MANUFACTURERS INVESTMENT TRUST
PRE 14C, 1998-12-18
Previous: IKOS SYSTEMS INC, DEF 14A, 1998-12-18
Next: PARACELSUS HEALTHCARE CORP, 8-K, 1998-12-18



<PAGE>   1




                            SCHEDULE 14C INFORMATION

        INFORMATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(c) OF THE SECURITIES
                              EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Check the appropriate box:

   
[X] Preliminary information statement
    

   
[ ] Definitive information statement
    

___ Confidential, for use of the Commission only (as permitted by 
Rule 14c-5(d)(2))

                         MANUFACTURERS INVESTMENT TRUST
                (Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

[X] No fee required.

   
___ Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14c-5(g) and 0-11.
    

    (not applicable)

   
___ Fee paid previously with preliminary materials
    

   
___ Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or
the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
    

    (not applicable)

   
    


<PAGE>   2


   
January _____, 1999
    


Manulife Financial
73 Tremont Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02108

Dear Contract Owner:

   
      Enclosed please find an Information Statement regarding the transfer of
the subadvisory agreement for the Small Company Value portfolio (the
"Portfolio") from Rosenberg Institutional Equity Management, L.P. ("Old RIEM")
to AXA Rosenberg Investment Management LLC ("New RIEM").

      While this transaction is being treated as a change of control of Old
RIEM, the transaction has not resulted in any change in the investment objective
or policies of the Portfolio or the portfolio manager of the Portfolio nor has
there been any material change in the other Old RIEM investment personnel
servicing this Portfolio.
    

      Please note that we are not asking you for a proxy and you are requested
not to send us a proxy. If you have further questions regarding the Information
Statement please do not hesitate to contact Manulife Financial at 1-800-VARILINE
from 8:00 a.m. through 6:00 p.m. Eastern time on any business day.


Very truly yours,

[Officer of Insurance Company Issuing Variable Product]


<PAGE>   3


   
                        MANUFACTURERS INVESTMENT TRUST
    
               116 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02116

                 INFORMATION STATEMENT TO SHAREHOLDERS REGARDING
   
                ROSENBERG INSTITUTIONAL EQUITY MANAGEMENT, L.P.
                                January ___, 1999
    

WE ARE NOT ASKING YOU FOR A PROXY AND YOU ARE REQUESTED NOT TO SEND US A PROXY.

   
      On December ___, 1998, AXA Rosenberg Investment Management LLC ("New
RIEM") succeeded to the business and affairs of Rosenberg Institutional Equity
Management, L.P. ("Old RIEM"), the former subadviser to the Small Company Value
portfolio (the "Portfolio") of Manufacturers Investment Trust (the "Trust") (the
"Transaction").

      As a result of the Transaction, New RIEM has entered into a new
subadvisory agreement with Manufacturers Securities Services, LLC ("MSS" or the
"Adviser"), 73 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02108, the adviser to the Trust. The
new subadvisory agreement is on substantially identical terms to the subadvisory
agreement between MSS and Old RIEM except as noted below. The Board of Trustees
of the Trust approved the new subadvisory agreement at a meeting held on
December ____, 1998. The Transaction has not resulted in any change in the
portfolio managers for the Portfolio nor has there been any material change in
the investment personnel servicing the Portfolio.
    

DESCRIPTION OF THE TRANSACTION

   
      Ownership of Old RIEM

      Old RIEM is a California limited partnership with three general partners.
Its Managing General Partner is Barr Rosenberg and its other two general
partners are Marlis S. Fritz and Kenneth Reid. Old RIEM also has a limited
partner, Rosenberg Alpha, L.P. Under the terms of the Old RIEM's partnership
agreement, Barr Rosenberg, as Managing General Partner, has full and exclusive
charge and control of the management, conduct and operation of Old RIEM and its
business in all matters and respects.

      Ownership of New RIEM

      New RIEM is a Delaware limited liability company which is 100% owned by
AXA Rosenberg Group L.L.C., 4 Orinda Way, Suite 300E, Orinda, CA 94563, a
Delaware limited liability company ("AXA Rosenberg"). AXA Investment Managers
S.A., 46, Avenue de la Grande Armee, 75017, Paris, France, a French societe
anonyme ("AXA IM"), or an affiliate of AXA IM, will acquire an interest (the
"AXA LLC Interest") in AXA Rosenberg that entitles AXA IM to a percentage of the
profits earned by AXA Rosenberg for each investment advisory client. AXA IM is
wholly owned by AXA UAP, S.A., 9, Place Vendome, 75001, Paris, France, a French
societe anonyme.

      Structure of the Transaction

      Old RIEM will cease to exist and will be succeeded by New RIEM and the
partners of Old RIEM (the "RIEM Partners") will contribute all their interest in
New RIEM and various related businesses to AXA Rosenberg in exchange for
interests in AXA Rosenberg. In addition, AXA IM will acquire from the RIEM
Partners the AXA LLC Interest in AXA Rosenberg. The RIEM Partners will continue
to own the remaining economic interest in AXA Rosenberg. On the closing date of
the Transaction (the "Closing Date"), January __, 1999, the RIEM Partners were
paid an 
    



<PAGE>   4
   
aggregate purchase price of $125 million for the AXA LLC Interest. In addition,
AXA IM is required to pay the RIEM Partners substantial additional amounts (the
"Additional Payments") in year 2000 through 2002 if the earnings of AXA
Rosenberg meet or exceed certain thresholds set forth in the agreement for the
Transaction. AXA IM also has the option (the "Option") to purchase from the RIEM
Partners up to one-half of the interest in AXA Rosenberg that the RIEM Partners
own as of the Closing Date. The Option is exercisable between year 2002 and 2008
at an exercise price based on the earnings attributable to the interest being
purchased.

      As a condition of the Transaction, AXA IM will cause itself and its wholly
owned subsidiaries to use commercially reasonable efforts to direct or work with
AXA's affiliates in the AXA Group to facilitate the placing by such affiliates
of an average of $2.5 billion of assets under discretionary management by AXA
Rosenberg and its subsidiaries during the first five years after the Closing
Date. AXA IM will, and will use its best reasonable efforts to cause its
affiliates in the AXA Group to, utilize AXA Rosenberg as the exclusive
quantitative equity investment management unit within AXA and its wholly-owned
subsidiaries. AXA has undertaken to cause AXA IM to perform these obligations.

      Investment Personnel Providing Services to the Portfolio. Old RIEM has
informed the Portfolio that New RIEM will continue to operate offices in Orinda,
California with the same personnel providing services to the Portfolio as before
the Closing Date. In particular, the same persons who were responsible at Old
RIEM for design and maintenance of Old RIEM's portfolio system and the portfolio
managers responsible for research and monitoring the Portfolio's characteristic
performance against the relevant benchmark have continued to perform similar
functions as officers or employees of New RIEM. The agreement for the
Transaction required that the individual RIEM Partners and certain key personnel
of Old RIEM, including those responsible for the design and maintenance of Old
RIEM's portfolio system, enter into employment or consulting agreements (which
included non-competition and/or non-solication and other customary provisions)
with New RIEM and/or its affiliated companies providing assurance that
investment management continuity is maintained.
    

APPROVAL OF NEW SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT

   
      Prior to December ___, 1998, Old RIEM was the subadviser to the Portfolio
pursuant to a subadvisory agreement (the "Old Subadvisory Agreement") dated
October 1, 1997 between Old REIM and MSS.

      As a result of the Transaction, the Board of Trustees of the Trust
approved a new subadvisory agreement between New RIEM and MSS effective as of
the closing of the Transaction, December __, 1998 (the "New Subadvisory
Agreement"). Pursuant to an order the Trust has received from the Securities and
Exchange Commission, shareholder approval of the New Subadvisory Agreement is
not required. However, a condition of this order is that notice be sent to
shareholders informing them of the new agreement. This Information Statement is
being supplied to shareholders to fulfill that condition. This Information
Statement will be mailed on or about January __, 1999.
    

DESCRIPTION OF NEW AND OLD SUBADVISORY AGREEMENTS

   
      The New Subadvisory Agreement is substantially identical to the Old
Subadvisory Agreement, differing only with respect to its effective date and
certain of the provisions regarding shareholder approval of the agreement. The
subadvisory fees payable under the New Subadvisory Agreement are the same as the
fees paid under the Old Subadvisory Agreement.

      Under the terms of the Old Subadvisory Agreement and the New Subadvisory
Agreement (collectively, the "Subadvisory Agreements"), New RIEM manages and Old
RIEM managed the investment of the assets of the Portfolio, subject to the
supervision of the Trust's Board of Trustees (New
    

                                       2
<PAGE>   5
   
RIEM and Old RIEM will be referred to collectively as "Rosenberg"). Rosenberg
formulates a continuous investment program for the Portfolio consistent with the
Portfolio's investment objectives and policies. Rosenberg implements such
programs by purchases and sales of securities and regularly report to the
Adviser and the Trustees of the Trust with respect to the implementation of such
programs. Rosenberg, at its expense, furnishes all necessary investment and
management facilities, including salaries of personnel required for it to
execute its duties . Rosenberg also furnishes administrative facilities,
including bookkeeping, clerical personnel, and equipment necessary for the
conduct of the investment affairs of the Portfolio.

      As compensation for its services, the Adviser receives an advisory fee
computed separately for each portfolio of the Trust. The fee for the Portfolio
is stated as an annual percentage of the current value of the net assets of the
Portfolio. The fee, which is accrued daily and payable monthly, is calculated
for each day by multiplying the daily equivalent of the annual percentage
prescribed for the Portfolio by the value of the net assets of the Portfolio at
the close of business on the previous business day of the Trust. The following
is the advisory fees the Portfolio currently is obligated to pay the Adviser.
    

     PORTFOLIO                     ADVISORY FEE

   
     Small Company Value Trust     1.050%
    

   
      As compensation for its services, Rosenberg receives a fee from the
Adviser computed separately for the Portfolio. The fee for the Portfolio is
stated as an annual percentage of the current value of the net assets of the
Portfolio. The fee is calculated on the basis of the average of all valuations
of net assets of the Portfolio made at the close of business on each business
day of the Trust during the period for which such fees are paid. Once the
average net assets of the Portfolio exceed specified amounts, the fee is reduced
with respect to such excess. The following is a schedule of the management fees
the Adviser was obligated to pay Old RIEM under the Old Subadvisory Agreement,
and is currently is obligated to pay New RIEM under the New Subadvisory
Agreement . These fees are paid by the Adviser out of the advisory fee it
receives for the Portfolio and are not additional charges to the Portfolio. The
Transaction has not resulted in any changes in the rate of these fees.
    

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           Between           Between
                            First      $50 Million and   $200 Million and    Excess Over
Portfolio               $50 Million     $200 Million      $500 Million      $500 Million

<S>                         <C>             <C>               <C>               <C>   
Small Company Value Trust   .600%           .575%             .525%             .475%
</TABLE>
    


   
      The Old Subadvisory Agreement required approval of the agreement as to the
Portfolio by both

      -     the Trustees of the Trust including a majority of Trustees who are
            not "interested persons" (as defined in the Investment Company Act
            of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act")) of any parties to the
            agreements and
      -     a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Portfolio

The New Subadvisory Agreement requires only approval of the Trustees of the
Trust including a majority of Trustees who are not interested persons of any
parties to these agreements.

      The Subadvisory Agreements will continue in effect as to the Portfolio for
a period no more than two years from the date of their execution only so long as
such continuance is specifically approved at least annually either by (i) the
Trustees or (ii) the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of
the Trust, provided that in either event such continuance shall also be approved
by the vote of the majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of
any party to the Subadvisory Agreements. Trustee votes on investment advisory
agreement approvals or renewals must be in person at a meeting called for the
purpose of voting on such approval. Any required shareholder approval of any
continuance of the Subadvisory Agreements shall be effective with respect to the
Portfolio if a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Portfolio
vote to approve such continuance, even if such continuance may not have been
approved by a majority of the outstanding voting securities of any other
portfolio of the Trust affected by the Subadvisory Agreement.
    

                                       3



<PAGE>   6
   
      If any required shareholder approval of the Subadvisory Agreement is not
obtained, Rosenberg will continue to act as subadviser with respect to the
Portfolio pending the required approval of the continuance of such Agreement, of
a new contract with Rosenberg or different subadviser, or other definitive
action.

      The Subadvisory Agreements may be terminated at any time without the
payment of any penalty on 60 days' written notice to the other party or parties
to the Subadvisory Agreements and to the Trust:

      -     by the Trustees of the Trust;
      -     with respect to the Portfolio, by the vote of a majority of the
            outstanding voting securities of the Portfolio;
      -     by Rosenberg or 
      -     by the Adviser

The Subadvisory Agreements will automatically terminate in the event of their
assignment.

      The Subadvisory Agreements may be amended by the Adviser and Rosenberg
provided such amendment is specifically approved by the vote of a majority of
the Trustees of the Trust and a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are
not interested persons of the Trust cast in person at a meeting called for the
purpose of voting on such approval. The Old Subadvisory Agreement, in addition,
provided that any such amendment must be specifically approved by the vote of a
majority of the outstanding voting securities of each of the portfolios of the
Trust affected by the amendment. The required shareholder approval would have
been effective with respect to any portfolio of the Trust if a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of that portfolio voted to approve the amendment,
notwithstanding that the amendment may not have been approved by a majority of
the outstanding voting securities of (a) any other portfolio of the Trust
affected by the amendment or (b) all the portfolios of the Trust. Shareholder
approval is not required for an amendment to the Subadvisory Agreement.

      The Subadvisory Agreements provide that Rosenberg will not be liable to
the Trust or the Adviser for any losses resulting from any matters to which the
agreement relates other than losses resulting from Rosenberg's willful
misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of, or from
reckless disregard of, its duties.
    

BOARD OF TRUSTEE CONSIDERATIONS

   
      At its meeting duly held on December ___, 1998, the Board of Trustees,
including a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of any party
to the New Subadvisory Agreement, approved the New Subadvisory Agreement. In
connection with this approval, the Board of Trustees determined that approval of
the New Subadvisory Agreement is in the best interest of shareholders of the
Portfolio and contractholders whose contract value is invested in shares of the
Portfolio.

      In connection with the approval of the New Subadvisory Agreement, the
Board considered, among other things, that the Transaction would not result in
any material change in (i) the Portfolio's investment objective or policies,
(ii) the investment management of the Portfolio or (iii) the investment
personnel managing the Portfolio. Management of Rosenberg informed the Trustees
that the Transaction is not expected to result in any such changes, although no
assurance can be given that such changes will not occur.

      In evaluating the New Subadvisory Agreement, the Board took into account
the fact that the New Subadvisory Agreement is substantially similar to the Old
Subadvisory Agreement, differing only with respect to their effective dates and
certain of the provisions regarding shareholder approval of the Subadvisory
Agreements. The Board in approving the New Subadvisory Agreement, evaluated a
number of factors, including, but not limited to, the nature and quality of the
services to be provided by Rosenberg, the fees to be paid to Rosenberg and other
comparable investment companies, and 
    

                                       4



<PAGE>   7
   
performance information regarding the Portfolio and other comparable investment
companies. The Board was also given financial statements of Rosenberg. The Board
was provided with an analysis of its fiduciary obligations in connection with
such considerations. In considering the New Subadvisory Agreement, the Trustees
discussed the information provided to them and their fiduciary obligations.
    

SUBADVISORY FEES PAID

   
      For the period October 1, 1997 (commencement of operations) to 
December 31, 1997, the Adviser paid subadvisory fees to Rosenberg as follows:
    

   
                              Dollar Amount      Percent of Average Net Assets
Small Company Value Trust        $76,634                    .600%
    

ADVISORY FEES PAID

   
      For the period October 1, 1997 (commencement of operations) to 
December 31, 1997, the Portfolio paid the Adviser the following advisory fee:
    

   
                              Dollar Amount      Percent of Average Net Assets
Small Company Value Trust       $134,688                   1.050%
    

   
      For the period October 1, 1997 (commencement of operations) to 
December 31, 1997, the net investment advisory fees retained by the Adviser
after payment of the subadvisory fee for the Portfolio is as follows:
    

   
                              Dollar Amount      Percent of Average Net Assets
Small Company Value Trust        $58,054                    .450%
    

   
PRIOR TRUSTEES APPROVAL OF THE OLD AGREEMENT

      The Old Subadvisory Agreement was approved by the Board of Trustees at a
meeting held September 26, 1997 in connection with the organization of the Small
Company Value Trust.
    

OWNERSHIP OF THE TRUST

   
      As of December ___, 1998, 100% of the Trust's shares were legally owned by
four shareholders:

      -     The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company of North America ("Manulife
            North America"), a Delaware stock life insurance company whose
            address is 116 Huntington Avenue , Boston, Massachusetts 02116.
            Manulife North America holds Trust shares attributable to variable
            annuity contracts in The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company of
            North America Separate Account A and Trust shares attributable to
            variable life contracts in The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company
            of North America Separate Account B, both of which are separate
            accounts registered under the 1940 Act, as well as in an
            unregistered separate account.

      -     The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company of New York ("Manulife New
            York"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Manulife North America and a
            New York stock life insurance company whose address is 555 Theodore
            Fremd Avenue, Rye, New York 10580. Manulife 
    





                                       5

<PAGE>   8
   
            New York holds Trust shares attributable to variable annuity
            contracts in The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company of New York
            Separate Account A and Trust shares attributable to variable life
            contracts in The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company of New York
            Separate Account B, both of which are separate accounts registered
            under the 1940 Act.

      -     The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company of America ("Manufacturers
            America"), a stock life insurance company organized under the laws
            of Pennsylvania and redomesticated under the laws of Michigan whose
            address is 500 North Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
            48304. Manufacturers America holds Trust shares attributable to
            variable contracts in Separate Accounts One, Two, Three and Four of
            The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company of America, which are
            separate accounts registered under the 1940 Act.

      -     The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.) ("ManUSA"), a
            stock life insurance company organized under the laws of
            Pennsylvania and redomesticated under the laws of Michigan whose
            address is 500 North Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
            48304 . ManUSA holds Trust shares in several unregistered separate
            accounts.

      The ultimate controlling parent of Manulife North America, Manulife New
York, Manufacturers America and ManUSA is The Manufacturers Life Insurance
Company ("Manulife"), a Canadian mutual life insurance company whose principal
address is 200 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4W 1E5.
    

      No Trustees or officers of the Trust, have any interest in any contract
the reserves for which are invested in the Trust.

   
MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL OF NEW RIEM

      The management and control of New RIEM is described under "Description of
the Transaction." The business address of New RIEM is Four Orinda Way, Suite
300E, Orinda, CA 94563.

      Pursuant to the limited liability company agreement of AXA Rosenberg (the
"Governance Agreement"), the board of directors of AXA Rosenberg (the "Board of
Directors") consists of ten members, five of whom are designated by the RIEM
Partners and five of whom are designated by AXA IM. If the Board of Directors is
deadlocked on an issue, the issue is referred to and resolved by the Board of
Members. The Board of Members consists of two persons, one nominated by AXA IM
and one nominated by the RIEM Partners. Deadlocks at the Board of Members
generally will be resolved by the AXA nominee, except that certain issues cannot
be resolved without the consent of the RIEM Partners or their nominee. Barr
Rosenberg, Marlis Fritz, Jennie Paterson, Thomas Mead and Edward Lyman have been
designated by the RIEM Partners as members of the Board of Directors of AXA
Rosenberg and Nicolas Moreau, Ronald Gould, Herve Hatt, Kevin Dolan, and Jason
Maude have been designated by AXA IM. Mr. Moreau serves as the chief executive
officer of AXA Rosenberg.

      The names, titles and principal occupation of the current executive
officers of New RIEM are as follows:
    

   
      -----------------------------------------------------------------------
      Name/Address                          Position and Principal Occupation
      -----------------------------------------------------------------------

      Nicolas Moreau                        Managing Director, AXA Global
    



                                       6



<PAGE>   9
   
      AXA Global Structured Products        Structured Products, AXA IM
      AXA Investment Managers
      46, Avenue de la Grande Armee
      75017 Paris
      France

      Ronald Gould                          Managing Director, AXA IM
      AXA Investment Managers
      60 Gracechurch Street
      London EC3V 0HR
      United Kingdom
    






                                       7
<PAGE>   10



   
      ------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Name/Address                           Position and Principal Occupation
      ------------------------------------------------------------------------

      Herve Hatt                             Senior Vice President, Asset
      AXA23, Avenue Matignon                 Management Activities, AXA
      75008 Paris                            
      France
      
      Kevin Dolan                            Managing Director, AXA IM
      AXA Investment Managers
      46, Avenue de la Grande Armee
      75017 Paris
      France

      Jason Maude                            Head of Equity Research, AXA IM
      AXA Investment Managers
      60 Gracechurch Street
      London EC3V 0HR
      United Kingdom

      Barr Rosenberg                         Chairman
      AXA Rosenberg Group LLC
      4 Orinda Way. Suite 300E
      Orinda, CA 94563

      Marlis Fritz                           Vice Chairman
      AXA Rosenberg Group LLC
      4 Orinda Way. Suite 300E
      Orinda, CA 94563

      Jennie Paterson                        Managing Director
      AXA Rosenberg Investment
      Management Europe
      9A Devonshire Square
      London EC2M 4YL
      United Kingdom

      Thomas Mead                            Director
      AXA Rosenberg Group LLC
      4 Orinda Way. Suite 300E
      Orinda, CA 94563

      Edward H. Lyman                        Director and Chief Operating
      AXA Rosenberg Group LLC                Officer
      4 Orinda Way. Suite 300E
      Orinda, CA 94563
    

BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS

   
      Pursuant to the Subadvisory   Agreements, Rosenberg is responsible
for placing all orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio securities of the
Portfolio.   Rosenberg has no formula for the distribution 
    


                                       8


<PAGE>   11
   
of the Portfolio's brokerage business; rather they place orders for the
purchase and sale of securities with the primary objective of obtaining the most
favorable overall results for the Portfolio.

      Selection of Brokers or Dealers to Effect Trades. In selecting brokers or
dealers to implement transactions, Rosenberg will give consideration to a number
of factors, including:

- -     price, dealer spread or commission, if any,
- -     the reliability, integrity and financial condition of the broker-dealer,
- -     size of the transaction, and
- -     difficulty of execution.  

      In selecting brokers and dealers, Rosenberg will also give consideration
to the value and quality of any research, statistical, quotation or valuation
services provided by the broker or dealer. In placing a purchase or sale order,
Rosenberg may use a broker whose commission in effecting the transaction is
higher than that of some other broker if Rosenberg determines in good faith that
the amount of the higher commission is reasonable in relation to the value of
the brokerage and research services provided by such broker, viewed in terms of
either the particular transaction or Rosenberg's overall responsibilities with
respect to the Portfolio and any other accounts managed by Rosenberg.

      To the extent research services are used by Rosenberg in rendering
investment advice to the Portfolio, such services would tend to reduce
Rosenberg's expenses. However, Rosenberg does not believe that an exact dollar
value can be assigned to these services. Research services received by Rosenberg
from brokers or dealers executing transactions for the Portfolio will be
available also for the benefit of other portfolios managed by the Rosenberg.

      For the year ended December 31, 1997, the Trust for all portfolios paid
brokerage commissions in connection with portfolio transactions of $14,209,750,
of which $111,673 were paid in connection with the Portfolio.

OTHER INVESTMENT COMPANIES ADVISED BY ROSENBERG

      New RIEM acts as investment adviser to the following funds that have
investment objectives and policies similar to the Small Company Value Trust.
    

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      Investment     Sub-
                                                       Advisory    Advisory   Net Assets as of
       Fund              Investment Objective             Fee        Fee      December 31, 1998
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<S>                      <C>                             <C>          <C>        <C>         
U.S. Small               To seek total return            0.90%        N/A        $560,000,000
Capitalization Series    greater than that of the
                         Russell 2000 Index. 
</TABLE>
    

      OTHER MATTERS

   
      The Trust will furnish, without charge, a copy of the   Trust's annual
report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997 to a shareholder upon
request. To obtain a report, please contact the Trust by calling (800) 344-1029
or by writing to 116 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02116, Attn: Kevin
Hill.
    

      Manufacturers Securities Services, LLC ("MSS"), the adviser to the Trust,
is located at 73 Tremont Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02108. The Trust does not
have a principal underwriter or administrator since shares are sold only to
insurance companies and their separate accounts as the underlying investment
medium for variable contracts. However, MSS and an affiliated broker dealer
serve as principal underwriter of certain contracts issued by affiliates of the
Trust.


                                       9




<PAGE>   12

      The Trust is not required to hold annual meetings of shareholders and,
therefore, it cannot be determined when the next meeting of shareholders will be
held. Shareholder proposals to be presented at any future meeting of
shareholders of the Trust must be received by the Trust a reasonable time before
the Trust's solicitation of proxies for that meeting in order for such proposals
to be considered for inclusion in the proxy materials related to that meeting.

   
      The cost of the preparation, printing and distribution of this Information
Statement is an expense of MSS.
    




                                       10



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