
closed-end  investment  company.  For  example,  a Fund may be able to  purchase
closed-end fund shares at a discount to net asset value, thereby yielding assets
at work for the Fund that are greater than the amount invested.  In addition, if
a Fund invests in a closed-end fund that is exchange  listed,  it may be able to
get exposure to relatively illiquid assets through a liquid investment.

If the exemptive  relief  described above is granted,  the Strategic Income Fund
may be  required  to comply with a  condition  that an  Unaffiliated  Fund whose
shares are  purchased by the Fund is not obligated to redeem more than 1% of the
Unaffiliated  Fund's  outstanding  securities held by the Fund during any 30 day
period. In such a case, shares held by the Strategic Income Fund in excess of 1%
of an Unaffiliated  Fund's outstanding  securities will be considered  illiquid,
and therefore,  together with other such  securities,  may not exceed 15% of the
Fund's net  assets.  In light of the  various  legal  constraints  on buying and
selling shares of  Unaffiliated  Funds,  occasions may arise when the Investment
Manager  might  not take  advantage  of  certain  opportunities  to invest in an
Unaffiliated Fund, and may seek suitable alternatives.

Some  Unaffiliated  Funds may elect to make payment for the redemption of shares
by a distribution in kind of securities from its portfolio,  instead of in cash.
If a  Fund  receives  securities  as  part  of an in  kind  redemption  from  an
Underlying Fund, the Fund may receive and hold such securities if the Investment
Manager believes it is in the best interest of shareholders,  whether or not the
purchase  of  such  securities  would  have  been  permitted  by the  investment
objectives and policies of the Fund.

The securities that these Unaffiliated Funds might hold may include, but are not
limited to, High Yield  Securities,  Senior Loans, U.S.  Government  securities,
short  term  instruments,  and  various  fixed  income  securities.  In  certain
instances,  some of the  Unaffiliated  Funds may also buy or sell  interest rate
futures  contracts  relating to debt securities and/or write or buy put and call
options   relating  to  interest  rate  futures   contracts.   Depending  on  an
Unaffiliated Fund's investment objective, policies, and restrictions, additional
risks  may  be  created  by  a  Fund's  investment  in  an  Unaffiliated   Fund.
Unaffiliated  Funds may follow some or all of the  investment  practices  of the
Fund and may follow other investment  practices.  The Investment  Manager has no
control over the investment  activities of the Unaffiliated Funds. There may, in
fact, be additional investment practices, not discussed in this Prospectus or in
the Statement of Additional Information,  that the Unaffiliated Funds may engage
in from time to time.  In  addition,  an  Underlying  Fund may be able to invest
defensively  in assets other than those  normally  called for by the  Underlying
Fund's investment  objectives or policies.  In such a case, an investment in the
Underlying Fund may not represent the sectors to the degree  contemplated by the
Investment Manager when it invested in the Underlying Fund.

As a result of the Fund's  investment in the Underlying  Funds,  you may receive
taxable capital gains  distributions  to a greater extent than would be the case
if you invested directly in the Underlying Funds. See "Dividends,  Distributions
and Taxes."

Investment decisions by the investment advisers of the Underlying Funds are made
independently of the Fund and the Investment Manager.  Therefore, the investment
adviser of one Underlying Fund may be purchasing shares of the same issuer whose
shares are being sold by the investment  adviser of another Underlying Fund. The
result of this would be an indirect  expense to the Fund  without  accomplishing
any investment purpose.

The  Investment  Manager will select the Affiliated  and  Unaffiliated  Funds in
which the Fund will  invest  based on a variety  of factors  including,  but not
limited to,  investment  style and objective,  total return  performance,  asset
size,  industry  rankings,  operational data,  various portfolio  statistics and
other factors it believes are important.

PPR, which is an affiliated  closed-end fund in which Strategic  Income Fund may
be able to invest,  invests  primarily  in Senior Loans and is subject to credit
and other risks.  See "Senior Loans" below.  PPR is traded in the New York Stock
Exchange.  Shares of PPR may trade at a discount  or at a premium to NAV. If PPR
is trading  at a premium to NAV,  PPR may issue  more  shares,  which  could put
downward pressure on the market price of PPR's shares. PPR may borrow to acquire
additional  income-producing  investments  when the Investment  Manager believes
that the use of borrowed  proceeds  will  enhance  PPR's  yield.  Borrowing  for
investment  purposes increases both investment  opportunity and investment risk.
Capital raised through  borrowings  will be subject to interest and other costs.
There can be no assurance  that PPR's income from borrowed  proceeds will exceed
these  costs.  In the event of a default  on one or more  Senior  Loans or other
interest-bearing instruments held by PPR, borrowing would exaggerate the loss to
PPR and may exaggerate the effect on PPR's NAV. PPR may borrow up to 33 1/3%, or
such other  percentage  permitted  by law, of its total  assets  (including  the
amount borrowed) less all liabilities other than borrowings.

Senior Loans.  The Strategic  Income Fund may invest in interests in variable or
floating rate loans ("Senior Loans"),  which, in most  circumstances,  are fully
collateralized  by  assets  of a  corporation,  partnership,  limited  liability
company, or other business entity. The Strategic Income Fund will invest only in
Senior Loans that are U.S. dollar-denominated. Senior Loans are considered loans
that hold a senior position in the capital structure of the borrower.  These may
include  loans that hold the most senior  position,  that hold an equal  ranking
with other  senior debt,  or loans that are, in the  judgment of the  Investment
Manager,  in the category of senior debt of the borrower.  Senior Loans that the
Strategic  Income  Fund may acquire  include  participation  interests  in lease
financings ("Lease Participations").

Substantial  increases in interest  rates may cause an increase in loan defaults
as borrowers may lack resources to meet higher debt service requirements. Senior
Loans generally require the consent of the borrower prior to sale or assignment,
which may delay or impede the Strategic Income Fund's ability to sell the Senior
Loans. Senior Loans will be considered  illiquid,  and therefore,  together with
other such securities, may not exceed 15% of the Fund's net assets.

Credit Risks. Although the Strategic Income Fund will generally invest in Senior
Loans that will be fully  collateralized  with assets whose market value, at the
time of acquisition,  equals or exceeds the principal amount of the Senior Loan,
the collateral may decline in value, be relatively illiquid,  or may lose all or
substantially  all of its value  subsequent  to the  Fund's  investment  in such
Senior Loan, causing the Senior Loan to be undercollateralized. Senior Loans are
also  subject to the risk of  nonpayment  of  scheduled  interest  or  principal
payments.  To the extent that the  Strategic  Income  Fund's  investment is in a
Senior Loan  acquired  from another  lender,  the Fund may be subject to certain
credit risks with respect to that lender.

Limited Secondary Market for Senior Loans. Although it is growing, the secondary
market for Senior Loans is currently limited.  There is no organized exchange or
board of trade on which Senior Loans may be traded. Accordingly, some or many of
the Senior Loans in which the  Strategic  Income Fund invests will be relatively
illiquid.  The Fund may have difficulty disposing of illiquid assets if it needs
cash to repay debt, to pay  dividends,  to pay expenses or to take  advantage of
new  investment  opportunities.  In addition,  because the secondary  market for
Senior Loans may be limited, it may be difficult to value Senior Loans.

Hybrid Loans. Hybrid Loans are similar to Senior Loans that generally offer less
covenant or other  protections than  traditional  Senior Loans while still being
collateralized.  The Strategic  Income Fund may invest only in Hybrid Loans that
are secured  debt of the  borrower,  although  they may not in all  instances be
considered  senior debt of the borrower.  Hybrid Loans may not include covenants
that are typical of Senior Loans. As a result,  Hybrid Loans present  additional
risks besides  those  associated  with  traditional  Senior  Loans.  Because the
lenders  in  Hybrid  Loans  waive  or  forego  certain  loan  covenants,   their
negotiating  power or voting rights in the event of a default may be diminished.
In addition,  because the Fund's security interest in some of the collateral may
be subordinate to other creditors, the risk of nonpayment of interest or loss of
principal may be greater than would be the case with conventional Senior Loans.

Subordinated  and Unsecured  Loans. The Strategic Income Fund may also invest up
to ___% of its total assets, measured at the time of investment, in subordinated
and unsecured  loans.  The Fund may acquire a subordinated  loan only if, at the
time of acquisition,  it acquires or holds a Senior Loan from the same borrower.
The primary risk arising from a holder's  subordination is the potential loss in
the event of default by the issuer of the loans. Unsecured loans are not secured
by any  specific  collateral  of the  borrower.  They may pose a greater risk of
nonpayment of interest or loss of principal than do secured loans. The Strategic
Income  Fund will  acquire  unsecured  loans only where the  Investment  Manager
believes,  at the time of  acquisition,  that the Fund  would  have the right to
payment upon default that is not subordinate to any other creditor.

Restricted  and  Illiquid  Securities.  Each Fund may invest in  restricted  and
illiquid securities.  A Fund may invest in an illiquid or restricted security if
the  Investment  Manager  believes  that it  presents an  attractive  investment
opportunity.  Generally,  a  security  is  considered  illiquid  if it cannot be
disposed of within seven days at approximately the value at which it is carried.
This  illiquidity  might  prevent  the sale of the  security  at a time when the
Investment  Manager  might  wish to sell,  and these  securities  could have the
effect of decreasing  the overall level of the Fund's  liquidity.  Further,  the
lack of an  established  secondary  market may make it more  difficult  to value
illiquid  securities,  requiring  the  Fund  to rely on  judgments  that  may be
somewhat  subjective in determining  value, which could vary from the amount the
Fund could realize upon disposition.  Each Fund may only invest up to 15% of its
net assets in illiquid securities.

Restricted  securities,  including private  placements,  are subject to legal or
contractual  restrictions on resale.  They can be eligible for purchase  without
Securities  and  Exchange  Commission   registration  by  certain  institutional
investors  known as  'qualified  institutional  buyers,'  and under  the  Fund's
procedures,  restricted  securities  could be treated as liquid.  However,  some
restricted securities may be illiquid and restricted securities that are treated
as liquid could be less liquid than registered  securities traded on established
secondary markets.

Mortgage-Related Securities.  Government Securities Income Fund, High Yield Fund
and Strategic Income Fund may invest up to 100% of their assets in certain types
of  mortgage-related  securities.  High  Yield  Fund may invest up to 35% of its
total assets in  mortgage-related  securities.  Investments in  mortgage-related
securities   involve  certain  risks.   Although  mortgage  loans  underlying  a
mortgage-backed  security  may have  maturities  of up to 30 years,  the  actual
average life of a mortgage-backed  security typically will be substantially less
because (1) the mortgages will be subject to normal principal amortization,  and
(2) may be prepaid prior to maturity due to the sale of the underlying property,
the refinancing of the loan or foreclosure.  Early  prepayment may expose a Fund
to a lower rate of return upon  reinvestment of the principal.  Prepayment rates
vary widely and cannot be accurately predicted.  They may be affected by changes
in market interest  rates.  Therefore,  prepayments  will be reinvested at rates
that are available  upon receipt,  which likely will be higher or lower than the
original  yield  on the  certificates.  Accordingly,  the  actual  maturity  and
realized  yield on  mortgage-backed  securities  will vary  from the  designated
maturity and yield on the original security based upon the prepayment experience
of the underlying pool of mortgages.

Like other fixed income  securities,  when interest  rates rise,  the value of a
mortgage-backed  security generally will decline;  however,  when interest rates
are declining, the value of mortgage-backed  securities with prepayment features
may  not  increase  as  much as  other  fixed  income  securities.  The  rate of
prepayments  on underlying  mortgages  will affect the price and volatility of a
mortgage-related  security,  and may have the effect of  shortening or extending
the effective  maturity of the security  beyond what was anticipated at the time
of the  purchase.  To the  extent  that  unanticipated  rates of  prepayment  on
underlying  mortgages  increase  the  effective  maturity of a  mortgage-related
security,  the  volatility  of such  security  can be expected to  increase.  In
addition,  the  value of these  securities  may  fluctuate  in  response  to the
market's  perception of the  creditworthiness of the issuers of mortgage-related
securities   owned   by   a   Fund.   Additionally,   although   mortgages   and
mortgage-related  securities are generally  supported by some form of government
or private  guarantee  and/or  insurance,  there is no  assurance  that  private
guarantors or insurers will be able to meet their obligations.

U.S. Government Securities.  Each Fund may invest in U.S. Government securities.
U.S. Government securities include direct obligations of the U.S. Treasury (such
as U.S.  Treasury  bills,  notes and bonds) and  obligations  directly issued or
guaranteed by U.S.  Government agencies or  instrumentalities.  Some obligations
issued or guaranteed by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. Government are
backed  by the  full  faith  and  credit  of the U.S.  Government  (such as GNMA
certificates);  others are backed only by the right of the issuer to borrow from
the U.S.  Treasury (such as  obligations  of FNMA);  and still others are backed
only by the credit of the  instrumentality  (such as obligations of FHLMC),  and
thus may be subject to varying  degrees of credit  risk.  While U.S.  Government
securities  provide  substantial  protection  against  credit risk,  they do not
protect  investors  against  price  declines in the  securities  due to changing
interest   rates.   Investors   also   should   refer  to  the   discussion   of
'Mortgage-Related Securities.'

Investment  Techniques

Borrowing. Bank and Thrift Fund may borrow money from banks to obtain short-term
credits as are necessary for the clearance of securities  transactions,  but not
in an amount exceeding 15% of its total assets. All Funds except Bank and Thrift
may borrow from banks solely for  temporary or emergency  purposes up to certain
amounts (10% of total assets in the case of Government  Securities  Income Fund,
5% of total assets in the case of MagnaCap Fund and High Yield Fund, and 33 1/3%
of  total  assets  in the  case of  MidCap  Value  Fund,  LargeCap  Value  Fund,
Asia-Pacific  Equity Fund and  Strategic  Income  Fund).  Government  Securities
Income Fund may not make any  additional  investment  while any such  borrowings
exceed 5% of its total assets.  The  Government  Securities  Income Fund's entry
into reverse repurchase  agreements and dollar-roll  transactions and any Fund's
entry into delayed delivery transactions  (including those related to pair-offs)
shall not be subject to the above limits on borrowings. Borrowing may exaggerate
the effect of any increase or decrease in the value of portfolio  securities  or
the net asset  value  (NAV) of a Fund,  and money  borrowed  will be  subject to
interest costs.

Foreign  Currency   Transactions.   Substantially  all  of  the  assets  of  the
Asia-Pacific  Equity Fund will be invested in securities  denominated in foreign
currencies and a  corresponding  portion of the Fund's revenues will be received
in such currencies.  Unfavorable  changes in the  relationship  between the U.S.
dollar and the relevant foreign currencies, therefore, will adversely affect the
value of the Fund's shares.  The  Asia-Pacific  Equity Fund  ordinarily will not
engage  in  hedging   transactions   to  guard  against  the  risk  of  currency
fluctuation.  However,  the Fund  reserves the right to do so, and,  toward this
end,  may  enter  into  forward  foreign  currency  contracts.  This  investment
technique is described in the Statement of Additional Information.

Dollar Roll Transactions. Government Securities Income Fund and Strategic Income
Fund may engage in dollar  roll  transactions  with  respect to  mortgage-backed
securities  issued by GNMA, FNMA and FHLMC in order to enhance portfolio returns
and manage  prepayment  risks.  In a dollar roll  transaction,  the Fund sells a
mortgage  security  held in the portfolio to a financial  institution  such as a
bank or broker-dealer,  and simultaneously  agrees to repurchase a substantially
similar  security from the  institution at a later date at an agreed upon price.
During the period between the sale and repurchase, the Fund will not be entitled
to receive interest and principal  payments on the securities sold.  Proceeds of
the sale will be invested in short-term  instruments,  and the income from these
investments, together with any additional fee income received on the sale, could
generate  income for the Fund exceeding the yield on the sold security.  When it
enters into a dollar roll transaction, the Fund will maintain with its custodian
in a segregated  account cash and/or liquid assets in a dollar amount sufficient
to make payment for the  obligations  to be  repurchased.  These  securities are
marked to market daily and are maintained until the transaction is settled.

Lending Portfolio Securities.  In order to generate additional income,  MagnaCap
Fund, High Yield Fund,  Strategic Income Fund and Government  Securities  Income
Fund may lend its portfolio  securities in an amount up to 33 1/3% of total Fund
assets  to   broker-dealers,   major  banks,   or  other   recognized   domestic
institutional borrowers of securities. No lending may be made with any companies
affiliated  with the  Investment  Manager.  The borrower at all times during the
loan  must  maintain  with  that  Fund  cash or high  quality  securities  or an
irrevocable letter of credit equal in value to at least 100% of the value of the
securities  loaned.  During  the time  portfolio  securities  are on  loan,  the
borrower pays the Fund any dividends or interest  paid on such  securities,  and
the Fund may invest the cash  collateral and earn additional  income,  or it may
receive an  agreed-upon  amount of  interest  income from the  borrower  who has
delivered equivalent  collateral or a letter of credit. As with other extensions
of credit,  there are risks of delay in  recovery  or even loss of rights in the
collateral should the borrower fail financially.

Pairing Off Transactions. Government Securities Income Fund and Strategic Income
Fund engages in a pairing-off transaction when it commits to purchase a security
at a future date, and then the Fund  'pairs-off' the purchase with a sale of the
same security prior to or on the original settlement date. At all times when the
Fund has an  outstanding  commitment  to  purchase  securities,  the  Fund  will
maintain  with its  custodian in a segregated  account cash and/or liquid assets
equal to the value of the outstanding purchase commitments.  When the time comes
to pay for the securities  acquired on a delayed  delivery basis,  the Fund will
meet its  obligations  from the available cash flow, sale of the securities held
in the separate  account,  sale of other  securities  or,  although it would not
normally  expect to do so, from sale of the  when-issued  securities  themselves
(which  may  have a  market  value  greater  or less  than  the  Fund's  payment
obligation).  Whether a  pairing-off  transaction  produces  a gain for the Fund
depends upon the movement of interest rates. If interest rates decease, then the
money  received  upon the sale of the same  security  will be  greater  than the
anticipated amount needed at the time the commitment to purchase the security at
the future date was entered and the Fund will  experience  a gain.  However,  if
interest  rates  increase,  then the  money  received  upon the sale of the same
security  will be less  than  the  anticipated  amount  needed  at the  time the
commitment  to purchase the security at the future date was entered and the Fund
will experience a loss.

Reverse Repurchase  Agreements.  Government Securities Income Fund and Strategic
Income Fund may enter into  reverse  repurchase  agreement  transactions,  which
involve  the  sale of U.S.  Government  Securities  held  by the  Fund,  with an
agreement  that the Fund will  repurchase the securities at an agreed upon price
and date. The Fund will employ reverse  repurchase  agreements when necessary to
meet   unanticipated   net  redemptions  and  avoid   liquidation  of  portfolio
investments during  unfavorable market conditions.  At the time it enters into a
reverse repurchase  agreement,  the Fund will place in a segregated account with
its  custodian  cash and/or  liquid  assets  having a dollar  value equal to the
repurchase price. Reverse repurchase agreements,  together with the Fund's other
borrowings, may not exceed 33 1/3% of the Fund's total assets.

Use of Derivatives.  Generally,  derivatives can be  characterized  as financial
instruments whose performance is derived, at least in part, from the performance
of an underlying asset or assets. The Funds will not invest in highly leveraging
derivatives,  such as interest-only or principal-only  stripped  mortgage-backed
securities or swaps.  In the case of MidCap Value Fund,  LargeCap Value Fund and
Asia-Pacific Equity Fund, it is expected that derivatives will not ordinarily be
used  for any of the  Funds,  but a Fund  may  make  occasional  use of  certain
derivatives for hedging. For example, MidCap Value Fund, LargeCap Value Fund and
Asia-Pacific Equity Fund may purchase put options, which give the Fund the right
to sell a security  it holds at a  specified  price.  A Fund would  purchase  an
option to attempt to preserve the value of  securities  that it holds,  which it
could do by exercising  the option if the price of the security  falls below the
'strike  price' for the  option.  The Funds will not engage in any other type of
options transactions.

Another use of derivatives that only may be employed by the Asia-Pacific  Equity
Fund is to enter into forward  currency  contracts and foreign  exchange futures
('futures') contracts, which provide for delivery of a certain amount of foreign
currency  to the Fund on a specified  date.  The Fund would enter into a forward
currency  or futures  contract  when it intends to  purchase  or sell a security
denominated  in a foreign  currency and it desires to 'lock in' the U.S.  dollar
price of the  security.  The Funds  will not engage in any other type of forward
contracts  or futures  contracts.  For  additional  information  on options  and
foreign currency  contracts,  see  'Supplemental  Discussion of Risks Associated
with the Funds' Use of Investment Policies and Investment Techniques--Options on
Securities' and '--Foreign  Currency Exchange  Transactions' in the Statement of
Additional Information.

Government Securities Income Fund, Strategic Income Fund and High Yield Fund may
invest in U.S. Government agency mortgage-backed securities issued or guaranteed
by the U.S.  Government or one of its agencies or  instrumentalities,  including
GNMA, FNMA, and FHLMC.  These instruments might be considered  derivatives.  The
primary risks  associated  with these  instruments  is the risk that their value
will change with changes in interest rates and prepayment  risk. For information
on   mortgage-backed    securities,   see   'Investment   Practices   and   Risk
Considerations--Mortgage-Related  Securities'  in this  Prospectus,  'Investment
Objectives and Policies--U.S.  Government  Securities' in Government  Securities
Income Fund's Statement of Additional  Information,  and 'Investment  Objectives
and  Policies--Mortgage-Related  Securities'  in High Yield Fund's  Statement of
Additional Information.

Other  uses of  derivatives  that may be  employed  only by High  Yield Fund and
Strategic  Income Fund include  writing  covered call options;  purchasing  call
options;  and engaging in financial futures and related options.  It is expected
that  these  instruments  ordinarily  will not be used for  High  Yield  Fund or
Strategic  Income  Fund;  however,  the Fund may  make  occasional  use of these
techniques.  When a Fund writes a covered call option, it receives a premium for
entering  into a  contract  to sell a security  in the future at an agreed  upon
price and date. A Fund would write a call option if it believes that the premium
would increase  total return.  The primary risk of writing call options is that,
during the option period, the covered call writer has, in return for the premium
on the option,  given up the  opportunity to profit from a price increase in the
underlying securities above the exercise price. A Fund may purchase call options
for the  purpose  of  'closing  out' a position  on a  security  on which it has
already written a call option.

High  Yield  Fund and  Strategic  Income  Fund  also may use  financial  futures
contracts and related  options for 'hedging'  purposes.  A Fund would purchase a
financial  futures  contract  (such as an  interest  rate  futures  contract  or
securities index futures  contract) to protect against a decline in the value of
its portfolio or to gain exposure to securities  which the Fund otherwise wishes
to purchase. A risk of using financial futures contracts for hedging purposes is
that the Investment Manager might imperfectly judge the market's  direction,  so
that  the  hedge  might  not  correlate  to the  market's  movements  and may be
ineffective.  Furthermore, if a Fund buys a futures contract to gain exposure to
securities,  the Fund is  exposed  to the  risk of  change  in the  value of the
underlying  securities.  For  information on options on securities and financial
futures and related  options,  see 'Investment  Objectives and  Policies--Option
Writing' and '--Financial  Futures  Contracts and Related Options' in High Yield
Fund's Statement of Additional Information.

                     DIVERSIFICATION AND CHANGES IN POLICIES

Each Fund is diversified,  so that with respect to 75% of its assets, it may not
invest  more than 5% of its  assets  (measured  at  market  value at the time of
investment) in securities of any one issuer,  except that this  restriction does
not apply to U.S. Government securities.

The first sentence in the description of each Fund under 'The Funds'  Investment
Objectives and Policies,' above, states the Fund's investment objectives.  These
investment  objectives  are  'fundamental.'  The other  investment  policies  of
Government  Securities  Income Fund described in the first  paragraph under 'The
Funds' Investment  Objectives and  Policies--Government  Securities Income Fund'
are  also  'fundamental.'  Fundamental  policies  may only be  changed  with the
approval of a majority of shareholders of the pertinent Fund.  Unless  otherwise
specified,  other investment  policies of any of the Funds may be changed by the
Board of  Directors  of that Fund  without  shareholder  approval.  Each Fund is
subject to investment  restrictions  that are described in that Fund's Statement
of  Additional  Information  under  'Investment  Restrictions.'  Some  of  those
restrictions are designated as 'fundamental.' These fundamental  restrictions as
well as the diversified  status of each Fund require a vote of a majority of the
shareholders of the relevant Fund to be changed.

                              YEAR 2000 COMPLIANCE

Like other financial organizations, the Funds could be adversely affected if the
computer  systems used by the  Investment  Manager and the Funds' other  service
providers do not properly process and calculate  date-related  information after
January 1, 2000.  This is commonly  known as the "Year 2000  Problem."  The Year
2000 Problem could have a negative impact on handling securities trades, payment
of interest and dividends, pricing, and account services. The Investment Manager
is taking  steps that it believes  are  reasonably  designed to address the Year
2000  Problem  with  respect  to  computer  systems  that it uses and to  obtain
reasonable  assurances that comparable steps are being taken by the Funds' other
major service providers.  At this time, however,  there can be no assurance that
these steps will be sufficient to avoid any adverse  impact to the Funds nor can
there be any  assurance  that the Year  2000  Problem  will not have an  adverse
effect  on the  companies  whose  securities  are held by the Funds or on global
markets or economies, generally.



<PAGE>



                                SHAREHOLDER GUIDE

Pilgrim America Purchase OptionsTM

Depending upon the Fund,  you may select from two or three  separate  classes of
shares:  Class A,  Class B and Class M, each of which  represents  an  identical
interest in a Fund's  investment  portfolio but are offered with different sales
charges and distribution fee (Rule 12b-1) arrangements.  These sales charges and
fees are shown and contrasted in the chart below.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                Class A        Class B       Class M(1)
<S>                                                            <C>            <C>          <C>    

Maximum Initial Sales Charge on Purchases
    Bank and Thrift Fund......................................   5.75% (2)      None          N/A

    MagnaCap Fund, MidCap Value Fund, LargeCapValue Fund,
     Asia-Pacific Equity Fund.................................   5.75% (2)      None          3.50%

    Strategic Income Fund                                        4.75%(2)       None          N/A

    High Yield Fund and Government Securities Income Fund.....   4.75% (2)      None          3.25%
CDSC..........................................................   None (3)       5.00% (4)     None
Annual Distribution Fees (5)..................................   0.25% (6)      1.00%         0.75%
Maximum Purchase..............................................   Unlimited     $250,000      $1,000,000
Automatic Conversion to Class A...............................   N/A            8 Years       N/A

<FN>

     (1)  Bank and Thrift  Fund and  Strategic  Income Fund do not offer Class M
          shares.

     (2)  Imposed upon purchase. Reduced for purchases of $50,000 or more.

     (3)  For  investments  of $1 million or more,  a CDSC of no more than 1% is
          assessed on  redemptions  made within one or two years from  purchase,
          depending  on the amount of  purchase.  See  'Class A Shares:  Initial
          Sales Charge Alternative.

     (4)  Imposed  upon  redemption  within  6  years  from  purchase.  Fee  has
          scheduled  reductions  after  the  first  year.  See  'Class B Shares:
          Deferred Sales Charge Alternative.

     (5)  Annual asset-based  distribution  charge.

     (6)  MagnaCap Fund imposes an annual distribution fee of 0.30%.
</FN>
</TABLE>

When choosing between classes,  investors should carefully  consider the ongoing
annual expenses along with the initial sales charge or CDSC. The relative impact
of the initial  sales  charges and ongoing  annual  expenses  will depend on the
length of time a share is held.  Orders for Class B shares and Class M shares in
excess of $250,000 and $1,000,000,  respectively, will be accepted as orders for
Class A shares or declined.  You should  discuss  which Class of shares is right
for you with your Authorized Dealer.

Class A Shares:  Initial Sales Charge  Alternative.  Class A shares of the Funds
are sold at the NAV per share in effect plus a sales  charge as described in the
following  table. For waivers or reductions of the Class A shares sales charges,
see 'Special Purchases without a Sales Charge' and 'Reduced Sales Charges.'

             Bank and Thrift Fund, MagnaCap Fund, MidCap Value Fund,
                LargeCap Value Fund and Asia-Pacific Equity Fund

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                         Dealers'
                                                                                            Reallowance
                                                          As a % of Offering    As a % of   as a % of
Amount of Transaction                                      Price Per Share        NAV       Offering Price

<S>                                                          <C>                <C>         <C>    
Less than $50,000.....................................         5.75%              6.10%       5.00%
$50,000 but less than $100,000........................         4.50%              4.71%       3.75%
$100,000 but less than $250,000.......................         3.50%              3.63%       2.75%
$250,000 but less than $500,000.......................         2.50%              2.56%       2.00%
$500,000 but less than $1,000,000.....................         2.00%              2.04%       1.75%

</TABLE>

                     High Yield Fund, Strategic Income Fund
                      and Government Securities Income Fund
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                            Dealers'
                                                                                               Reallowance as
                                                      As a % of Offering         As a % of     a % of
Amount of Transaction                                  Price Per Share             NAV         Offering Price
<S>                                                       <C>                    <C>           <C>
Less than $50,000.................................          4.75%                  4.99%        4.25%
$50,000 but less than $100,000....................          4.50%                  4.71%        4.00%
$100,000 but less than $250,000...................          3.50%                  3.63%        3.00%
$250,000 but less than $500,000...................          2.50%                  2.56%        2.25%
$500,000 but less than $1,000,000.................          2.00%                  2.04%        1.75%

</TABLE>

There is no initial sales charge on purchases of  $1,000,000  or more.  However,
the Distributor will pay Authorized  Dealers of record  commissions at the rates
shown in the table  below  for  investments  subject  to a CDSC.  If shares  are
redeemed  within one or two years of  purchase,  depending  on the amount of the
purchase, a CDSC will be imposed on certain redemptions as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                        Dealer            Period During
On Purchases of:                                                            CDSC      Allowance        Which CDSC Applies
<S>                                                                        <C>        <C>                 <C>
$1,000,000 but less than $2,500,000.....................................   1.00%        1.00%                2 Years
$2,500,000 but less than $5,000,000.....................................   0.50%        0.50%                1 Year
$5,000,000 and over.....................................................   0.25%        0.25%                1 Year

</TABLE>

Class B Shares:  Deferred Sales Charge  Alternative.  If you choose the deferred
sales  charge  alternative,  you will  purchase  Class B shares at their NAV per
share without the imposition of a sales charge at the time of purchase.  Class B
shares that are redeemed within six years of purchase,  however, will be subject
to a CDSC as  described in the table that  follows.  Class B shares of the Funds
are  subject to a  distribution  fee at an annual  rate of 1.00% of the  average
daily net assets of the Class,  which is higher  than the  distribution  fees of
Class A or Class M shares.  The higher  distribution  fees mean a higher expense
ratio,  so Class B shares pay  correspondingly  lower  dividends  and may have a
lower NAV than Class A or Class M shares.  In  connection  with sales of Class B
shares,  the  Distributor  compensates  Authorized  Dealers  at a rate  of 4% of
purchase  payments  subject  to a CDSC.  Orders  for Class B shares in excess of
$250,000 will be accepted as orders for Class A shares or declined.

The amount of the CDSC is determined as a percentage of the lesser of the NAV of
the Class B shares at the time of  purchase  or  redemption.  No charge  will be
imposed  for any net  increase  in the  value of  shares  purchased  during  the
preceding six years in excess of the purchase price of such shares or for shares
acquired either by reinvestment  of net investment  income  dividends or capital
gain distributions. The percentage used to calculate the CDSC will depend on the
number of years since you invested the dollar amount being redeemed according to
the following table:

Year of
Redemption
After Purchase                                                         CDSC

    First...........................................................    5%
    Second..........................................................    4%
    Third...........................................................    3%
    Fourth..........................................................    3%
    Fifth...........................................................    2%
    Sixth...........................................................    1%
    Seventh and following...........................................    0%


To determine the CDSC payable on redemptions  of Class B shares,  the Funds will
first redeem shares in accounts that are not subject to a CDSC;  second,  shares
acquired  through  reinvestment of net investment  income  dividends and capital
gain  distributions;  third,  shares  purchased  more  than  6  years  prior  to
redemption;  and  fourth,  shares  subject  to a CDSC in the order in which such
shares were purchased.  Using this method, your sales charge, if any, will be at
the lowest possible rate.

Class B shares  will  automatically  convert  into Class A shares  approximately
eight years  after  purchase.  For  additional  information  on the CDSC and the
conversion of Class B shares, see the Statement of Additional Information.

Class M  Shares:  Lower  Initial  Sales  Charge  Alternative.  An  investor  who
purchases  Class M shares pays a sales  charge at the time of  purchase  that is
lower than the sales  charge  applicable  to Class A shares and does not pay any
CDSC upon redemption.  Class M shares have a higher annual distribution fee than
Class A shares,  but lower  than Class B. The  higher  distribution  fees mean a
higher  expense  ratio  than  Class A but lower than Class B. Class M shares pay
correspondingly  lower dividends and may have a lower NAV per share than Class A
shares,  but generally pay higher dividends and have a higher NAV per share than
Class B shares.  Orders  for Class M shares  in  excess  of  $1,000,000  will be
accepted as orders for Class A shares or declined.  The public offering price of
Class M shares is the NAV of each Fund plus a sales charge,  which, as set forth
below, varies based on the size of the purchase:


                        MagnaCap Fund, MidCap Value Fund,
                LargeCap Value Fund and Asia-Pacific Equity Fund
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                                         Dealers'
                                                                                                       Reallowance
                                                                    As a % of Offering   As a % of      as a % of
Amount of Transaction                                                 Price Per Share       NAV        Offering Price
<S>                                                                      <C>               <C>           <C>

Less than $50,000...............................................           3.50%             3.63%        3.00%
$50,000 but less than $100,000..................................           2.50%             2.56%        2.00%
$100,000 but less than $250,000.................................           1.50%             1.52%        1.00%
$250,000 but less than $500,000.................................           1.00%             1.01%        1.00%
$500,000 and over...............................................           None             None         None

</TABLE>



              High Yield Fund and Government Securities Income Fund

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                         Dealers'
                                                                                                     Reallowance
                                                                    As a % of Offering  As a % of       as a % of
Amount of Transaction                                                 Price Per Share     NAV          Offering Price
<S>                                                                     <C>               <C>           <C> 

Less than $50,000...............................................          3.25%             3.36%         3.00%
$50,000 but less than $100,000..................................          2.25%             2.30%         2.00%
$100,000 but less than $250,000.................................          1.50%             1.52%         1.25%
$250,000 but less than $500,000.................................          1.00%             1.01%         1.00%
$500,000 and over...............................................          None              None          None

</TABLE>

Class M are not offered by Bank and Thrift Fund and Strategic Income Fund and do
not convert to Class A.

Reduced Sales Charges.  An investor may immediately  qualify for a reduced sales
charge on a  purchase  of Class A or Class M shares of a Fund or other  open-end
funds in the Pilgrim  America Funds which offer Class A shares,  Class M Shares,
or shares with front-end sales charges ('Participating Funds') by completing the
Letter of Intent  section  of the  Application.  Executing  the Letter of Intent
expresses an intention to invest  during the next 13 months a specified  amount,
which, if made at one time, would qualify for a reduced sales charge.  An amount
equal to the Letter amount  multiplied  by the maximum  sales charge  imposed on
purchases  of the  applicable  Fund and class  will be  restricted  within  your
account to cover  additional  sales charges that may be due if your actual total
investment  fails to qualify for the reduced sales charges.  See the New Account
Application or the Statement of Additional Information for details on the Letter
of Intent option or contact the  Shareholder  Servicing  Agent at (800) 992-0180
for more information.

The sales charge for your  investment may also be reduced by taking into account
the current  value of your existing  holdings in the Fund or any other  open-end
funds in the Pilgrim  America Funds  (excluding  Pilgrim  America  General Money
Market Shares)  ('Rights of  Accumulation').  The reduced sales charges apply to
quantity  purchases made at one time or on a cumulative basis over any period of
time by: (i) an investor;  (ii) the investor's spouse and children under the age
of majority;  (iii) the  investor's  custodian  account(s)  for the benefit of a
child under the Uniform Gifts to Minors Act;  (iv) a trustee or other  fiduciary
of a single trust  estate or a single  fiduciary  account  (including a pension,
profit-sharing  and other employee  benefit plans qualified under Section 401 of
the Internal Revenue Code); and (v) by trust  companies,  registered  investment
advisers, banks and bank trust departments for accounts over which they exercise
exclusive discretionary  investment authority and which are held in a fiduciary,
agency, advisory, custodial or similar capacity. See the New Account Application
or  the  Statement  of  Additional   Information  for  details  or  contact  the
Shareholder Servicing Agent at (800) 992-0180 for more information.

For the purposes of Rights of Accumulation  and the Letter of Intent  Privilege,
shares held by investors in the Pilgrim America Funds which impose a CDSC may be
combined  with Class A or Class M shares for a reduced sales charge but will not
affect  any CDSC which may be imposed  upon the  redemption  of shares of a Fund
which imposes a CDSC.

Waivers  of CDSC.  The CDSC on Class A or Class B shares  will be  waived in the
following cases. In determining whether a CDSC is applicable, it will be assumed
that  shares  held in the  shareholder's  account  that are not  subject to such
charge are redeemed first.

        1)   The CDSC on Class A or Class B shares will be waived in the case of
             redemption  following  the  death  or  permanent  disability  of  a
             shareholder   if  made   within   one  year  of  death  or  initial
             determination of permanent disability.  The waiver is available for
             total or  partial  redemptions  of shares of each Fund  owned by an
             individual  or an  individual  in joint  tenancy  (with  rights  of
             survivorship),  but only for those shares held at the time of death
             or initial determination of permanent disability.

        2)   The CDSC also may be waived for Class B Shares redeemed pursuant to
             a Systematic  Withdrawal Plan, up to a maximum of 12% per year of a
             shareholder's  account  value  based on the value of the account at
             the time the plan is established and annually thereafter,  provided
             all  dividends  and  distributions  are  reinvested  and the  total
             redemptions do not exceed 12% annually.

        3)   The CDSC  also  will be  waived  in the case of a total or  partial
             redemption  of shares in a Fund in  connection  with any  mandatory
             distribution  from a  tax-deferred  retirement  plan or an IRA. The
             shareholder must have attained the age of 70 1/2 to qualify for the
             CDSC waiver  relating to mandatory  distributions.  The waiver does
             not apply in the case of a tax-free rollover or transfer of assets,
             other than one following a separation of service.  The  shareholder
             must  notify the  Transfer  Agent  either  directly  or through the
             Distributor,  at the time of  redemption,  that the  shareholder is
             entitled to a waiver of the CDSC.  The CDSC Waiver Form included in
             the New Account  Application  must be completed and provided to the
             Transfer  Agent at the time of the redemption  request.  The waiver
             will be granted  subject to  confirmation  of the  grounds  for the
             waiver. The foregoing waivers may be changed at any time.

Reinstatement Privilege.  Class B shareholders who have redeemed their shares in
any open-end  Pilgrim  America  Fund within the previous 90 days may  repurchase
Class B shares  at NAV (at the time of  reinstatement)  in an  amount  up to the
redemption  proceeds.  Reinstated Class B shares will retain their original cost
and purchase date for purposes of the CDSC.  The amount of any CDSC also will be
reinstated.

To exercise this  privilege,  a written order for the purchase of shares must be
received by the Transfer Agent or be postmarked within 90 days after the date of
redemption. This privilege can be used only once per calendar year. If a loss is
incurred on the redemption and the reinstatement  privilege is used, some or all
of the loss may not be allowed as a tax deduction.  See 'Tax  Considerations' in
the Statement of Additional Information.

Special  Purchase  without  a Sales  Charge.  Class A or Class M  shares  may be
purchased at NAV without a sales charge by:

          1)   Class A or Class M shareholders who have redeemed their shares in
               any  open-end  Pilgrim  America Fund within the previous 90 days.
               These  shareholders  may  repurchase  shares  at NAV in an amount
               equal to their net redemption  proceeds.  Authorized  Dealers who
               handle these purchases may charge fees for this service.

          2)   Any person who can document that Fund shares were  purchased with
               proceeds  from the  redemption  (within the  previous 90 days) of
               shares from any unaffiliated  mutual fund on which a sales charge
               was paid or which were  subject at any time to a CDSC,  and which
               unaffiliated  fund was:  with  respect to  purchases  of Bank and
               Thrift Fund,  a fund  invested  primarily  in financial  services
               entities;  with respect to purchases of MagnaCap Fund, a domestic
               growth fund;  with respect to purchases of the MidCap Value Fund,
               a mid-cap fund;  with respect to purchases of the LargeCap  Value
               Fund,  a  large-cap  fund;  with  respect  to  purchases  of  the
               Asia-Pacific  Equity Fund, a fund investing in companies based in
               the Asia-Pacific  region; with respect to purchases of High Yield
               Fund, a high yield bond fund;  with  respect to Strategic  Income
               Fund, a strategic  income fund;  and with respect to purchases of
               Government Securities Income Fund, a government securities fund.

          3)   Any  charitable  organization  or  governmental  entity  that has
               determined  that a Fund is a legally  permissible  investment and
               which is prohibited by applicable  law from paying a sales charge
               or commission  in  connection  with the purchase of shares of any
               mutual fund.

          4)   Officers,  directors and full-time employees,  and their families
               of Pilgrim America Capital Corporation  (Pilgrim America) and its
               subsidiaries.

          5)   Certain fee based  broker-dealers  or registered  representatives
               thereof  or   registered   investment   advisers   under  certain
               circumstances making investments on behalf of their clients.

          6)   Shareholders  who  have  authorized  the  automatic  transfer  of
               dividends  from the same class of another  Pilgrim  America  Fund
               distributed by the Distributor or from Pilgrim America Prime Rate
               Trust.

          7)   Registered  investment  advisors,  trust companies and bank trust
               departments investing in Class A shares on their own behalf or on
               behalf  of their  clients,  provided  that the  aggregate  amount
               invested in any Fund alone or in any combination of shares of any
               Fund plus Class A shares of certain other  Participating Funds as
               described     herein    under    'Pilgrim     America    Purchase
               Options(Trademark)--Reduced  Sales Charges',  during the 13 month
               period  commencing  with the  first  investment  pursuant  hereto
               equals at least $1 million.  The  Distributor  may pay Authorized
               Dealers through which purchases are made an amount up to 0.50% of
               the  amount  invested,  over  a 12  month  period  following  the
               transaction.

          8)   Broker-dealers, who have signed selling group agreements with the
               Distributor, and registered representatives and employees of such
               broker-dealers,  for their own  accounts  or for members of their
               families   (defined  as  current   spouse,   children,   parents,
               grandparents,  uncles,  aunts,  siblings,  nephews,  nieces, step
               relations, relations-at-law and cousins).

          9)   Broker-dealers  using third party  administrators  for  qualified
               retirement  plans who have  entered  into an  agreement  with the
               Pilgrim  America  Funds  or  an  affiliate,  subject  to  certain
               operational   and  minimum  size   requirements   specified  from
               time-to-time by the Pilgrim America Funds.

          10)  Accounts as to which a banker or broker-dealer charges an account
               management fee ('wrap accounts').

          11)  Any  registered  investment  company  for  which  PAII  serves as
               investment manager.

       The Funds may  terminate or amend the terms of offering  shares at NAV to
       these  investors at any time.  For  additional  information,  contact the
       Shareholder  Servicing Agent at (800)  992-0180,  or see the Statement of
       Additional Information.


Incentives. The Distributor, at its expense, will provide additional promotional
incentives to Authorized Dealers in connection with sales of shares of the Funds
and  other  open-end  Pilgrim  America  Funds.  In  some  instances,  additional
compensation  or promotional  incentives  will be offered to Authorized  Dealers
that have  sold or may sell  significant  amounts  of  shares  during  specified
periods of time.  Such  compensation  and  incentives  may include,  but are not
limited to, cash, merchandise, trips and financial assistance in connection with
pre-approved  conferences  or seminars,  sales or training  programs for invited
sales  personal,  payment  for travel  expenses  (including  meals and  lodging)
incurred by sales  personnel to various  locations for such seminars or training
programs, seminars for the public, advertising and sales campaigns regarding the
Funds or other open-end  Pilgrim America Funds and/or other events  sponsored by
Authorized  Dealers. In addition,  the Distributor may, at its own expense,  pay
concessions in addition to those described above to dealers that satisfy certain
criteria  established  from time to time by the  Distributor.  These  conditions
relate to increasing sales of shares of the Funds over specified  periods and to
certain  other  factors.   These   payments  may,   depending  on  the  dealer's
satisfaction of the required conditions,  be periodic and may be up to (1) 0.30%
of the value of the Funds' shares sold by the dealer during a particular period,
and (2) 0.10% of the value of the Funds'  shares held by the dealer's  customers
for more than one year, calculated on an annual basis.

Rule 12b-1 Plan. Each Fund has a distribution  plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under
the 1940 Act  applicable to each class of shares of that Fund (Rule 12b-1 Plan).
Under the Rule 12b-1 Plan, the  Distributor may receive from each Fund an annual
fee in  connection  with the  offering,  sale and  shareholder  servicing of the
Fund's Class A, Class B and Class M shares.

       Distribution and Servicing Fees As compensation for services rendered and
       expenses borne by the Distributor in connection with the  distribution of
       shares  of  the  Funds  and  in  connection  with  services  rendered  to
       shareholders of each Fund, each Fund pays the Distributor  servicing fees
       and distribution  fees up to the annual rates set forth below (calculated
       as a percentage of each Fund's average daily net assets  attributable  to
       that class):

   Class A Shares
                                              Servicing         Distribution
   Fund                                          Fee                Fee

   Bank and Thrift Fund, MidCap
   Value Fund, LargeCap Value Fund,
   Asia-Pacific Equity Fund                      0.25%              n/a*

   MagnaCap Fund                                 0.25%              0.05%

   High Yield Fund,
     Strategic Income Fund and
     Government Securities Income Fund           0.25%              n/a

     *Subject  to  increase  by action  of the  Fund's  Directors  to a rate not
     exceeding .10% per annum.


Class B Shares
                                           Servicing         Distribution
Funds                                        Fee                  Fee

All Funds                                     0.25%              0.75%


Class M Shares
                                           Servicing         Distribution
Fund                                         Fee                  Fee

All Funds except Bank and Thrift
Fund and Strategic Income Fund                0.25%              0.50%*


     *Subject  to  increase  by action  of the  Fund's  Directors  to a rate not
     exceeding 0.75% per annum.


Fees paid  under the Rule 12b-1  Plan may be used to cover the  expenses  of the
Distributor  from the sale of Class A,  Class B or Class M shares of the  Funds,
including payments to Authorized Dealers, and for shareholder  servicing.  These
fees  may be used to pay the  costs of the  following:  payments  to  Authorized
Dealers;  promotional  activities;  preparation and  distribution of advertising
materials and sales  literature;  expenses of organizing  and  conducting  sales
seminars;  personnel  costs  and  overhead  of  the  Distributor;   printing  of
prospectuses and statements of additional  information (and supplements thereto)
and  reports  for other than  existing  shareholders;  supplemental  payments to
Authorized  Dealers  that  provide  shareholder  services;  interest  on accrued
distribution  expenses;  and costs of administering the Rule 12b-1 Plan. No more
than  0.75% per annum of a Fund's  average  net  assets  may be used to  finance
distribution  expenses,  exclusive of  shareholder  servicing  payments,  and no
Authorized Dealer may receive shareholder  servicing payments in excess of 0.25%
per annum of a Fund's average net assets held by the Authorized Dealer's clients
or customers.  With respect to Class A shares of MagnaCap Fund,  High Yield Fund
and Government  Securities  Income Fund, the Distributor  will be reimbursed for
its actual expenses  incurred under the 12b-1 Plan. The Distributor has incurred
costs and expenses  with respect to Class A shares that may be  reimbursable  in
future months or years in the amounts of $ __________  for MagnaCap Fund (0. __%
of its net assets),  $ _________  for High Yield Fund (0.%__ of its net assets),
and $ _________ for Government  Securities Income Fund ( ___% of its net assets)
as of June 30,  1998.  With respect to Class A shares of all other Funds and the
Class B and Class M shares of each Fund, the  Distributor  will receive  payment
without regard to actual distribution  expenses that it incurs. Fees paid by one
of the Funds  under the Rule 12b-1 Plan may be used to finance  distribution  of
the shares of that Fund and the servicing of shareholders of the Fund as well as
the other Pilgrim America Funds.

Under the Rule 12b-1 Plan, ongoing payments will be made on a quarterly basis to
Authorized  Dealers for  distribution  and  shareholder  servicing  as set forth
below.

Class A and B Shares
                                            Servicing
Fund                                          Fee

All Funds                                     .25%



Class M Shares
                                              Servicing         Distribution
Fund                                            Fee                  Fee
Magna Cap Fund, MidCap
Value Fund, LargeCap Value Fund,
Asia-Pacific Equity Fund                       .25%              .40%

High Yield Fund and Government
Securities Income Fund                         .25%              .15%



Payments  are  calculated  as a  percentage  of the  Fund's  average  daily  NAV
attributed  to each  class of  shares  that are  registered  in the name of that
Authorized  Dealer as nominee or held in a shareholder  account that  designates
that Authorized Dealer as the dealer of record. Rights to these ongoing payments
begin to accrue in the 13th month  following  a purchase  of Class A or B shares
and on the  anniversary  date in the 1st month following the date of purchase of
Class M shares,  and they cease upon exchange (or purchase) into Pilgrim America
General Money Market Shares.  The payments are also subject to the  continuation
of the relevant  distribution  plan, the terms of the service agreements between
dealers and the Distributor,  and any applicable  limits imposed by the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.

Other  Expenses.  In addition  to the  management  fee and other fees  described
previously, each Fund pays other expenses, such as legal, audit, transfer agency
and custodian out-of-pocket fees, proxy solicitation costs, and the compensation
of Directors  who are not  affiliated  with the  Investment  Manager.  Most Fund
expenses are allocated  proportionately  among all of the outstanding  shares of
that  Fund.  However,  the Rule  12b-1  Plan fees for each  class of shares  are
charged proportionately only to the outstanding shares of that class.

Purchasing Shares

Your Authorized Dealer can help you establish and maintain your account, and the
Shareholder  Servicing  Agent is available to assist you with any  questions you
may have.

The Fund  reserves the right to liquidate  sufficient  shares to recover  annual
Transfer Agent fees should the investor fail to maintain  his/her  account value
at a minimum of $1,000.00 ($250.00 for IRA's).

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

        Method                          Initial Investment                               Additional Investment
<S>                     <C>                                                 <C>

By contacting your        The minimum initial investment in a Fund is           The minimum for additional investment in a
Authorized Dealer         $1,000 ($250 for IRAs).                               Fund is $100.

By Mail                   Visit or consult an Authorized Dealer.                Visit or consult your Authorized Dealer.
                          Make your check payable to the Pilgrim                Fill out the Account Additions form
                          America Funds and mail it, along with a               included on the bottom of your account
                          completed Application, to the address                 statement along with your check payable to
                          indicated on the Application. Please                  the Fund and mail them in the envelope
                          indicate an Authorized Dealer on the New              provided with the account statement.
                          Account Application.                                  Remember to write your account number on
                                                                                the check.

By wire                   Call the Pilgrim America Operations Department        Call the Pilgrim America Operations Dept.
                          at (800) 336-3436 to obtain an account                at (800) 336-3436 to obtain a wire
                          number and indicate an Authorized Dealer on           reference number. Give that number to your
                          the account. Instruct your bank to wire               bank and have them wire the funds in the
                          funds to the Fund in care of:                         same manner described under 'Initial
                          Investors Fiduciary Trust Co.                         Investment.'
                          ABA #101003621
                          Kansas City, MO
                          credit to:
                          Pilgrim
                                               (Fund)
                          A/C #751-8315; for further credit to:
                          Shareholder A/C
                           #

                          (A/C # you received over the telephone)
                          Shareholder Name:
                                      (Your Name Here)

                          After wiring funds you must complete the
                          New Account Application and send it to:
                          Pilgrim America Funds.
                          P.O. Box 419368
                          Kansas City, MO 64141-6368

</TABLE>

The Funds and the  Distributor  reserve the right to reject any purchase  order.
Please note third party  checks,  money  orders and checks drawn on non-US banks
(even if payment may be effected  through a US bank) will not be  accepted.  The
Investment Manager reserves the right to waive minimum investment amounts.


Price of Shares.  Purchase, sale and exchange orders are effected at NAV for the
respective class of shares of each Fund,  determined after the order is received
by the Transfer Agent or Distributor,  plus any applicable  sales charge (Public
Offering Price).

Purchases of each class of a Fund's  shares are  effected at that Fund's  Public
Offering  Price  determined  after a purchase  order has been received in proper
form.  A  purchase  order  will be deemed  to be in proper  form when all of the
required steps set forth above under  "Purchase of Shares" have been  completed.
In the case of an investment by wire, however, the order will be deemed to be in
proper form after the  telephone  notification  and the federal  funds wire have
been  received.  A shareholder  who purchases by wire must submit an application
form in a timely  fashion.  If an order or payment by wire is received after the
close  regular  trading  on the New York  Stock  Exchange,  (normally  4:00 p.m.
Eastern Time), the shares will not be credited until the next business day.

You will receive a confirmation of each new  transaction in your account,  which
also will show you the  number of Fund  shares you own  including  the number of
shares being held in safekeeping by the Transfer Agent for your account. You may
rely on  these  confirmations  in  lieu  of  certificates  as  evidence  of your
ownership.  Certificates  representing  shares of the  Funds  will not be issued
unless you request them in writing.

Determination  of Net Asset Value.  The NAV of each class of each Fund's  shares
will be  determined  daily as of the close of  regular  trading  on the New York
Stock Exchange  (usually at 4:00 p.m. New York City time) on each day that it is
open for business. Each class' NAV represents that class' pro rata share of that
Fund's net assets as  adjusted  for any class  specific  expenses  (such as fees
under a Rule 12b-1  plan),  and divided by that class'  outstanding  shares.  In
general,  the value of each Fund's assets is based on actual or estimated market
value,  with special  provisions for assets not having readily  available market
quotations and short-term  debt  securities.  The NAV per share of each class of
each Fund will  fluctuate in response to changes in market  conditions and other
factors.  Portfolio securities for which market quotations are readily available
are stated at market value.  Short-term debt securities  having a maturity of 60
days or less are valued at amortized  cost,  unless the amortized  cost does not
approximate  market  value.  Securities  prices may be obtained  from  automated
pricing services.  In other cases,  securities are valued at their fair value as
determined  in good  faith  by the  Board  of  Directors,  although  the  actual
calculations  will be made by persons acting under the supervision of the Board.
For  information on valuing  foreign  securities,  see each Fund's  Statement of
Additional Information.

Pre-Authorized  Investment Plan. You may establish a  pre-authorized  investment
plan to purchase  shares  with  automatic  bank  account  debiting.  For further
information on pre-authorized  investment plans, see the New Account Application
or contact the Shareholder Servicing Agent at (800) 992-1080.

Retirement Plans. The Funds have available prototype qualified  retirement plans
for  both  corporations  and  for  self-employed  individuals.  They  also  have
available  prototype  IRA  and  Simple  IRA  plans  (for  both  individuals  and
employers),  Simplified Employee Pension Plans, Pension and Profit Sharing Plans
and  Tax  Sheltered   Retirement  Plans  for  employees  of  public  educational
institutions  and  certain  non-profit,   tax-exempt  organizations.   Investors
Fiduciary Trust Company  ('IFTC') acts as the custodian  under these plans.  For
further information,  contact the Shareholder Servicing Agent at (800) 992-1080.
IFTC currently receives a $12 custodian fee annually for the maintenance of such
accounts.

Telephone Orders. The Funds and their Transfer Agent will not be responsible for
the  authenticity  of phone  instructions  or  losses,  if any,  resulting  from
unauthorized  shareholder  transactions  if they  reasonably  believe  that such
instructions  were genuine.  The Funds and their Transfer Agent have established
reasonable procedures to confirm that instructions communicated by telephone are
genuine.  These procedures  include:  (i) recording  telephone  instructions for
exchanges and expedited  redemptions;  (ii) requiring the caller to give certain
specific  identifying  information;  and (iii) providing written confirmation to
shareholders  of record not later than five days  following  any such  telephone
transactions.  If the  Funds  and  their  Transfer  Agent  do not  employ  these
procedures,  they may be liable for any losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent
telephone  instructions.  Telephone  redemptions may be executed on all accounts
other than retirement accounts.

Exchange  Privileges  and  Restrictions.  An exchange  privilege  is  available.
Exchange requests may be made in writing to the Transfer Agent or by calling the
Transfer  Agent  at  (800)  992-0180.  There is no  specific  limit on  exchange
frequency; however, the Funds are intended for long term investment and not as a
trading vehicle. The Investment Manager reserves the right to prohibit excessive
exchanges (more than four per year). The Investment  Manager reserves the right,
upon 60 days' prior notice,  to restrict the frequency of, otherwise  modify, or
impose  charges of up to $5.00 upon  exchanges.  The total value of shares being
exchanged  must at least equal the minimum  investment  requirement  of the fund
into which they are being exchanged.

Shares of one class of a Fund may be exchanged  for shares of that same class of
any other open-end Pilgrim America Fund other than Pilgrim America General Money
Market Shares ('Money  Market'),  at NAV without payment of any additional sales
charge. If you exchange and subsequently redeem your shares, any applicable CDSC
will be based on the full period of the share  ownership.  Shares of a Fund that
are not  subject  to a CDSC may be  exchanged  for shares of Money  Market,  and
shares of Money Market  acquired in the exchange may  subsequently  be exchanged
for shares of an open-end Pilgrim America Fund of the same class as the original
shares acquired.  Shares of a Fund that are subject to a CDSC may be redeemed to
purchase  shares  of  Money  Market  upon  payment  of  the  CDSC.  Shareholders
exercising the exchange  privilege with any other open-end Pilgrim America Funds
should  carefully  review the  prospectus of that fund.  Exchanges of shares are
sales  and may  result  in a gain or loss  for  federal  and  state  income  tax
purposes.  You will  automatically be assigned the telephone  exchange privilege
unless you mark the box on the New Account Application that signifies you do not
wish to have this privilege.  The exchange privilege is only available in states
where shares of the fund being acquired may be legally sold.

Systematic  Exchange  Privilege.  With an  initial  account  balance of at least
$5,000 and subject to the information and  limitations  outlined above,  you may
elect to have a  specified  dollar  amount of shares  systematically  exchanged,
monthly,  quarterly,  semi-annually  or  annually  (on or about  the 10th of the
applicable month), from your account to an identically registered account in the
same class of any other open-end  Pilgrim  America Fund. The exchange  privilege
may be  modified  at any  time or  terminated  upon 60 days  written  notice  to
shareholders.

How to Redeem Shares

Shares of each Fund will be redeemed at the NAV (less any applicable CDSC and/or
federal income tax  withholding)  next determined  after receipt of a redemption
request  in  good  form  on any day the New  York  Stock  Exchange  is open  for
business.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

           Method                                                   Procedures
<S>                              <C>

Redemption By Contacting           Your  Authorized  Dealers may  communicate  redemption
  Authorized Dealer                orders by wire or telephone to the Distributor.  These
                                   firms may charge for their  services  in  connection  with your  redemption
                                   request, but neither the Funds nor the Distributor imposes any such charge.

Redemption By Mail                 A written request for redemption must be received by the Transfer Agent in order
                                   to constitute a valid tender. If certificated shares have been issued, the
                                   certificate must accompany the written request. The Transfer Agent may also
                                   require a signature guarantee by an eligible guarantor. It will also be necessary
                                   for corporate investors and other associations to have an appropriate
                                   certification on file authorizing redemptions by a corporation or an association
                                   before a redemption request will be considered in proper form. A suggested form
                                   of such certification is provided on the New Account Application. If you are
                                   entitled to a CDSC waiver, you must complete the CDSC waiver form in the New
                                   Account Application. To determine whether a signature guarantee or other
                                   documentation is required, shareholders may call the Shareholder Servicing Agent
                                   at (800) 992-1080.

Expedited Redemption               The Expedited Redemption privilege allows you to effect a liquidation from your
                                   account via a telephone call and have the proceeds (maximum $100,000) mailed to an
                                   address which has been on record with the Pilgrim America Funds for at least 30
                                   days. This privilege is automatically assigned to you unless you check the box on
                                   the New Account Application which signifies that you do not wish to utilize such
                                   option. The Expedited Redemption Privilege additionally allows you to effect a
                                   liquidation from your account and have the proceeds (minimum $5,000) wired to
                                   your pre-designated bank account. But, this aspect of the Expedited Redemption
                                   privilege will NOT automatically be assigned to you. If you want to take
                                   advantage of this aspect of the privilege, please check the appropriate box and
                                   attach a voided check to the New Account Application. Under normal circumstances,
                                   proceeds will be transmitted to your bank on the second business day following
                                   receipt of your instructions, provided redemptions may be made. To effect an
                                   Expedited Redemption, please call the Transfer Agent at (800) 992-0180 and select
                                   option 3. In the event that share certificates have been issued, you may not
                                   request a wire redemption by telephone or wire. This option is not available for
                                   retirement accounts.

</TABLE>

Systematic   Withdrawal  Plan.  You  may  elect  to  have  monthly,   quarterly,
semi-annual  or annual  payments  in any fixed  amount in excess of $100 made to
yourself, or to anyone else you properly designate, as long as the account has a
current  value  of at least  $10,000.  During  the  withdrawal  period,  you may
purchase  additional  shares  for  deposit  to your  account  if the  additional
purchases  are equal to at least one  year's  scheduled  withdrawals,  or $1,200
whichever  is  greater.  There are no  separate  charges to you under this Plan,
although a CDSC may apply if you purchased Class A or B shares.

The  number of full and  fractional  shares  equal in value to the amount of the
payment will be redeemed at NAV (less any applicable CDSC). Such redemptions are
normally  processed  on the fifth day prior to the end of the month,  quarter or
year.  Checks are then mailed or proceeds are  forwarded to your bank account on
or about  the first of the  following  month.  Shareholders  who elect to have a
systematic cash withdrawal must have all dividends and capital gains reinvested.
To establish a  systematic  cash  withdrawal,  please  complete  the  Systematic
Withdrawal Plan section of the New Account Application.  To have funds deposited
to your bank account, follow the instructions on the New Account Application.

You may change the amount, frequency and payee, or terminate this plan by giving
written notice to the Transfer Agent. As shares of a Fund are redeemed under the
Plan,  you may  realize  a  capital  gain or loss for  income  tax  purposes.  A
Systematic Withdrawal Plan may be modified at any time by the Fund or terminated
upon written notice by you or the relevant Fund.

Payments.  Payment to shareholders for shares redeemed or repurchased ordinarily
will be made within seven days after receipt by the Transfer  Agent of a written
request in good order. A Fund may delay the mailing of a redemption  check until
the check used to purchase the shares being  redeemed has cleared which may take
up to 15 days or more.  To reduce such delay,  all  purchases  should be made by
bank wire or federal  funds.  A Fund may suspend the right of  redemption  under
certain  extraordinary  circumstances  in  accordance  with  the  Rules  of  the
Securities and Exchange Commission.  Due to the relatively high cost of handling
small  investments,  the Funds reserve the right upon 30 days written  notice to
redeem,  at NAV, the shares of any  shareholder  whose account (except for IRAs)
has a value of less than $1,000,  other than as a result of a decline in the NAV
per share.  Each Fund intends to pay in cash for all shares redeemed,  but under
abnormal  conditions  that make payment in cash unwise,  a Fund may make payment
wholly or partly in securities  at their then current  market value equal to the
redemption price. In such case, a Fund could elect to make payment in securities
for  redemptions in excess of $250,000 or 1% of its net assets during any 90-day
period  for any one  shareholder.  An  investor  may  incur  brokerage  costs in
converting such securities to cash.


                             MANAGEMENT OF THE FUNDS

More about the  Funds.  Bank and  Thrift  Fund is the  single  series of Pilgrim
America Bank and Thrift Fund,  Inc.,  which is a registered  investment  company
that was incorporated in Maryland in November, 1985 as a closed-end, diversified
management  investment company.  The Fund operated as a closed-end fund prior to
October 17, 1997. On October 16, 1997,  shareholders  approved  open-ending  the
Fund and since October 17, 1997, the Fund has operated as an open-end fund.

MagnaCap  Fund and High  Yield Fund are  series of  Pilgrim  America  Investment
Funds,  Inc., which is a registered  investment  company that was organized as a
Maryland corporation in July 1969.

MidCap Value Fund,  LargeCap Value Fund,  Asia-Pacific Equity Fund and Strategic
Income  Fund are series of Pilgrim  America  Advisory  Funds,  Inc.,  which is a
registered  investment  company that was organized as a Maryland  corporation in
April, 1995.

Government  Securities  Income Fund is the single  series of Pilgrim  Government
Securities Income Fund, Inc., which is a registered  investment company that was
organized as a California corporation in May 1984.

Each Fund is governed by its Board of Directors,  which  oversees the operations
of the Fund.  The majority of Directors are not  affiliated  with the Investment
Manager.

Investment  Manager.  The Investment Manager has overall  responsibility for the
management of the Funds. Each Fund and the Investment  Manager have entered into
an  agreement  that  requires the  Investment  Manager to provide or oversee all
investment  advisory  and  portfolio  management  services  for the  Fund.  Each
agreement  also  requires  the  Investment  Manager  to assist in  managing  and
supervising  all  aspects of the  general  day-to-day  business  activities  and
operations  of  the  Funds,  including  custodial,   transfer  agency,  dividend
disbursing,   accounting,   auditing,   compliance  and  related  services.  The
Investment Manager provides the Funds with office space, equipment and personnel
necessary to administer the Funds.  Each  agreement with the Investment  Manager
can be  canceled  by the Board of  Directors  of each Fund upon 60 days  written
notice.  Organized in December 1994, the Investment  Manager is registered as an
investment adviser with the Securities and Exchange  Commission.  The Investment
Manager  acquired  certain  assets  of the  previous  adviser  to the Funds in a
transaction that closed on April 7, 1995.

The Investment Manager and Pilgrim America Securities,  Inc. (Distributor),  the
Funds' principal underwriter, are indirect, wholly owned subsidiaries of Pilgrim
America Capital Corporation (NASDAQ:  PACC).  Through its subsidiaries,  Pilgrim
America Capital Corporation engages in the financial services business, focusing
on providing  investment advisory,  administrative and distribution  services to
open-end and  closed-end  investment  companies and private  accounts.  For more
information on Pilgrim America Capital  Corporation  please see the Statement of
Additional Information.

The  Investment  Manager bears its expenses of providing the services  described
above. Bank and Thrift Fund pays the Investment  Manager a fee at an annual rate
of 1.00% of the first $30,000,000 of average daily net assets, 0.75% of the next
$95,000,000  of average daily net assets,  and 0.70% of average daily net assets
in excess of  $125,000,000.  These fees are computed and accrued  daily and paid
monthly.

MagnaCap  Fund pays the  Investment  Manager a fee at an annual rate of 1.00% of
the average daily net assets of the Fund up to $30 million; 0.75% of the average
daily net assets above $30 million to $250 million;  0.625% of the average daily
net assets above $250 million to $500  million;  and 0.50% of the average  daily
net assets in excess of $500 million.

High Yield Fund and Strategic Income Fund each pay the Investment  Manager a fee
at an annual rate of 0.60% of the average daily net assets of the Fund. LargeCap
Value Fund and MidCap  Value  Fund each pay the  Investment  Manager a fee at an
annual  rate  of  1.00%  of  the  Fund's  average  daily  net  assets,  and  the
Asia-Pacific Fund pay the Investment Manager a fee at an annual rate of 1.25% of
the Fund's average daily net assets.

Government Securities Income Fund pays the Investment Manager a fee at an annual
rate of 0.50% of the  average  daily net assets of the Fund up to $500  million;
0.45% of the average  daily net assets  above $500  million to $1  billion;  and
0.40% of the  average  daily net assets in excess of $1 billion.  The  agreement
with the Investment  Manager for the Government  Securities Income Fund provides
that the Investment Manager will reimburse the Government Securities Income Fund
to the  extent  that the  gross  operating  costs  and  expenses  of that  Fund,
excluding  any  interest,   taxes,   brokerage   commissions,   amortization  of
organizational  expenses,  extraordinary expenses, and distribution (Rule 12b-1)
fees on Class B and Class M shares  in excess of an annual  rate of 0.25% of the
average daily net assets of these  classes,  exceed 1.50% of the Fund's  average
daily net asset  value for the first  $40  million  of net  assets  and 1.00% of
average daily net assets in excess of $40 million for any one fiscal year.  This
reimbursement  policy cannot be changed  unless the agreement is amended,  which
would require shareholder approval.

The  Investment  Manager has entered into  expense  limitation  agreements  with
respect to certain of the Funds,  pursuant to which the  Investment  Manager has
agreed to waive or limit its fees and to assume other expenses so that the total
annual  ordinary  operating  expenses of these Funds (which  excludes  interest,
taxes, brokerage commissions,  extraordinary expenses such as litigation,  other
expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of such Fund's  business,  expenses
of any counsel or other persons or services retained by the Company's  directors
who are not "interested  persons" (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Investment
Manager,  and amounts payable pursuant to a plan adopted in accordance with Rule
12b-1 under the 1940 Act) do not exceed: 0.75% for High Yield Fund and Strategic
Income Fund;  1.50% for LargeCap Value Fund and MidCap Value Fund; and 1.75% for
Asia-Pacific Equity Fund.

The expense limitation  agreements provide that these expense  limitations shall
continue  until  December  31,  1998 for High Yield Fund,  LargeCap  Value Fund,
MidCap Value Fund and Asia-Pacific  Equity Fund, and until December 31, 1999 for
Strategic Income Fund. The Investment  Manager may extend,  but may not shorten,
the period of these limitations without the consent of the Funds, so long as the
extension is at the same expense  limitation  amount discussed above.  Each Fund
described  above will at a later  date  reimburse  the  Investment  Manager  for
management  fees waived and other  expenses  assumed by the  Investment  Manager
during the previous 36 months, but only if, after such reimbursement, the Fund's
expense ratio does not exceed the  percentage  described  above.  The Investment
Manager will only be  reimbursed  for fees waived or expenses  assumed after the
effective date of the expense  limitation  agreements.  Each expense  limitation
agreement  will  terminate  automatically  upon  termination  of the  respective
investment  management  agreement  with  the  Investment  Manager,  and  may  be
terminated by the Investment Manager or the Fund upon 90 days written notice.

The Portfolio Managers.  For Asia-Pacific Equity Fund and MidCap Value Fund, the
Investment  Manager  has  engaged  two  of  the  most  respected   institutional
investment  advisers in the world. For portfolios  similar to these Funds, these
firms usually require large  investment  minimums to open an account,  and their
services for these types of portfolios  are typically  available only to wealthy
individuals and large  institutional  clients.  The Portfolio Managers have been
selected primarily on the basis of their successful application of a consistent,
well-defined,  long-term  investment  approach  over a period of several  market
cycles.

Asia-Pacific  Equity Fund.  HSBC Asset  Management  Americas Inc. and HSBC Asset
Management  Hong Kong Limited  (collectively,  HSBC) serve  jointly as Portfolio
Manager  to the  Asia-Pacific  Equity  Fund.  The firms  are part of HSBC  Asset
Management,  the global investment advisory and fund management business unit of
HSBC Holdings plc (founded as the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking  Corporation in
1865) which,  with headquarters in London, is one of the world's largest banking
and financial  organizations.  HSBC Asset Management  manages over approximately
$49 billion of assets worldwide for a wide variety of institutional,  retail and
private  clients,  with a minimum  investment  size for private  accounts of $10
million  for  Asia-Pacific   investors.   HSBC  Asset  Management  has  advisory
operations in Hong Kong and Singapore, among other locations. Its parent company
has over a century of operations in local economies  throughout the Asia-Pacific
region.

Fredric Lutcher III, Managing Director,  Chief Financial Officer, HSBC Americas,
Ian  Burden,  Chief  Investment  Officer,  HSBC Hong Kong,  and Man Wing  Chung,
Director,  HSBC Hong Kong, are primarily responsible for portfolio management of
Asia-Pacific Equity Fund. Mr. Lutcher joined HSBC in 1997, and has over 20 years
of investment  experience.  Prior to joining HSBC,  Mr. Lutcher was with Merrill
Lynch Asset  Management.  Mr. Burden has been with HSBC for 17 years, and has 24
years investment  experience.  Mr. Chung has been with HSBC for 5 years, and has
10 years investment experience.

MidCap Value Fund.  Cramer  Rosenthal  McGlynn,  LLC.  (CRM) serves as Portfolio
Manager to the MidCap  Value  Fund.  CRM's  predecessor  was  founded in 1973 to
manage  portfolios for a select number of high net worth  individuals  and their
related foundations,  endowment funds, pension plans and other entities, and CRM
currently  manages  approximately  $4 billion for more than 200  individual  and
institutional clients, with a minimum investment size for private accounts of $5
million.  The three founding  principals of CRM have each spent over 35 years in
the investment  business.  The firm has managed  investments in small and middle
capitalization  companies for __ years. Accounts managed by Cramer Rosenthal own
in the aggregate  approximately  ____% of the outstanding  voting  securities of
Pilgrim America.

Gerald B. Cramer,  Chairman of CRM, Edward D.  Rosenthal,  Vice Chairman of CRM,
Ronald H. McGlynn, Manager, President and Chief Executive Officer of CRM, Jay B.
Abramson,  Executive Vice President and Director of Research of CRM, and Michael
Prober,  Portfolio Manager and Research Analyst,  are primarily  responsible for
portfolio management of MidCap Value Fund. Messrs. Cramer, Rosenthal and McGlynn
founded  CRM's  predecessor  in 1973.  Mr.  Abramson  has  been  with CRM or its
predecessor for 13 years. Mr. Prober has been with CRM for 6 years.


Each  Portfolio  Manager  serves the pertinent  Fund under an agreement with the
Investment  Manager.  Each Portfolio Manager has discretion to purchase and sell
securities  for the portfolio of its  respective  Fund in  accordance  with that
Fund's  objectives,  policies and restrictions.  Although the Portfolio Managers
are  subject  to the  general  supervision  by the  Board of  Directors  and the
Investment Manager,  the Board and/or the Investment Manager do not evaluate the
investment merits of specific securities  transactions.  The agreement with each
Portfolio  Manager may be terminated by the Board of Directors of the Funds,  by
the Investment Manager or by the Portfolio Manager. Thus, it is possible that in
the future,  one or more of the current  Portfolio  Managers  would no longer be
engaged  for a Fund.  It is not  anticipated  that  Portfolio  Managers  will be
replaced in the ordinary course of operations.

As compensation for their services to the Funds, the Investment Manager (and not
the Fund) pays HSBC and CRM fees at annual  rates of 0.50% of the average  daily
net assets of the Asia-Pacific Equity and MidCap Value Funds, respectively.

Investment Personnel.

Howard N. Kornblue,  Senior Vice President,  Head of Equity and Senior Portfolio
Manager for the  Investment  Manager.  Mr.  Kornblue is a co-manager of MagnaCap
Fund and has served as a portfolio manager of MagnaCap Fund since 1989. Prior to
joining  Pilgrim  America Group (and its  predecessor) in 1986, Mr. Kornblue was
Vice  President,  Director of Research and Portfolio  Manager at First  Wilshire
Securities  Management;  supervised  mergers  and  acquisitions  for  Getty  Oil
Company; was portfolio manager and research analyst in both the fixed-income and
equity  departments  for Western  Asset  Management  Company;  and was  research
analyst and pension  fund manager at Southern  California  Edison  Company.  Mr.
Kornblue received a B.S. from U.C.L.A., and M.S. and M.B.A. from U.S.C.

Carl Dorf,  C.F.A.,  Senior Vice President and Senior Portfolio  Manager of Bank
and Thrift Fund has been managing the Fund's  portfolio since January 1991, when
he joined the Investment Manager's  predecessor.  Mr. Dorf is also a Senior Vice
President of the Investment Manager.  Prior to joining the Investment  Manager's
predecessor,  he was a principal of Dorf & Associates Investment Counsel. His 30
plus years of portfolio  management and research  experience  include  positions
with Moody's  Investors  Service,  Inc.,  as an analyst in the Banking & Finance
Department;  with Nuveen Corp.  as a financial  securities  analyst;  with Loews
Corp. as a fund manager with  responsibility for $150 to $250 million in utility
and financial stocks; with BA Investment  Management Corp. as a senior financial
stock  analyst;  and with RNC Capital  Management as manager of 150  individual,
pension,  and profit-sharing  accounts.  A Chartered Financial Analyst, Mr. Dorf
earned both BBA/Finance and Investments and MBA/Finance and Investments  degrees
from the Bernard Baruch School of Business and Public  Administration,  The City
College of New York.

G. David  Underwood,  Vice President,  Director of Research and Senior Portfolio
Manager  for the  Investment  Manager,  is a  co-manager  of  MagnaCap  Fund and
Portfolio  Manager of  LargeCap  Value  Fund.  Prior to joining  the  Investment
Manager in December,  1996, Mr. Underwood served as Director of Funds Management
for First  Interstate  Capital  Management.  Mr.  Underwood's  prior  experience
includes a 10 year association with Integra Trust Company of Pittsburgh where he
served as Director of Research and Senior  Portfolio  Manager and two years with
C.S. McKee Investment  Advisors as a Portfolio  Manager.  A Chartered  Financial
Analyst and past president of the Pittsburgh Society of Financial Analysts,  Mr.
Underwood  received his B.S.  degree from Arizona State  University and has done
graduate work in economics and finance at Washington and Jefferson  College.  He
is a graduate of Pennsylvania Bankers Trust School.

Jeffery B. Cross, Vice President of the Investment  Manager,  is a co-manager of
MagnaCap  Fund.  Mr.  Cross  joined  Pilgrim  America in August  1997 from Delta
Ventures  Financial  Council,  Inc.,  where he was in charge of equity analysis.
Prior to joining Delta  Ventures in 1991, he was executive  vice  president of a
manufacturing  engineer  consulting firm. Mr. Cross began his business career in
the 1970's  working as a junior equity  analyst for John Cross & Associates,  an
SEC-registered  investment  advisor  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  He is  an  advisory
director of the CAD  Institute.  Mr. Cross has three Magna Cum Laude Bachelor of
Science degrees from Miami University,  Oxford, Ohio, in Chemistry, Physics, and
Mathematics.  He has a masters  degree  from  Stanford  University  and has done
post-graduate  work in  business  and  chemical  engineering  at  Arizona  State
University.

Howard  Tiffen,  Senior  Vice  President  and  Senior  Portfolio  Manager of the
Investment Manager,  serves as a co-manager of Strategic Income Fund. He is also
the President,  Chief Operating  Officer and Senior Portfolio Manager of Pilgrim
America Prime Rate Trust, another fund managed by the Investment Manager. He has
had primary  responsibility  for investment  management of various  divisions of
Bank of America (and its predecessor, Continental Bank).

Kevin G.  Mathews,  Senior Vice  President and Senior  Portfolio  Manager of the
Investment  Manager,  has served as  Portfolio  Manager of High Yield Fund since
June 1995 serves as the  Allocation  Manager for Strategic  Income Fund and also
served as Portfolio Manager of Government  Securities Income Fund from June 1995
through September 1996. Prior to joining the Investment Manager, Mr. Mathews was
a Vice President and Senior Portfolio  Manager with Van Kampen American Capital.
Since 1987, Mr.  Mathews'  responsibilities  included the management of open-end
high yield bond funds, two New York Stock Exchange listed closed-end bond funds,
variable  annuity high yield  products and individual  institutional  high yield
asset  managed  accounts.  In a prior  position,  Mr.  Mathews  was a high yield
portfolio  fixed income credit  analyst.  Mr.  Mathews  received a B.A. from the
University of Illinois and an M.B.A. from Drake University.

Charles G. Ullerich,  Vice President of the  Investment  Manager,  has served as
Portfolio Manager of Government  Securities Income Fund since September 1996 and
served as Assistant Portfolio Manager of that Fund from August 1995 to September
1996. Mr. Ullerich also serves as co-manager of Strategic  Income Fund. Prior to
joining  Pilgrim  America  Group,  Mr.  Ullerich was Vice  President of Treasury
Services for First Liberty Bank of Macon, GA, where he was Portfolio Manager for
a   conservatively-managed   $150  million  mortgage  and  treasury   securities
portfolio,  since 1991.  Before  that,  he was an  internal  auditor for Georgia
Federal  Bank in  Atlanta.  Mr.  Ullerich  received a B.S.  from  Arizona  State
University,  and he holds the professional  designations of Chartered  Financial
Analyst and  Certified  Internal  Auditor.  He is Past  President of the Georgia
Chapter of the Arizona State University Alumni Association.

Distributor. In addition to providing for the expenses discussed above, the Rule
12b-1 Plan also  recognizes  that the Investment  Manager may use its investment
management  fees or other  resources to pay expenses  associated with activities
primarily  intended to result in the  promotion and  distribution  of the Funds'
shares.  The Distributor  will, from time to time, pay to Authorized  Dealers in
connection  with  the  sale  or  distribution  of  shares  of  a  Fund  material
compensation  in the form of  merchandise or trips.  Salespersons  and any other
person entitled to receive any compensation for selling or servicing Fund shares
may receive  different  compensation  with  respect to one  particular  class of
shares over another in a Fund.

Shareholder  Servicing Agent.  Pilgrim America Group, Inc. serves as Shareholder
Servicing Agent for the Funds.  The  Shareholder  Servicing Agent is responsible
for responding to written and telephonic inquiries from shareholders.  Each Fund
pays the Shareholder Servicing Agent a monthly fee on a per-contact basis, based
upon incoming and outgoing telephonic and written correspondence.

Portfolio Transactions. The Investment Manager, or Portfolio Manager in the case
of MidCap Value Fund and Asia-Pacific  Equity Fund, will place orders to execute
securities  transactions  that are designed to implement each Fund's  investment
objectives and policies.  The Investment Manager, or Portfolio Manager, will use
its reasonable efforts to place all purchase and sale transactions with brokers,
dealers and banks  ('brokers') that provide 'best execution' of these orders. In
placing purchase and sale  transactions,  the Investment  Manager,  or Portfolio
Managers,  may consider  brokerage and research services provided by a broker to
Portfolio Manager or the Investment Manager or their affiliates,  and a Fund may
pay a commission for effecting a securities transaction that is in excess of the
amount another broker would have charged if the Investment  Manager or Portfolio
Manager  determines in good faith that the amount of commission is reasonable in
relation to the value of the  brokerage  and research  services  provided by the
broker.  Consistent with this policy,  portfolio transactions may be executed by
brokers affiliated with a Portfolio Manager or the Investment  Manager,  so long
as the commission paid to the affiliated  broker is reasonable and fair compared
to  the  commission  that  would  be  charged  by an  unaffiliated  broker  in a
comparable transaction. In addition, the Investment Manager or Portfolio Manager
may place securities  transactions with brokers that provide certain services to
a Fund. The Investment Manager or Portfolio Manager also may consider a broker's
sale of Fund shares if the  Investment  Manager is satisfied that the Fund would
receive best execution of the transaction from that broker.

                        DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS & TAXES

Dividends and  Distributions.  In the case of Bank and Thrift Fund, MidCap Value
Fund,  LargeCap  Value  Fund,  and  Asia-Pacific  Equity  Fund,   dividends  and
distributions from net investment income and capital gains, if any, will be paid
at least annually.  MagnaCap Fund makes semi-annual payments from net investment
income and one or more payments from net realized  capital  gains,  if any. High
Yield Fund,  Strategic  Income Fund and Government  Securities  Income Fund each
have a policy of paying monthly dividends from their net investment  income, and
paying capital gains,  if any,  annually.  Dividends and  distributions  will be
determined on a class basis.

Any dividends and distributions paid by a Fund will be automatically  reinvested
in additional  shares of the respective class of that Fund,  unless you elect to
receive  distributions in cash. When a dividend or distribution is paid, the NAV
per share is reduced by the amount of the payment.

You may, upon written  request or by completing the  appropriate  section of the
New Account  Application  in this  Prospectus,  elect to have all  dividends and
other  distributions paid on a Class A, B or M account in a Fund invested into a
Pilgrim America Fund which offers Class A, B or M shares.  Both accounts must be
of the same class. If you are a shareholder of Pilgrim America Prime Rate Trust,
whose shares are not held in a broker or nominee account,  you may, upon written
request,  elect to have  all  dividends  invested  into a  pre-existing  Class A
account of any  open-end  Pilgrim  America  Fund which  offers  Class A, B, or M
shares.  Distributions  are invested  into the  selected  funds at the net asset
value as of the payable date of the distribution only if shares of such selected
funds have been registered for sale in the investor's state.

Federal Taxes. Each Fund intends to operate as a 'regulated  investment company'
under the Internal  Revenue Code. To qualify,  a Fund must meet certain  income,
asset diversification and distribution requirements. In any fiscal year in which
a Fund so qualifies and distributes to  shareholders  all of its taxable income,
the Fund itself generally is relieved of federal income and excise taxes.

Dividends paid out of a Fund's  investment  company  taxable  income  (including
dividends,  interest  and  short-term  capital  gains) will be taxable to a U.S.
shareholder  as ordinary  income.  If a portion of a Fund's  income  consists of
dividends paid by U.S. corporations, a portion of the dividends paid by the Fund
may be eligible for the corporate dividends-received deduction. The Funds expect
that  distributions  of net capital gains (the excess of net  long-term  capital
gains over net short-term  capital losses),  if any,  designated as capital gain
dividends should be taxable as long-term  capital gains,  regardless of how long
the shareholder  has held the Fund's shares,  but the rate of tax will depend on
the Fund's holding period for the assets whose sale results in the gain.

All  dividends  and capital  gains are taxable  whether they are  reinvested  or
received  in cash,  unless you are  exempt  from  taxation  or  entitled  to tax
deferral. Early each year, you will be notified as to the amount and federal tax
status of all  dividends  and capital  gains paid  during the prior  year.  Such
dividends  and  capital  gains  may also be  subject  to  state or local  taxes.
Dividends declared in October,  November, or December with a record date in such
month and paid during the following  January will be treated as having been paid
by a Fund and received by  shareholders  on December 31 of the calendar  year in
which  declared,  rather  than the  calendar  year in which  the  dividends  are
actually received.

Upon the sale or other  disposition  of  shares  of a Fund,  a  shareholder  may
realize a gain or loss  which  will be a capital  gain or loss if the shares are
held as a capital  asset and,  if so, may be eligible  for  reduced  federal tax
rates, depending on the shareholder's holding period for the shares.

If you have not furnished a certified  correct  taxpayer  identification  number
(generally your Social Security  number) and have not certified that withholding
does not apply,  or if the Internal  Revenue  Service has notified the Fund that
the taxpayer identification number listed on your account is incorrect according
to their  records or that you are  subject to backup  withholding,  federal  law
generally   requires  the  Fund  to  withhold  31%  from  any  dividends  and/or
redemptions  (including exchange  redemptions).  Amounts withheld are applied to
your  federal  tax  liability;  a refund  may be  obtained  from the  Service if
withholding results in overpayment of taxes.  Federal law also requires the Fund
to withhold 30% or the applicable  tax treaty rate from ordinary  dividends paid
to certain  nonresident  alien,  non-U.S.  partnership and non-U.S.  corporation
shareholder accounts.

Asia-Pacific  Equity  Fund may be required  to pay  withholding  and other taxes
imposed by various countries in connection with its investments outside the U.S.
generally  at rates  from 10% to 40%,  which  would  reduce a Fund's  investment
income.

This is a brief summary of some of the tax laws that affect your investment in a
Fund.  Please see the Statement of Additional  Information  and your tax adviser
for further information.

                             PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

From time to time,  a Fund may  advertise  its average  annual total return over
various  periods of time as well as the Fund's current  yield.  The total return
figures show the average percentage change in value of an investment in the Fund
from the beginning date of the measuring period.  The figures reflect changes in
the price of the  Fund's  shares and assume  that any  income  dividends  and/or
capital gains  distributions  made by the Fund during the period were reinvested
in shares of the Fund.  Figures will be given for one, five and ten year periods
(if  applicable)  and may be  given  for  other  periods  as well  (such as from
commencement  of the  Fund's  operations,  or on a  year-by-year  basis).  Total
returns and current  yield are based on past results and are not  necessarily  a
prediction  of future  performance.  The Fund will compute its yield by dividing
its net  investment  income per share during a 30-day base period by the maximum
offering  price on the last day of the base  period.  This 30-day  yield is then
compounded  over  six  monthly  periods  and  multiplied  by two to  provide  an
annualized yield.

A Fund may also publish a distribution rate in investor  communications preceded
or accompanied  by a copy of the current  Prospectus.  The current  distribution
rate  for a Fund is the  annualization  of the  Fund's  distribution  per  share
divided  by the  maximum  offering  price per share of a Fund at the  respective
month-end.  The current  distribution rate may differ from current yield because
the  distribution  rate may  contain  items of capital  gain and other  items of
income,  while yield reflects only earned net investment  income.  In each case,
the  yield,  distribution  rates and  total  return  figures  will  reflect  all
recurring charges against Fund income and will assume the payment of the maximum
sales load.

Additional  Performance  Quotations.  Advertisements of total return will always
show a calculation  that includes the effect of the maximum sales charge but may
also show total  return  without  giving  effect to that charge.  Because  these
additional  quotations will not reflect the maximum sales charge payable,  these
performance  quotations  will be higher  than the  performance  quotations  that
reflect the maximum sales charge.

                             ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

More about the Funds. Each Fund's Articles of Incorporation permit the Directors
to authorize the creation of additional series, each of which may issue separate
classes  of  shares.  A Fund may be  terminated  and  liquidated  under  certain
circumstances.

Shareholders  have certain voting  rights.  Each share of each Fund is given one
vote. Matters such as approval of new investment advisory agreements and changes
in  fundamental  policies  of a Fund will  require the  affirmative  vote of the
shareholders of that Fund. Matters affecting a certain class of a Fund will only
be voted on by shareholders of that particular class and Fund. The Funds are not
required to hold  annual  shareholder  meetings,  although  special  shareholder
meetings may be held from time to time.



<PAGE>




                      PILGRIM AMERICA BANK AND THRIFT FUND.
                          PILGRIM AMERICA MAGNACAP FUND
                        PILGRIM AMERICA MIDCAP VALUE FUND
                       PILGRIM AMERICA LARGECAP VALUE FUND
                    PILGRIM AMERICA ASIA-PACIFIC EQUITY FUND
                         PILGRIM AMERICA HIGH YIELD FUND
                      PILGRIM AMERICA STRATEGIC INCOME FUND
                    PILGRIM GOVERNMENT SECURITIES INCOME FUND


           40 North Central Avenue, Suite 1200, Phoenix, Arizona 85004
                                 1-800-992-0180

                                Table of Contents

                                                                            Page
THE FUNDS.............................................................

THE FUNDS AT A GLANCE.................................................

SUMMARY OF EXPENSES...................................................

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS..................................................

THE FUNDS' INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES.........................

INVESTMENT PRACTICES AND RISK CONSIDERATIONS..........................

    All Funds: Diversification and Changes in Policies................

SHAREHOLDER GUIDE.....................................................
    Pilgrim America Purchase OptionsTM................................
    Purchasing Shares.................................................
    Exchange Privileges and Restrictions..............................
    Systematic Exchange Privilege.....................................
    How to Redeem Shares..............................................

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUNDS...............................................

DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES....................................

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION...............................................

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION................................................

NEW ACCOUNT APPLICATION...............................................

                               Investment Manager
                        Pilgrim America Investments, Inc.
                      40 North Central Avenue, Suite 1200,
                           Phoenix, Arizona 85004-4408

                                   Distributor
                        Pilgrim America Securities, Inc.
                      40 North Central Avenue, Suite 1200,
                           Phoenix, Arizona 85004-4408

                           Shareholder Servicing Agent
                           Pilgrim America Group, Inc.
                      40 North Central Avenue, Suite 1200,
                           Phoenix, Arizona 85004-4408

                                 Transfer Agent
                                DST Systems, Inc.
                                 P.O. Box 419368
                        Kansas City, Missouri 64141-6368

                                    Custodian
                        Investors Fiduciary Trust Company
                                801 Pennsylvania
                           Kansas City, Missouri 64105

                                  Legal Counsel
                             Dechert Price & Rhoads
                              1775 Eye Street, N.W.
                             Washington, D.C. 20006

                              Independent Auditors
                              KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
                            725 South Figueroa Street
                          Los Angeles, California 90017

                                   PROSPECTUS
                                November 1, 1998
<PAGE>

                    PILGRIM GOVERNMENT SECURITIES INCOME FUND
                       40 North Central Avenue, Suite 1200
                             Phoenix, Arizona 85004
                                 (800) 992-0180

                       STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

   
                                November 1, 1998
    

Pilgrim Government Securities Income Fund, the sole series of Pilgrim Government
Securities Income Fund, Inc. (the "Fund"), is a diversified, open-end management
investment  company seeking high current  income,  consistent with liquidity and
preservation of capital.

   
This  document  is not  the  Prospectus  of the  Fund  and  should  be  read  in
conjunction  with that Prospectus  dated November 1, 1998, which may be obtained
without  charge upon written  request to the address  above or by calling  (800)
992-0180.
    

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                          Page

   
Management of the Fund.......................................................2
Distribution Plan............................................................6
Supplemental Description of Investments and Techniques.......................9
Investment Restrictions.....................................................15
Portfolio Transactions......................................................16
Additional Purchase and Redemption Information..............................18
Determination of Share Price................................................23
Shareholder Services and Privileges.........................................23
Distributions...............................................................26
Tax Considerations..........................................................26
Performance Information.....................................................29
General Information.........................................................32
Financial Statements........................................................32
    


<PAGE>


                             MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

   
Board of Directors. The Fund is managed by its Board of Directors. The Directors
and Officers of the Fund are listed below.  An asterisk (*) has been placed next
to the name of each  Director  who is an  "interested  person,"  as that term is
defined in the  Investment  Company Act of 1940 (the "1940  Act"),  by virtue of
that person's  affiliation with the Fund or Pilgrim America  Investments,  Inc.,
the Fund's investment manager (the "Investment Manager" or "PAII").

     Mary A. Baldwin, Ph.D, 2525 E. Camelback Road, Suite 200, Phoenix,  Arizona
     85016.  (Age  59.)  Director.   Realtor,  Coldwell  Banker  Success  Realty
     (formerly,  The  Prudential  Arizona  Realty)  for more  than the last five
     years. Ms. Baldwin is also Vice President,  United States Olympic Committee
     (November 1996 - Present),  and formerly  Treasurer,  United States Olympic
     Committee  (November 1992 - November 1996).  Ms. Baldwin is also a director
     and/or trustee of each of the funds managed by the Investment Manager.

     John P. Burke, 260 Constitution  Plaza,  Hartford,  Connecticut 06130. (Age
     66.) Director.  Commissioner of Banking, State of Connecticut (January 1995
     - Present).  Mr.  Burke was  formerly  President  of Bristol  Savings  Bank
     (August 1992 - January  1995) and  President  of Security  Savings and Loan
     (November 1989 - August 1992).  Mr. Burke is also a director and/or trustee
     of each of the funds managed by the Investment Manager.

     Al Burton,  2300 Coldwater  Canyon,  Beverly Hills,  California 90210. (Age
     70.) Director.  President of Al Burton  Productions  for more than the last
     five years;  formerly Vice President,  First Run  Syndication,  Castle Rock
     Entertainment  (July 1992 - November  1994).  Mr. Burton is also a director
     and/or trustee of each of the funds managed by the Investment Manager.

     Jock Patton,  40 North Central Avenue,  Phoenix,  Arizona 85004.  (Age 52.)
     Director.  Private  Investor.  Director of Artisoft,  Inc.  Mr.  Patton was
     formerly  President and Co-owner,  StockVal,  Inc. (April 1993 - June 1997)
     and a partner and director of the law firm of Streich,  Lang,  P.A. (1972 -
     1993).  Mr. Patton is also a director  and/or  trustee of each of the funds
     managed by the Investment Manager.

     *Robert W. Stallings,  40 North Central  Avenue,  Suite 1200,  Phoenix,  AZ
     85004.  (Age  49.)  Chairman,   Chief  Executive  Officer,  and  President.
     Chairman,  Chief Executive  Officer and President of Pilgrim America Group,
     Inc. (since December 1994); Chairman, PAII (since December 1994); Director,
     Pilgrim America  Securities,  Inc. (since December 1994);  Chairman,  Chief
     Executive  Officer and  President of Pilgrim  America Bank and Thrift Fund,
     Inc.,  Pilgrim  Government  Securities  Income Fund, Inc.,  Pilgrim America
     Advisory Funds, Inc. (formerly,  Pilgrim America Masters Series,  Inc.) and
     Pilgrim America  Investment  Funds,  Inc. (since April 1995).  Chairman and
     Chief  Executive  Officer of Pilgrim  America Prime Rate Trust (since April
     1995).  Chairman and Chief  Executive  Officer of Pilgrim  America  Capital
     Corporation  (formerly,  Express America  Holdings  Corporation)  ("Pilgrim
     America") (since August 1990).

The Fund pays each Director who is not an interested person a pro rata share, as
described below, of (i) an annual retainer of $20,000; (ii) $1,500 per quarterly
and special  Board  meeting;  (iii) $500 per  committee  meeting;  (iv) $500 per
special telephonic  meeting;  and (v) out of pocket expenses.  During the fiscal
year ended June 30, 1998, the Fund paid an aggregate of $_____ to the Directors.
The pro rata share paid by the Fund is based on the Fund's average net assets as
a  percentage  of the  average  net  assets  of all  the  funds  managed  by the
Investment    Manager   for   which   the   Directors   serve   in   common   as
directors/trustees.
    

Compensation of Directors

   
The following table sets forth information  regarding  compensation of Directors
by the Fund and other  funds  managed by the  Investment  Manager for the fiscal
year ended June 30, 1998.  Officers of the Fund and Directors who are interested
persons of the Fund do not receive any  compensation  from the Fund or any other
fund managed by the Investment Manager. In the column headed "Total Compensation
From  Registrant and Fund Complex Paid to Directors,"  the number in parentheses
indicates  the total  number of boards in the fund complex on which the Director
serves.
    

                               Compensation Table
   
                         Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1998

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                                              Pension or                        Total
                                                                              Retirement                     Compensation
                                                                               Benefits       Estimated          From
                                                              Aggregate        Accrued         Annual         Registrant
                                                            Compensation      As Part of      Benefits         and Fund
                                                                from             Fund           Upon         Complex Paid
Name of Person, Position                                      Registrant       Expenses      Retirement      to Directors
<S>                                                             <C>             <C>             <C>          <C>  

Mary A Baldwin, Director (1)(4)..........................         $               N/A             N/A             $
                                                                                                              (5 boards)

John P. Burke, Director(2)(4) ..........................          $               N/A             N/A             $
                                                                                                              (5 boards)

Al Burton, Director (3)(4)...............................         $               N/A             N/A             $
                                                                                                              (5 boards)

Bruce S. Foerster, Director (4)(5).......................         $               N/A             N/A             $
                                                                                                              (5 boards)

Jock Patton (4)(6).......................................         $               N/A             N/A             $
                                                                                                              (5 boards)

Robert W. Stallings, Director and                                 $0                                              $0
  Chairman (1)(7)........................................                         N/A             N/A         (5 boards)
<FN>

1  Current Board member, term commencing April 7, 1995.
2  Commenced service as Trustee on May 5, 1997.
3  Board member since 1985.
4  Member of Audit Committee.
5  Mr. Foerster resigned as a Director of the Fund effective September 30, 1998.
6  Current Board member, term commencing August 28, 1995.
7  "Interested  person",  as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940. As
   an interested  person  of  the  Fund,  Mr.  Stallings  will  not  receive 
   any compensation as a Director.
</FN>
</TABLE>
    

Officers

   
          James R. Reis, Executive Vice President, and Assistant Secretary
          40 North Central Avenue, Suite 1200, Phoenix, Arizona 85004. (Age 40.)
          Director,  Vice Chairman  (since  December  1994) and  Executive  Vice
          President  (since April 1995),  Pilgrim America Group,  Inc. and PAII;
          Director (since  December  1994),  Vice Chairman (since November 1995)
          and Assistant  Secretary (since January 1995) of PASI;  Executive Vice
          President  and  Assistant  Secretary of each of the other funds in the
          Pilgrim  America  Group  of  funds;  Chief  Financial  Officer  (since
          December  1993),  Vice Chairman and Assistant  Secretary  (since April
          1993) and former President (May 1991 - December 1993), Pilgrim America
          (formerly Express America Holdings Corporation).

          Stanley D. Vyner, Executive Vice President
          40 North Central Avenue, Suite 1200, Phoenix, Arizona 85004. (Age 48.)
          Executive Vice President  (since August 1996),  Pilgrim America Group,
          Inc.; President and Chief Executive Officer (since August 1996), PAII;
          Executive  Vice President of (since July 1996) of most of the funds in
          the Pilgrim America Group of Funds.  Formerly Chief Executive  Officer
          (November 1993 - December 1995) HSBC Asset Management Americas,  Inc.,
          and Chief  Executive  Officer,  and Actuary (May 1986 - October  1993)
          HSBC Life Assurance Co.

          James M. Hennessy, Executive Vice President and Secretary
          40 North Central Avenue, Suite 1200, Phoenix, Arizona 85004. (Age 49.)
          Executive Vice President (since April 1998) and Secretary (since April
          1995),   Pilgrim   America   (formerly,   Express   America   Holdings
          Corporation),  Pilgrim America Group, Inc., PAII, and PASI;  Executive
          Vice  President  and  Secretary  of each of the  funds in the  Pilgrim
          America Group of funds.  Presently  serves or has served as an officer
          or director of other affiliates of Pilgrim America.  Formerly,  Senior
          Vice President, Pilgrim America, Pilgrim America Group, Inc., PAII and
          PASI (April 1995 - April 1998); Senior Vice President, Express America
          Mortgage Corporation (June 1992 - August 1994) and President,  Beverly
          Hills Securities Corp. (January 1990 - June 1992).

          Michael J.  Roland,  Senior Vice  President  and  Principal  Financial
          Officer 40 North Central Avenue,  Suite 1200, Phoenix,  Arizona 85004.
          (Age 40.) Senior Vice  President and Chief  Financial  Officer,  PAGI,
          PAII,  PASI  (since June 1998) and Pilgrim  America  Financial  (since
          August,  1998). He served in same capacity from January, 1995 - April,
          1997. Chief Financial Officer of Endeaver Group (April,  1997 to June,
          1998).

          Charles G. Ullerich, Vice President and Portfolio Manager.
          40 North Central Avenue, Suite 1200, Phoenix, AZ 85004. (Age 33.) Vice
          President,  PAII (since February 1998).  Formerly Assistant  Portfolio
          Manager of Pilgrim  Government  Securities  Income Fund, Inc.  (August
          1995 - September 1996) and Vice  President,  First Liberty Bank (April
          1991 August 1995).

          Robert S. Naka, Vice President and Assistant Secretary
          40 North Central Avenue, Suite 1200, Phoenix, Arizona 85004. (Age 35.)
          Vice  President,  PAII (since April 1997) and Pilgrim  America  Group,
          Inc. (since February 1997). Vice President and Assistant  Secretary of
          each of the funds in the  Pilgrim  America  Group of  Funds.  Formerly
          Assistant Vice President,  Pilgrim America Group,  Inc. (August 1995 -
          February 1997).  Formerly,  Operations  Manager,  Pilgrim Group,  Inc.
          (April 1992 - April 1995).

          Robyn L. Ichilov, Vice President and Treasurer
          40 North Central Avenue, Suite 1200, Phoenix,  Arizona 85004. (Age 30)
          Vice President, PAII (since August 1997) and Pilgrim America Financial
          (since May 1998),  Accounting Manager (since November 1995).  Formerly
          Assistant Vice  President and  Accounting  Supervisor for Paine Webber
          (June, 1993 - April, 1995).

Principal Shareholders. As of _____________,1998,  the Directors and Officers of
the Fund owned less than 1% of any class of the Fund's outstanding shares. As of
_____________,1998, to the knowledge of management, no person owned beneficially
or of record  more than 5% of the  outstanding  shares of any class of the Fund,
except with respect to [TO BE PROVIDED BY AMENDMENT].

Investment  Manager.  The Investment Manager serves as investment manager to the
Fund  and  has  overall  responsibility  for the  management  of the  Fund.  The
Investment  Management  Agreement  between the Fund and the  Investment  Manager
requires  the  Investment  Manager to oversee the  provision  of all  investment
advisory and portfolio management services for the Fund. The Investment Manager,
which was organized in December  1994,  is  registered as an investment  adviser
with  the SEC  and  serves  as  investment  adviser  to  four  other  registered
investment  companies (or series thereof) as well as privately managed accounts.
As of , the Investment Manager had assets under management of approximately $___
billion.

The Investment  Manager is a wholly-owned  subsidiary of Pilgrim  America Group,
Inc., which itself is a wholly-owned  subsidiary of Pilgrim America,  a Delaware
corporation, the shares of which are traded on the NASDAQ National Market System
(NASDAQ:  PACC) and which is a holding  company  that  through its  subsidiaries
engages in the financial services business.

The Investment  Manager pays all of its expenses arising from the performance of
its  obligations  under  the  Investment  Management  Agreement,  including  all
executive  salaries and expenses of the  Directors  and Officers of the Fund who
are employees of the  Investment  Manager or its  affiliates and office rent for
the Fund. Other expenses  incurred in the operation of the Fund are borne by it,
including, without limitation,  investment advisory fees; brokerage commissions;
interest;  legal fees and expenses of attorneys;  fees of independent  auditors,
transfer  agents  and  dividend   disbursing  agents,   accounting  agents,  and
custodians;  the expense of obtaining  quotations for calculating the Fund's net
asset value; taxes, if any, and the preparation of the Fund's tax returns;  cost
of stock  certificates and any other expenses  (including  clerical expenses) of
issue,  sale,  repurchase or redemption of shares;  expenses of registering  and
qualifying  shares of the Fund under  federal  and state  laws and  regulations;
expenses of printing and  distributing  reports,  notices and proxy materials to
existing  shareholders;  expenses  of  printing  and  filing  reports  and other
documents  filed with  governmental  agencies;  expenses  of annual and  special
shareholder  meetings;  expenses of printing and  distributing  prospectuses and
statements of additional information to existing shareholders; fees and expenses
of Directors of the Fund who are not employees of the Investment  Manager or its
affiliates;  membership  dues in the  Investment  Company  Institute;  insurance
premiums; and extraordinary expenses such as litigation expenses.

As  compensation  for the foregoing  services,  the  Investment  Manager is paid
monthly a fee equal to 0.50% per annum of the  average  daily net  assets of the
Fund on the first $500  million  of net  assets.  The annual  rate is reduced to
0.45% on net assets  from $500  million to $1 billion and to 0.40% on net assets
in excess of $1  billion.  Pursuant  to the terms of the  Investment  Management
Agreement, the Investment Manager will reimburse the Fund to the extent that the
gross operating costs and expenses of that Fund, excluding any interest,  taxes,
brokerage commissions,  amortization of organizational  expenses,  extraordinary
expenses,  and  distribution  (Rule 12b-1) fees on Class B and Class M shares in
excess  of an  annual  rate of .25% of the  average  daily  net  assets of these
classes,  exceed 1.50% of the Fund's average daily net asset value for the first
$40 million of net assets and 1.00% of average daily net assets in excess of $40
million for any one fiscal year.  This  reimbursement  policy  cannot be changed
unless the agreement is amended,  which would require shareholder approval.  For
the fiscal years ended June 30, 1998,  1997 and 1996,  the Fund paid  management
fees to the current  Investment Manager of approximately  $______,  $170,619 and
$208,689, respectively.

The Investment Management Agreement will continue in effect from year to year so
long as such  continuance is specifically  approved at least annually by (a) the
Board of Directors or (b) the vote of a "majority"  (as defined in the 1940 Act)
of the Fund's  outstanding  shares voting as a single class;  provided,  that in
either  event the  continuance  is also  approved  by at least a majority of the
Board of Directors who are not "interested persons" (as defined in the 1940 Act)
of the  Investment  Manager  by vote cast in person at a meeting  called for the
purpose of voting on such approval.

The Investment  Management Agreement is terminable without penalty with not less
than 60 days'  notice by the Board of Directors or by a vote of the holders of a
majority of the Fund's  outstanding shares voting as a single class, or upon not
less than 60 days' notice by the Investment Manager.  The Investment  Management
Agreement  will terminate  automatically  in the event of its  "assignment"  (as
defined in the 1940 Act).

Distributor.  Shares of the Fund are distributed by Pilgrim America  Securities,
Inc. (the "Distributor")  pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement between the Fund
and the Distributor.  The Underwriting Agreement requires the Distributor to use
its best  efforts on a  continuing  basis to solicit  purchases of shares of the
Fund. The Fund and the  Distributor  have agreed to indemnify each other against
certain liabilities. At the discretion of the Distributor, all sales charges may
at times be reallowed to an authorized dealer ("Authorized  Dealer").  If 90% or
more of the sales commission is reallowed,  such Authorized Dealer may be deemed
to be an "underwriter" as that term is defined under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended.  The Underwriting  Agreement will remain in effect for two years and
from year to year thereafter  only if its continuance is approved  annually by a
majority  of the Board of  Directors  who are not parties to such  agreement  or
"interested persons" of any such party and must be approved either by votes of a
majority of the Directors or a majority of the outstanding  voting securities of
the Fund. See the Prospectus of the Fund for  information on how to purchase and
sell  shares  of the Fund,  and the  charges  and  expenses  associated  with an
investment.  The  Distributor,  like the Investment  Manager,  is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Pilgrim America Group, Inc., which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Pilgrim America Capital Corporation.
    

                                DISTRIBUTION PLAN

The Fund has a  distribution  plan  pursuant  to Rule  12b-1  under the 1940 Act
applicable  to each class of shares of the Fund ("Rule  12b-1  Plan").  The Fund
intends to operate  the Rule  12b-1  Plan in  accordance  with its terms and the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") rules concerning sales
charges.  Under the Rule 12b-1 Plan, the  Distributor may be entitled to payment
each month in connection with the offering,  sale, and shareholder  servicing of
Class A,  Class B, and Class M shares in amounts  not to exceed  the  following:
with  respect to Class A shares at an annual  rate of up to 0.35% of the average
daily net  assets of the Class A shares  of the Fund;  with  respect  to Class B
shares at an annual rate of up to 1.00% of the  average  daily net assets of the
Class B shares of the Fund; and with respect to Class M shares at an annual rate
of up to 1.00% of the  average  daily  net  assets  of the Class M shares of the
Fund.  The Board of Directors has approved under the Rule 12b-1 Plan payments of
the following  amounts to the Distributor  will be made each month in connection
with the  offering,  sale,  and  shareholder  servicing of Class A, Class B, and
Class M shares as follows:  (i) with respect to Class A shares at an annual rate
equal to 0.25% of the  average  daily  net  assets  of the Class A shares of the
Fund;  (ii) with  respect to Class B shares at an annual  rate equal to 1.00% of
the average  daily net assets of the Class B shares of the Fund;  and (iii) with
respect to Class M shares at an annual rate equal to 0.75% of the average  daily
net assets of the Class M shares of the Fund. Of these amounts, fees equal to an
annual  rate of  0.25%  of the  average  daily  net  assets  of the Fund are for
shareholder servicing for each of the classes.

Under the Rule 12b-1 Plan, ongoing payments will be made on a quarterly basis to
Authorized Dealers for both distribution and shareholder servicing at the annual
rate of 0.25%,  0.25%, and 0.40% of the Fund's average daily net assets of Class
A, Class B, and Class M shares, respectively, that are registered in the name of
that  Authorized  Dealer  as  nominee  or held  in a  shareholder  account  that
designates  that  Authorized  Dealer as the  dealer of  record.  Rights to these
ongoing payments begin to accrue in the 13th month following a purchase of Class
A or B shares and in the 1st month following a purchase of Class M shares. These
fees may be used to cover the expenses of the Distributor  primarily intended to
result  in the sale of  Class A,  Class  B,  and  Class M  shares  of the  Fund,
including  payments to Authorized Dealers for selling shares of the Fund and for
servicing  shareholders of these classes of the Fund. Activities for which these
fees may be used include:  preparation and distribution of advertising materials
and sales  literature;  expenses of organizing  and conducting  sales  seminars;
overhead  of  the  Distributor;  printing  of  prospectuses  and  statements  of
additional  information  (and  supplements  thereto)  and reports for other than
existing  shareholders;  payments to dealers and others that provide shareholder
services; and costs of administering the Rule 12b-1 Plan.

In the event a Rule 12b-1 Plan is terminated in accordance  with its terms,  the
obligations of the Fund to make payments to the Distributor pursuant to the Rule
12b-1 Plan will cease and the Fund will not be required to make any payments for
expenses  incurred after the date the Plan  terminates.  The Distributor will be
reimbursed  for its  actual  expenses  incurred  under the Rule  12b-1 Plan with
respect  to the Class A shares.  With  respect to the Class B shares and Class M
shares,   the  Distributor   will  receive  payment  without  regard  to  actual
distribution expenses it incurs.

   
In addition to providing for the expenses  discussed  above, the Rule 12b-1 Plan
also recognizes that the Investment Manager and/or the Distributor may use their
resources to pay  expenses  associated  with  activities  primarily  intended to
result in the  promotion and  distribution  of the Fund's shares and other funds
managed by the Investment Manager. In some instances, additional compensation or
promotional  incentives  may be offered  to  dealers  that have sold or may sell
significant   amounts  of  shares  during   specified   periods  of  time.  Such
compensation  and  incentives  may  include,  but  are  not  limited  to,  cash,
merchandise,  trips and  financial  assistance  to  dealers in  connection  with
pre-approved  conferences  or seminars,  sales or training  programs for invited
sales  personnel,  payment for travel  expenses  (including  meals and  lodging)
incurred by sales  personnel  and members of their  families,  or other  invited
guests,  to various locations for such seminars or training  programs,  seminars
for the public,  advertising  and sales  campaigns  regarding  the Fund or other
funds  managed by the  Investment  Manager  and/or  other  events  sponsored  by
dealers. In addition,  the Distributor may, at its own expense,  pay concessions
in addition to those described  above to dealers that satisfy  certain  criteria
established  from time to time by the Distributor.  These  conditions  relate to
increasing  sales of shares of the Funds over  specified  periods and to certain
other factors. These payments may, depending on the dealer's satisfaction of the
required conditions,  be periodic and may be up to (1) 0.30% of the value of the
Funds'  shares sold by the dealer during a particular  period,  and (2) 0.10% of
the value of the Funds' shares held by the dealer's  customers for more than one
year, calculated on an annual basis.
    

The Rule 12b-1 Plan has been approved by the Board of  Directors,  including all
the Directors who are not interested  persons of the Fund as defined in the 1940
Act,  and by the  Fund's  shareholders.  Each Rule  12b-1  Plan must be  renewed
annually by the Board of  Directors,  including a majority of the  Directors who
are not  interested  persons  of the  Fund and who have no  direct  or  indirect
financial  interest in the operation of the Rule 12b-1 Plan, cast in person at a
meeting  called for that  purpose.  It is also  required  that the selection and
nomination  of  such  Directors  be  committed  to the  Directors  who  are  not
interested  persons.  The  Rule  12b-1  Plan  and any  distribution  or  service
agreement may be terminated  as to a Fund at any time,  without any penalty,  by
such Directors or by a vote of a majority of the Fund's outstanding shares on 60
days'  written  notice.  The  Distributor  or any  Authorized  Dealer  may  also
terminate  its  respective  distribution  or service  agreement at any time upon
written notice.

In approving each Rule 12b-1 Plan,  the Board of Directors has  determined  that
differing distribution arrangements in connection with the sale of new shares of
the Fund is necessary  and  appropriate  in order to meet the needs of different
potential  investors.   Therefore,  the  Board  of  Directors,  including  those
Directors who are not  interested  persons of the Fund,  concluded  that, in the
exercise of their reasonable  business  judgment and in light of their fiduciary
duties,  there is a reasonable  likelihood that the Rule 12b-1 Plan, as tailored
to each class of the Fund, will benefit the Fund and the shareholders.

   
Each Rule  12b-1  Plan and any  distribution  or  service  agreement  may not be
amended to increase materially the amount spent for distribution  expenses as to
a Fund without approval by a majority of the Fund's outstanding  shares, and all
material  amendments to a Plan or any  distribution or service  agreement to its
shareholders  shall be approved by the Directors who are not interested  persons
of the Fund, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on any
such amendment.
    

The  Distributor  is required to report in writing to the Board of  Directors at
least  quarterly on the monies  reimbursed  to it under each Rule 12b-1 Plan, as
well as to furnish the Board with such other  information  as may be  reasonably
requested  in  connection  with the  payments  made under the Rule 12b-1 Plan in
order to enable the Board to make an informed  determination of whether the Rule
12b-1 Plan should be continued.

   
Total  distribution  expenses  incurred  by the  Distributor  for the  costs  of
promotion  and  distribution  of the Fund's  Class A shares for the fiscal  year
ended June 30, 1998 were $____,  including  expenses  for:  advertising - $____;
salaries  and  commissions  - $____;  printing,  postage,  and handling - $____;
brokers'  servicing  fees -  $____;  and  miscellaneous  and  other  promotional
activities - $____. Total distribution  expenses incurred by the Distributor for
the costs of  promotion  and  distribution  of the Fund's Class B shares for the
fiscal year ended June 30, 1998 were $____,  including expenses for: advertising
- -- $____; salaries and commissions -- $____; printing,  postage, and handling --
$____; brokers' servicing fees -- $____; and miscellaneous and other promotional
activities -- $____. Total distribution expenses incurred by the Distributor for
the costs of  promotion  and  distribution  of the Fund's Class M shares for the
fiscal year ended June 30, 1998 were $____,  including expenses for: advertising
- -- $____; salaries and commissions -- $____; printing,  postage, and handling --
$____; brokers' servicing fees -- $____; and miscellaneous and other promotional
activities -- $____. Of the total amount incurred by the Distributor  during the
last  year,  $____ was for the costs of  personnel  of the  Distributor  and its
affiliates involved in the promotion and distribution of the Fund's shares.

The sales commissions  allowed by the Distributor to selling dealers on the sale
of new Fund  shares  are not an  expense  of the Fund and have no  effect on the
Fund's net asset value. For the fiscal years ended June 30, 1996, 1997 and 1998,
total  commissions  allowed  to other  dealers  under  the  Fund's  underwriting
arrangements were approximately $128,009, $107,900 and $_____, respectively. For
the fiscal years ended June 30,  1998,  1997 and 1996,  the current  Distributor
retained approximately $_____, $1,965, and $56 or approximately ____%, 1.82% and
0.04%, respectively, of the total commissions assessed on shares of the Fund.
    

Under  the  Glass-Steagall  Act  and  other  applicable  laws,  certain  banking
institutions  are  prohibited  from  distributing   investment  company  shares.
Accordingly,  such  banks may only  provide  certain  agency  or  administrative
services  to  their  customers  for  which  they  may  receive  a fee  from  the
Distributor  under a Rule 12b-1 Plan. If a bank were  prohibited  from providing
such services,  shareholders  would be permitted to remain as Fund  shareholders
and alternate means for continuing the servicing of such  shareholders  would be
sought.  In such  event,  changes  in  services  provided  might  occur and such
shareholders  might no  longer  be able to  avail  themselves  of any  automatic
investment or other service then being  provided by the bank. It is not expected
that shareholders would suffer any adverse financial consequences as a result of
any of these occurrences.

   
             SUPPLEMENTAL DESCRIPTION OF INVESTMENTS AND TECHNIQUES
    

As  described  in the Fund's  Prospectus,  the Fund is a  diversified,  open-end
management  investment  company  seeking high  current  income  consistent  with
liquidity and preservation of capital. There can be no assurance that the Fund's
objective will be attained.

U.S. Government Securities

The Fund's  investment  objective and the investment  policies  described in the
first  paragraph of the  description  of the Fund in the  prospectus  under "The
Funds' Investment Objectives and Policies",  "Government Securities Income Fund"
are  fundamental  and may  not be  changed  without  the  affirmative  vote of a
majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund.

The U.S.  Government  securities  which may be purchased by the Fund include (1)
U.S.  Treasury  obligations  such as Treasury  Bills  (maturities of one year or
less),  Treasury  Notes  (maturities  of one to ten  years) and  Treasury  Bonds
(generally  maturities of greater than ten years) and (2) obligations  issued or
guaranteed  by  U.S.   Government   agencies  and   instrumentalities   ("Agency
Securities") which are supported by any of the following: (a) the full faith and
credit of the U.S.  Treasury,  such as obligations  of the  Government  National
Mortgage Association  ("GNMA"),  (b) the right of the issuer to borrow an amount
limited to a specific line of credit from the U.S. Treasury, such as obligations
of the Federal National Mortgage Association, or (c) the credit of the agency or
instrumentality,   such  as  obligations  of  the  Federal  Home  Loan  Mortgage
Corporation.

The Fund may invest in U.S. Government Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities.  These
securities are obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or by one
of its agencies or instrumentalities, including but not limited to GNMA, FNMA or
FHLMC.  U.S.  Government  Agency  Mortgage-Backed  Certificates  provide for the
pass-through to investors of their pro rata share of monthly payments (including
any  principal  prepayments)  made by the  individual  borrowers  on the  pooled
mortgaged  loans,  net of any fees paid to the guarantor of such  securities and
the  services  of the  underlying  mortgage  loans.  GNMA,  FNMA and FHLMC  each
guarantee timely distributions of interest to certificate holders. GNMA and FNMA
guarantee  timely  distributions of scheduled  principal.  FHLMC has in the past
guaranteed only the ultimate  collection of principal of the underlying mortgage
loan;  however,  FHLMC Gold  Participation  Certificates  now  guarantee  timely
payment of monthly principal reductions.  Although their close relationship with
the U.S.  Government  is  believed  to make them  high-quality  securities  with
minimal  credit  risks,  the U.S.  Government is not obligated by law to support
either FNMA or FHLMC. However,  historically there have not been any defaults of
FNMA or  FHLMC  issues.  Mortgage-backed  securities  consist  of  interests  in
underlying  mortgages  with  maturities of up to thirty years.  However,  due to
early  unscheduled  payments  of  principal  on the  underlying  mortgages,  the
securities  have a shorter average life and,  therefore,  less volatility than a
comparable  thirty-year  bond. When interest rates fall, high prepayments  could
force the Fund to reinvest principal at a time when investment opportunities are
not attractive. The value of U.S. Government Agency Mortgage-Backed  Securities,
like  other  traditional  debt  instruments,  will  tend to move in a  direction
opposite to that of interest rates.

The Fund purchases primarily fixed-rate securities, including but not limited to
high coupon U.S. Government Agency Mortgage-Backed  Securities,  which provide a
higher  coupon at the time of  purchase  than the then  prevailing  market  rate
yield.  The  prices  of  high  coupon  U.S.  Government  Agency  Mortgage-Backed
Securities  do not tend to rise as  rapidly as those of  traditional  fixed-rate
securities at times when interest rates are decreasing, and tend to decline more
slowly at times when interest rates are  increasing.  The Fund may purchase such
securities at a premium,  which means that a faster  principal  prepayment  rate
than expected  will reduce the market value of and income from such  securities,
while a slower  prepayment  rate will tend to increase  the market  value of and
income from such securities.

The composition and weighted  average maturity of the Fund's portfolio will vary
from time to time, based upon the determination of Pilgrim America  Investments,
Inc.  (the  "Investment  Manager") of how best to further the Fund's  investment
objective.  The Fund may  invest in  Government  securities  of all  maturities,
short-term, intermediate-term and long-term.

GNMA  Certificates  or  "Ginnie  Maes"  are  mortgage-backed   securities  which
represent a partial  ownership  interest in a pool of mortgage  loans  issued by
lenders  such as  mortgage  bankers,  commercial  banks  and  savings  and  loan
associations.  Each mortgage loan included in the pool is either  insured by the
Federal Housing Administration or guaranteed by the Veterans Administration.

The Fund will purchase  only GNMA  Certificates  of the "modified  pass-through"
type,  which  entitle  the  holder to  receive  its  proportionate  share of all
interest and principal  payments owed on the mortgage  pool, net of fees paid to
the issuer and GNMA.  Payment of principal and interest on GNMA  Certificates of
the "modified pass-through" type is guaranteed by GNMA.

The average life of a GNMA Certificate is likely to be  substantially  less than
the  original   maturity  of  the  mortgage  pools  underlying  the  securities.
Prepayments  of principal by mortgagors and mortgage  foreclosures  will usually
result in the return on the greater part of principal invested far in advance of
the  maturity  of the  mortgages  in the  pool.  Foreclosures  impose no risk to
principal investment because of the GNMA guarantee.

As the prepayment rates of individual mortgage pools will vary widely, it is not
possible to  accurately  predict the average life of a particular  issue of GNMA
Certificates. However, statistics published by the FHA indicate that the average
life of a single-family  dwelling mortgage with 25-to-30 year maturity, the type
of mortgage which backs the vast majority of GNMA Certificates, is approximately
12 years.  It is  therefore  customary  practice to treat GNMA  Certificates  as
30-year mortgage-backed securities which prepay fully in the twelfth year.

As a consequence  of the fees paid to GNMA and the issuer of GNMA  Certificates,
the coupon rate of interest of GNMA Certificates is lower than the interest paid
on the VA-guaranteed or FHA-insured mortgages underlying the Certificates.

The yield which will be earned on GNMA  Certificates  may vary from their coupon
rates for the following reasons:  (i) Certificates may be issued at a premium or
discount,  rather  than at par;  (ii)  Certificates  may trade in the  secondary
market at a premium or discount  after  issuance;  (iii)  interest is earned and
compounded monthly which has the effect of raising the effective yield earned on
the  Certificates;  and (iv) the actual yield of each Certificate is affected by
the  prepayment  of  mortgages  included in the  mortgage  pool  underlying  the
Certificates  and the rate at which  principal  so  prepaid  is  reinvested.  In
addition,  prepayment of mortgages  included in the mortgage  pool  underlying a
GNMA Certificate purchased at a premium may result in a loss to the Fund.

Due  to  the  large  amount  of  GNMA   Certificates   outstanding   and  active
participation in the secondary market by securities dealers and investors,  GNMA
Certificates  are highly liquid  instruments.  Prices of GNMA  Certificates  are
readily available from securities dealers and depend on, among other things, the
level  of  market  rates,  the  Certificate's  coupon  rate  and the  prepayment
experience of the pool of mortgages backing each Certificate.

FNMA Mortgage  Securities are pass-through  mortgage-backed  securities that are
issued  by FNMA,  a U.S.  Government  sponsored  corporation  owned  by  private
stockholders.  FNMA mortgage  securities  are guaranteed as to timely payment of
principal  and  interest by FNMA but are not backed by the full faith and credit
of the U.S.  Government.  In addition,  FNMA Mortgage Securities may include any
obligations of, or instruments issued by or fully guaranteed as to principal and
interest by, FNMA.

FHLMC Mortgage Securities are mortgage-backed  securities representing interests
in  residential  mortgage  loans pooled by FHLMC,  a U.S.  Government  sponsored
corporation.  FHLMC  mortgage  securities are guaranteed as to timely payment of
interest and  ultimate  collection  of principal  but are not backed by the full
faith and credit of the U.S. Government.  In addition, FHLMC Mortgage Securities
may include any obligations of, or instruments  issued by or fully guaranteed as
to principal and interest by, FHLMC.

Portfolio Turnover Rate

The annual rate of the Fund's  portfolio  turnover during the fiscal years ended
June  30,  1997  and 1998 was  172%  and %,  respectively.  The Fund  places  no
restrictions  on  portfolio  turnover  and it may  sell any  portfolio  security
without  regard to the period of time it has been held.  Because a high turnover
rate increases  transaction costs and may increase taxable gains, the Investment
Manager  carefully  weighs the  anticipated  benefits  of  short-term  investing
against these  consequences.  An increased  portfolio  turnover rate is due to a
greater volume of shareholder  redemptions,  short-term interest rate volatility
and other special market conditions.

Delayed Delivery Transactions

The Fund may, from time to time,  purchase securities on a "delayed delivery" or
"when-issued"  basis,  which means that,  while the Fund has ownership rights to
the securities,  delivery and payment for the securities normally takes place 15
to 45 days after the date of the  transaction.  The payment  obligation  and the
interest rate that will be received on the securities are each fixed at the time
the buyer enters into the  commitment.  The Fund will only make  commitments  to
purchase  such  securities   with  the  intention  of  actually   acquiring  the
securities, but the Fund may sell these securities before the settlement date if
it is deemed advisable as a matter of investment strategy. A separate account of
the Fund  consisting  of cash and/or  liquid  assets  equal to the amount of the
above  commitments  will be maintained  at the Fund's  Custodian  Bank.  For the
purpose of determining the adequacy of the assets in the account,  the deposited
assets will be valued at market.  If the market  value of such assets  declines,
additional cash or assets will be placed in the account on a daily basis so that
the market value of the account will equal the amount of such commitments by the
Fund.

Securities  purchased on a delayed delivery basis and the securities held in the
Fund's  portfolio  are subject to changes in market  value based upon changes in
the  level of  interest  rates.  Generally,  the value of such  securities  will
fluctuate  inversely to changes in interest rates -- i.e.,  they will appreciate
in value when interest  rates decline and decrease in value when interest  rates
rise.  Therefore,  to the  extent  that the  Fund  remains  substantially  fully
invested at the same time that it has purchased securities on a delayed delivery
basis, which it would normally expect to do, there will be greater  fluctuations
in the  Fund's  net asset  value than if it solely set aside cash to pay for the
securities when delivered.

When the time comes to pay for the  securities  acquired  on a delayed  delivery
basis,  the Fund will meet its obligations from the available cash flow, sale of
the  securities  held in the  separate  account,  sale of other  securities  or,
although it would not  normally  expect to do so,  from sale of the  when-issued
securities  themselves  (which may have a market value  greater or less than the
Fund's payment obligation).

Depending on market conditions,  the Fund could experience fluctuations in share
price as a result of delayed delivery or when-issued purchases. In addition, the
Fund may, at any time,  sell certain of its  portfolio  securities  on a delayed
delivery or when-issued  basis.  In such cases the Fund will not receive payment
for these securities  until they are delivered to the purchaser,  normally 15 to
45 days later.

Lending of Portfolio Securities

In order  to  generate  additional  income,  the  Fund  may  lend its  portfolio
securities  in an amount up to 33-1/3% of total Fund  assets to  broker-dealers,
major banks, or other recognized domestic institutional borrowers of securities.
No  lending  may be made  with any  companies  affiliated  with  the  Investment
Manager.  The borrower at all times during the loan must  maintain with the Fund
cash or cash equivalent  collateral or provide to the Fund an irrevocable letter
of credit equal in value to at least 100% of the value of the securities loaned.
During the time portfolio securities are on loan, the borrower pays the Fund any
interest paid on such  securities,  and the Fund may invest the cash  collateral
and earn additional  income, or it may receive an agreed-upon amount of interest
income from the borrower who has delivered equivalent  collateral or a letter of
credit.  Loans  are  subject  to  termination  at the  option of the Fund or the
borrower at any time. The Fund may pay reasonable  administrative  and custodial
fees in  connection  with a loan and may pay a negotiated  portion of the income
earned on the cash to the borrower or placing broker.

Dollar Roll Transactions

In order to enhance  portfolio returns and manage prepayment risks, the Fund may
engage in dollar roll transactions with respect to mortgage securities issued by
GNMA,  FNMA and FHLMC. In a dollar roll  transaction,  the Fund sells a mortgage
security  held in the portfolio to a financial  institutional  such as a bank or
broker-dealer,  and simultaneously  agrees to repurchase a substantially similar
security (same type,  coupon and maturity) from the  institution at a later date
at an agreed upon price. The mortgage  securities that are repurchased will bear
the same interest rate as those sold,  but generally will be  collateralized  by
different  pools of mortgages with different  prepayment  histories.  During the
period between the sale and repurchase, the Fund will not be entitled to receive
interest and principal  payments on the  securities  sold.  Proceeds of the sale
will  be  invested  in  short-term  instruments,   and  the  income  from  these
investments, together with any additional fee income received on the sale, could
generate income for the Fund exceeding the yield on the sold security.  When the
Fund enters into a dollar roll  transaction,  cash and/or  liquid  assets of the
Fund, in a dollar amount  sufficient to make payment for the  obligations  to be
repurchased,  are  segregated  with  its  custodian  at the  trade  date.  These
securities are marked daily and are maintained until the transaction is settled.

Pairing-Off Transactions

The Fund engages in a pairing-off  transaction when the Fund commits to purchase
a security at a future date  ("delayed  delivery"  or "when  issued"),  and then
prior to the  predetermined  settlement  date, the Fund "pairs-off" the purchase
with a sale of the same security prior to, or on, the original  settlement date.
At all times when the Fund has an outstanding commitment to purchase securities,
cash  and/or  liquid  assets  equal  to the  value of the  outstanding  purchase
commitments  will be segregated from general  investible funds and marked to the
market daily.

When the time comes to pay for the  securities  acquired  on a delayed  delivery
basis,  the Fund will meet its obligations from the available cash flow, sale of
the  securities  held in the  separate  account,  sale of other  securities  or,
although it would not  normally  expect to do so,  from sale of the  when-issued
securities  themselves  (which may have a market value  greater or less than the
Fund's payment obligation).

Whether a pairing-off transaction produces a gain for the Fund, depends upon the
movement of interest rates. If interest rates decrease,  then the money received
upon the sale of the same security will be greater than the  anticipated  amount
needed at the time the  commitment  to purchase  the security at the future date
was entered. Consequently, the Fund will experience a gain. However, if interest
rates increase,  than the money received upon the sale of the same security will
be less  than the  anticipated  amount  needed  at the time  the  commitment  to
purchase  the security at the future date was  entered.  Consequently,  the Fund
will experience a loss.

Repurchase Agreements

The  Fund  may  enter  into  repurchase  agreements  involving  U.S.  Government
securities.  Under a repurchase  agreement,  the Fund acquires a debt instrument
for a relatively  short period  (usually not more than one week)  subject to the
obligation  of the  seller  to  repurchase  and the  Fund to  resell  such  debt
instrument at a fixed price. The resale price is in excess of the purchase price
in that it reflects an agreed-upon market interest rate effective for the period
of time  during  which the  Fund's  money is  invested.  The  Fund's  repurchase
agreements will at all times be fully collateralized in an amount at least equal
to the purchase price including  accrued  interest earned on the underlying U.S.
Government securities.  The instruments held as collateral are valued daily, and
as  the  value  of  instruments  declines,  the  Fund  will  require  additional
collateral.  If the seller defaults, the Fund might incur a loss or delay in the
realization of proceeds if the value of the  collateral  securing the repurchase
agreement  declines  and it might incur  disposition  costs in  liquidating  the
collateral.  Repurchase  agreements  will  be made  only  with  U.S.  Government
securities  dealers recognized by the Federal Reserve Board or with member banks
of the Federal Reserve System.  The Investment Manager will monitor the value of
the collateral to ensure that it meets or exceeds the repurchase  price.  In all
cases, the Investment Manager must find the  creditworthiness of the other party
to the transaction satisfactory before execution. The Fund will make payment for
securities it receives as collateral only upon physical  delivery or evidence of
book entry transfer to the account of its Custodian Bank.  Repurchase agreements
are  considered  by the staff of the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission to be
loans by the Fund. The Fund may not enter into a repurchase  agreement with more
than seven days to maturity  if, as a result,  more than 10% of the value of the
Fund's total assets would be invested in such repurchase agreements.

Reverse Repurchase Agreements

The  Fund  may  enter  into  reverse  repurchase  agreement  transactions.  Such
transactions  involve the sale of U.S.  Government  securities held by the Fund,
with an agreement  that the Fund will  repurchase  such  securities at an agreed
upon price and date. The Fund will employ  reverse  repurchase  agreements  when
necessary to meet unanticipated net redemptions so as to avoid liquidating other
portfolio  investments  during  unfavorable  market  conditions.  At the time it
enters into a reverse repurchase agreement,  the Fund will place in a segregated
custodial  account cash and/or  liquid assets having a dollar value equal to the
repurchase price. Reverse repurchase  agreements are considered to be borrowings
under the Investment  Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act").  Reverse  repurchase
agreements,  together with other permitted  borrowings,  may constitute up to 33
1/3% of the Fund's  total  assets.  Under the 1940 Act,  the Fund is required to
maintain  continuous  asset  coverage of 300% with respect to borrowings  and to
sell (within three days) sufficient  portfolio holdings to restore such coverage
if it should decline to less than 300% due to market  fluctuations or otherwise,
even if such liquidations of the Fund's holdings may be disadvantageous  from an
investment  standpoint.  Leveraging  by means of borrowing  may  exaggerate  the
effect of any increase or decrease in the value of portfolio  securities  or the
Fund's net asset value, and money borrowed will be subject to interest and other
costs (which may include commitment fees and/or the cost of maintaining  minimum
average  balances)  which may or may not  exceed the  income  received  from the
securities purchased with borrowed funds.

Borrowing

The Fund may borrow up to 10% of the value of its total assets for  temporary or
emergency  purposes.  No  additional  investment  may be  made  while  any  such
borrowings are in excess of 5% of total assets.  For purposes of this investment
restriction,   the  Fund's  entry  into  reverse   repurchase   agreements   and
dollar-rolls  and delayed  delivery  transactions,  including  those relating to
pair-offs,  shall not  constitute  borrowings.  Such  borrowings,  together with
reverse  repurchase  agreements,  may  constitute  up to 33% of the Fund's total
assets.  Under the  Investment  Company  Act of 1940,  the Fund is  required  to
maintain  continuous  asset coverage of 300% with respect to such borrowings and
to sell  (within  three days)  sufficient  portfolio  holdings  to restore  such
coverage if it should  decline to less than 300% due to market  fluctuations  or
otherwise,   even  if  such   liquidations   of  the  Fund's   holdings  may  be
disadvantageous from an investment standpoint.  Leveraging by means of borrowing
may  exaggerate the effect of any increase or decrease in the value of portfolio
securities or the Fund's net asset value,  and money borrowed will be subject to
interest and other costs (which may include  commitment  fees and/or the cost of
maintaining  minimum  average  balances)  which may or may not exceed the income
received from the securities purchased with borrowed funds.

The Fund may not  mortgage,  pledge or  hypothecate  its  assets,  except to the
extent necessary to secure permitted borrowings and to the extent related to the
deposit  of assets  in  escrow  in  connection  with the  Fund's  purchasing  of
securities on a forward  commitment  or delayed  delivery  basis,  entering into
reverse repurchase agreements and engaging in dollar-roll transactions.

Risk Factors

Whether a reverse  repurchase  agreement or dollar-roll  transaction  produces a
gain for the Fund depends upon the "costs of the  agreements"  (e.g., a function
of the  difference  between the amount  received upon the sale of its securities
and the amount to be spent upon the purchase of the same or  "substantially  the
same"  security) and the income and gains of the  securities  purchased with the
proceeds  received  from the sale of the  mortgage  security.  If the income and
gains on the securities purchased with the proceeds of the agreements exceed the
costs of the  agreements,  then the Fund's net asset value will increase  faster
than otherwise  would be the case;  conversely,  if the income and gains on such
securities purchased fail to exceed the costs of the structure,  net asset value
will  decline  faster  than  otherwise  would be the  case.  Reverse  repurchase
agreements and dollar-roll transactions,  as leveraging techniques, may increase
the Fund's yield in the manner described above;  however, such transactions also
increase  the Fund's risk to capital and may result in a  shareholder's  loss of
principal.

Whether a pairing-off  transaction produces a gain for the Fund depends upon the
movement of interest rates. If interest rates decrease,  then the money received
upon the sale of the same security will be greater than the  anticipated  amount
needed at the time the  commitment  to purchase  the security at the future date
was entered. Consequently, the Fund will experience a gain. However, if interest
rates  increase,  than the money  received upon the sale of the security will be
less than the  anticipated  amount needed at the time the commitment to purchase
the  security  at the  future  date was  entered.  Consequently,  the Fund  will
experience a loss.

                             INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

The Fund has  adopted  the  following  investment  restrictions  as  fundamental
policies that cannot be changed without approval by the holders of a majority of
its outstanding  shares,  which means the lesser of (1) 67% of the Fund's shares
present  at a meeting at which the  holders of more than 50% of the  outstanding
shares  are  present  in person or by proxy,  or (2) more than 50% of the Fund's
outstanding shares. The Fund may not:

     1. Purchase any securities other than  obligations  issued or guaranteed by
the United States  Government  or its agencies,  some of which may be subject to
repurchase agreements. There is no limit on the amount of the Fund's assets that
may be invested in the securities of any one issuer of such obligations.

     2. Make loans to others, except (a) through the purchase of debt securities
in accordance with its investment objective and policies,  (b) to the extent the
entry into a  repurchase  agreement is deemed to be a loan or (c) by the loan of
its  portfolio  securities  in  accordance  with the  policies  described  under
"Investment Objective and Policies."

     3. (a) Borrow money,  except  temporarily  for  extraordinary  or emergency
purposes  from a bank and then not in excess of 10% of its total  assets (at the
lower of cost or fair market value). No additional  investment may be made while
any such  borrowing  are in excess of 5% of total  assets.  For purposes of this
investment   restriction,   the  entry  into  reverse   repurchase   agreements,
dollar-rolls  and delayed  delivery  transactions,  including  those relating to
pair-offs, shall not constitute borrowing.

          (b) Mortgage,  pledge or hypothecate any of its assets except to the
extent necessary to secure permitted  borrowing and to the extent related to the
deposit of assets in escrow in connection with (i) the purchase of securities on
a forward  commitment or delayed  delivery  basis,  and (ii) reverse  repurchase
agreements and dollar-rolls.

          (c) Borrow money, including the entry into reverse repurchase
agreements and dollar roll  transactions and purchasing  securities on a delayed
delivery basis, if, as a result of such borrowing, more than 33-1/3 of the total
assets of the  Fund,  taken at market  value at the time of such  borrowing,  is
derived  from  borrowing.  For  purposes  of this  limitation,  a delay  between
purchase and settlement of a security that occurs in the ordinary course for the
market on which the security is purchased or issued is not considered a purchase
of a security on a delayed delivery basis.

     4. Purchase securities on margin, sell securities short or participate on a
joint or joint and several basis in any securities  trading  account.  (Does not
preclude the Fund from obtaining such short-term  credit as may be necessary for
the clearance of purchases and sales of its portfolio securities.)

     5. Underwrite any  securities,  except to the extent the Fund may be deemed
to be an  underwriter  in  connection  with the sale of  securities  held in its
portfolio.

     6. Buy or sell interests in oil, gas or mineral  exploration or development
programs,  or purchase or sell commodities,  commodity contracts or real estate.
(Does not preclude the purchase of GNMA mortgage-backed certificates.)

     7. Purchase or hold  securities of any issuer,  if, at the time of purchase
or  thereafter,  any of the Officers and Directors of the Fund or its Investment
Manager own  beneficially  more than 1/2 of 1%, and such  Officers and Directors
holding  more  than 1/2 of 1%  together  own  beneficially  more than 5%, of the
issuer's securities.

     8. Invest in securities of other investment  companies,  except as they may
be acquired as part of a merger, consolidation or acquisition of assets.

     9. Issue  senior  securities,  except  insofar as the Fund may be deemed to
have issued a senior  security by reason of borrowing  money in accordance  with
the Fund's borrowing policies or investment techniques,  and except for purposes
of this investment restriction,  collateral, escrow, or margin or other deposits
with  respect  to the making of short  sales,  the  purchase  or sale of futures
contracts  or related  options,  purchase  or sale of forward  foreign  currency
contracts,  and the  writing of options  on  securities  are not deemed to be an
issuance of a senior security.

The Fund is also subject to the following restrictions and policies that are not
fundamental  and may,  therefore,  be changed by the Board of Directors  without
shareholder approval. The Fund will not invest more than 5% of the net assets of
the Fund in  warrants,  whether or not listed on the New York or American  Stock
Exchanges,  including  no more than 2% of its total assets which may be invested
in warrants  that are not listed on those  exchanges.  Warrants  acquired by the
Fund in units or attached to  securities  are not included in this  restriction.
The Fund will not, so long as its shares are  registered  in the State of Texas,
invest in oil, gas, or other mineral leases or real estate  limited  partnership
interests.  The Fund will not make loans to others, unless collateral values are
continuously maintained at no less than 100% by "marking to market" daily.

   
                             PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS
    

In all  purchases and sales of  securities  for the  portfolio of the Fund,  the
primary  consideration  is to obtain  the most  favorable  price  and  execution
available. Pursuant to the Agreement, the Investment Manager determines, subject
to the  instructions of and review by the Board of Directors of the Fund,  which
securities are to be purchased and sold by the Fund and which brokers or dealers
are to be eligible to execute its portfolio transactions.

In placing portfolio transactions,  the Fund will use its best efforts to choose
a broker or dealer  capable of providing  the  services  necessary to obtain the
most  favorable  price and  execution  available.  The full range and quality of
services  available will be considered in making these  determinations,  such as
the size of the order, the difficulty of execution,  the operational  facilities
of the firm involved, the firm's risk in positioning a block of securities,  and
other factors.  In those instances  where it is reasonably  determined that more
than one  broker or dealer  can offer  the  services  needed to obtain  the most
favorable  price and execution  available,  consideration  may be given to those
brokers or dealers that supply research and statistical  information to the Fund
and/or the  Investment  Manager,  and  provide  other  services  in  addition to
execution services. The Investment Manager considers such information,  which is
in addition to and not in lieu of the  services  required to be performed by the
Investment  Manager under its  Agreement  with the Fund, to be useful in varying
degrees  but of  indeterminable  value.  In  selecting  a broker or dealer,  the
Investment  Manager  may also take  into  consideration  the sale of the  Fund's
shares.

Purchases of portfolio securities also may be made directly from issuers or from
underwriters.  Where possible,  purchase and sale  transactions will be effected
through  dealers  (including  banks) that  specialize in the types of securities
that the Fund will be holding, unless better executions are available elsewhere.
Dealers  and  underwriters  usually  act as  principal  for their  own  account.
Purchases from  underwriters will include a concession paid by the issuer to the
underwriter  and purchases  from dealers will include the spread between the bid
and the asked price.  If the execution and price offered by more than one dealer
or  underwriter  are  comparable,  the  order  may be  allocated  to a dealer or
underwriter  that has  provided  such  research or other  services as  mentioned
above.

The Fund does not intend to effect any transactions in its portfolio  securities
with any  broker-dealer  affiliated  directly or indirectly  with the Investment
Manager,  except for any sales of portfolio  securities that may legally be made
pursuant to a tender offer,  in which event the  Investment  Manager will offset
against  its  management  fee a part of any  tender  fees  that  may be  legally
received and retained by an affiliated broker-dealer.

Investment  decisions  for the Fund are made  independently  from those of other
Pilgrim  America Funds.  Nevertheless,  it is possible,  that at times identical
securities will be acceptable for more than one of such funds.  However, in such
event the  position  of each fund in the same  issuer may vary and the length of
time that each fund may  choose to hold its  investment  in the same  issuer may
likewise  vary.  To the  extent  any of these  funds  seek to  acquire  the same
security  at the same time,  one or more of the funds may not be able to acquire
as large a  portion  of such  security  as it  desires,  or it may have to pay a
higher price for such security.  Similarly,  if any of such funds simultaneously
purchases or sells the same  security,  each day's  transaction in such security
will be averaged as to price and allocated  between such funds. It is recognized
that in some cases this system could have a  detrimental  effect on the price or
value of the security insofar as the Fund is concerned.

A broker or dealer utilized by the Investment  Manager may furnish  statistical,
research and other  information  or services  that are deemed by the  Investment
Manager to be  beneficial to a Fund's  investment  programs.  Research  services
received from brokers supplement the Investment Manager's own research,  and may
include  the  following  types  of   information:   statistical  and  background
information  on  industry  groups  and  individual   companies;   forecasts  and
interpretations with respect to U.S. and foreign economies, securities, markets,
specific  industry  groups and  individual  companies;  information on political
developments;   portfolio  management  strategies;  performance  information  on
securities and  information  concerning  prices of securities;  and  information
supplied by  specialized  services to the  Investment  Manager and to the Fund's
Board Members with respect to the  performance,  investment  activities and fees
and  expenses  of other  mutual  funds.  Such  information  may be  communicated
electronically,  orally or in written form.  Research  services may also include
providing equipment used to communicate research information, arranging meetings
with  management  of companies and providing  access to  consultants  who supply
research information.

The outside  research  assistance is useful to the Investment  Manager since the
brokers  utilized by the Investment  Manager as a group tend to follow a broader
universe of securities and other matters than the Investment Manager's staff can
follow.  In  addition,  this  research  provides the  Investment  Manager with a
diverse perspective on financial markets. Research services that are provided to
the Investment  Manager by brokers are available for the benefit of all accounts
managed  or advised by the  Investment  Manager.  In some  cases,  the  research
services are available only from the broker  providing  such services.  In other
cases,  the research  services may be  obtainable  from  alternative  sources in
return for cash payments.  The Investment Manager is of the opinion that because
the broker research supplements, rather than replaces, its research, the receipt
of such research  does not tend to decrease its  expenses,  but tends to improve
the quality of its investment advice. However, to the extent that the Investment
Manager would have  purchased  any such research  services had such services not
been  provided  by brokers,  the  expenses  of such  services to the  Investment
Manager could be considered to have been reduced  accordingly.  Certain research
services furnished by brokers or dealers may be useful to the Investment Manager
with respect to clients other than a specific Fund. The Investment Manager is of
the opinion that this  material is beneficial in  supplementing  the  Investment
Manager's  research  and  analysis;  and,  therefore,  it may  benefit a Fund by
improving the quality of the investment advice. The advisory fees paid by a Fund
are not reduced because the Investment Manager receives such services.

                 ADDITIONAL PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION

   
Shares of the Fund are  offered at the net asset value next  computed  following
receipt of the order by the dealer  (and/or  the  Distributor)  or by the Fund's
transfer agent,  DST Systems,  Inc.  ("Transfer  Agent"),  plus, for Class A and
Class M  shares,  a  varying  sales  charge  depending  upon the class of shares
purchased and the amount of money invested, as set forth in the Prospectus.  The
Distributor may, from time to time, at its discretion,  allow the selling dealer
to retain 100% of such sales charge,  and such dealer may therefore be deemed an
"underwriter" under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Distributor,  at
its expense,  may also provide additional  promotional  incentives to dealers in
connection  with  sales of  shares of the Fund and other  funds  managed  by the
Investment  Manager.  In some  instances,  such incentives may be made available
only  to  dealers  whose  representatives  have  sold  or are  expected  to sell
significant  amounts of such  shares.  The  incentives  may include  payment for
travel expenses,  including lodging,  incurred in connection with trips taken by
qualifying registered representatives and members of their families to locations
within or outside of the United States,  merchandise or other items. Dealers may
not use sales of the Fund's  shares to qualify for the  incentives to the extent
such may be prohibited by the laws of any state.
    

Certain  investors  may  purchase  shares of the Fund with liquid  assets with a
value which is readily  ascertainable by reference to a domestic  exchange price
and which would be eligible for purchase by the Fund  consistent with the Fund's
investment  policies and restrictions.  These transactions only will be effected
if the  Investment  Manager  intends  to retain the  security  in the Fund as an
investment. Assets so purchased by the Fund will be valued in generally the same
manner as they would be valued for  purposes  of pricing the Fund's  shares,  if
such assets were included in the Fund's assets at the time of purchase. The Fund
reserves the right to amend or terminate this practice at any time.

Special Purchases at Net Asset Value

Class A or Class M  shares  of the Fund may be  purchased  at net  asset  value,
without a sales charge,  by persons who have  redeemed  their Class A or Class M
shares of the Fund (or shares of other funds managed by the  Investment  Manager
in  accordance  with the terms of such  privileges  established  for such funds)
within the previous 90 days. The amount that may be so reinvested in the Fund is
limited to an amount up to, but not exceeding,  the  redemption  proceeds (or to
the nearest  full share if  fractional  shares are not  purchased).  In order to
exercise  this  privilege,  a written  order for the  purchase of shares must be
received by the Transfer Agent, or be postmarked,  within 90 days after the date
of redemption.  This privilege may only be used once per calendar year.  Payment
must accompany the request and the purchase will be made at the then current net
asset  value of the Fund.  Such  purchases  may also be handled by a  securities
dealer who may charge a shareholder  for this service.  If the  shareholder  has
realized  a  gain  on  the  redemption,  the  transaction  is  taxable  and  any
reinvestment  will not alter any applicable  Federal capital gains tax. If there
has been a loss on the redemption and a subsequent reinvestment pursuant to this
privilege,  some  or all of the  loss  may  not be  allowed  as a tax  deduction
depending upon the amount reinvested, although such disallowance is added to the
tax basis of the shares acquired upon the reinvestment.

   
    

Class A or Class M shares of the Fund may also be  purchased  at net asset value
by  any  charitable   organization  or  any  state,  county,  or  city,  or  any
instrumentality,  department,  authority or agency  thereof that has  determined
that the Fund is a legally  permissible  investment  and that is  prohibited  by
applicable investment law from paying a sales charge or commission in connection
with the purchase of shares of any registered  management investment company (an
"eligible  authority").  If an investment by an eligible  authority at net asset
value is made though a dealer who has executed a selling  group  agreement  with
respect to the Fund (or the other Pilgrim  America  Funds),  the Distributor may
pay the selling firm 0.25% of the amount invested.

Shareholders  of Pilgrim  America General Money Market Shares who acquired their
shares by using all or a portion of the proceeds from the  redemption of Class A
or  Class M shares  of the Fund or other  open-end  Pilgrim  America  Funds  may
reinvest such amount plus any shares acquired through  dividend  reinvestment in
Class A or Class M shares of the Fund at its current net asset value,  without a
sales charge.

Officers,  directors and bona fide full-time employees of the Fund and officers,
directors and full-time  employees of the Investment  Manager,  the Distributor,
the Fund's service  providers or affiliated  corporations  thereof or any trust,
pension, profit-sharing or other benefit plan for such persons,  broker-dealers,
for their own  accounts  or for  members of their  families  (defined as current
spouse,  children,  parents,  grandparents,  uncles, aunts,  siblings,  nephews,
nieces,  step-relations,  relations  at-law,  and  cousins)  employees  of  such
broker-dealers  (including their immediate families) and discretionary  advisory
accounts of the Investment Manager may purchase Class A or Class M shares of the
Fund at net asset value without a sales charge.  Such  purchaser may be required
to sign a letter  stating that the purchase is for his own  investment  purposes
only and that the  securities  will not be resold  except to the Fund.  The Fund
may, under certain  circumstances,  allow registered investment advisers to make
investments on behalf of their clients at net asset value without any commission
or concession.

Class A or M shares may also be  purchased  at net asset  value by  certain  fee
based registered investment advisers, trust companies and bank trust departments
under certain circumstances making investments on behalf of their clients and by
shareholders  who have  authorized the automatic  transfer of dividends from the
same class of another  Participating  Fund or from  Pilgrim  America  Prime Rate
Trust.

Letters of Intent and Rights of Accumulation

An investor may immediately  qualify for a reduced sales charge on a purchase of
Class A or Class M shares of the Fund or any open-end Pilgrim America Fund which
offers Class A shares, Class M shares or shares with front-end sales charges, by
completing  the Letter of Intent section of the  Shareholder  Application in the
Prospectus (the "Letter of Intent" or "Letter").  By completing the Letter,  the
investor  expresses an intention to invest during the next 13 months a specified
amount which if made at one time would qualify for the reduced sales charge.  At
any time within 90 days after the first  investment  which the investor wants to
qualify for the reduced sales charge, a signed Shareholder Application, with the
Letter of Intent section completed, may be filed with the Fund. After the Letter
of Intent is filed,  each  additional  investment  made will be  entitled to the
sales charge  applicable to the level of  investment  indicated on the Letter of
Intent as described above.  Sales charge reductions based upon purchases in more
than one Pilgrim  America Fund will be effective only after  notification to the
Distributor  that the  investment  qualifies for a discount.  The  shareholder's
holdings in the Investment  Manager's funds  (excluding  Pilgrim America General
Money  Market  Shares)  acquired  within 90 days  before the Letter of Intent is
filed will be counted towards completion of the Letter of Intent but will not be
entitled to a retroactive  downward  adjustment of sales charge until the Letter
of Intent is  fulfilled.  Any  redemptions  made by the  shareholder  during the
13-month period will be subtracted from the amount of the purchases for purposes
of determining whether the terms of the Letter of Intent have been completed. If
the Letter of Intent is not completed within the 13-month period,  there will be
an upward adjustment of the sales charge as specified below,  depending upon the
amount actually purchased (less redemption) during the period.

An investor  acknowledges  and agrees to the following  provisions by completing
the Letter of Intent section of the Shareholder Application in the Prospectus. A
minimum  initial  investment  equal to 25% of the intended  total  investment is
required.  An amount equal to 5.75% of the total intended  purchase will be held
in escrow, in the form of shares, in the investor's name to assure that the full
applicable sales charge will be paid if the intended  purchase is not completed.
The shares in escrow at Pilgrim  America  Funds  will be  included  in the total
shares  owned as  reflected  on the monthly  statement;  income and capital gain
distributions  on the escrow shares will be paid  directly to the investor.  The
escrow  shares will not be available for  redemption  by the investor  until the
Letter of Intent has been  completed,  or the higher sales  charge paid.  If the
total purchases, less redemptions,  equal the amount specified under the Letter,
the shares in escrow will be released. If the total purchases, less redemptions,
exceed  the amount  specified  under the  Letter  and is an amount  which  would
qualify for a further quantity discount,  a retroactive price adjustment will be
made by the Distributor and the dealer with whom purchases were made pursuant to
the Letter of Intent (to reflect  such further  quantity  discount) on purchases
made  within 90 days  before,  and on those made after  filing the  Letter.  The
resulting  difference  in  offering  price will be applied  to the  purchase  of
additional shares at the applicable offering price. If the total purchases, less
redemptions,  are less than the amount specified under the Letter,  the investor
will remit to the Distributor an amount equal to the difference in dollar amount
of sales  charge  actually  paid and the amount of sales charge which would have
applied to the aggregate  purchases if the total of such purchases had been made
at a single account in the name of the investor or to the investor's  order.  If
within 10 days after  written  request  such  difference  in sales charge is not
paid,  the  redemption of an  appropriate  number of shares in escrow to realize
such  difference  will be made.  If the  proceeds  from a total  redemption  are
inadequate,  the investor will be liable to the  Distributor for the difference.
In the event of a total  redemption of the account prior to  fulfillment  of the
Letter of Intent,  the  additional  sales  charge due will be deducted  from the
proceeds of the redemption and the balance will be forwarded to the investor. By
completing  the Letter of Intent  section  of the  Shareholder  Application,  an
investor grants to the  Distributor a security  interest in the shares in escrow
and agrees to irrevocably appoint the Distributor as his  attorney-in-fact  with
full power of substitution to surrender for redemption any or all shares for the
purpose of paying any  additional  sales charge due and  authorizes the Transfer
Agent or Sub-Transfer Agent to receive and redeem shares and pay the proceeds as
directed by the Distributor.  The investor or the securities  dealer must inform
the Transfer Agent or the Distributor  that this Letter is in effect each time a
purchase is made.

If at any time prior to or after completion of the Letter of Intent the investor
wishes to cancel the Letter of Intent,  the investor must notify the Distributor
in writing.  If, prior to the  completion of the Letter of Intent,  the investor
requests the  Distributor  to  liquidate  all shares held by the  investor,  the
Letter  of  Intent  will be  terminated  automatically.  Under  either  of these
situations,  the total  purchased  may be less than the amount  specified in the
Letter of Intent.  If so,  the  Distributor  will  redeem at NAV to remit to the
Distributor  and the  appropriate  authorized  dealer  an  amount  equal  to the
difference  between the dollar amount of the sales charge  actually paid and the
amount of the sales  charge that would have been paid on the total  purchases if
made at one time.

The value of shares of the Fund plus  shares of the other funds  distributed  by
the Distributor  (excluding  Pilgrim America General Money Market Shares) can be
combined  with a current  purchase to  determine  the reduced  sales  charge and
applicable  offering  price of the current  purchase.  The reduced  sales charge
applies to quantity purchases made at one time or on a cumulative basis over any
period of time by (i) an investor, (ii) the investor's spouse and children under
the age of majority,  (iii) the investor's custodian accounts for the benefit of
a child under the Uniform Gifts to Minors Act, (iv) a trustee or other fiduciary
of a single trust  estate or a single  fiduciary  account  (including a pension,
profit-sharing  and/or other employee  benefit plans qualified under Section 401
of the Code), by trust companies, registered investment advisers, banks and bank
trust  departments  for accounts over which they exercise  exclusive  investment
discretionary  authority  and which are held in a fiduciary,  agency,  advisory,
custodial or similar capacity.

The reduced sales charge also applies on a  non-cumulative  basis,  to purchases
made at one time by the customers of a single  dealer,  in excess of $1 million.
The Letter of Intent option may be modified or discontinued at any time.

Shares of the Fund and other open-end Pilgrim America Funds  (excluding  Pilgrim
America  General  Money  Market  Shares)   purchased  and  owned  of  record  or
beneficially  by a  corporation,  including  employees of a single  employer (or
affiliates  thereof)  including shares held by its employees,  under one or more
retirement  plans,  can be combined  with a current  purchase to  determine  the
reduced  sales charge and  applicable  offering  price of the current  purchase,
provided such  transactions  are not prohibited by one or more provisions of the
Employee   Retirement   Income  Security  Act  or  the  Internal  Revenue  Code.
Individuals and employees should consult with their tax advisors  concerning the
tax rules applicable to retirement plans before investing.

Redemptions

Payment to shareholders for shares redeemed will be made within three days after
receipt by the Fund's  Transfer  Agent of the  written  request in proper  form,
except that the Fund may suspend the right of redemption or postpone the date of
payment as to the Fund  during any period when (a) trading on the New York Stock
Exchange is restricted as determined by the Securities  and Exchange  Commission
(the  "Commission")  or such  Exchange  is closed  for other than  weekends  and
holidays;  (b) an  emergency  exists  as  determined  by the  Commission  making
disposal of  portfolio  securities  or  valuation  of net assets of the Fund not
reasonably  practicable;  or (c) for such  other  period as the  Commission  may
permit for the protection of the Fund's shareholders. At various times, the Fund
may be  requested  to  redeem  shares  for  which it has not yet  received  good
payment. Accordingly, the Fund may delay the mailing of a redemption check until
such time as it has assured  itself that good payment has been collected for the
purchase of such shares, which may take up to 15 days or longer.

The Fund  intends to pay in cash for all  shares  redeemed,  but under  abnormal
conditions  that make payment in cash unwise the Fund may make payment wholly or
partly in securities at their then current  market value equal to the redemption
price.  In such case, an investor may incur  brokerage  costs in converting such
securities  to cash.  However,  the  Fund  has  elected  to be  governed  by the
provisions  of Rule  18f-1  under the 1940  Act,  which  contain  a formula  for
determining the minimum amount of cash to be paid as part of any redemption.  In
the event the Fund must liquidate portfolio  securities to meet redemptions,  it
reserves the right to reduce the redemption price by an amount equivalent to the
pro-rated  cost of such  liquidation  not to exceed one percent of the net asset
value of such shares.

Due to the relatively high cost of handling small investments, the Fund reserves
the right, upon 30 days' written notice, to redeem, at net asset value (less any
applicable  deferred sales charge),  the shares of any shareholder whose account
has a value of less than $1,000 in the Fund, other than as a result of a decline
in the net asset value per share.  Before the Fund redeems such shares and sends
the proceeds to the  shareholder,  it will notify the shareholder that the value
of the shares in the account is less than the minimum  amount and will allow the
shareholder  30 days to make an  additional  investment  in an amount  that will
increase the value of the account to at least $1,000  before the  redemption  is
processed.  This policy will not be  implemented  where the Fund has  previously
waived the minimum investment requirements.

The value of shares on  redemption  or  repurchase  may be more or less than the
investor's cost,  depending upon the market value of the portfolio securities at
the time of redemption or repurchase.

   
Certain  purchases of Class A shares and most Class B shares may be subject to a
CDSC or  redemption  fee.  For  purchase  payments  subject  to such  CDSC,  the
Distributor  may pay out of its own assets a  commission  from 0.25% to 1.00% of
the amount  invested for Class A purchases  over $1 million and 4% of the amount
invested for Class B shares.

Shareholders will be charged a CDSC or redemption fee if certain of those shares
are redeemed within the applicable time periods as stated in the Prospectus.

No  CDSC  or  redemption  fee is  imposed  on any  shares  subject  to a CDSC or
redemption  fee to the extent that those shares (i) are no longer subject to the
applicable  holding period,  (ii) resulted from reinvestment of distributions on
CDSC or redemption fee shares or (iii) were exchanged for shares of another fund
managed by the  Investment  Manager,  provided that the shares  acquired in such
exchange and  subsequent  exchanges will continue to remain subject to the CDSC,
if applicable, until the applicable holding period expires.

The CDSC or redemption fee will be waived for certain redemptions of shares upon
(i) the death or permanent  disability of a  shareholder,  or (ii) in connection
with mandatory  distributions  from an Individual  Retirement Account ("IRA") or
other  qualified  retirement  plan. The CDSC or redemption fee will be waived in
the case of a redemption of shares  following the death or permanent  disability
of a shareholder  if the  redemption is made within one year of death or initial
determination  of permanent  disability.  The waiver is  available  for total or
partial  redemptions  of shares owned by an individual or an individual in joint
tenancy (with rights of  survivorship),  but only for redemptions of shares held
at the time of death or initial determination of permanent disability.  The CDSC
or  redemption  fee  will  also be  waived  in the  case of a total  or  partial
redemption  of shares  in  connection  with any  mandatory  distribution  from a
tax-deferred retirement plan or an IRA. The waiver does not apply in the case of
a tax-free rollover or transfer of assets, other than one following a separation
from services.  The shareholder  must notify the Fund either directly or through
the  Distributor at the time of redemption that the shareholder is entitled to a
waiver of CDSC or  redemption  fee.  The waiver will then be granted  subject to
confirmation of the shareholder's entitlement. The CDSC or redemption fee, which
may be imposed on Class A shares purchased in excess of $1 million, will also be
waived  for  registered  investment  advisers,  trust  companies  and bank trust
departments investing on their own behalf or on behalf of their clients.
    

Conversion of Class B Shares

A shareholder's  Class B shares will automatically  convert to Class A shares in
the Fund on the first business day of the month in which the eighth  anniversary
of the issuance of the Class B shares  occurs,  together with a pro rata portion
of all Class B shares  representing  dividends and other  distributions  paid in
additional Class B shares.  The conversion of Class B shares into Class A shares
is  subject  to the  continuing  availability  of an  opinion  of  counsel or an
Internal  Revenue  Service ("IRS") ruling to the effect that (1) such conversion
will not constitute taxable events for federal tax purposes; and (2) the payment
of  different  dividends  on Class A and Class B shares  does not  result in the
Fund's dividends or distributions  constituting  "preferential  dividends" under
the  Internal  Revenue  Code of 1986.  The Class B shares so  converted  will no
longer be subject to the higher expenses borne by Class B shares. The conversion
will be effected at the relative net asset values per share of the two Classes.

                          DETERMINATION OF SHARE PRICE

   
As noted in the Prospectus, the net asset value and offering price of the Fund's
shares will be determined  once daily as of the close of regular  trading on the
New York Stock  Exchange  (normally  4:00 p.m. New York time) during each day on
which that  Exchange is open for  trading.  As of the date of this  Statement of
Additional  Information,  the New York Stock Exchange is closed on the following
holidays:  New Year's Day,  Martin Luther King, Jr. Day,  Presidents'  Day, Good
Friday,  Memorial  Day,  Independence  Day,  Labor Day,  Thanksgiving  Day,  and
Christmas Day.
    

Portfolio  securities  listed or traded on a  national  securities  exchange  or
included  in the  NASDAQ  National  Market  System  will be  valued  at the last
reported sale price on the valuation  day.  Securities  traded on an exchange or
NASDAQ for which there has been no sale that day and other securities  traded in
the over-the-counter market will be valued at the last reported bid price on the
valuation  day.  In  cases in  which  securities  are  traded  on more  than one
exchange,  the securities are valued on the exchange  designated by or under the
authority  of the  Board  of  Directors  as the  primary  market.  The  mortgage
securities  held in the Fund's  portfolio will be valued at the mean between the
most recent bid and asked prices as obtained  from one or more dealers that make
markets in the securities  when over-the  counter market  quotations are readily
available.  Securities for which  quotations  are not readily  available and all
other assets will be valued at their  respective  fair values as  determined  in
good faith by or under the direction of the Board of Directors of the Fund.  Any
assets or liabilities initially expressed in terms of non-U.S. dollar currencies
are translated into U.S. dollars at the prevailing market rates as quoted by one
or more banks or dealers on the day of valuation.

In computing the Fund's net asset value, all liabilities incurred or accrued are
deducted from the Fund's total  assets.  The resulting net assets are divided by
the number of shares of the Fund  outstanding  at the time of the  valuation and
the result (adjusted to the nearest cent) is the net asset value per share.

The per share net asset  value of Class A shares  generally  will be higher than
the per share net asset value of shares of the other classes,  reflecting  daily
expense accruals of the higher distribution fees applicable to Class B and Class
M shares.  It is  expected,  however,  that the per share net asset value of the
classes  will tend to converge  immediately  after the payment of  dividends  or
distributions  that  will  differ by  approximately  the  amount of the  expense
accrual differentials between the classes.

   
Orders received by dealers prior to the close of regular trading on the New York
Stock  Exchange will be confirmed at the offering price computed as of the close
of  regular  trading  on the  Exchange  provided  the order is  received  by the
Distributor  prior to its close of business  that same day  (normally  4:00 P.M.
Pacific time). It is the  responsibility of the dealer to insure that all orders
are transmitted  timely to the Fund.  Orders received by dealers after the close
of trading on the New York Stock Exchange will be confirmed at the next computed
offering price as described in the Prospectus.
    

                       SHAREHOLDER SERVICES AND PRIVILEGES

As discussed in the Prospectus,  the Fund provides a  Pre-Authorized  Investment
Program for the convenience of investors who wish to purchase shares of the Fund
on a regular  basis.  Such a Program may be started  with an initial  investment
($1,000  minimum) and  subsequent  voluntary  purchases  ($100  minimum) with no
obligation  to continue.  The Program may be terminated  without  penalty at any
time by the investor or the Fund.  The minimum  investment  requirements  may be
waived by the Fund for  purchases  made  pursuant  to (i)  employer-administered
payroll  deduction plans,  (ii)  profit-sharing,  pension,  or individual or any
employee  retirement  plans,  or (iii)  purchases made in connection  with plans
providing for periodic investments in Fund shares.

For investors  purchasing  shares of the Fund under a  tax-qualified  individual
retirement or pension plan or under a group plan through a person designated for
the  collection and remittance of monies to be invested in shares of the Fund on
a periodic basis,  the Fund may, in lieu of furnishing  confirmations  following
each purchase of Fund shares,  send statements no less frequently than quarterly
pursuant to the provisions of the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and the rules thereunder. Such quarterly statements,  which would be sent to the
investor  or to the  person  designated  by the  group for  distribution  to its
members,  will be made within five business days after the end of each quarterly
period and shall reflect all  transactions in the investor's  account during the
preceding quarter.

All  shareholders  will receive a confirmation  of each new transaction in their
accounts,  which will also show the total  number of Fund  shares  owned by each
shareholder,  the  number of shares  being  held in  safekeeping  by the  Fund's
Transfer Agent for the account of the shareholder and a cumulative record of the
account for the entire year.  Shareholders  may rely on these statements in lieu
of certificates. Certificates representing shares of the Fund will not be issued
unless the shareholder requests them in writing.

Self-Employed and Corporate Retirement Plans

For  self-employed  individuals  and corporate  investors  that wish to purchase
shares of the Fund,  there is  available  through the Fund a Prototype  Plan and
Custody Agreement. The Custody Agreement provides that Investors Fiduciary Trust
Company,  Kansas City, Missouri,  will act as Custodian under the Plan, and will
furnish  custodial  services  for an annual  maintenance  fee of $12.00 for each
participant,  with no other  charges.  (This fee is in  addition  to the  normal
Custodian charges paid by the Fund.) The annual contract  maintenance charge may
be waived from time to time. For further details, including the right to appoint
a successor  Custodian,  see the Plan and Custody  Agreements as provided by the
Fund.  Employers who wish to use shares of the Fund under a  custodianship  with
another  bank or trust  company  must  make  individual  arrangements  with such
institution.

Individual Retirement Accounts

   
Investors having earned income are eligible to purchase shares of the Fund under
an IRA pursuant to Section  408(a) of the Internal  Revenue  Code. An individual
who creates an IRA may  contribute  annually  certain  dollar  amounts of earned
income,  and an additional amount if there is a non-working  spouse.  Simple IRA
plans  which  employers  may  establish  on behalf of their  employees  are also
available. Roth IRA plans which enable employed and self-employed individuals to
make  non-deductible  contributions,  and, under certain  circumstances,  effect
tax-free  withdrawals,  are also available.  Copies of model  Custodial  Account
Agreements  are  available  from  the  Distributor.  Investors  Fiduciary  Trust
Company,  Kansas City,  Missouri,  will act as the  Custodian  under these model
Agreements,  for which it will  charge the  investor an annual fee of $12.00 for
maintaining the Account (such fee is in addition to the normal custodial charges
paid by the Fund).  Full details on the IRA and Simple IRA are  contained in IRS
required  disclosure  statements,  and the Custodian  will not open an IRA until
seven (7) days after the investor has received such  statement from the Fund. An
IRA using  shares of the Fund may also be used by  employers  who have adopted a
Simplified Employee Pension Plan.
    

Purchases of Fund shares by Section 403(b) and other  retirement  plans are also
available. Section 403(b) plans are arrangements by a public school organization
or a charitable,  educational,  or scientific  organization that is described in
Section  501(c)(3)  of the  Internal  Revenue  Code under  which  employees  are
permitted to take advantage of the federal income tax deferral benefits provided
for in Section 403(b) of the Code.

It is advisable for an investor  considering  the funding of any retirement plan
to consult with an attorney or to obtain advice from a competent retirement plan
consultant.

Telephone Redemption and Exchange Privileges

As discussed in the Prospectus, the telephone redemption and exchange privileges
are available for all shareholder accounts; however, retirement accounts may not
utilize the telephone  redemption  privilege.  The telephone  privileges  may be
modified or terminated at any time. The privileges are subject to the conditions
and provisions set forth below and in the Prospectus.

1.   Telephone  redemption and/or exchange  instructions  received in good order
     before  the  pricing  of a Fund on any day on  which  the  New  York  Stock
     Exchange is open for business (a "Business  Day"),  but not later than 4:00
     p.m. eastern time, will be processed at that day's closing net asset value.
     For each  exchange,  the  shareholder's  account may be charged an exchange
     fee.  There is no fee for telephone  redemption;  however,  redemptions  of
     Class A and Class B shares may be subject to a  contingent  deferred  sales
     charge (See "Redemption of Shares" in the Prospectus).

   
2.   Telephone redemption and/or exchange instructions should be made by dialing
     1-800-992-0180.
    

3.   Pilgrim America Funds will not permit  exchanges in violation of any of the
     terms and conditions set forth in the Funds' Prospectus or herein.

4.   Telephone  redemption  requests  must meet the  following  conditions to be
     accepted by Pilgrim America Funds:

   
         (a)      Proceeds of the  redemption  may be directly  deposited into a
                  predetermined  bank account,  or mailed to the current address
                  on the  registration.  This address  cannot reflect any change
                  within the previous thirty (30) days.
    

         (b)      Certain  account  information  will  need to be  provided  for
                  verification purposes before the redemption will be executed.

         (c)      Only one telephone redemption (where proceeds are being mailed
                  to the  address of record) can be  processed  with in a 30 day
                  period.

   
         (d)      The maximum  amount  which can be  liquidated  and sent to the
                  address of record at any one time is $100,000.
    

         (e)      The minimum amount which can be liquidated and sent to a
                  predetermined bank account is $5,000.

5.   If the exchange  involves the  establishment  of a new account,  the dollar
     amount  being  exchanged  must  at  least  equal  the  minimum   investment
     requirement of the Pilgrim America Fund being acquired.

6.   Any new account  established  through the exchange  privilege will have the
     same account information and options except as stated in the Prospectus.

   
7.   Certificated  shares  cannot be redeemed or exchanged by telephone but must
     be forwarded to Pilgrim  America at P.O. Box 419368,  Kansas City, MO 64141
     and deposited into your account before any transaction may be processed.
    

8.   If a portion of the shares to be exchanged are held in escrow in connection
     with a Letter of Intent,  the smallest number of full shares of the Pilgrim
     America Fund to be purchased on the exchange  having the same aggregate net
     asset  value as the shares  being  exchanged  shall be  substituted  in the
     escrow account.  Shares held in escrow may not be redeemed until the Letter
     of Intent has expired and/or the appropriate  adjustments have been made to
     the account.

9.   Shares may not be  exchanged  and/or  redeemed  unless an  exchange  and/or
     redemption  privilege  is  offered  pursuant  to  the  Funds'  then-current
     prospectus.

10.  Proceeds of a  redemption  may be delayed up to 15 days or longer until the
     check used to purchase the shares being  redeemed has been paid by the bank
     upon which it was drawn.

                                  DISTRIBUTIONS

The  policy  of the Fund is to pay  monthly  dividends  from its net  investment
income.  Distributions of any net realized  long-term capital gains will be made
annually following its fiscal year ending on June 30.

The Fund's  shareholders  have the privilege of reinvesting both ordinary income
dividends and capital gain  dividends,  if any, in additional full or fractional
shares of the same class at the then  current  net asset  value  without a sales
charge.  The  Fund's  management  believes  that most  investors  desire to take
advantage  of this  privilege.  It has  therefore  made  arrangements  with  its
Transfer Agent to have all income dividends and capital gains distributions that
are  declared  by the Fund  automatically  reinvested  for the  account  of each
shareholder.  A shareholder  may elect at any time by writing to the Fund or the
Transfer Agent to have subsequent  dividends and/or  distributions paid in cash.
In the absence of such an election,  each purchase of shares of the Fund is made
upon the condition and  understanding  that the Transfer Agent is  automatically
appointed  to receive the  dividends  and  distributions  upon all shares in the
shareholder's  account and to reinvest them in full and fractional shares of the
Fund  at the  net  asset  value  in  effect  at the  close  of  business  on the
reinvestment  date. A shareholder may still at any time after a purchase of Fund
shares request that dividends and/or capital gains  distributions be paid to him
in cash.

                               TAX CONSIDERATIONS

The following  discussion  summarizes  certain U.S.  federal tax  considerations
incident to an investment in the Fund.

   
The Fund intends to qualify as a regulated investment company under the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986,  as amended (the  "Code").  To so qualify,  the Fund must,
among other things:  (a) derive at least 90% of its gross income from dividends,
interest,  payments  with respect to securities  loaned,  gains from the sale or
other  disposition  of  stock or  securities  and  gains  from the sale or other
disposition  of  foreign  currencies,  or other  income  (including  gains  from
options,  futures contracts and forward  contracts)  derived with respect to the
Fund's business of investing in stocks, securities or currencies;  (b) diversify
its holdings so that, at the end of each quarter,  (i) at least 50% of the value
of the  Fund's  total  assets  is  represented  by cash  and  cash  items,  U.S.
Government securities,  securities of other regulated investment companies,  and
other  securities,  with such  other  securities  limited  in respect of any one
issuer to an amount not greater in value than 5% of the Fund's  total assets and
to not more than 10% of the outstanding  voting  securities of such issuer,  and
(ii) not more than 25% of the value of the Fund's  total  assets in  invested in
the  securities  (other than U.S.  Government  securities or securities of other
regulated investment  companies) of any one issuer or of any two or more issuers
that  the  Fund  controls  and that are  determined  to be  engaged  in the same
business or similar or related  businesses;  and (c)  distribute at least 90% of
its  investment  company  taxable  income  (which  includes,  among other items,
dividends,  interest and net short-term capital gains in excess of net long-term
capital losses) each taxable year.
    

The  status  of the Fund as a  regulated  investment  company  does not  involve
government  supervision  of  management  or of their  investment  practices,  or
policies. As a regulated investment company, the Fund generally will be relieved
of  liability  for U.S.  federal  income tax on that  portion of its  investment
company  taxable  income and net realized  capital gains which it distributes as
dividends  to its  shareholders.  Amounts not  distributed  on a timely basis in
accordance with a calendar year  distribution  requirement also are subject to a
nondeductible 4% excise tax. To prevent  application of the excise tax, the Fund
intends to make  distributions in accordance with the calendar year distribution
requirement.

Distributions

Dividends of investment company taxable income (including net short-term capital
gains)  are  taxable  to  shareholders  as  ordinary  income.  Distributions  of
investment   company   taxable   income  may  be  eligible  for  the   corporate
dividends-received  deduction to the extent  attributable to the Fund's dividend
income from U.S.  corporations  and if other  applicable  requirements  are met.
However,  the alternative  minimum tax applicable to corporations may reduce the
benefit of the dividends-received deduction. The Fund expects that distributions
of net  capital  gains  (the  excess of net  long-term  capital  gains  over net
short-term  capital  losses)  designated  by the Fund as capital gain  dividends
should be taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gains,  regardless of the
length of time the Fund's  shares have been held by a  shareholder,  and are not
eligible  for  the  dividends-received  deduction.   Generally,   dividends  and
distributions  are  taxable  to  shareholders,   whether  received  in  cash  or
reinvested in shares of the Fund. Any distributions that are not from the Fund's
investment  company taxable income or net capital gain may be characterized as a
return  of  capital  to   shareholders  or  in  some  cases,  as  capital  gain.
Shareholders will be notified annually as to the federal tax status of dividends
and distributions they receive and any tax withheld thereon.

Dividends,  including capital gain dividends,  declared in October,  November or
December with a record date in such month and paid during the following  January
will be treated as having been paid by the Fund and received by  shareholders on
December 31 of the  calendar  year in which  declared,  rather than the calendar
year in which the dividends are actually received.

Distributions by the Fund reduce the net asset value of the Fund shares.  Should
a distribution  reduce the net asset value below a shareholder's cost basis, the
distribution  nevertheless  may be taxable to the shareholder as ordinary income
or capital gain an described above, even though, from an investment  standpoint,
it may constitute a partial return of capital.  In particular,  investors should
be careful to  consider  the tax  implication  of buying  shares just prior to a
distribution  by the Fund.  The price of shares  purchased at that time includes
the amount of the forthcoming distribution,  but the distribution will generally
be taxable to them.

Original Issue Discount/Market Discount

Certain  of the debt  securities  acquired  by the Fund may be  treated  as debt
securities  that were originally  issued at a discount.  Original issue discount
can generally be defined as the difference between the price at which a security
was issued and its stated redemption price at maturity.  Although no cash income
is actually received by the Fund, original issue discount that accrues on a debt
security in a given year generally is treated for federal income tax purposes as
interest  and,  therefore,  such  income  would be subject  to the  distribution
requirements of the Code.

Some of the debt  securities  may be purchased  by the Fund at a discount  which
exceeds the  original  issue  discount  on such debt  securities,  if any.  This
additional  discount represents market discount for federal income tax purposes.
The gain realized on the  disposition of any taxable debt security having market
discount  generally will be treated as ordinary income to the extent it does not
exceed the accrued  market  discount on such debt  security.  Generally,  market
discount  accrues on a daily basis for each day the debt security is held by the
Fund at a constant rate over the time remaining to the debt security's  maturity
or, at the  election of the Fund,  at a constant  yield to maturity  which takes
into account the semi-annual compounding of interest.

Sale of Shares

Upon the sale or exchange of his shares,  a  shareholder  will realize a taxable
gain or loss depending  upon his basis in the shares.  Such gain or loss will be
treated  as  capital  gain or loss  if the  shares  are  capital  assets  in the
shareholder's  hands,  which  generally may be eligible for reduced  federal tax
rates,  depending on the shareholder's  holding period for the shares.  Any loss
realized on a sale or exchange  will be disallowed to the extent that the shares
disposed of are  replaced  (including  replacement  through the  reinvesting  of
dividends and capital gain distributions in the Fund) within a-period of 61 days
beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the disposition of the shares.
In such a case, the basis of the shares acquired will be adjusted to reflect the
disallowed  loss.  Any loss realized by a shareholder  on the sale of the Fund's
shares  held by the  shareholder  for six  months  or less will be  treated  for
federal  income tax  purposes as a long-term  capital  loss to the extent of any
distributions or capital gain dividends received by the shareholder with respect
to such shares.

In some cases,  shareholders  will not be permitted  to take sales  charges into
account for purposes of  determining  the amount of gain or loss realized on the
disposition of their shares.  This prohibition  generally  applies where (1) the
shareholder  incurs  a sales  charge  in  acquiring  the  stock  of a  regulated
investment  company,  (2) the stock is disposed of before the 91st day after the
date on which it was acquired,  and (3) the  shareholder  subsequently  acquires
shares of the same or another  regulated  investment  company and the  otherwise
applicable  sales charge is reduced or eliminated  under a "reinvestment  right"
received upon the initial purchase of shares of stock. In that case, the gain or
loss recognized will be determined by excluding from the tax basis of the shares
exchanged  all or a portion of the sales  charge  incurred  in  acquiring  those
shares. This exclusion applies to the extent that the otherwise applicable sales
charge  with  respect  to the newly  acquired  shares is  reduced as a result of
having incurred a sales charge  initially.  Sales charges  affected by this rule
are treated as if they were  incurred with respect to the stock  acquired  under
the reinvestment right. This provision may be applied to successive acquisitions
of stock.

Backup Withholding

The Fund generally will be required to withhold  federal income tax at a rate of
31% ("backup withholding") from dividends paid, capital gain distributions,  and
redemption  proceeds to shareholders if (1) the shareholder fails to furnish the
Fund with the  shareholder's  correct taxpayer  identification  number or social
security number and to make such certifications as the Fund may require, (2) the
IRS  notifies the  shareholder  or the Fund that the  shareholder  has failed to
report properly  certain  interest and dividend income to the IRS and to respond
to notices to that effect,  or (3) when required to do so, the shareholder fails
to certify that he in not subject to backup  withholding.  Any amounts  withheld
may be credited against the shareholder's federal income tax liability.

Other Taxes

Distributions  also may be subject to state,  local and foreign  taxes.  Certain
states may exempt from state tax Fund dividends  attributable to interest earned
on U.S. Treasury securities.  U.S. tax rules applicable to foreign investors may
differ significantly from those outlined above. This discussion does not purport
to  deal  with  all  of  the  tax   consequences   applicable  to  shareholders.
Shareholders  are advised to consult  their own tax  advisers  for details  with
respect to the particular tax consequences to them of an investment in the Fund.

                             PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

The  Fund  may,  from  time to  time,  include  "total  return"  or  "yield"  in
advertisements or reports to shareholders or prospective  investors.  Quotations
of average  annual total return will be expressed in terms of the average annual
compounded rate of return of a hypothetical  investment in the Fund over periods
of 1, 5 and 10 years (up to the life of the Fund),  calculated  pursuant  to the
following formula which is prescribed by the Commission:

                                 P(1 + T)n = ERV

where:

     P    =    a  hypothetical  initial  payment of $1,000, 
     T    =    the average  annual  total return,
     n    =    the number of years, and
     ERV  =    the ending  redeemable value of a hypothetical  $1,000 payment
               made at the beginning of the period.

All total return figures assume that all dividends are reinvested when paid.

From time to time,  the Fund may advertise its average  annual total return over
various periods of time. These total return figures show the average  percentage
change  in value of an  investment  in the Fund from the  beginning  date of the
measuring  period.  These  figures  reflect  changes  in the price of the Fund's
shares and assume that any income dividends  and/or capital gains  distributions
made by the Fund  during  the  period  were  reinvested  in  shares of the Fund.
Figures will be given for one, five and ten year periods (if applicable) and may
be given for other  periods  as well  (such as from  commencement  of the Fund's
operations, or on a year-by-year basis).

Quotations  of yield for the Fund  will be based on all  investment  income  per
share  earned  during  a  particular  30-day  period  (including  dividends  and
interest), less expenses accrued during the period ("net investment income") and
are computed by dividing net investment income by the maximum offering price per
share on the last day of the period, according to the following formula:

                             a-b      6
                        2 [(----- + 1)  - 1]
                             cd
where:

     a =      dividends and interest earned during the period,
     b =      expenses accrued for the period (net of reimbursements),
     c =      the average daily number of shares outstanding during the period
              that were entitled to receive dividends, and
     d =      the maximum offering price per share on the last day of the
              period.

Under this  formula,  interest  earned on debt  obligations  for purposes of "a"
above,  is calculated by (1) computing the yield to maturity of each  obligation
held by the Fund based on the market value of the obligation  (including  actual
accrued  interest)  at the close of business on the last day of each month,  or,
with respect to obligations purchased during the month, the purchase price (plus
actual accrued  interest),  (2) dividing that figure by 360 and  multiplying the
quotient  by the  market  value  of the  obligation  (including  actual  accrued
interest  as  referred  to  above)  to  determine  the  interest  income  on the
obligation  for each day of the  subsequent  month that the obligation is in the
Fund's  portfolio  (assuming a month of 30 days) and (3)  computing the total of
the interest  earned on all debt  obligations  and all dividends  accrued on all
equity securities during the 30-day or one month period. In computing  dividends
accrued,  dividend income is recognized by accruing 1/360 of the stated dividend
rate of a security  each day that the security is in the Fund's  portfolio.  For
purposes of "b" above,  Rule 12b-1 Plan expenses are included among the expenses
accrued  for the period.  Any amounts  representing  sales  charges  will not be
included among these expenses; however, the Fund will disclose the maximum sales
charge  as well as any  amount  or  specific  rate of any  nonrecurring  account
charges.  Undeclared  earned  income,  computed  in  accordance  with  generally
accepted  accounting  principles,  may be subtracted  from the maximum  offering
price calculation required pursuant to "d" above.

The Fund may also from  time to time  advertise  its yield  based on a 30-day or
90-day period ended on a date other than the most recent  balance sheet included
in the Fund's  Registration  Statement,  computed in  accordance  with the yield
formula  described  above, as adjusted to conform with the differing  period for
which the yield computation is based.

Any quotation of performance stated in terms of yield (whether based on a 30-day
or 90-day  period)  will be given no  greater  prominence  than the  information
prescribed under Commission rules. In addition,  all  advertisements  containing
performance  data of any  kind  will  include  a  legend  disclosing  that  such
performance data represents past performance and that the investment  return and
principal  value of an investment  will fluctuate so that an investor's  shares,
when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.

Additional Performance Quotations

Advertisements  of total return will always show a calculation that includes the
effect of the maximum sales charge but may also show total return without giving
effect to that charge.  Because these additional quotations will not reflect the
maximum sales charge payable,  these performance  quotations will be higher than
the performance quotations that reflect the maximum sales charge.

Total  returns and yields are based on past  results and are not  necessarily  a
prediction of future performance.

Performance Comparisons

In reports or other  communications to shareholders or in advertising  material,
the Fund may compare the performance of its Class A, Class B, and Class M shares
with that of other  mutual  funds as listed in the  rankings  prepared by Lipper
Analytical  Services,  Inc.,  Morningstar,  Inc., CDA Technologies,  Inc., Value
Line,  Inc. or similar  independent  services  that monitor the  performance  of
mutual funds or with other  appropriate  indexes of  investment  securities.  In
addition,  certain  indexes may be used to illustrate  historic  performance  of
select asset classes.  The performance  information may also include evaluations
of the Fund published by nationally recognized ranking services and by financial
publications  that are nationally  recognized,  such as Business  Week,  Forbes,
Fortune,  Institutional Investor, Money and The Wall Street Journal. If the Fund
compares  its  performance  to other  funds or to relevant  indexes,  the Fund's
performance  will be stated in the same terms in which such comparative data and
indexes are stated,  which is normally total return rather than yield. For these
purposes  the  performance  of the  Fund,  as  well as the  performance  of such
investment  companies  or indexes,  may not reflect  sales  charges,  which,  if
reflected, would reduce performance results.

   
The average  annual  total return of the Class A shares of the Fund for the one,
five,  and ten year  periods  ended  June 30,  1998 was  ___%,  ___%,  and ___%,
respectively. The average annual total return for the Class B shares for the one
year  period  ended  June  30,  1998  and for the  period  from  July  17,  1995
(commencement  of  operations)  through  June  30,  1998,  was  ___%  and  ___%,
respectively. The average annual total return for the Class M shares for the one
year  period  ended  June  30,  1998  and for the  period  from  July  17,  1995
(commencement  of  operations)  through  June  30,  1998,  was  ___%  and  ___%,
respectively.

Reports and promotional  literature may also contain the following  information:
(i) a description  of the gross  national or domestic  product and  populations,
including  but not  limited to age  characteristics,  of various  countries  and
regions in which the Fund may invest, as compiled by various organizations,  and
projections of such  information;  (ii) the performance of worldwide  equity and
debt  markets;  (iii) the  capitalization  of U.S.  and  foreign  stock  markets
prepared or published by the International  Finance Corporation,  Morgan Stanley
Capital International or a similar financial  organization;  (iv) the geographic
distribution  of the  Fund's  portfolio;  (v) the major  industries  located  in
various  jurisdictions;  (vi) the  number of  shareholders  in the Fund or other
Pilgrim  America  Funds and the dollar  amount of the assets  under  management;
(vii)  descriptions  of investing  methods such as dollar-cost  averaging,  best
day/worst  day  scenarios,  etc.;  (viii)  comparisons  of the average  price to
earnings ratio,  price to book ratio,  price to cash flow and relative  currency
valuations  of  the  Fund  and  individual   stocks  in  the  Fund's  portfolio,
appropriate  indices and descriptions of such comparisons;  (ix) quotes from the
portfolio  manager  of the  Fund or other  industry  specialists;  (x)  lists or
statistics  of certain of the Fund's  holdings  including,  but not  limited to,
portfolio  composition,  sector  weightings,  portfolio turnover rate, number of
holdings, average market capitalization, and modern portfolio theory statistics;
(xi) NASDAQ symbols for each class of shares of the Fund; and (xii) descriptions
of  the  benefits  of  working  with  investment   professionals   in  selecting
investments.
    

In  addition,   reports  and  promotional  literature  may  contain  information
concerning the Investment Manager,  Pilgrim America, Pilgrim America Group, Inc.
or affiliates of the Fund, the Investment  Manager,  Pilgrim  America or Pilgrim
America Group, Inc. including (i) performance rankings of other funds managed by
the Investment  Manager,  or the individuals  employed by the Investment Manager
who exercise responsibility for the day-to-day management of the Fund, including
rankings  of  mutual  funds  published  by  Lipper  Analytical  Services,  Inc.,
Morningstar, Inc., CDA Technologies,  Inc., or other rating services, companies,
publications or other persons who rank mutual funds or other investment products
on overall performance or other criteria;  (ii) lists of clients,  the number of
clients, or assets under management; (iii) information regarding the acquisition
of the Pilgrim America Funds by Pilgrim  America,  (iv) the past  performance of
Pilgrim  America and Pilgrim  America Group,  Inc.; (v) the past  performance of
other funds managed by the Investment  Manager;  and (vi) information  regarding
rights  offerings  conducted  by  closed-end  funds  managed  by the  Investment
Manager.

                               GENERAL INFORMATION

   
Capitalization  and Voting Rights.  The Fund's authorized capital stock consists
of 5,000,000,000 shares. All shares when issued are fully paid,  non-assessable,
and redeemable.  Shares have no preemptive rights. All shares have equal voting,
dividend and liquidation rights. Shares have non-cumulative voting rights, which
means that the holders of more than 50% of the shares voting for the election of
Directors  can elect 100% of the  Directors if they choose to do so, and in such
event the holders of the  remaining  shares voting for the election of Directors
will not be able to elect any  person  or  persons  to the  Board of  Directors.
Generally, there will not be annual meetings of shareholders.

The Board of Directors may classify or reclassify any unissued shares by setting
or changing in any one or more respects from time to time, prior to the issuance
of such shares,  the  preferences,  conversion or other rights,  voting  powers,
restrictions,  limitations as to dividends or qualifications of such shares. Any
such classification or  reclassification  will comply with the provisions of the
1940 Act.

Custodian.  The cash  and  securities  owned  by the Fund are held by  Investors
Fiduciary Trust Company,  Kansas City,  Missouri,  as Custodian,  which takes no
part in the decisions  relating to the purchase or sale of the Fund's  portfolio
securities.

Independent  Auditors.  KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, 725 South  Figueroa  Street,  Los
Angeles, California, 90017, acts as independent auditors for the Fund.

Legal  Counsel.  Legal  matters for the Fund are passed upon by Dechert  Price &
Rhoads, 1775 Eye Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006.
    

                              FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

   
The  Financial  Statements  for the year  ended June 30,  1998 are  incorporated
herein by reference from the Fund's Annual Report to Shareholders. Copies of the
Fund's Annual Report may be obtained  without  charge by contacting  the Fund at
Suite 1200, 40 North Central Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85004, (800) 992-0180.
    
<PAGE>

                                     PART C
                                OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 24. Financial Statements and Exhibits

         (a)      Financial Statements

                  Contained in Part A:

                  Financial Highlights

                  Contained in Part B:

                  Financial  Statements are  incorporated  by reference from the
                  Registrant's Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year
                  ended June 30, 1998 (audited).

         (b)      Exhibits

                  (1)      (A)      Articles of Incorporation(1)

                           (B)      Certificate of Amendment to Articles of
                                    Incorporation(1)

                           (C)      Certificate of Determination(1)

                  (2)      Bylaws(1)

                  (3)      Not Applicable

                  (4)      Not Applicable

                  (5)      Form of Investment Management Agreement(1)

                  (6)      (A)      Form of Underwriting Agreement(1)

                           (B)      Form of Selling Group Agreement(1)

                  (7)      Not Applicable

                  (8)      (A)      Form of Custody Agreement(1)

                           (B)      Form of Recordkeeping Agreement(1)

                  (9)      Form of Shareholder Servicing Agreement(1)

                  (10)     Opinion and Consent of Counsel

                  (11)     Consent of Independent Auditors*

                  (12)     Not Applicable

                  (13)     Form of Investment Letter(2)

                  (14)     Not Applicable

                  (15)     (A)     Form of Service and Distribution Plan for
                                   Class A Shares(1)

                           (B)     Form of Service and Distribution Plan for
                                   Class B Shares(1)

                           (C)     Form of Service and Distribution Plan for
                                   Class M Shares(1)

                  (16)     Not Applicable

                  (17)     Not Applicable

                  (18)     Form of Multiple Class Plan Adopted Pursuant to Rule
                           18f-3(1)

                  (27)     Financial Data Schedules

               _______________________

               *    To be filed by amendment.

               (1)  Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 20
                    to the  Registration  Statement  on Form  N-1A as  filed  on
                    October 30, 1997.

               (2)  Previously filed as an exhibit to Registrant's  Registration
                    Statement on Form N-1A


ITEM 25. Persons Controlled by or under Common Control with Registrant

         None.

ITEM 26. Number of Holders of Securities

                                                     Number of Record Holders
Title of Class                                       as of July 31, 1998

Common Stock (No Par Value)
         Class A                                            1,766
         Class B                                              251
         Class M                                               38



ITEM 27. Indemnification

         Reference is made to Article VI of the  Registrant's  By-Laws  filed as
Exhibit 2.

         Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to Directors,  officers and controlling  persons of
the  Registrant  pursuant  to  the  foregoing  provisions,   or  otherwise,  the
Registrant  has been advised that in the opinion of the  Securities and Exchange
Commission  such  indemnification  is against policy as expressed in the Act and
is,  therefore  unenforceable.  In the event  that a claim  for  indemnification
against such  liabilities  (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses
incurred or paid by a Director,  officer or controlling person of the Registrant
in the  successful  defense of any action,  a suit or proceeding) is asserted by
such Director,  officer or controlling  person in connection with the securities
being registered,  the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the
matter  has  been  settled  by  controlling  precedent,  submit  to a  court  of
appropriate  jurisdiction  the question  whether such  indemnification  by it is
against  public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.

ITEM 28. Business and Other Connections of the Investment Advisers

         Information as to the directors and officers of the Investment Manager,
together with  information  as to any other  business,  profession,  vocation or
employment of a substantial  nature  engaged in by the directors and officers of
the Investment Manager in the last two years, is included in its application for
registration  as an investment  adviser on Form ADV (File No.  801-48282)  filed
under  the  Investment  Advisers  Act of  1940  and is  incorporated  herein  by
reference thereto.

ITEM 29. Principal Underwriters

         (a)  Pilgrim America Securities, Inc. is the principal underwriter for
the Registrant.

         (b)  Information  as to the directors  and officers of Pilgrim  America
Securities,   Inc.,   together  with  information  as  to  any  other  business,
profession,  vocation or employment of a  substantial  nature  engaged in by the
directors and officers of the  Distributor in the last two years, is included in
its  application  for  registration  as a  broker-dealer  on Form BD  (File  No.
8-48020)  filed under the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 and is  incorporated
herein by reference thereto.

         (c)      Not applicable.

ITEM 30. Location of Accounts and Records

         The  accounts,  books or other  documents  required to be maintained by
Section  31(a)  of the  Investment  Company  Act of  1940  will  be  kept by the
Registrant or its Shareholder Servicing Agent. (See Parts A and B).

ITEM 31. Management Services

         None.

ITEM 32. Undertakings

         (a)      Not applicable.

         (b)      Not applicable.

         (c)  Registrant  undertakes  to  furnish  to  each  person  to  whom  a
prospectus is delivered with a copy of the Registrant's  latest annual report to
shareholders upon request and without charge.




<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
and the Investment  Company Act of 1940, as amended,  Registrant has duly caused
this Amendment to the  Registration  Statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned,  thereunto  duly  authorized,  in the City of Phoenix  and State of
Arizona on the 26th day of August, 1998.

                                        PILGRIM GOVERNMENT SECURITIES
                                        INCOME FUND, INC.


                                        By:       /s/ Robert W. Stallings
                                                  Robert W. Stallings
                                                  Chairman

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
this  Amendment  to the  Registration  Statement  has been  signed  below by the
following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.

      Signature                           Title                 Date



/s/ Robert W. Stallings      Director and President             August 26, 1998
Robert W. Stallings          (Principal Executive Officer)



                             Director                           August 26, 1998
Mary A. Baldwin *



                             Director                           August 26, 1998
John P. Burke *



                             Director                           August 26, 1998
Al Burton *




                             Director                           August 26, 1998
Bruce S. Foerster *



                             Director                           August 26, 1998
Jock Patton *




                             Senior Vice President and          August 26, 1998
Michael J. Roland *          Principal Financial Officer



*    By:  /s/ Robert W. Stallings
          Robert W. Stallings
          Attorney-in-Fact**

**   Powers of Attorney  for the  Directors  are  incorporated  by  reference to
     Post-Effective  Amendment No. 20 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A
     as filed on October 30,  1997.  The Power of Attorney for Michael J. Roland
     is included herein.


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE  PRESENTS,  that the  undersigned,  being the
duly elected Principal Financial Officer of Pilgrim Government Securities Income
Fund, Inc. (the "Fund"),  constitutes and appoints Robert W. Stallings, James M.
Hennessy,  Jeffrey S. Puretz, Jeffrey L. Steele, and Karen L. Anderberg and each
of them,  his true and lawful  attorneys-in-fact  and agents  with full power of
substitution and resubstitution for him in his name, place and stead, in any and
all  capacities,  to sign  the  Fund's  registration  statement  and any and all
amendments thereto,  and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto,  and other
documents in connection therewith,  with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
granting unto said  attorneys-in-fact  and agents full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and thing  requisite and necessary to be done, as
fully to all  intents  and  purposes  as he might or could do in person,  hereby
ratifying and conforming all that said  attorneys-in-fact  and agents, or any of
them, or his substitute or  substitutes,  may lawfully do or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.

Dated:  August 26, 1998

                                                     /s/ Michael J. Roland
                                                     Michael J. Roland


<PAGE>


                                  EXHIBIT LIST

Exhibit Number           Name of Exhibit

(10)                     Opinion and Consent of Dechert Price & Rhoads

(27)                     Financial Data Schedules





                             DECHERT PRICE & RHOADS
                              1775 Eye Street, N.W.
                                Washington, D.C.
                             Telephone: 202-261-3300
                                Fax: 202-261-3333




                                 August 26, 1998


Pilgrim Government Securities Income Fund, Inc.
40 North Central Avenue, Suite 1200
Phoenix, Arizona 85004-4424

                  Re:      Pilgrim Government Securities Income Fund, Inc.
                           (File No. 811-4031)

Dear Sirs:

         In connection with the  registration  under the Securities Act of 1933,
as  amended,  of an  indefinite  number of shares  of  common  stock of  Pilgrim
Government  Securities  Income Fund,  Inc. (the  "Fund"),  we have examined such
matters as we have deemed necessary to give this opinion.

         On the basis of the foregoing, it is our opinion that the shares of the
Fund have been duly  authorized and, when paid for as contemplated by the Fund's
Registration Statement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

         We hereby  consent  to the use of this  opinion  as an  exhibit  to the
Registration Statement and to all references to our firm therein.


                                                     Very truly yours,



                                                     /s/ Dechert Price & Rhoads



<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                                            6
<CIK>                         0000746575
<NAME>                        Pilgrim Government Securities Income Fund
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER>                   01
   <NAME>                     Class A
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<CURRENCY>                                     U.S. Dollars
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                   JUN-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                                      JUL-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                                        DEC-31-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                                               1
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                                                    28,531
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                                                   29,093
<RECEIVABLES>                                                               527
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                                               66
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                                          0
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<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                                                    651
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                                                       0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                                                    86
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                                         737
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                                               0
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<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                                                     2,029
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<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                                                     0
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<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                                                   8,036
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                                                      0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                                                    562 
<NET-ASSETS>                                                             26,235
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                                             0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                                         1,062
<OTHER-INCOME>                                                                0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                                              259
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                                     803 
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                                                    237 
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                                                   379 
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                                                     1,419 
<EQUALIZATION>                                                                0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                                                   761
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                                                      0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                                        99
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                                                      50
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<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                                          29
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                                                   (2,545)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                                                       0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                                                     0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                                                      76
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                                                8,273
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                                                        76
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                            0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                                             259
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                                                     28,188
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                                                     12.71
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                                            0.32 
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                                                    0.29 
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                                       0.39
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                                                     0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                                          0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                                                       12.93
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                                            1.41
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                                                        0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                                          0
        

</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                                            6
<CIK>                         0000746575
<NAME>                        Pilgrim Government Securities Income Fund
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER>                   02
   <NAME>                     Class B
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1
<CURRENCY>                                     U.S. Dollars
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                   JUN-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                                      JUL-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                                        DEC-31-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                                               1
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                                                    28,531
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                                                   29,093
<RECEIVABLES>                                                               527
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                                               66
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                                          0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                           29,686
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                                                    651
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                                                       0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                                                    86
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                                         737
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                                               0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                                                 36,603
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                                                       197
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                                       121
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                                                     0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                                                      181
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                                                   8,036
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                                                      0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                                                    562 
<NET-ASSETS>                                                              2,542
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                                             0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                                         1,062
<OTHER-INCOME>                                                                0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                                              259
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                                     803 
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                                                    237 
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                                                   379 
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                                                     1,419 
<EQUALIZATION>                                                                0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                                                    40
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                                                      0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                                         5
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                                                     127
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                                                  52
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                                           1
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                                                   (2,545)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                                                       0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                                                     0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                                                      76
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<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                                                        76
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                            0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                                             259
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                                                      1,715
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                                                     12.68
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                                            0.31 
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                                                    0.25 
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                                       0.34
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                                                     0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                                          0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                                                       12.90
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                                            2.16
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                                                        0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                                          0
        

</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                                            6
<CIK>                         0000746575
<NAME>                        Pilgrim Government Securities Income Fund
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER>                   03
   <NAME>                     Class M
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1
<CURRENCY>                                     U.S. Dollars
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                   JUN-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                                      JUL-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                                        DEC-31-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                                               1
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                                                    28,531
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                                                   29,093
<RECEIVABLES>                                                               527
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                                               66
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                                          0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                           29,686
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                                                    651
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                                                       0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                                                    86
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                                         737
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                                               0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                                                 36,603
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                                                        13
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                                         5
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                                                     0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                                                      181
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                                                   8,036
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                                                      0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                                                    562 
<NET-ASSETS>                                                                172
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                                             0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                                         1,062
<OTHER-INCOME>                                                                0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                                              259
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                                     803 
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                                                    237 
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                                                   379 
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                                                     1,419 
<EQUALIZATION>                                                                0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                                                     3
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                                                      0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                                         0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                                                       7
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                                                   0
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                                           0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                                                   (2,545)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                                                       0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                                                     0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                                                      76
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                                                8,273
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                                                        76
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                            0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                                             259
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                                                        117
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                                                     12.72
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                                            0.34 
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                                                    0.24 
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                                       0.36
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                                                     0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                                          0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                                                       12.94
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                                            1.91
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                                                        0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                                          0
        

</TABLE>


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