<PAGE> 1
SUPPLEMENT TO THE PROSPECTUSES
WARBURG PINCUS FUNDS
The following information supersedes certain information in the funds'
Prospectuses.
New Adviser. Effective today, Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC (CSAM) became
the funds' investment adviser as a result of the closing of the previously
announced acquisition of Warburg Pincus Asset Management, Inc. (Warburg Pincus)
by Credit Suisse Group (Credit Suisse), and the combination of Warburg Pincus
with Credit Suisse's existing U.S. asset management business. Accordingly, all
references in the Prospectuses to Warburg Pincus are now to CSAM.
CSAM is an indirect wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary of Credit Suisse. CSAM,
together with its predecessor firms, has been engaged in the investment advisory
business for over 60 years and has assets under management of approximately
$58.7 billion. CSAM's principal business address is 153 East 53rd Street, New
York, New York 10022.
Change of Name of Distributor. Counsellors Securities Inc., the funds'
distributor, has changed its name to Credit Suisse Asset Management Securities,
Inc. to reflect its ownership by Credit Suisse.
Address Change. The following address replaces the current address provided in
the Prospectus for overnight or courier service: Boston Financial, Attn: Warburg
Pincus Funds, 66 Brooks Drive, Braintree, MA 02184.
Dated: July 6, 1999
<PAGE> 2
WARBURG PINCUS FUNDS
SHAREHOLDER
GUIDE
Common Class
December 3, 1998
As Revised July 6, 1999
This Shareholder Guide is incorporated into and legally part of each
Warburg Pincus (Common Class) prospectus.
[Warburg Pincus Funds Logo]
<PAGE> 3
BUYING SHARES
OPENING AN ACCOUNT
Your account application provides us with key information we need to set up
your account correctly. It also lets you authorize services that you may find
convenient in the future.
If you need an application, call our Shareholder Service Center to receive
one by mail or fax. Or you can download it from our Internet Web site:
www.warburg.com.
You can make your initial investment by check or wire. The "By Wire" method
in the table enables you to buy shares on a particular day at that day's closing
NAV.
ADDING TO AN ACCOUNT
You can add to your account in a variety of ways, as shown in the table. If
you want to use ACH transfer, be sure to complete the "ACH on Demand" section of
the account application.
INVESTMENT CHECKS
Please use either a personal or bank check payable in U.S. dollars to Warburg
Pincus Funds. Unfortunately, we cannot accept "starter" checks that do not have
your name preprinted on them. We also cannot accept checks payable to you or to
another party and endorsed to the order of Warburg Pincus Funds. These types of
checks may be returned to you and your purchase order may not be processed.
Limited exceptions include properly endorsed IRA Rollover and government checks.
MINIMUM INITIAL INVESTMENT
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Cash Reserve Fund: $ 1,000
New York Tax Exempt
Fund: $ 1,000
Balanced Fund: $ 1,000
Growth & Income Fund: $ 1,000
WorldPerks(R) Funds: $ 5,000
Long-Short Funds $ 25,000
All other funds: $ 2,500
IRAs: $ 500*
Transfers/Gifts to
Minors: $ 500*
* $25,000 minimum for Long-Short
Funds.
</TABLE>
WIRE INSTRUCTIONS
State Street Bank and Trust Company
ABA# 0110 000 28
Attn: Mutual Funds/Custody Dept.
[Warburg Pincus Fund Name]
DDA# 9904-649-2
F/F/C: [Account Number and Registration]
HOW TO REACH US
SHAREHOLDER SERVICE CENTER
Toll free: 800 -WARBURG
(800 -927-2874)
Fax: 212-370-9833
MAIL
Warburg Pincus Funds
P.O. Box 9030
Boston, MA 02205-9030
OVERNIGHT/COURIER SERVICE
Boston Financial
Attn: Warburg Pincus Funds
66 Brooks Drive
Braintree, MA 02184
INTERNET WEB SITE
www.warburg.com
2
<PAGE> 4
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
OPENING AN ACCOUNT ADDING TO AN ACCOUNT
<S> <C>
BY CHECK
- - Complete the New Account Application. - Make your check payable to Warburg
For IRAs use the Universal IRA Pincus Funds.
Application. - Write the account number and the fund
- - Make your check payable to Warburg name on your check.
Pincus Funds. - Mail to Warburg Pincus Funds.
- - Mail to Warburg Pincus Funds. - Minimum amount is $100.
BY EXCHANGE
- - Call our Shareholder Service Center to - Call our Shareholder Service Center to
request an exchange. Be sure to read request an exchange.
the current prospectus for the new - Minimum amount is $250.
fund. Also please observe the minimum If you do not have telephone privileges,
initial investment. mail or fax a signed letter of
If you do not have telephone privileges, instruction.
mail or fax a signed letter of
instruction.
BY WIRE
- - Complete and sign the New Account - Call our Shareholder Service Center by
Application. 4 p.m. ET to inform us of the incoming
- - Call our Shareholder Service Center and wire. Please be sure to specify your
fax the signed New Account Application name, the account number and the fund
by 4 p.m. ET. name on your wire advice.
- - Shareholder Services will telephone you - Wire the money for receipt that day.
with your account number. Please be - Minimum amount is $500.
sure to specify your name, the account
number and the fund name on your wire
advice.
- - Wire your initial investment for
receipt that day.
- - Mail the original, signed application
to Warburg Pincus Funds.
This method is not available for IRAs.
BY AUTOMATED CLEARING HOUSE (ACH) TRANSFER
- - Cannot be used to open an account. - Call our Shareholder Service Center to
request an ACH transfer from your bank.
- Your purchase will be effective at the
next NAV calculated after we receive your
order in proper form.
- Minimum amount is $50.
Requires ACH on Demand privileges.
</TABLE>
800-WARBURG (800-927-2874)
MONDAY - FRIDAY, 8 A.M. - 8 P.M. ET SATURDAY, 8 A.M. - 4 P.M. ET
3
<PAGE> 5
SELLING SHARES(*)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SELLING SOME OR ALL OF YOUR SHARES CAN BE USED FOR
<S> <C>
BY MAIL
Write us a letter of instruction that - Accounts of any type.
includes: - Sales of any amount.
- - your name(s) and signature(s) For IRAs please use the IRA Distribution
- - the fund name and account number Request Form.
- - the dollar amount you want to sell
- - how to send the proceeds
Obtain a signature guarantee or other
documentation, if required (see "Selling
Shares
in Writing").
Mail the materials to Warburg Pincus
Funds.
If only a letter of instruction is
required, you can fax it to the
Shareholder Service Center.
BY EXCHANGE
- - Call our Shareholder Service Center to - Accounts with telephone privileges.
request an exchange. Be sure to read If you do not have telephone privileges,
the current prospectus for the new fund. mail or fax a letter of instruction to
Also please observe the minimum initial exchange shares.
investment.
BY PHONE
Call our Shareholder Service Center to - Non-IRA accounts with telephone
request a redemption. You can receive the privileges.
proceeds as:
- - a check mailed to the address of record
- - an ACH transfer to your bank ($50
minimum)
- - a wire to your bank ($500 minimum)
See "By Wire or ACH Transfer" for
details.
BY WIRE OR ACH TRANSFER
- - Complete the "Wire Instructions" or - Non-IRA accounts with wire-redemption
"ACH on Demand" section of your New or ACH on Demand privileges.
Account Application. - Requests by phone or mail.
- - For federal-funds wires, proceeds will
be wired on the next business day. For
ACH transfers, proceeds will be
delivered within two business days.
</TABLE>
()* For the Central & Eastern Europe Fund only: A short-term trading fee of 1.0%
of the amount redeemed will be deducted from the redemption proceeds if you sell
shares of the fund after holding them less than six months. This fee, which is
currently being waived, does not apply to shares acquired through reinvestment
of distributions. For purposes of computing the short-term trading fee, any
shares bought through reinvestment of distributions will be redeemed first
without charging the fees, followed by the shares held longest.
4
<PAGE> 6
SELLING SHARES IN WRITING
Some circumstances require a written sell order, along with a signature
guarantee. These include:
- accounts whose address of record has been changed within the past 30 days
- redemption in certain large amounts (other than by exchange)
- requests to send the proceeds to a different payee or address
- shares represented by certificates, which must be returned with your sell
order
A signature guarantee helps protect against fraud. You can obtain one from
most banks or securities dealers, but not from a notary public.
RECENTLY PURCHASED SHARES
If the fund has not yet collected payment for the shares you are selling, it
will delay sending you the proceeds until your purchase payment clears. This may
take up to 10 calendar days after the purchase. To avoid the collection period,
consider buying shares by bank wire, bank check, certified check or money order.
LOW-BALANCE ACCOUNTS
If your account balance falls below the minimum required to keep it open due
to redemptions or exchanges, the fund may ask you to increase your balance. If
it is still below the minimum after 60 days, the fund may close your account and
mail you the proceeds.
MINIMUM TO KEEP AN ACCOUNT OPEN
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Cash Reserve Fund: $ 750
New York Tax Exempt Fund: $ 750
Balanced Fund: $ 500
Growth & Income Fund: $ 500
WorldPerks Funds: $ 750
All other funds: $2,000
IRAs: $ 250
Transfers/Gifts to
Minors: $ 250
</TABLE>
800-WARBURG (800-927-2874)
MONDAY - FRIDAY, 8 A.M. - 8 P.M. ET SATURDAY, 8 A.M. - 4 P.M. ET
5
<PAGE> 7
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
AUTOMATIC SERVICES
Buying or selling shares automatically is easy with the services described
below. You can set up most of these services with your account application or by
calling our Shareholder Service Center.
AUTOMATIC MONTHLY INVESTMENT PLAN
For making automatic investments ($50 minimum) from a designated bank
account.
AUTOMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN
For making automatic monthly, quarterly, semiannual or annual withdrawals of
$250 or more.
DISTRIBUTION SWEEP
For automatically reinvesting your dividend and capital-gain distributions
into another identically registered Warburg Pincus fund. Not available for IRAs.
RETIREMENT PLANS
Warburg Pincus offers a range of tax-advantaged retirement accounts,
including:
- Traditional IRAs
- Roth IRAs
- Roth Conversion IRAs
- Spousal IRAs
- Rollover IRAs
- SEP IRAs
To transfer your IRA to Warburg Pincus, use the IRA Transfer/Direct Rollover
Form. If you are opening a new IRA, you will also need to complete the Universal
IRA Application. Please consult your tax professional concerning your IRA
eligibility and tax situation.
TRANSFERS/GIFTS TO MINORS
Depending on state laws, you can set up a custodial account under the Uniform
Transfers-to-Minors Act (UTMA) or the Uniform Gifts-to-Minors Act (UGMA). Please
consult your tax professional about these types of accounts.
ACCOUNT CHANGES
Call our Shareholder Service Center to update your account records whenever
you change your address. Shareholder Services can also help you change your
account information or privileges.
6
<PAGE> 8
OTHER POLICIES
TRANSACTION DETAILS
You are entitled to capital-gain and earned dividend distributions as soon as
your purchase order is executed. For the Intermediate Maturity Government, New
York Intermediate Municipal and Fixed Income Funds and the Money Market Funds,
you begin to earn dividend distributions the business day after your purchase
order is executed. However, if we receive your purchase order and payment to
purchase shares of a Money Market Fund before 12 p.m. (noon), you begin to earn
dividend distributions on that day.
Your purchase order will be canceled and you may be liable for losses or fees
incurred by the fund if:
- your investment check or ACH transfer does not clear
- you place a telephone order by 4 p.m. ET and we do not receive your wire that
day
If you wire money without first calling Shareholder Services to place an
order, and your wire arrives after the close of regular trading on the NYSE,
then your order will not be executed until the end of the next business day. In
the meantime, your payment will be held uninvested. Your bank or other
financial-services firm may charge a fee to send or receive wire transfers.
While we monitor telephone servicing resources carefully, during periods of
significant economic or market change it may be difficult to place orders by
telephone.
Uncashed redemption or distribution checks do not earn interest.
SPECIAL SITUATIONS
A fund reserves the right to:
- refuse any purchase or exchange request, including those from any person or
group who, in the fund's view, is likely to engage in excessive trading
- change or discontinue its exchange privilege after 30 days' notice to current
investors, or temporarily suspend this privilege during unusual market
conditions
- change its minimum investment amounts after 15 days' notice to current
investors of any increases
- charge a wire-redemption fee
- make a "redemption in kind"--payment in portfolio securities rather than
cash--for certain large redemption amounts that could hurt fund operations
- suspend redemptions or postpone payment dates as permitted by the Investment
Company Act of 1940 (such as during periods other than weekends or holidays
when the NYSE is closed or trading on the NYSE is restricted, or any other
time that the SEC permits)
- modify or waive its minimum investment requirements for employees and clients
of its adviser, sub-adviser, distributor and their affiliates and, for the
Long-Short Funds, investments through certain financial-services firms
($10,000 minimum) and through retirement plan programs (no minimum)
- stop offering its shares for a period of time (such as when management
believes that a substantial increase in assets could adversely affect it)
800-WARBURG (800-927-2874)
MONDAY - FRIDAY, 8 A.M. - 8 P.M. ET SATURDAY, 8 A.M. - 4 P.M. ET
7
<PAGE> 9
[WARBURG PINCUS FUNDS LOGO]
P.O. BOX 9030, BOSTON, MA 02205-9030
800-WARBURG (800-927-2874) B www.warburg.com
CREDIT SUISSE ASSET MANAGEMENT SECURITIES, INC.,DISTRIBUTOR. WPCOM-31-1298Dc
<PAGE> 10
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
APRIL 30, 1999
AS REVISED JULY 6, 1999
WARBURG PINCUS CASH RESERVE FUND
WARBURG PINCUS NEW YORK TAX EXEMPT FUND
This combined Statement of Additional Information provides information about
Warburg Pincus Cash Reserve Fund (the "Cash Reserve Fund") and Warburg Pincus
New York Tax Exempt Fund (the "Tax Exempt Fund" and collectively with the Cash
Reserve Fund, the "Funds") which supplements the information that is contained
in the combined Prospectus of the Funds, dated April 30, 1999.
Each Fund's audited annual report dated December 31, 1998, which either
accompanies this Statement of Additional Information or has previously been
provided to the investor to whom this Statement of Additional Information is
being sent, is incorporated herein by reference.
This Statement of Additional Information is not a prospectus and should be read
in conjunction with the Prospectus. Copies of the Prospectus and the Annual
Report can be obtained by writing or telephoning:
Warburg Pincus Funds
P.O. Box 9030
Boston, Massachusetts 02205-9030
800-WARBURG
<PAGE> 11
Table of Contents
<TABLE>
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Page
----
<S> <C>
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES............................................................................... 1
GENERAL ............................................................................................ 1
Price and Portfolio Maturity......................................................... 1
Portfolio Quality and Diversification................................................ 1
INVESTMENT POLICIES................................................................................. 2
Municipal Securities................................................................. 2
Bank Obligations..................................................................... 4
Variable Rate Master Demand Notes.................................................... 5
Government Securities................................................................ 5
When-Issued Securities............................................................... 6
Repurchase Agreements................................................................ 6
Reverse Repurchase Agreements and Borrowings......................................... 7
Stand-By Commitment Agreements....................................................... 7
Third Party Puts..................................................................... 8
Taxable Investments.................................................................. 8
Other Investment Policies and Practices of the New York Tax Exempt Fund.............. 9
Non-Diversified Status........................................................ 9
Other Investment Limitations......................................................... 9
Cash Reserve Fund............................................................. 9
New York Tax Exempt Fund...................................................... 11
PORTFOLIO VALUATION................................................................................. 12
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS.............................................................................. 13
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS RELATING TO NEW YORK MUNICIPAL SECURITIES.................................... 14
State Economy........................................................................ 14
State Budget......................................................................... 15
Debt Limits and Outstanding Debt..................................................... 17
Litigation........................................................................... 18
Authorities.......................................................................... 19
New York City and Other Localities................................................... 20
Year 2000 Compliance................................................................. 25
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUNDS............................................................................. 26
Officers and Board of Directors...................................................... 26
Directors' Compensation.............................................................. 29
Investment Adviser, Sub-Investment Adviser and Administrator and Co-Administrator.... 29
Banking Laws......................................................................... 31
Custodian and Transfer Agent......................................................... 32
Organization of the Fund............................................................. 32
ADDITIONAL PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION...................................................... 33
Automatic Cash Withdrawal Plan....................................................... 34
</TABLE>
(i)
<PAGE> 12
<TABLE>
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Page
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<S> <C>
EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE.................................................................................. 34
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING TAXES............................................................. 35
DETERMINATION OF YIELD.............................................................................. 38
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS AND COUNSEL................................................................. 39
MISCELLANEOUS....................................................................................... 40
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS................................................................................ 41
APPENDIX............................................................................................ A-1
Description of Commercial Paper Ratings.............................................. A-1
Description of Municipal Securities Ratings.......................................... A-2
</TABLE>
(ii)
<PAGE> 13
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES
The following information supplements the discussion of each Fund's
investment objective and policies in the Prospectus. There are no assurances
that the Funds will achieve their investment objectives.
The investment objective of the Cash Reserve Fund is to provide
investors with high current income consistent with liquidity and stability of
principal.
The investment objective of the New York Tax Exempt Fund is to
provide investors with as high a level of current income that is excluded from
gross income for federal income tax purposes and exempt from New York State and
New York City personal income taxes as is consistent with preservation of
capital and liquidity.
Unless otherwise indicated, each Fund is permitted to engage in the
following investment strategies. The Funds are not obligated to pursue any of
the following strategies and do not represent that these techniques are
available now or will be available at any time in the future.
GENERAL
Price and Portfolio Maturity. Each Fund invests only in securities
which are purchased with and payable in U.S. dollars and which have (or,
pursuant to regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"SEC"), are deemed to have) remaining maturities of 397 calendar days or less at
the date of purchase by the Fund. For this purpose, variable rate master demand
notes (as described below), which are payable on demand, or, under certain
conditions, at specified periodic intervals not exceeding 397 calendar days, in
either case on not more than 30 days' notice, will be deemed to have remaining
maturities of 397 calendar days or less. Each Fund maintains a dollar-weighted
average portfolio maturity of 90 days or less. Each Fund follows these policies
to maintain a constant net asset value of $1.00 per share, although there is no
assurance that it can do so on a continuing basis.
Portfolio Quality and Diversification. Each Fund will limit its
portfolio investments to securities that its Board determines present minimal
credit risks and which are "Eligible Securities" at the time of acquisition by
the Fund. The term Eligible Securities includes securities rated by the
"Requisite NRSROs" in one of the two highest short-term rating categories,
securities of issuers that have received such ratings with respect to other
short-term debt securities and comparable unrated securities. "Requisite NRSROs"
means (i) any two nationally recognized statistical rating organizations
("NRSROs") that have issued a rating with respect to a security or class of debt
obligations of an issuer, or (ii) one NRSRO, if only one NRSRO has issued a
rating with respect to such security or issuer at the time that the Fund
acquires the security. The Funds may purchase securities that are unrated at the
time of purchase that a Fund's investment adviser and sub-investment adviser
deem to be of comparable quality to rated securities that the Fund may purchase.
The NRSROs currently designated as such by the SEC are Standard & Poor's Ratings
Services ("S&P"), Moody's
<PAGE> 14
Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's"), Fitch Investors Services, Inc., Duff and
Phelps, Inc. and IBCA Limited and its affiliate, IBCA, Inc. A discussion of the
ratings categories of the NRSROs is contained in the Appendix to the Fund's
Statement of Additional Information.
The Funds have adopted certain credit quality, maturity and
diversification requirements under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), as operating policies. Under these policies,
there are two tiers of Eligible Securities, first and second tier, based on
their ratings by NRSROs or, if the securities are unrated, on determinations by
a Fund's investment adviser and sub-investment adviser. These policies generally
restrict a Fund from investing more than 5% of its assets in second tier
securities and limit to 5% of assets the portion that may be invested in any one
issuer. The Tax Exempt Fund may invest up to 25% of its assets without regard to
this per issuer limit. In addition, the credit quality and diversification
policies vary to some extent between the Cash Reserve and Tax Exempt Funds
because the Tax Exempt Fund is a single-state tax exempt fund.
INVESTMENT POLICIES
Municipal Securities. Under normal circumstances, substantially all
of the New York Tax Exempt Fund's assets will be invested in Municipal
Securities. Municipal Securities include short-term debt obligations issued by
governmental entities to obtain funds for various public purposes, including the
construction of a wide range of public facilities, the refunding of outstanding
obligations, the payment of general operating expenses and the extension of
loans to public institutions and facilities. Private activity securities that
are issued by or on behalf of public authorities to finance various
privately-operated facilities are included within the term Municipal Securities
if the interest paid thereon is exempt from federal income tax.
The two principal types of Municipal Securities consist of "general
obligation" and "revenue" issues, and the New York Tax Exempt Fund's portfolio
may include "moral obligation" issues, which are normally issued by special
purpose authorities. General obligation bonds are secured by the issuer's pledge
of its full faith, credit and taxing power for the payment of principal and
interest. Revenue bonds are payable only from the revenues derived from a
particular facility or class of facilities or in some cases, from the proceeds
of a special excise tax or other specific revenue source such as the user of the
facility being financed. Private activity securities held by the Fund are in
most cases revenue bonds and are not payable from the unrestricted revenues of
the issuer. Consequently, the credit quality of such private activity securities
is usually directly related to the credit standing of the corporate user of the
facility involved.
There are, of course, variations in the quality of Municipal
Securities, both within a particular classification and between classifications,
and the yields on Municipal Securities depend upon a variety of factors,
including general money market conditions, the financial condition of the
issuer, general conditions of the municipal bond market, the size of a
particular offering, the maturity of the obligation and the rating of the issue.
The ratings of rating agencies represent their opinions as to the quality of
Municipal Securities. It should be
-2-
<PAGE> 15
emphasized, however, that ratings are general and are not absolute standards of
quality, and Municipal Securities with the same maturity, interest rate and
rating may have different yields while Municipal Securities of the same maturity
and interest rate with different ratings may have the same yield. Subsequent to
its purchase by the New York Tax Exempt Fund, an issue of Municipal Securities
may cease to be rated or its rating may be reduced below the minimum rating
required for purchase by the Fund. The Fund's investment adviser and
sub-investment adviser will consider such an event in determining whether the
Fund should continue to hold the obligation. See the Appendix attached hereto
for further information concerning ratings and their significance.
An issuer's obligations under its Municipal Securities are subject
to the provisions of bankruptcy, insolvency and other laws affecting the rights
and remedies of creditors, such as the Federal Bankruptcy Code, and laws, if
any, which may be enacted by federal or state legislatures extending the time
for payment of principal or interest, or both, or imposing other constraints
upon enforcement of such obligations or upon the ability of municipalities to
levy taxes. There is also the possibility that as a result of litigation or
other conditions, the power or ability of any one or more issuers to pay, when
due, principal of and interest on its, or their, Municipal Securities may be
materially adversely affected.
Among other instruments, the New York Tax Exempt Fund may purchase
short-term Tax Anticipation Notes, Bond Anticipation Notes, Revenue Anticipation
Notes and other forms of short-term loans. Such notes are issued with a
short-term maturity in anticipation of the receipt of tax funds, the proceeds of
bond placements or other revenues.
Special Considerations and Risk Factors Relating to the Tax Exempt
Fund. In seeking to achieve its investment objective the Tax Exempt Fund may
invest all or any part of its assets in Municipal Securities which are
industrial development bonds. Moreover, although the Tax Exempt Fund does not
currently intend to do so on a regular basis, it may invest more than 25% of its
assets in Municipal Securities the interest on which is paid solely from
revenues of economically related projects, if such investment is deemed
necessary or appropriate by the Fund's investment adviser and sub-investment
adviser. To the extent that the Fund's assets are concentrated in Municipal
Securities payable from revenues on economically related projects and
facilities, the Fund will be subject to the peculiar risks presented by such
projects to a greater extent than it would be if the Fund's assets were not so
concentrated.
The Tax Exempt Fund also invests in securities backed by guarantees
from banks and other financial institutions. The Fund's ability to maintain a
stable share price is largely dependent upon such guarantees, which are not
supported by federal deposit insurance. Consequently, changes in the credit
quality of these institutions could have an adverse impact on securities they
have guaranteed or backed, which could cause losses to the Fund and affect its
share price.
As a non-diversified mutual fund, the Tax Exempt Fund may invest a
greater proportion of its assets in the obligations of a smaller number of
issuers and, as a result, will
-3-
<PAGE> 16
be subject to greater credit risk with respect to its portfolio securities. In
the opinion of the Fund's adviser, any risk to the Fund should be limited by its
intention to continue to conduct its operations so as to qualify as a "regulated
investment company" for purposes of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code"), and by its policies restricting investments to obligations
with short-term maturities and high quality credit ratings.
The Tax Exempt Fund's ability to achieve its investment objective
is dependent upon the ability of the issuers of New York Municipal Securities to
meet their continuing obligations for the payment of principal and interest. New
York State and New York City face long-term economic problems that could
seriously affect their ability and that of other issuers of New York Municipal
Securities to meet their financial obligations.
Certain substantial issuers of New York Municipal Securities
(including issuers whose obligations may be acquired by the Fund) have
experienced serious financial difficulties in recent years. These difficulties
have at times jeopardized the credit standing and impaired the borrowing
abilities of all New York issuers and have generally contributed to higher
interest costs for their borrowings and fewer markets for their outstanding debt
obligations. Although several different issues of municipal securities of New
York State and its agencies and instrumentalities and of New York City have been
downgraded by S&P and Moody's in recent years, the most recent actions of S&P
and Moody's have been to place the debt obligations of New York State on
CreditWatch with positive implications and to upgrade the debt obligations of
New York City, respectively. Strong demand for New York Municipal Securities has
also at times had the effect of permitting New York Municipal Securities to be
issued with yields relatively lower, and after issuance, to trade in the market
at prices relatively higher, than comparably rated municipal obligations issued
by other jurisdictions. A recurrence of the financial difficulties previously
experienced by certain issuers of New York Municipal Securities could result in
defaults or declines in the market values of those issuers' existing obligations
and, possibly, in the obligations of other issuers of New York Municipal
Securities. Although as of the date of this Statement of Additional Information,
no issuers of New York Municipal Securities are in default with respect to the
payment of their municipal securities, the occurrence of any such default could
affect adversely the market values and marketability of all New York Municipal
Securities and, consequently, the net asset value of the Fund's portfolio.
Bank Obligations. The Cash Reserve Fund may purchase bank
obligations, including United States dollar-denominated instruments issued or
supported by the credit of the United States or foreign banks or savings
institutions having total assets at the time of purchase in excess of $1
billion. While the Cash Reserve Fund will invest in obligations of foreign banks
or foreign branches of United States banks only if the Fund's investment adviser
and sub-investment adviser deem the instrument to present minimal credit risks,
such investments may nevertheless entail risks that are different from those of
investments in domestic obligations of United States banks due to differences in
political, regulatory and economic systems and conditions. Such risks include
future political and economic developments, the possible imposition of
withholding taxes on interest income, possible establishment of exchange
controls or the adoption of other foreign governmental restrictions which might
-4-
<PAGE> 17
adversely affect the payment of principal and interest on such obligations. The
Cash Reserve Fund may also make interest-bearing savings deposits in commercial
and savings banks in amounts not in excess of 5% of its assets.
Variable Rate Master Demand Notes. Each Fund may also purchase
variable rate master demand notes, which are unsecured instruments that permit
the indebtedness thereunder to vary and provide for periodic adjustments in the
interest rate. Although the notes are not normally traded and there may be no
secondary market in the notes, the Fund may demand payment of principal and
accrued interest at any time and may resell the note at any time to a third
party. In the event an issuer of a variable rate master demand note defaulted on
its payment obligation, the Fund might be unable to dispose of the note because
of the absence of a secondary market and might, for this or other reasons,
suffer a loss to the extent of the default.
Variable rate master demand notes held by a Fund may have
maturities of more than thirteen months, provided: (i) the Fund is entitled to
payment of principal and accrued interest upon not more than seven days' notice
and (ii) the rate of interest on such notes is adjusted automatically at
periodic intervals which may extend up to thirteen months. In determining the
Fund's average weighted portfolio maturity and whether a variable rate master
demand note has a remaining maturity of thirteen months or less, each note will
be deemed by the Fund to have a maturity equal to the longer of the period
remaining until its next interest rate adjustment or the period remaining until
the principal amount owed can be recovered through demand. In determining
whether an unrated variable rate master demand note is of comparable quality at
the time of purchase to instruments rated "high quality" by any major rating
service or when purchasing variable rate master demand notes, the Fund's
investment adviser and sub-investment adviser will consider the earning power,
cash flow and other liquidity ratios of the issuer of the note and will
continuously monitor its financial condition. In addition, when necessary to
ensure that a note is of "high quality," the Fund will require that the issuer's
obligation to pay the principal of the note be backed by an unconditional bank
letter of line of credit, guarantee or commitment to lend.
In the event an issuer of a variable rate master demand note
defaults on its payment obligation, a Fund might be unable to dispose of the
note because of the absence of a secondary market and might, for this or other
reasons, suffer a loss to the extent of the default. However, the Fund will
invest in such instruments only where its investment adviser and sub-investment
adviser believe that the risk of such loss is minimal. In determining average
weighted portfolio maturity, a variable rate master demand note will be deemed
to have a maturity equal to the longer of the period remaining to the next
interest rate adjustment or the demand note period.
Government Securities. Government Securities in which the Funds may
invest include Treasury Bills, Treasury Notes and Treasury Bonds; other
obligations that are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States
Treasury, such as Government National Mortgage Association pass-through
certificates; obligations that are supported by the right of the issuer to
borrow from the Treasury, such as securities of Federal Home Loan
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<PAGE> 18
Banks; and obligations that are supported only by the credit of the
instrumentality, such as Federal National Mortgage Association bonds.
When-Issued Securities. A Fund may purchase Municipal Securities or
portfolio securities, as the case may be, on a "when-issued" basis (i.e., for
delivery beyond the normal settlement date at a stated price and yield). Each
Fund may purchase portfolio securities on a "when-issued" basis. When-issued
securities are securities purchased for delivery beyond the normal settlement
date at a stated price and yield. A Fund will generally not pay for such
securities or start earning interest on them until they are received. Securities
purchased on a when-issued basis are recorded as an asset and are subject to
changes in value based upon changes in the general level of interest rates. Each
Fund expects that commitments to purchase when-issued securities will not exceed
25% of the value of its total assets absent unusual market conditions, and that
a commitment by the Fund to purchase when-issued securities will generally not
exceed 45 days. The Funds do not intend to purchase when-issued securities for
speculative purposes but only in furtherance of their investment objectives.
When the Fund agrees to purchase when-issued securities, its
custodian will set aside cash or liquid securities in a segregated account equal
to the amount of the commitment. Normally, the custodian will set aside
portfolio securities to satisfy a purchase commitment, and in such a case the
Fund may be required subsequently to place additional assets in the segregated
account in order to ensure that the value of the account remains equal to the
amount of the Fund's commitment. It may be expected that the Fund's net assets
will fluctuate to a greater degree when it sets aside portfolio securities to
cover such purchase commitments than when it sets aside cash. Because the Fund
will set aside cash and liquid assets to satisfy its purchase commitments in the
manner described, the Fund's liquidity and ability to manage its portfolio might
be affected in the event its commitments to purchase when-issued securities ever
exceeded 25% of the value of its assets.
When a Fund engages in when-issued transactions, it relies on the
seller to consummate the trade. Failure of the seller to do so may result in the
Fund's incurring a loss or missing an opportunity to obtain a price considered
to be advantageous.
Repurchase Agreements. Each Fund may agree to purchase money market
instruments from financial institutions such as banks and broker-dealers subject
to the seller's agreement to repurchase them at an agreed-upon date and price
("repurchase agreements"). The repurchase price generally equals the price paid
by the Fund plus interest negotiated on the basis of current short-term rates
(which may be more or less than the rate on the securities underlying the
repurchase agreement). Default by a seller, if the Fund is delayed or prevented
from exercising its rights to dispose of the collateral securities, could expose
the Fund to possible loss, including the risk of a possible decline in the value
of the underlying securities during the period while the Fund seeks to assert
its rights thereto. Repurchase agreements are considered to be loans by the Fund
under the 1940 Act. The seller under a repurchase agreement will be required to
maintain the value of the securities subject to the agreement at not less than
the repurchase price (including accrued interest). Securities subject to
repurchase
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<PAGE> 19
agreements will be held by the Fund's custodian or in the Federal
Reserve/Treasury book-entry system or another authorized securities depository.
Reverse Repurchase Agreements and Borrowings. A Fund may borrow
funds for temporary purposes and not for leverage by agreeing to sell portfolio
securities to financial institutions such as banks and broker-dealers and to
repurchase them at a mutually agreed-upon date and price. At the time the Fund
enters into such an arrangement (a "reverse repurchase agreement"), it will
place in a segregated custodial account cash or liquid securities having a value
equal to the repurchase price (including accrued interest) and will subsequently
monitor the account to ensure that such equivalent value is maintained. Reverse
repurchase agreements involve the risk that the market value of the securities
sold by the Fund may decline below the repurchase price of those securities.
Reverse repurchase agreements are considered to be borrowings by the Fund under
the 1940 Act.
Stand-By Commitment Agreements. (New York Tax Exempt Fund only).
The Fund may acquire "stand-by commitments" with respect to Municipal Securities
held in its portfolio. Under a stand-by commitment, a dealer agrees to purchase
at the Fund's option specified Municipal Securities at a specified price.
Stand-by commitments acquired by the Fund may also be referred to as "put"
options. The Fund's right to exercise stand-by commitments is unconditional and
unqualified. A stand-by commitment is not transferable by the Fund, although the
Fund can sell the underlying securities to a third party at any time.
The principal risk of a stand-by commitment is that the writer of a
commitment may default on its obligation to repurchase the securities acquired
with it. The Fund intends to enter into stand-by commitments only with brokers,
dealers and banks that, in the opinion of Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC,
each Fund's investment adviser ("CSAM"), present minimal credit risks. In
evaluating the creditworthiness of the issuer of a stand-by commitment, CSAM
will periodically review relevant financial information concerning the issuer's
assets, liabilities and contingent claims.
The amount payable to the Fund upon its exercise of a stand-by
commitment is normally (i) the Fund's acquisition cost of the Municipal
Securities (excluding any accrued interest which the Fund paid on their
acquisition), less any amortized market premium or plus any amortized market or
original issue discount during the period the Fund owned the securities, plus
(ii) all interest accrued on the securities since the last interest payment date
during that period.
The Fund expects that stand-by commitments will generally be
available without the payment of any direct or indirect consideration. However,
if necessary or advisable, the Fund may pay for a stand-by commitment either
separately in cash or by paying a higher price for portfolio securities which
are acquired subject to the commitment (thus reducing the yield to maturity
otherwise available for the same securities). The total amount paid in either
manner for outstanding stand-by commitments held in the Fund's portfolio will
not exceed 1/2 of 1% of the value of the Fund's total assets calculated
immediately after each stand-by commitment is acquired.
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<PAGE> 20
The Fund would acquire stand-by commitments solely to facilitate
portfolio liquidity and does not intend to exercise its rights thereunder for
trading purposes. The acquisition of a stand-by commitment would not affect the
valuation or assumed maturity of the underlying Municipal Securities which, as
noted, would continue to be valued in accordance with the amortized cost method.
Stand-by commitments acquired by the Fund would be valued at zero in determining
net asset value. Where the Fund paid any consideration directly or indirectly
for a stand-by commitment, its cost would be reflected as unrealized
depreciation for the period during which the commitment was held by the Fund.
Stand-by commitments would not affect the average weighted maturity of the
Fund's portfolio.
The Internal Revenue Service has issued a revenue ruling to the
effect that a registered investment company will be treated for federal income
tax purposes as the owner of the Municipal Securities acquired subject to a
stand-by commitment and the interest on the Municipal Securities will be
tax-exempt to the Fund.
Third Party Puts. (New York Tax Exempt Fund only). The Fund may
purchase long-term fixed rate bonds that have been coupled with an option
granted by a third party financial institution allowing the Fund at specified
intervals to tender (or "put") the bonds to the institution and receive the face
value thereof (plus accrued interest). These third party puts are available in
several different forms, may be represented by custodial receipts or trust
certificates and may be combined with other features such as interest rate
swaps. The Fund receives a short-term rate of interest (which is periodically
reset), and the interest rate differential between that rate and the fixed rate
on the bond is retained by the financial institution. The financial institution
granting the option does not provide credit enhancement, and in the event that
there is a default in the payment of principal or interest, or downgrading of a
bond to below investment grade, or a loss of the bond's tax-exempt status, the
put option will terminate automatically, the risk to the Fund will be that of
holding such a long-term bond and the dollar-weighted average maturity of the
Fund's portfolio would be adversely affected.
These bonds coupled with puts may present the same tax issues as
are associated with stand-by commitments. As with any stand-by commitment, the
Fund intends to take the position that it is the owner of any municipal
obligation acquired subject to a third party put, and that tax-exempt interest
earned with respect to such municipal obligations will be tax-exempt in its
hands. There is no assurance that the Internal Revenue Service will agree with
such position in any particular case. Additionally, the federal income tax
treatment of certain other aspects of these investments, including the treatment
of tender fees and swap payments, in relation to various regulated investment
company tax provisions is unclear. However, CSAM, intends to manage the Fund's
portfolio in a manner designed to minimize any adverse impact from these
investments.
Taxable Investments. (New York Tax Exempt fund only). Because the
Fund's purpose is to provide income excluded from gross income for federal
income tax purposes and exempt from New York State and New York City taxes, the
Fund generally will invest in taxable obligations only if and when the
investment adviser believes it would be in the best interests of the Fund's
investors to do so. Situations in which the Fund may invest up to 20%
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<PAGE> 21
of its total assets in taxable securities include: (i) pending investment of
proceeds of sales of Fund shares or the sale of its portfolio securities or (ii)
when the Fund requires highly liquid securities in order to meet anticipated
redemptions. The Fund may temporarily invest more than 20% of its total assets
in taxable securities to maintain a "defensive" posture when the Fund's
investment adviser determines that it is advisable to do so because of adverse
market conditions affecting the market for Municipal Securities generally.
Among the taxable investments in which the Fund may invest are
repurchase agreements and time deposits maturing in not more than seven days.
The Fund may agree to purchase money market instruments from financial
institutions such as banks and broker-dealers subject to the seller's agreement
to repurchase them at an agreed-upon date and price ("repurchase agreements").
The seller under a repurchase agreement will be required to maintain the value
of the securities subject to the agreement at not less than the repurchase price
(including accrued interest). Securities subject to repurchase agreements will
be held by the Fund's custodian or in the Federal Reserve/Treasury book-entry
system or another authorized securities depository.
Other Investment Policies and Practices of the New York Tax Exempt Fund
Non-Diversified Status. The New York Tax Exempt Fund is classified
as non-diversified within the meaning of the 1940 Act, which means that it is
not limited by such Act in the proportion of its assets that it may invest in
securities of a single issuer. The Fund's investments will be limited, however,
in order to qualify as a "regulated investment company" for purposes of the
Code. See "Additional Information Concerning Taxes." To qualify, the Fund will
comply with certain requirements, including limiting its investments so that at
the close of each quarter of the taxable year (a) not more than 25% of the
market value of its total assets will be invested in the securities of a single
issuer, and (b) with respect to 50% of the market value of its total assets, not
more than 5% of the market value of its total assets will be invested in the
securities of a single issuer and the Fund will not own more than 10% of the
outstanding voting securities of a single issuer.
Other Investment Limitations
Cash Reserve Fund. The investment limitations numbered 1 through 10
may not be changed without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of
the Fund's outstanding shares. Such majority is defined as the lesser of (i) 67%
or more of the shares present at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of
the outstanding shares of the Fund are present or represented by proxy, or (ii)
more than 50% of the outstanding shares. Investment limitations 11 and 12 may be
changed by a vote of the Fund's Board of Directors (the "Board") at any time.
The Cash Reserve Fund may not:
1. Invest in common stocks, preferred stocks, warrants, other
equity securities, corporate bonds or indentures, state bonds, municipal bonds
or industrial revenue bonds.
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2. Purchase the securities of any issuer if as a result more than
5% of the value of the Fund's assets would be invested in the securities of such
issuer, except that this 5% limitation does not apply to securities issued or
guaranteed by the United States government, its agencies or instrumentalities,
and except that up to 25% of the value of the Fund's assets may be invested
without regard to this 5% limitation.
3. Borrow money, issue senior securities or enter into reverse
repurchase agreements except for temporary or emergency purposes and not for
leveraging, and then in amounts not in excess of 10% of the value of the Fund's
assets at the time of such borrowing; or mortgage, pledge or hypothecate any
assets except in connection with any such borrowing and in amounts not in excess
of the lesser of the dollar amounts borrowed or 10% of the value of the Fund's
assets at the time of such borrowing. The Fund does not currently intend to
enter into reverse repurchase agreements in amounts in excess of 5% of its
assets at the time the agreement is entered into. Whenever borrowings exceed 5%
of the value of the Fund's total assets, the Fund will not make any additional
investments.
4. Purchase any securities which would cause more than 25% of the
value of the Fund's total assets at the time of purchase to be invested in the
securities of issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same
industry; provided that there shall be no limit on the purchase of obligations
issued or guaranteed by the United States, any state, territory or possession of
the United States, the District of Columbia or any of their authorities,
agencies, instrumentalities or political sub-divisions or certificates of
deposit, time deposits, savings deposits and bankers' acceptances.
5. Make loans except that the Fund may purchase or hold debt
obligations in accordance with its investment objective, policies and
limitations and enter into repurchase agreements.
6. Underwrite any issue of securities except to the extent that the
purchase of debt obligations directly from the issuer thereof in accordance with
the Fund's investment objective, policies and limitations may be deemed to be
underwriting.
7. Purchase securities on margin, make short sales of securities or
maintain a short position.
8. Write or sell puts, calls, straddles, spreads or combinations
thereof.
9. Purchase or sell real estate, real estate investment trust
securities, commodities or commodity contracts, or invest in oil, gas or mineral
exploration or development programs, except that the Fund may purchase
commercial paper issued by companies that invest in real estate or interests
therein.
10. Purchase securities of other investment companies except in
connection with a merger, consolidation, acquisition or reorganization.
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<PAGE> 23
11. Invest more than 10% of the value of the Fund's total assets in
securities which may be illiquid because of legal or contractual restrictions on
resale or securities for which there are no readily available market quotations.
For purposes of this limitation, repurchase agreements with maturities greater
than seven days after notice by the Fund, variable rate master demand notes
providing for settlement upon maturities longer than seven days and savings
accounts which require more than seven days' notice prior to withdrawal shall be
considered illiquid securities.
12. Invest in oil, gas or mineral leases.
If a percentage restriction (other than the percentage limitation
set forth in No. 3 above) is adhered to at the time of an investment, a later
increase or decrease in the percentage of assets resulting from a change in the
values of portfolio securities or in the amount of the Fund's assets will not
constitute a violation of such restriction.
New York Tax Exempt Fund. The investment limitations numbered 1
through 9 may not be changed without the affirmative vote of the holders of a
majority of the Fund's outstanding shares. Such majority is defined as the
lesser of (i) 67% or more of the shares present at a meeting, if the holders of
more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present or represented
by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding shares. Investment
limitations 10 and 11 may be changed by a vote of the Fund's Board of Directors
(the "Board") at any time.
The New York Tax Exempt Fund may not:
1. Invest less than 80% of its assets in securities the interest on
which is exempt from federal income tax, except during temporary defensive
periods or under unusual market conditions, as determined by the Fund's
investment adviser.
2. Borrow money, issue senior securities or enter into reverse
repurchase agreements except for temporary or emergency purposes, and not for
leveraging, and then in amounts not in excess of 10% of the value of the Fund's
assets at the time of such borrowing; or mortgage, pledge or hypothecate any
assets except in connection with any such borrowing and in amounts not in excess
of the lesser of the dollar amounts borrowed or 10% of the value of the Fund's
assets at the time of such borrowing. The Fund does not currently intend to
enter into reverse repurchase agreements in amounts in excess of 5% of its
assets at the time the agreement is entered into. Whenever borrowings exceed 5%
of the value of the Fund's total assets, the Fund will not make any additional
investments.
3. Purchase any securities which would cause more than 25% of the
value of the Fund's total assets at the time of purchase to be invested in the
securities of issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same
industry; provided that there shall be no limit on the purchase of (i)
obligations issued by the United States, any state, territory or possession of
the United States, the District of Columbia or any of their authorities,
agencies, instrumentalities or political sub-divisions, (ii) certificates of
deposit issued by United States branches of United States banks or (iii)
Municipal Securities the interest on which is paid
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<PAGE> 24
solely from revenues of economically related projects. For purposes of this
restriction, private activity securities ultimately payable by companies within
the same industry are treated as if they were issued by issuers in the same
industry.
4. Make loans except that the Fund may purchase or hold debt
obligations and enter into repurchase agreements in accordance with its
investment objective, policies and limitations.
5. Underwrite any issue of securities except to the extent that the
purchase of debt obligations directly from the issuer thereof in accordance with
the Fund's investment objective, policies and limitations may be deemed to be
underwriting.
6. Purchase or sell real estate, real estate investment trust
securities, commodities or commodity contracts, or invest in oil, gas or mineral
exploration or development programs, except that the Fund may invest in debt
obligations secured by real estate, mortgages or interests therein.
7. Purchase securities on margin, make short sales of securities or
maintain short positions.
8. Write or sell puts, calls, straddles, spreads or combinations
thereof, except that the Fund may acquire stand-by commitments.
9. Purchase securities of other investment companies except in
connection with a merger, consolidation, acquisition or reorganization.
10. Invest more than 10% of the value of the Fund's total assets in
securities which may be illiquid because of legal or contractual restrictions on
resale or securities for which there are not readily available market
quotations. For purposes of this limitation, repurchase agreements with
maturities greater than seven days and variable rate master demand notes
providing for settlement upon more than seven days notice by the Fund and time
deposits maturing in more than seven calendar days shall be considered illiquid
securities.
11. Invest in oil, gas or mineral leases.
If a percentage restriction (other than the percentage limitation
set forth in No. 2 above) is adhered to at the time of an investment, a later
increase or decrease in the percentage of assets resulting from a change in the
values of portfolio securities or in the amount of the Fund's assets will not
constitute a violation of such restriction.
PORTFOLIO VALUATION
Each Fund's portfolio securities are valued on the basis of
amortized cost. Under this method, the Fund values a portfolio security at cost
on the date of purchase and thereafter assumes a constant value of the security
for purposes of determining net asset value, which normally does not change in
response to fluctuating interest rates. Although the
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<PAGE> 25
amortized cost method seems to provide certainty in portfolio valuation, it may
result in periods during which values, as determined by amortized cost, are
higher or lower than the amount the Fund would receive if it sold the
securities. In connection with amortized cost valuation, the Board has
established procedures that are intended to stabilize the Fund's net asset value
per share for purposes of sales and redemptions at $1.00. These procedures
include review by the Board, at such intervals as it deems appropriate, to
determine the extent, if any, to which the Fund's net asset value per share
calculated by using available market quotations deviates from $1.00 per share.
In the event such deviation exceeds 1/2 of 1%, the Board will promptly consider
what action, if any, should be initiated. If the Board believes that the amount
of any deviations from the Fund's $1.00 amortized cost price per share may
result in material dilution or other unfair results to investors or existing
shareholders, it will take such steps as it considers appropriate to eliminate
or reduce to the extent reasonably practicable any such dilution or unfair
results. These steps may include selling portfolio instruments prior to
maturity; shortening the Fund's average portfolio maturity; withholding or
reducing dividends; redeeming shares in kind; reducing the number of the Fund's
outstanding shares without monetary consideration; or utilizing a net asset
value per share determined by using available market quotations.
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS
CSAM is responsible for establishing, reviewing, and, where
necessary, modifying a Fund's investment program to achieve its investment
objective. BlackRock Institutional Management Corporation ("BIMC") generally
will select specific portfolio investments and effect transactions for each
Fund. Purchases and sales of portfolio securities are usually principal
transactions without brokerage commissions effected directly with the issuer or
with dealers who specialize in money market instruments. BIMC seeks to obtain
the best net price and the most favorable execution of orders. To the extent
that the execution and price offered by more than one dealer are comparable,
BIMC may, in its discretion, effect transactions in portfolio securities with
dealers who provide the Fund with research advice or other services.
Investment decisions for a Fund concerning specific portfolio
securities are made independently from those for other clients advised by BIMC.
Such other investment clients may invest in the same securities as the Fund.
When purchases or sales of the same security are made at substantially the same
time on behalf of such other clients, transactions are averaged as to price, and
available investments allocated as to amount, in a manner which BIMC believes to
be equitable to each client, including the Fund. In some instances, this
investment procedure may adversely affect the price paid or received by the Fund
or the size of the position obtained or sold for the Fund. To the extent
permitted by law, BIMC may aggregate the securities to be sold or purchased for
each Fund with those to be sold or purchased for such other investment clients
in order to obtain best execution.
In no instance will portfolio securities be purchased from or sold
to CSAM, Credit Suisse Asset Management Securities, Inc. ("CSAMSI") or Credit
Suisse First Boston ("CS First Boston") or any affiliated person of such
companies, except pursuant to an
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<PAGE> 26
exemption received from the SEC. In addition, a Fund will not give preference to
any institutions with whom the Fund enters into distribution or shareholder
servicing agreements concerning the provision of distribution services or
support services.
The New York Tax Exempt Fund may participate, if and when
practicable, in bidding for the purchase of Municipal Securities directly from
an issuer for the Fund's portfolio in order to take advantage of the lower
purchase price available to members of such a group. The Fund will engage in
this practice, however, only when CSAM and BIMC, in their sole discretion,
believe such practice to be otherwise in the Fund's interest.
Each Fund does not intend to seek profits through short-term
trading. A Fund's annual portfolio turnover will be relatively high but the
Fund's portfolio turnover is not expected to have a material effect on its net
income. The Fund's portfolio turnover is expected to be zero for regulatory
reporting purposes.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS RELATING TO NEW YORK
MUNICIPAL SECURITIES
Some of the significant financial considerations relating to the
New York Tax Exempt Fund's investments in New York Municipal Securities are
summarized below. This summary information is not intended to be a complete
description and is principally derived from the Annual Information Statement of
the State of New York as supplemented and contained in official statements
relating to issues of New York Municipal Securities that were available prior to
the date of this Statement of Additional Information. The accuracy and
completeness of the information contained in those official statements have not
been independently verified.
State Economy. New York is the third most populous state in the
nation and has a relatively high level of personal wealth. The State's economy
is diverse with a comparatively large share of the nation's finance, insurance,
transportation, communications and services employment, and a very small share
of the nation's farming and mining activity. The State's location and its
excellent air transport facilities and natural harbors have made it an important
link in international commerce. Travel and tourism constitute an important part
of the economy. Like the rest of the nation, New York has a declining proportion
of its workforce engaged in manufacturing, and an increasing proportion engaged
in service industries.
In the calendar years 1987 through 1997, the State's rate of
economic growth was somewhat slower than that of the nation. In particular,
during the 1990-91 recession and post-recession period, the economy of the
State, and that of the rest of the Northeast, was more heavily damaged than that
of the nation as a whole and has been slower to recover.
State per capita personal income has historically been
significantly higher than the national average, although the ratio has varied
substantially. Because New York City (the "City") is a regional employment
center for a multi-state region, State personal income
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<PAGE> 27
measured on a residence basis understates the relative importance of the State
to the national economy and the size of the base to which State taxation
applies.
The Additional Information Statement reflects estimates of receipts
and disbursements as formulated in the State Financial Plan released on June 25,
1998, as updated on a quarterly basis. The third quarterly update ("Third
Quarterly Update") was released on January 27, 1999 in connection with the
1999-2000 Executive Budget. There can be no assurance that the State economy
will not experience worse-than-predicted results, with corresponding material
and adverse effects on the State's projections of receipts and disbursements.
State Budget. The State Constitution requires the governor (the
"Governor") to submit to the State legislature (the "Legislature") a balanced
executive budget which contains a complete plan of expenditures for the ensuing
fiscal year and all moneys and revenues estimated to be available therefor,
accompanied by bills containing all proposed appropriations or reappropriations
and any new or modified revenue measures to be enacted in connection with the
executive budget. The entire plan constitutes the proposed State financial plan
for that fiscal year. The Governor is required to submit to the Legislature
quarterly budget updates which include a revised cash-basis state financial
plan, and an explanation of any changes from the previous state financial plan.
State law requires the Governor to propose a balanced budget each
year. In recent years, the State has closed projected budget gaps of $5.0
billion (1995-96), $3.9 billion (1996-97), $2.3 billion (1997-98), and less than
$1 billion (1998-99). The State's 1998-99 fiscal year began on April 1, 1998 and
ended on March 31, 1999. The Legislature adopted the debt service component of
the State budget for the 1998-99 fiscal year on March 30, 1998 and the remainder
of the budget on April 18, 1998. In the period prior to adoption of the budget
for the 1998-99 fiscal year, the Legislature also enacted appropriations to
permit the State to continue its operations and provide for other purposes.
The 1998-99 State Financial Plan projected a closing balance in the
General Fund of $1.42 billion comprised of a reserve of $761 million available
for future needs, a balance of $400 million in the Tax Stabilization Reserve
Fund ("TSRF"), a balance of $158 million in the Community Projects Fund ("CPF")
and a balance of $100 million in the Contingency Reserve Fund ("CRF"). The TSRF
can be used in the event of an unanticipated General Fund cash operating
deficit, as provided under the State Constitution and State Finance Law. The CPF
is used to finance various legislative and executive initiatives. The CRF
provides resource to help finance any extraordinary litigation costs during the
fiscal year.
The Third Quarterly Update of the 1998-99 Financial Plan projected
a year-end available cash surplus of $1.79 billion in the General Fund, an
increase of $749 million over the surplus estimate in the Mid-Year Update.
Strong growth in receipts as well as lower than expected disbursements during
the first nine months of the fiscal year account for the higher surplus
estimate. As of February 9, 1999, this amount was projected to be reduced by the
transfer of $1.04 billion to the tax refund reserve. The projected remaining
closing balance of
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<PAGE> 28
$799 million in the General Fund is comprised of $473 million in the TSRF, $226
million in the CPF, and $100 million in the CRF.
The Governor presented his 1999-2000 Executive Budget to the
Legislature on January 27, 1999. The 1999-2000 Financial Plan projects General
Fund disbursements and transfers to other funds of $37.10 billion, an increase
of $482 million over projected spending for the current year. Grants to local
governments constitute approximately 67 percent of all General Fund spending,
and include payments to local governments, non-profit providers and individuals.
Disbursements in this category are projected to decrease $87 million (0.4
percent) to $24.81 billion in 1999-2000, in part due to a $175 million decline
in proposed spending for legislative initiatives.
The State is projected to close the 1999-2000 fiscal year with a
General Fund balance of $2.36 billion. The balance is comprised of $1.79 billion
in tax reduction reserves, $473 million in the TSRF and $100 million in the CFR.
The entire $226 million balance in the Community Projects Fund is expected to be
used in 1999-2000, with $80 million spent to pay for existing projects and the
remaining balance of $146 million, against which there are currently no
appropriations as a result of the Governor's 1998 vetoes, used to fund other
expenditures in 1999-2000.
The State currently projects spending to grow by $1.09 billion (2.9
percent) in 2000-01 and an additional $1.8 billion (4.7 percent) in 2001-02.
General Fund spending increases at a higher rate in 2001-02 than in 2000-01,
driven primarily by higher growth rates for Medicaid, welfare, Children and
Families Services, and Mental Retardation, as well as the loss of federal money
that offsets General Fund spending.
Over the long-term, uncertainties with regard to the economy
present the largest potential risk to future budget balance in New York State.
For example, a downturn in the financial markets or the wider economy is
possible, a risk that is heightened by the lengthy expansion currently underway.
The securities industry is more important to the New York economy than the
national economy, potentially amplifying the impact of an economic downturn. A
large change in stock market performance during the forecast horizon could
result in wage and unemployment levels that are significantly different from
those embodied in the forecast. Merging and downsizing by firms, as a
consequence of deregulation or continued foreign competition, may also have more
significant adverse effects on employment than expected. Finally, a "forecast
error" of one percentage point in the estimated growth of receipts could
cumulatively raise or lower results by over $1 billion by 2002.
Many complex political, social and economic forces influence the
State's economy and finances, which may in turn affect the State's Financial
Plan. These forces may affect the State unpredictably from fiscal year to fiscal
year and are influenced by governments, institutions, and organizations that are
not subject to the State's control. The State Financial Plan is also necessarily
based upon forecasts of national and State economic activity. Economic forecasts
have frequently failed to predict accurately the timing and magnitude of changes
in the national and the State economies. The DOB believes that its
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<PAGE> 29
projections of receipts and disbursements relating to the current State
Financial Plan, and the assumptions on which they are based, are reasonable. The
projections assume no changes in federal tax law, which could substantially
alter the current receipts forecast. In addition, these projections do not
include funding for new collective bargaining agreements after the current
contracts expire on April 1, 1999. Actual results, however, could differ
materially and adversely from their projections, and those projections may be
changed materially and adversely from time to time.
Debt Limits and Outstanding Debt. There are a number of methods by
which the State of New York may incur debt. Under the State Constitution, the
State may not, with limited exceptions for emergencies, undertake long-term
general obligation borrowing (i.e., borrowing for more than one year) unless the
borrowing is authorized in a specific amount for a single work or purpose by the
Legislature and approved by the voters. There is no limitation on the amount of
long-term general obligation debt that may be so authorized and subsequently
incurred by the State.
The State may undertake short-term borrowings without voter
approval (i) in anticipation of the receipt of taxes and revenues, by issuing
tax and revenue anticipation notes, and (ii) in anticipation of the receipt of
proceeds from the sale of duly authorized but unissued general obligation bonds,
by issuing bond anticipation notes. The State may also, pursuant to specific
constitutional authorization, directly guarantee certain obligations of the
State of New York's authorities and public benefit corporations ("Authorities").
Payments of debt service on New York State general obligation and New York
State-guaranteed bonds and notes are legally enforceable obligations of the
State of New York.
The State employs additional long-term financing mechanisms,
lease-purchase and contractual-obligation financings, which involve obligations
of public authorities or municipalities that are State-supported but are not
general obligations of the State. Under these financing arrangements, certain
public authorities and municipalities have issued obligations to finance the
construction and rehabilitation of facilities or the acquisition and
rehabilitation of equipment, and expect to meet their debt service requirements
through the receipt of rental or other contractual payments made by the State.
Although these financing arrangements involve a contractual agreement by the
State to make payments to a public authority, municipality or other entity, the
State's obligation to make such payments is generally expressly made subject to
appropriation by the Legislature and the actual availability of money to the
State for making the payments. The State has also entered into a
contractual-obligation financing arrangement with the LGAC to restructure the
way the State makes certain local aid payments.
The proposed 1998-99 through 2003-04 Capital Program and Financing
Plan was released with the Executive Budget on January 27, 1999. The recommended
five-year Capital Program and Financing Plan reflects debt reduction initiatives
that would reduce future State-supported debt issuances by significantly
increasing the share of the Plan financed with pay-as-you-go resources. Compared
to the last year of the July 1998 update to the Plan,
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<PAGE> 30
outstanding State-supported debt would be reduced by $4.7 billion (from $41.9
billion to $37.2 billion).
As described therein, efforts to reduce debt, unanticipated delays
in the advancement of certain projects and revisions to estimated proceeds needs
will modestly reduce projected borrowings in 1998-99. The State's 1998-99
borrowing plan now projects issuances of $331 million in general obligation
bonds (including $154 million for purposes of redeeming outstanding BANs) and
$154 million in general obligation commercial paper. The State has issued $179
million in Certificates of Participation to finance equipment purchases
(including costs of issuance, reserve funds, and other costs) during the 1998-99
fiscal year. Of this amount, it is anticipated that approximately $83 million
will be used to finance agency equipment acquisitions, and $96 million to
address Statewide technology issues related to Year 2000 compliance.
Approximately $228 million for information technology related to welfare reform,
originally anticipated to be issued during the 1998-99 fiscal year, is now
expected to be delayed until 1999-2000.
Borrowings by public authorities pursuant to lease-purchase and
contractual-obligation financings for capital programs of the State are
projected to total approximately $2.85 billion, including costs of issuance,
reserve funds, and other costs, net of anticipated refundings and other
adjustments in 1998-99.
On January 13, 1992, S&P reduced its ratings on the State's general
obligation bonds from A to A- and, in addition, reduced its ratings on the
State's moral obligation, lease purchase, guaranteed and contractual obligation
debt. On August 28, 1997, S&P revised its ratings on the State's general
obligation bonds from A- to A and revised its ratings on the State's moral
obligation, lease purchase, guaranteed and contractual obligation debt. On March
5, 1999, S&P affirmed its A rating on the State's outstanding bonds.
On January 6, 1992, Moody's reduced its ratings on outstanding
limited-liability State lease purchase and contractual obligations from A to
Baa1. On February 28, 1994, Moody's reconfirmed its A rating on the State's
general obligation long-term indebtedness. On March 20, 1998, Moody's assigned
the highest commercial paper rating of P-1 to the short-term notes of the State.
On March 5, 1999, Moody's affirmed its A2 rating with a stable outlook to the
State's general obligations.
New York State has never defaulted on any of its general obligation
indebtedness or its obligations under lease-purchase or contractual-obligation
financing arrangements and has never been called upon to make any direct
payments pursuant to its guarantees.
Litigation. Certain litigation pending against New York State or
its officers or employees could have a substantial or long-term adverse effect
on New York State finances. Among the more significant of these cases are those
that involve (1) the validity of agreements and treaties by which various Indian
tribes transferred title to New York State of certain land in central and
upstate New York; (2) certain aspects of New York State's Medicaid policies,
including its rates, regulations and procedures; (3) action against New York
State and New
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York City officials alleging inadequate shelter allowances to maintain proper
housing; (4) challenges to regulations promulgated by the Superintendent of
Insurance establishing certain excess medical malpractice premium rates; (5)
challenges to the constitutionality of Public Health Law 2807-d, which imposes a
gross receipts tax from certain patient care services; (6) action seeking
enforcement of certain sales and excise taxes and tobacco products and motor
fuel sold to non-Indian consumers on Indian reservations; (7) a challenge to the
Governor's application of his constitutional line item veto authority; and (8) a
challenge to the enactment of the Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act of 1996.
Several actions challenging the constitutionality of legislation
enacted during the 1990 legislative session which changed actuarial funding
methods for determining state and local contributions to state employee
retirement systems have been decided against the State. As a result, the
Comptroller developed a plan to restore the State's retirement systems to prior
funding levels. Such funding is expected to exceed prior levels by $116 million
in fiscal 1996-97, $193 million in fiscal 1997-98, peaking at $241 million in
fiscal 1998-99. Beginning in fiscal 2001-02, State contributions required under
the Comptroller's plan are projected to be less than that required under the
prior funding method. As a result of the United States Supreme Court decision in
the case of State of Delaware v. State of New York, on January 21, 1994, the
State entered into a settlement agreement with various parties. Pursuant to all
agreements executed in connection with the action, the State was required to
make aggregate payments of $351.4 million. Annual payments to the various
parties will continue through the State's 2002-03 fiscal year in amounts which
will not exceed $48.4 million in any fiscal year subsequent to the State's
1994-95 fiscal year. Litigation challenging the constitutionality of the
treatment of certain moneys held in a reserve fund was settled in June 1996 and
certain amounts in a Supplemental Reserve Fund previously credited by the State
against prior State and local pension contributions will be paid in 1998.
The legal proceedings noted above involve State finances, State
programs and miscellaneous cure rights, tort, real property and contract claims
in which the State is a defendant and the monetary damages sought are
substantial, generally in excess of $100 million. These proceedings could affect
adversely the financial condition of the State in the 1998-99 fiscal year or
thereafter. Adverse developments in these proceedings, other proceedings for
which there are unanticipated, unfavorable and material judgments, or the
initiation of new proceedings could affect the ability of the State to maintain
a balanced financial plan. An adverse decision in any of these proceedings could
exceed the amount of the reserve established in the State's financial plan for
the payment of judgments and, therefore, could affect the ability of the State
to maintain a balanced financial plan.
Although other litigation is pending against New York State, except
as described herein, no current litigation involves New York State's authority,
as a matter of law, to contract indebtedness, issue its obligations, or pay such
indebtedness when it matures, or affects New York State's power or ability, as a
matter of law, to impose or collect significant amounts of taxes and revenues.
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Authorities. The fiscal stability of New York State is related, in
part, to the fiscal stability of its Authorities, which generally have
responsibility for financing, constructing and operating revenue-producing
public benefit facilities. Authorities are not subject to the constitutional
restrictions on the incurrence of debt which apply to the State itself, and may
issue bonds and notes within the amounts of, and as otherwise restricted by,
their legislative authorization. The State's access to the public credit markets
could be impaired, and the market price of its outstanding debt may be
materially and adversely affected, if any of the Authorities were to default on
their respective obligations, particularly with respect to debt that is
State-supported or State-related.
Authorities are generally supported by revenues generated by the
projects financed or operated, such as fares, user fees on bridges, highway
tolls and rentals for dormitory rooms and housing. In recent years, however, New
York State has provided financial assistance through appropriations, in some
cases of a recurring nature, to certain of the Authorities for operating and
other expenses and, in fulfillment of its commitments on moral obligation
indebtedness or otherwise, for debt service. This operating assistance is
expected to continue to be required in future years. In addition, certain
statutory arrangements provide for State local assistance payments otherwise
payable to localities to be made under certain circumstances to certain
Authorities. The State has no obligation to provide additional assistance to
localities whose local assistance payments have been paid to Authorities under
these arrangements. However, in the event that such local assistance payments
are so diverted, the affected localities could seek additional State funds.
In February 1997, the Job Development Authority ("JDA") issued
approximately $85 million of State-guaranteed bonds to refinance certain of its
outstanding bonds and notes in order to restructure and improve JDA's capital
structure. Due to concerns regarding the economic viability of its programs,
JDA's loan and loan guarantee activities had been suspended since the Governor
took office in 1995. As a result of the structural imbalances in JDA's capital
structure, and defaults in its loan portfolio and loan guarantee program
incurred between 1991 and 1996, JDA would have experienced a debt service cash
flow shortfall had it not completed its recent refinancing. JDA anticipates that
it will transact additional refinancings in 1999, 2000 and 2003 to complete its
long-term plan of finance and further alleviate cash flow imbalances which are
likely to occur in future years. JDA recently resumed its lending activities
under a revised set of lending programs and underwriting guidelines.
New York City and Other Localities. The fiscal health of the State
may also be impacted by the fiscal health of its localities, particularly the
City, which has required and continues to require significant financial
assistance from the State. The City depends on State aid both to enable the City
to balance its budget and to meet its cash requirements. There can be no
assurance that there will not be reductions in State aid to the City from
amounts currently projected or that State budgets will be adopted by the April 1
statutory deadline or that any such reductions or delays will not have adverse
effects on the City's cash flow or expenditures. In addition, the Federal budget
negotiation process could result in a reduction in
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or a delay in the receipt of Federal grants which could have additional adverse
effects on the City's cash flow or revenues.
In 1975, New York City suffered a fiscal crisis that impaired the
borrowing ability of both the City and New York State. In that year the City
lost access to the public credit markets. The City was not able to sell
short-term notes to the public again until 1979. In 1975, S&P suspended its A
rating of City bonds. This suspension remained in effect until March 1981, at
which time the City received an investment grade rating of BBB from S&P.
On July 2, 1985, S&P revised its rating of City bonds upward to
BBB+ and on November 19, 1987, to A-. On February 3, 1998 and again on May 27,
1998, S&P assigned a BBB+ rating to the City's general obligation debt and
placed the ratings on CreditWatch with positive implications. On March 9, 1999,
S&P assigned its A- rating to Series 1999H of New York City general obligation
bonds and affirmed the A- rating on various previously issued New York City
bonds.
Moody's ratings of City bonds were revised in November 1981 from B
(in effect since 1977) to Ba1, in November 1983 to Baa, in December 1985 to
Baa1, in May 1988 to A and again in February 1991 to Baa1. On February 25, 1998,
Moody's upgraded approximately $28 billion of the City's general obligations
from Baa1 to A3. On June 9, 1998, Moody's affirmed its A3 rating to the City's
general obligations and stated that its outlook was stable.
On March 8, 1999, Fitch IBCA upgraded New York City's $26 billion
outstanding general obligation bonds from A- to A.
New York City is heavily dependent on New York State and federal
assistance to cover insufficiencies in its revenues. There can be no assurance
that in the future federal and State assistance will enable the City to make up
its budget deficits. To help alleviate the City's financial difficulties, the
Legislature created the Municipal Assistance Corporation ("MAC") in 1975. Since
its creation, MAC has provided, among other things, financing assistance to the
City by refunding maturing City short-term debt and transferring to the City
funds received from sales of MAC bonds and notes. MAC is authorized to issue
bonds and notes payable from certain stock transfer tax revenues, from the
City's portion of the State sales tax derived in the City and, subject to
certain prior claims, from State per capita aid otherwise payable by the State
to the City. Failure by the State to continue the imposition of such taxes, the
reduction of the rate of such taxes to rates less than those in effect on July
2, 1975, failure by the State to pay such aid revenues and the reduction of such
aid revenues below a specified level are included among the events of default in
the resolutions authorizing MAC's long-term debt. The occurrence of an event of
default may result in the acceleration of the maturity of all or a portion of
MAC's debt. MAC bonds and notes constitute general obligations of MAC and do not
constitute an enforceable obligation or debt of either the State or the City.
Since 1975, the City's financial condition has been subject to
oversight and review by the New York State Financial Control Board (the "Control
Board") and since 1978
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the City's financial statements have been audited by independent accounting
firms. To be eligible for guarantees and assistance, the City is required during
a "control period" to submit annually for Control Board approval, and when a
control period is not in effect for Control Board review, a financial plan for
the next four fiscal years covering the City and certain agencies showing
balanced budgets determined in accordance with GAAP. New York State also
established the Office of the State Deputy Comptroller for New York City
("OSDC") to assist the Control Board in exercising its powers and
responsibilities. On June 30, 1986, the City satisfied the statutory
requirements for termination of the control period. This means that the Control
Board's powers of approval are suspended, but the Board continues to have
oversight responsibilities.
On June 10, 1997, the City submitted to the Control Board the
Financial Plan (the "1998-2001 Financial Plan") for the 1998 through 2001 fiscal
years, relating to the City, the Board of Education ("BOE") and CUNY and
reflected the City's expense and capital budgets for the 1998 fiscal year, which
were adopted on June 6, 1997. The 1998-2001 Financial Plan projected revenues
and expenditures for the 1998 fiscal year balanced in accordance with GAAP. The
1998-99 Financial Plan projects General Fund receipts (including transfers from
other funds) of $36.22 billion, an increase of $1.02 billion over the estimated
1997-1998 level. Recurring growth in the State General Fund tax base is
projected to be approximately six percent during 1998-99, after adjusting for
tax law and administrative changes. This growth rate is lower than the rates for
1996-97 or 1997-98, but roughly equivalent to the rate for 1995-96.
The 1998-99 forecast for user taxes and fees also reflects the
impact of scheduled tax reductions that will lower receipts by $38 million, as
well as the impact of two Executive Budget proposals that are projected to lower
receipts by an additional $79 million. The first proposal would divert $30
million in motor vehicle registration fees from the General Fund to the
Dedicated Highway and Bridge Trust Fund; the second would reduce fees for motor
vehicle registrations, which would further lower receipts by $49 million. The
underlying growth of receipts in this category is projected at 4 percent, after
adjusting for these scheduled and recommended changes.
In comparison to the current fiscal year, business tax receipts are
projected to decline slightly in 1998-99, falling from $4.98 million to $4.96
billion. The decline in this category is largely attributable to scheduled tax
reductions. In total, collections for corporation and utility taxes and the
petroleum business tax are projected to fall by $107 million from 1997-98. The
decline in receipts in these categories is partially offset by growth in the
corporation franchise, insurance and bank taxes, which are projected to grow by
$88 million over the current fiscal year.
The Financial Plan is projected to show a GAAP-basis surplus of
$131 million for 1997-98 and a GAAP-basis deficit of $1.3 billion for 1998-99 in
the General Fund, primarily as a result of the use of the 1997-98 cash surplus.
In 1998-99, the General Fund GAAP Financial Plan shows total revenues of $34.68
billion, total expenditures of $35.94 billion, and net other financing sources
and uses of $42 million.
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Although the City has consistently maintained balanced budgets and
is projected to achieve balanced operating results for the 1999 fiscal year,
there can be no assurance that the gap-closing actions proposed in the 1998-2001
Financial Plan can be successfully implemented or that the City will maintain a
balanced budget in future years without additional State aid, revenue increases
or expenditure reductions. Additional tax increases and reductions in essential
City services could adversely affect the City's economic base.
The projections set forth in the 1998-2001 Financial Plan were
based on various assumptions and contingencies which are uncertain and which may
not materialize. Changes in major assumptions could significantly affect the
City's ability to balance its budget as required by State law and to meet its
annual cash flow and financing requirements. Such assumptions and contingencies
include the condition of the regional and local economies, the impact on real
estate tax revenues of the real estate market, wage increases for City employees
consistent with those assumed in the 1998-2001 Financial Plan, employment
growth, the ability to implement proposed reductions in City personnel and other
cost reduction initiatives, the ability of the Health and Hospitals Corporation
and the BOE to take actions to offset reduced revenues, the ability to complete
revenue generating transactions, provision of State and Federal aid and mandate
relief and the impact on City revenues and expenditures of Federal and State
welfare reform and any future legislation affecting Medicare or other
entitlements.
Implementation of the 1998-2001 Financial Plan is also dependent
upon the City's ability to market its securities successfully. The City's
financing program for fiscal years 1998 through 2001 contemplates the issuance
of $5.7 billion of general obligation bonds and $5.7 billion of bonds to be
issued by the proposed New York City Transitional Finance Authority (the
"Finance Authority") to finance City capital projects. The Finance Authority,
was created as part of the City's effort to assist in keeping the City's
indebtedness within the forecast level of the constitutional restrictions on the
amount of debt the City is authorized to incur. Despite this additional
financing mechanism, the City currently projects that, if no further action is
taken, it will reach its debt limit in City fiscal year 1999-2000. Indebtedness
subject to the constitutional debt limit includes liability on capital contracts
that are expected to be funded with general obligation bonds, as well as general
obligation bonds. On June 2, 1997, an action was commenced seeking a declaratory
judgment declaring the legislation establishing the Transitional Finance
Authority to be unconstitutional. If such legislation were voided, projected
contracts for the City capital projects would exceed the City's debt limit
during fiscal year 1997-98. Future developments concerning the City or entities
issuing debt for the benefit of the City, and public discussion of such
developments, as well as prevailing market conditions and securities credit
ratings, may affect the ability or cost to sell securities issued by the City or
such entities and may also affect the market for their outstanding securities.
The City Comptroller and other agencies and public officials have
issued reports and made public statements which, among other things, state that
projected revenues and expenditures may be different from those forecast in the
City's financial plans. It is reasonable
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to expect that such reports and statements will continue to be issued and to
engender public comment.
The City since 1981 has fully satisfied its seasonal financing
needs in the public credit markets, repaying all short-term obligations within
their fiscal year of issuance. Although the City's 1998 fiscal year financial
plan projected $2.4 billion of seasonal financing, the City expected to
undertake only approximately $1.4 billion of seasonal financing. The City issued
$2.4 billion of short-term obligations in fiscal year 1997. Seasonal financing
requirements for the 1996 fiscal year increased to $2.4 billion from $2.2
billion and $1.75 billion in the 1995 and 1994 fiscal years, respectively.
Seasonal financing requirements were $1.4 billion in the 1993 fiscal year. The
delay in the adoption of the State's budget in certain past fiscal years has
required the City to issue short-term notes in amounts exceeding those expected
early in such fiscal years.
Certain localities, in addition to the City, have experienced
financial problems and have requested and received additional New York State
assistance during the last several State fiscal years. The potential impact on
the State of any future requests by localities for additional assistance is not
included in the State's projections of its receipts and disbursements for the
1997-98 fiscal year.
Fiscal difficulties experienced by the City of Yonkers ("Yonkers")
resulted in the re-establishment of the Financial Control Board for the City of
Yonkers (the "Yonkers Board") by New York State in 1984. The Yonkers Board is
charged with oversight of the fiscal affairs of Yonkers. Future actions taken by
the State to assist Yonkers could result in increased State expenditures for
extraordinary local assistance.
On June 30, 1998, the City of Yonkers satisfied the statutory
conditions for ending the supervision of its finances by a State-ordered control
board. Pursuant to State law, the control board's powers over City finances
lapsed six months after the satisfaction of these conditions, on December 31,
1998.
Beginning in 1990, the City of Troy experienced a series of
budgetary deficits that resulted in the establishment of a Supervisory Board for
the City of Troy in 1994. The Supervisory Board's powers were increased in 1995,
when Troy MAC was created to help Troy avoid default on certain obligations. The
legislation creating Troy MAC prohibits the city of Troy from seeking federal
bankruptcy protection while Troy MAC bonds are outstanding. Troy MAC has issued
bonds to effect a restructuring of the City of Troy's obligations.
The 1998-99 budget includes $29.4 million in unrestricted aid
targeted to 57 municipalities across the State. Other assistance for
municipalities with special needs totals more than $25.6 million. Twelve upstate
cities will receive $24.2 million in one-time assistance from a cash flow
acceleration of State aid.
Municipalities and school districts have engaged in substantial
short-term and long-term borrowings. State law requires the Comptroller to
review and make
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recommendations concerning the budgets of those local government units other
than New York City that are authorized by State law to issue debt to finance
deficits during the period that such deficit financing is outstanding.
From time to time, federal expenditure reductions could reduce, or
in some cases eliminate, federal funding of some local programs and accordingly
might impose substantial increased expenditure requirements on affected
localities. If the State, the City or any of the Authorities were to suffer
serious financial difficulties jeopardizing their respective access to the
public credit markets, the marketability of notes and bonds issued by localities
within the State could be adversely affected. Localities also face anticipated
and potential problems resulting from certain pending litigation, judicial
decisions and long-range economic trends. Long-range potential problems of
declining urban population, increasing expenditures and other economic trends
could adversely affect localities and require increasing the State assistance in
the future.
Year 2000 Compliance. The State is currently addressing Year 2000
("Y2K") data processing compliance issues. Since its inception, the computer
industry has used a two-digit date convention to represent the year. In the year
2000, the date field will contain "00" and, as a result, many computer systems
and equipment may not be able to process dates properly or may fail since they
may not be able to distinguish between the years 1900 and 2000. The Year 2000
issue not only affects computer programs, but also the hardware, software and
networks they operate on. In addition, any system or equipment that is dependent
on an embedded chip, such as telecommunication equipment and security systems,
may also be adversely affected.
The Office for Technology is monitoring compliance progress for the
State's mission-critical and high-priority systems and is reporting compliance
progress to the Governor's office on a quarterly basis. As of December 1998, the
State had completed 93 percent of overall compliance effort for its
mission-critical systems; 18 systems are now Year 2000 compliant and the
remaining systems are on schedule to be compliant by the first quarter of 1999.
As of December 1998, the State has completed 70 percent of overall compliance
effort on the high-priority systems; 168 systems are now Year 2000 compliant and
the remaining systems are on schedule to be compliant by the second quarter of
1999. Compliance testing is expected to be completed by the end of calendar
1999.
While New York State is taking what it believes to be appropriate
action to address Year 2000 compliance, there can be no guarantee that all of
the State's systems and equipment will be Year 2000 compliant and that there
will not be an adverse impact upon State operations or finances as a result.
Since Year 2000 compliance by outside parties is beyond the State's control to
remediate, the failure of outside parties to achieve Year 2000 compliance could
have an adverse impact on State operations or finances as well.
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<PAGE> 38
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUNDS
Officers and Board of Directors
The names (and ages) of each Fund's Directors and officers, their
addresses, present positions and principal occupations during the past five
years and other affiliations are set forth below.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Richard H. Francis (65) Director
40 Grosvenor Road Currently retired; Executive Vice President
Short Hills, New Jersey 07078 and Chief Financial Officer of Pan Am
Corporation and Pan American World
Airways, Inc. from 1988 to 1991; Director
of The Infinity Mutual Funds, BISYS
Group Incorporated; Director/Trustee of
other Warburg Pincus Funds and other
CSAM-advised investment companies.
Jack W. Fritz (72) Director
2425 North Fish Creek Road Private investor; Consultant and Director
P.O. Box 483 of Fritz Broadcasting, Inc. and Fritz
Wilson, Wyoming 83014 Communications (developers and operators
of radio stations); Director of Advo, Inc.
(direct mail advertising); Director/Trustee
of other Warburg Pincus Funds.
Jeffrey E. Garten (52) Director
Box 208200 Dean of Yale School of Management and
New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8200 William S. Beinecke Professor in the
Practice of International Trade and
Finance; Undersecretary of Commerce for
International Trade from November 1993
to October 1995; Professor at Columbia
University from September 1992 to
November 1993; Director/Trustee of other
Warburg Pincus Funds.
</TABLE>
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<PAGE> 39
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
James S. Pasman, Jr. (68) Director
29 The Trillium Currently retired; President and Chief
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15238 Operating Officer of National InterGroup,
Inc. from April 1989 to March 1991;
Chairman of Permian Oil Co. from April
1989 to March 1991; Director of Education
Management Corp., Tyco International
Ltd.; Trustee, BT Insurance Funds Trust;
Director/Trustee of other Warburg Pincus
Funds and other CSAM-advised investment
companies.
William W. Priest* (56) Chairman of the Board
153 East 53rd Street Chairman- Management Committee, Chief
New York, New York 10022 Executive Officer and Managing Director of
CSAM (U.S.) since 1990; Director of TIG
Holdings, Inc.; Director/Trustee of other
Warburg Pincus Funds and other
CSAM-advised investment companies.
Steven N. Rappaport (49) Director
c/o Loanet, Inc. President of Loanet, Inc. since 1997;
153 East 53rd Street, Executive Vice President of Loanet, Inc.
Suite 5500 from 1994 to 1997; Director, President,
New York, New York 10022 North American Operations, and former
Executive Vice President from 1992 to
1993 of Worldwide Operations of Metallurg
Inc.; Executive Vice President, Telerate,
Inc. from 1987 to 1992; Partner in the law
firm of Hartman & Craven until 1987;
Director/Trustee of other Warburg Pincus
Funds and other CSAM-advised investment
companies.
Arnold M. Reichman* (51) Vice Chairman of the Board
466 Lexington Avenue Managing Director and Chief Operating
New York, New York 10017-3147 Officer of CSAM; Associated with CSAM since
CSAM acquired the Funds' predecessor
adviser in July 1999; with the predecessor
adviser since 1984; Officer of CSAMSI;
Director of The RBB Fund, Inc.;
Director/Trustee of other Warburg Pincus
Funds.
</TABLE>
- -------------------
* Indicates a Director/Trustee who is an "interested person" of the Fund as
defined in the 1940 Act.
-27-
<PAGE> 40
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Alexander B. Trowbridge (69) Director
1317 F Street, N.W., 5th Floor Currently retired; President of Trowbridge
Washington, DC 20004 Partners, Inc. (business consulting) from
January 1990 to November 1996; Director
or Trustee of New England Mutual Life
Insurance Co., ICOS Corporation
(biopharmaceuticals), IRI International
(energy services), The Rouse Company
(real estate development), Harris Corp.
(electronics and communications
equipment), The Gillette Co. (personal care
products) and Sunoco, Inc. (petroleum
refining and marketing); Director/Trustee
of other Warburg Pincus Funds.
Eugene L. Podsiadlo (42) President
466 Lexington Avenue Managing Director of CSAM; Associated
New York, New York 10017-3147 with CSAM since CSAM acquired the
Funds' predecessor adviser in July 1999;
with the predecessor adviser since 1991;
Vice President of Citibank, N.A. from 1987
to 1991; Officer of CSAMSI and of other
Warburg Pincus Funds.
Hal Liebes, Esq. (34) Vice President and Secretary
153 East 53rd Street Director and General Counsel of CSAM;
New York, New York 10022 Associated with CSAM since 1995;
Associated with CS First Boston
Investment Management from 1994 to
1995; Associated with Division of
Enforcement, U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission from 1991 to 1994;
Officer of CSAMSI and other Warburg
Pincus Funds.
Michael A. Pignataro (39) Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
153 East 53rd Street Vice President and Director of Fund
New York, New York 10022 Administration of CSAM; Associated with
CSAM since 1986; Officer of other
Warburg Pincus Funds.
</TABLE>
-28-
<PAGE> 41
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Janna Manes, Esq. (31) Assistant Secretary
466 Lexington Avenue Vice President and Legal Counsel of
New York, New York 10017-3147 CSAM; Associated with CSAM since CSAM
acquired the Funds' predecessor adviser in
July 1999; with the predecessor adviser
since 1996; Associated with the law firm of
Willkie Farr & Gallagher from 1993 to
1996; Officer of other Warburg Pincus
Funds.
Stuart J. Cohen, Esq. (30) Assistant Secretary
466 Lexington Avenue Vice President and Legal Counsel of
New York, New York 10017-3147 CSAM; Associated with CSAM since CSAM
acquired the Funds' predecessor adviser in
July 1999; with the predecessor adviser
since 1997; Associated with the law firm of
Gordon Altman Butowsky Weitzen Shalov
& Wein from 1995 to 1997; Officer of other
Warburg Pincus Funds.
Rocco A. DelGuercio (36) Assistant Treasurer
153 East 53rd Street Assistant Vice President and
New York, New York 10022 Administrative Officer of CSAM;
Associated with CSAM since June 1996;
Assistant Treasurer, Bankers Trust Corp.-
Fund Administration from March 1994 to
June 1996; Mutual Fund Accounting
Supervisor, Dreyfus Corporation from April
1987 to March 1994; Officer of other
Warburg Pincus Funds.
</TABLE>
No employee of CSAM, PFPC Inc., the Funds' co-administrator
("PFPC"), or any of their affiliates receives any compensation from the Funds
for acting as an officer or director/trustee of a Fund. Each Director who is not
a director, trustee, officer or employee of CSAM, PFPC or any of their
affiliates receives an annual fee of $2,000, and $500 for each meeting of the
Board and $250 for each Audit Committee Meeting, as applicable, attended by him
for his services as Director and is reimbursed for expenses incurred in
connection with his attendance at Board meetings.
-29-
<PAGE> 42
Directors' Compensation
(for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Total Compensation from
all Investment Companies
Compensation from in Waburg Pincus
Name of Director* each Fund Fund Complex
- ----------------------- ------------------------ ----------------
<S> <C> <C>
William W. Priest** None None
Richard N. Cooper*** $2,000 $56,600
Donald J. Donahue*** $2,000 $13,525
Richard H. Francis**** None None
Jack W. Fritz $2,000 $63,100
Jeffrey E. Garten**** $2,000 $49,325
Thomas A. Melfe*** $2,000 $60,700
James S. Pasman, Jr.**** None None
Steven N. Rappaport**** None None
Arnold M. Reichman** None None
Alexander B. Trowbridge $2,000 $64,000
</TABLE>
- ----------
* Each Director serves as a Director or Trustee of 39 investment companies
in the Warburg Pincus family of funds.
** Mr. Priest and Mr. Reichman receive compensation as affiliates of CSAM,
and, accordingly, receive no compensation from any Fund or any other
investment company advised by CSAM.
*** Mr. Donahue resigned as a Director of each Fund effective February 6,
1998. Messrs. Cooper and Melfe resigned as a Director of each Fund
effective July 6, 1999.
**** Mr. Garten became a Director of each Fund effective February 6, 1998.
Messrs. Francis, Pasman and Rappaport became Directors of the Funds
effective July 6, 1999.
As of April 1, 1999, Directors and officers of a Fund as a group
owned of record less than 1% of the relevant Fund's outstanding common stock.
Investment Adviser, Sub-Investment Adviser and Administrator and
Co-Administrator
CSAM, located at 153 East 53rd Street, New York, New York 10022,
serves as investment adviser to each Fund pursuant to a written agreement (the
"Advisory Agreement"). CSAM is an indirect wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary of
Credit Suisse ("Credit Suisse"). Credit Suisse is a global financial services
company, providing a comprehensive range of banking and insurance products.
Active on every continent and in all major financial centers, Credit Suisse
-30-
<PAGE> 43
comprises five business units -- Credit Suisse Asset Management (asset
management); Credit Suisse First Boston (investment banking); Credit Suisse
Private Banking (private banking); Credit Suisse (retail banking); and
Winterthur (insurance). Credit Suisse has approximately $680 billion of global
assets under management and employs approximately 62,000 people worldwide. The
principal business address of Credit Suisse is Paradeplatz 8, CH 8070, Zurich,
Switzerland.
Prior to July 6, 1999, Warburg Pincus Asset Management, Inc.
("Warburg") served as investment adviser to each Fund. On that date, Credit
Suisse acquired Warburg and combined Warburg with Credit Suisse's existing
U.S.-based asset management business ("Credit Suisse Asset Management").
Consequently, the combined entity, CSAM, became the Funds' investment adviser.
Credit Suisse Asset Management, formerly known as BEA Associates, together with
its predecessor firms, has been engaged in the investment advisory business for
over 60 years.
BIMC serves as sub-investment adviser and administrator to the Fund
and Counsellors Funds Service, Inc. ("Counsellors Service") serves as
co-administrator to the Fund pursuant to written agreements (the "Sub-Advisory
Agreement" and the "Co-Administration Agreement," respectively, and
collectively, the "Agreements").
For the services provided pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, CSAM
is entitled to receive a fee, computed daily and payable monthly, at the annual
rate of .25% of the value of each Fund's average daily net assets. CSAM and each
Fund's administrators may voluntarily waive a portion of their fees from time to
time and temporarily limit the expenses to be paid by the Fund.
As sub-investment adviser and administrator, BIMC has agreed to
implement each Fund's investment program as determined by the Board and CSAM.
BIMC will supervise the day-to-day operations of the Fund and perform the
following services: (i) providing investment research and credit analysis
concerning the Fund's investments, (ii) placing orders for all purchases and
sales of the Fund's portfolio investments and (iii) maintaining the books and
records required to support the Fund's operations. BIMC also calculates the
Fund's net asset value, provides accounting services for the Funds and assists
in related aspects of the Funds ' operations. As compensation therefor, each
Fund has agreed to pay BIMC a fee computed daily and payable monthly at an
annual rate of .25% of the value of each Fund's average daily net assets.
As co-administrator, Counsellors Service provides shareholder
liaison services to the Funds including responding to shareholder inquiries and
providing information on shareholder investments. Counsellors Service also
performs a variety of other services, including furnishing certain executive and
administrative services, acting as liaison between a Fund and its various
service providers, furnishing corporate secretarial services, which include
preparing materials for meetings of the Board, preparing proxy statements and
annual and semiannual reports, assisting in the preparation of tax returns and
monitoring and developing
-31-
<PAGE> 44
compliance procedures for the Fund. As compensation, each Fund pays to
Counsellors Service a fee calculated at an annual rate of .10% of the Fund's
average daily net assets.
CASH RESERVE FUND
Net Advisory Fees paid to CSAM's Predecessor, Warburg
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Fiscal year ended 10-month period ended Fiscal year ended
February 28, 1997 December 31, 1997 December 31, 1998
----------------- ----------------- -----------------
<S> <C> <C>
$1,092,344 $1,004,894 $1,059,673
</TABLE>
For the same periods, Warburg voluntarily waived $229,970, $192,234 and
$237,838, respectively.
Net Sub-Advisory and Administration Fees paid to BIMC
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Fiscal year ended 10-month period ended Fiscal year ended
February 28, 1997 December 31, 1997 December 31, 1998
----------------- ----------------- -----------------
<S> <C> <C>
$1,092,344 $1,004,894 $941,839
</TABLE>
For the same periods, BIMC voluntarily waived $344,956, $288,351 and $356,758,
respectively. For the fiscal year ended February 28, 1997 and the 10-month
period ended December 31, 1997, BIMC was entitled only to sub-advisory fees.
Administrative Services/Co-Administration Fees paid to Counsellors Service
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Fiscal year ended 10-month period ended Fiscal year ended
February 28, 1997 December 31, 1997 December 31, 1998
----------------- ----------------- -----------------
<S> <C> <C>
$436,938 $401,957 $519,004
</TABLE>
NEW YORK TAX EXEMPT FUND
Net Advisory Fees paid to CSAM's Predecessor, Warburg
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Fiscal year ended 10-month period ended Fiscal year ended
February 28, 1997 December 31, 1997 December 31, 1998
----------------- ----------------- -----------------
<S> <C> <C>
$287,156 $294,367 $307,690
</TABLE>
For the same periods, Warburg voluntarily waived $74,362, $58,818 and $86,187,
respectively.
-32-
<PAGE> 45
Net Sub-Advisory and Administration Fees paid to BIMC
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Fiscal year ended 10-month period ended Fiscal year ended
February 28, 1997 December 31, 1997 December 31, 1998
----------------- ----------------- -----------------
<S> <C> <C>
$287,156 $294,367 $265,190
</TABLE>
For the same periods, BIMC voluntarily waived $111,543, $88,227 and $129,280,
respectively. For the fiscal year ended February 28, 1997 and the 10-month
period ended December 31, 1997, BIMC was entitled only to sub-advisory fees.
Administrative Services/Co-Administration Fees paid to Counsellors Service
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Fiscal year ended 10-month period ended Fiscal year ended
February 28, 1997 December 31, 1997 December 31, 1998
----------------- ----------------- -----------------
<S> <C> <C>
$114,862 $117,747 $157,551
</TABLE>
Banking Laws
Banking laws and regulations presently (i) prohibit a bank holding
company registered under the Federal Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (the
"Holding Company Act") or any bank or non-bank affiliate thereof from
sponsoring, organizing, controlling, or distributing the shares of a registered,
open-end investment company continuously engaged in the issuance of its shares,
but (ii) do not prohibit such a holding company or affiliate from acting as
investment adviser, transfer agent or custodian to such an investment company.
PNC and BIMC are subject to such banking laws and regulations.
BIMC, PNC and each Fund have been advised by Messrs. Ballard,
Spahr, Andrews & Ingersoll that BIMC and PNC may perform the services for a Fund
contemplated by their respective agreements with the Fund and the Prospectus
without violation of applicable banking laws or regulations. Such counsel have
pointed out, however, that future changes in legal requirements relating to the
permissible activities of banks and their affiliates, as well as future
interpretations of present requirements, could prevent one or more of them from
continuing to perform services for the Fund. If BIMC or PNC were prohibited from
providing services to the Fund, the Board would select another qualified firm.
Any new sub-investment advisory agreement would be subject to shareholder
approval.
Custodian and Transfer Agent
PFPC Trust Company ("PFPC Trust") is custodian of each Fund's
assets pursuant to a custodian agreement (the "Custodian Agreement"). Under the
Custodian Agreement, PFPC Trust (i) maintains a separate account or accounts in
the name of the Fund, (ii) holds and transfers portfolio securities on account
of the Fund, (iii) makes receipts and disbursements of money on behalf of the
Fund, (iv) collects and receives all income and other payments and distributions
on account of the Fund's portfolio securities and (v) makes periodic reports to
the Board concerning the Fund's custodial arrangements. PFPC Trust is authorized
-33-
<PAGE> 46
to select one or more banks or trust companies to serve as sub-custodian on
behalf of a Fund, provided that PFPC Trust remains responsible for the
performance of all its duties under the Custodian Agreement and holds the Fund
harmless from the acts and omissions of any sub-custodian. PFPC Trust has
entered into a sub-custodian agreement with PNC Bank, National Association
("PNC"), pursuant to which PNC provides asset safekeeping and securities
clearing services. PFPC Trust and PNC are indirect, wholly owned subsidiaries of
PNC Bank Corp. and their principal business address is 200 Stevens Drive,
Lester, Pennsylvania 19113.
State Street Bank and Trust Company ("State Street") has agreed to
serve as each Fund's shareholder servicing, transfer and dividend disbursing
agent pursuant to a Transfer Agency and Service Agreement, under which State
Street (i) issues and redeems shares of the Fund, (ii) addresses and mails all
communications by the Fund to record owners of the Fund shares, including
reports to shareholders, dividend and distribution notices and proxy material
for its meetings of shareholders, (iii) maintains shareholder accounts and, if
requested, sub-accounts, and (iv) makes periodic reports to the Board concerning
the transfer agent's operations with respect to the Fund. State Street has
delegated to Boston Financial Data Services, Inc. ("BFDS"), a 50% owned
subsidiary, responsibility for most shareholder servicing functions. The
principal business address of State Street is 225 Franklin Street, Boston,
Massachusetts 02110. BFDS's principal business address is 2 Heritage Drive,
Boston, Massachusetts 02171.
Organization of the Fund
Each Fund was incorporated on November 15, 1984 under the laws of
the State of Maryland as "Counsellors Cash Reserve Fund, Inc." and as
"Counsellors New York Tax Exempt Fund, Inc." On October 27, 1995, the Cash
Reserve Fund and the Tax Exempt Fund each filed an amendment to its charter in
order to change its name to "Warburg, Pincus Cash Reserve Fund, Inc." and
"Warburg, Pincus New York Tax Exempt Fund, Inc.", respectively. Each Fund's
charter authorizes the Board to issue three billion full and fractional shares
of capital stock, $.001 par value per share, of which two billion shares are
designated Advisor Shares. Under each Fund's charter documents, the Board has
the power to classify or reclassify any unissued shares of the Fund into one or
more additional classes by setting or changing in any one or more respects their
relative rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends,
qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption. The Board may similarly
classify or reclassify any class of shares into one or more series and, without
shareholder approval, may increase the number of authorized shares of the Fund.
All shareholders of a Fund, upon liquidation, will participate ratably in the
Fund's net assets.
Multi-Class Structure. Although neither Fund currently does so,
each Fund is authorized to offer a separate class of shares, the Advisor Shares,
pursuant to a separate prospectus. Individual investors could only purchase
Advisor Shares through institutional shareholders of record, broker-dealers,
financial institutions, depository institutions, retirement plans and other
financial intermediaries. Shares of each class would represent equal pro rata
interests in the Fund and accrue dividends and calculate net asset value and
performance
-34-
<PAGE> 47
quotations in the same manner. Because of the higher fees paid by the Advisor
Shares, the total return on such shares can be expected to be lower than the
total return on common shares.
Voting Rights. Investors in a Fund are entitled to one vote for
each full share held and fractional votes for fractional shares held.
Shareholders of a Fund will vote in the aggregate except where otherwise
required by law and except that each class will vote separately on certain
matters pertaining to its distribution and shareholder servicing arrangements.
There will normally be no meetings of investors for the purpose of electing
members of the Board unless and until such time as less than a majority of the
members holding office have been elected by investors. Any Director of a Fund
may be removed from office upon the vote of shareholders holding at least a
majority of the relevant Fund's outstanding shares at a meeting called for that
purpose. A meeting will be called for the purpose of voting on the removal of a
Board member at the written request of holders of 10% of the outstanding shares
of a Fund. Shares do not have cumulative voting rights, which means that holders
of more than 50% of the shares voting for the election of Directors can elect
all Directors. Shares are transferable but have no preemptive, conversion or
subscription rights.
ADDITIONAL PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION
Information on how to purchase and redeem Fund shares and how such
shares are priced is included in the Shareholder Guide.
Under the 1940 Act, each Fund may suspend the right of redemption
or postpone the date of payment upon redemption for any period during which The
New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (the "NYSE") is closed, other than customary
weekend and holiday closings, or during which trading on the NYSE is restricted,
or during which (as determined by the SEC by rule or regulation) an emergency
exists as a result of which disposal or fair valuation of portfolio securities
is not reasonably practicable, or for such other periods as the SEC may permit.
(A Fund may also suspend or postpone the recordation of an exchange of its
shares upon the occurrence of any of the foregoing conditions.)
If the Board of a Fund determines that conditions exist which make
payment of redemption proceeds wholly in cash unwise or undesirable, the Fund
may make payment wholly or partly in securities or other investment instruments
which may not constitute securities as such term is defined in the applicable
securities laws. If a redemption is paid wholly or partly in securities or other
property, a shareholder would incur transaction costs in disposing of the
redemption proceeds. The Fund intends to comply with Rule 18f-1 promulgated
under the 1940 Act with respect to redemptions in kind.
Automatic Cash Withdrawal Plan. An automatic cash withdrawal plan
(the "Plan") is available to shareholders who wish to receive specific amounts
of cash periodically. Withdrawals may be made under the Plan by redeeming as
many shares of a Fund as may be necessary to cover the stipulated withdrawal
payment. To the extent that withdrawals exceed dividends, distributions and
appreciation of a shareholder's investment in the Fund, there will
-35-
<PAGE> 48
be a reduction in the value of the shareholder's investment and continued
withdrawal payments may reduce the shareholder's investment and ultimately
exhaust it. Withdrawal payments should not be considered as income from
investment in the Fund. All dividends and distributions on shares in the Plan
are automatically reinvested at net asset value in additional shares of the
Fund.
EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE
An exchange privilege with certain other funds advised by CSAM is
available to investors in each Fund. Exchanges may also be made between certain
Warburg Pincus Advisor Funds.
The exchange privilege enables shareholders to acquire shares in a
fund with a different investment objective when they believe that a shift
between funds is an appropriate investment decision. This privilege is available
to shareholders residing in any state in which the Common Shares or Advisor
Shares being acquired, as relevant, may legally be sold. Prior to any exchange,
the investor should obtain and review a copy of the current prospectus of the
relevant class of each fund into which an exchange is being considered.
Shareholders may obtain a prospectus of the relevant class of the fund into
which they are contemplating an exchange from CSAMSI.
Upon receipt of proper instructions and all necessary supporting
documents, shares submitted for exchange are redeemed at the then-current net
asset value of the relevant class and the proceeds are invested on the same day,
at a price as described above, in shares of the relevant class of the fund being
acquired. The exchange privilege may be modified or terminated at any time upon
30 days' notice to shareholders.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING TAXES
The discussion set out below of tax considerations generally
affecting a Fund and its shareholders is intended to be only a summary and is
not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning by prospective
shareholders. Shareholders are advised to consult their own tax advisers with
respect to the particular tax consequences to them of an investment in a Fund.
As described above and in the Funds' Prospectus, the New York Tax
Exempt Fund is designed to provide investors with current income which is
excluded from gross income for federal income tax purposes and exempt from New
York State and New York City personal income taxes. The Fund is not intended to
constitute a balanced investment program and is not designed for investors
seeking capital gains or maximum tax-exempt income irrespective of fluctuations
in principal. Investment in the Fund would not be suitable for tax-exempt
institutions, individual retirement plans, employee benefit plans and individual
retirement accounts since such investors would not gain any additional tax
benefit from the receipt of tax-exempt income.
-36-
<PAGE> 49
Each Fund intends to continue to qualify as a "regulated investment
company" under Subchapter M of the Code. If it qualifies as a regulated
investment company, a Fund will pay no federal income taxes on its taxable net
investment income (that is, taxable income other than net realized capital
gains) and its net realized capital gains that are distributed to shareholders.
To qualify under Subchapter M, each Fund must, among other things: (i)
distribute to its shareholders at least the sum of 90% of its taxable net
investment income (for this purpose consisting of taxable net investment income
and net realized short-term capital gains) plus 90% of its net tax-exempt
interest income; (ii) derive at least 90% of its gross income from dividends,
interest, payments with respect to loans of securities, gains from the sale or
other disposition of securities, or other income (including, but not limited to,
gains from options, futures, and forward contracts) derived with respect to the
Fund's business of investing in securities; and (iii) diversify its holdings so
that, at the end of each fiscal quarter of the Fund (a) at least 50% of the
market value of the Fund's assets is represented by cash, U.S. government
securities and other securities, with those other securities limited, with
respect to any one issuer, to an amount no greater in value than 5% of the
Fund's total assets and to not more than 10% of the outstanding voting
securities of the issuer, and (b) not more than 25% of the market value of the
Fund's assets is invested in the securities of any one issuer (other than U.S.
government securities or securities of other regulated investment companies) or
of two or more issuers that the Fund controls and that are determined to be in
the same or similar trades or businesses or related trades or businesses. As a
regulated investment company, the Fund will be subject to a 4% non-deductible
excise tax measured with respect to certain undistributed amounts of ordinary
income and capital gain required to be but not distributed under a prescribed
formula. The formula requires payment to shareholders during a calendar year of
distributions representing at least 98% of the Fund's taxable ordinary income
for the calendar year and at least 98% of the excess of its capital gains over
capital losses realized during the one-year period ending October 31 during such
year, together with any undistributed, untaxed amounts of ordinary income and
capital gains from the previous calendar year. The Fund expects to pay the
dividends and make the distributions necessary to avoid the application of this
excise tax.
Although each Fund expects to be relieved of all or substantially
all federal income taxes, depending upon the extent of its activities in states
and localities in which its offices are maintained, in which its agents or
independent contractors are located or in which it is otherwise deemed to be
conducting business, that portion of a Fund's income which is treated as earned
in any such state or locality could be subject to state and local tax. Any taxes
paid by the Fund would reduce the amount of income and gains available for
distribution to shareholders.
If for any taxable year the Fund does not qualify for the special
federal income tax treatment afforded regulated investment companies, all of its
taxable income will be subject to federal income tax at regular corporate rates
(without any deduction for distributions to its shareholders). In such event,
dividend distributions, including amounts derived from interest on tax-exempt
obligations, would be taxable to shareholders to the extent of current and
accumulated earnings and profits, and would be eligible for the dividends
received deduction for corporations in the case of corporate shareholders.
-37-
<PAGE> 50
If, in any taxable year, a Fund fails to qualify as a regulated
investment company under the Code or fails to meet the distribution requirement,
it would be taxed in the same manner as an ordinary corporation and
distributions to its shareholders would not be deductible by the Fund in
computing its taxable income. In addition, in the event of a failure to qualify,
the Fund's distributions, to the extent derived from the Fund's current or
accumulated earnings and profits, would constitute dividends (eligible for the
corporate dividends-received deduction) which are taxable to shareholders as
ordinary income, even though those distributions might otherwise (at least in
part) have been treated in the shareholders' hands as long-term capital gains or
tax-exempt interest income. If a Fund fails to qualify as a regulated investment
company in any year, it must pay out its earnings and profits accumulated in
that year in order to qualify again as a regulated investment company. In
addition, if the Fund failed to qualify as a regulated investment company for a
period greater than one taxable year, the Fund may be required to recognize any
net built-in gains (the excess of the aggregate gains, including items of
income, over aggregate losses that would have been realized if it had been
liquidated) in order to qualify as a regulated investment company in a
subsequent year.
Investors in the Cash Reserve Fund should be aware that it is
possible that some portion of the Fund's income from investments in obligations
of foreign banks could become subject to foreign taxes.
Because the New York Tax Exempt Fund will distribute exempt
interest dividends, interest on indebtedness incurred by a shareholder to
purchase or carry Fund shares is not deductible for federal income tax purposes
and New York State and New York City personal income tax purposes. In addition,
if a shareholder of the New York Tax Exempt Fund holds shares for six months or
less, any loss on the sale or exchange of those shares will be disallowed to the
extent of the amount of exempt-interest dividends received with respect to the
shares. The Code may require a shareholder, if he or she receives exempt
interest dividends, to treat as taxable income a portion of certain otherwise
non-taxable social security and railroad retirement benefit payments.
Furthermore, that portion of any dividend paid by the Fund which represents
income derived from private activity securities held by the Fund may not retain
its tax-exempt status in the hands of a shareholder who is a "substantial user"
of a facility financed by such bonds, or a "related person" thereof. Moreover,
as noted in the Fund's prospectus, some of the Fund's dividends may be a tax
preference item, or a component of an adjustment item, for purposes of the
federal individual and corporate alternative minimum taxes. In addition, the
receipt of Fund dividends and distributions may affect a foreign corporate
shareholder's federal "branch profits" tax liability and a Subchapter S
corporation shareholder's federal "excess net passive income" tax liability.
Shareholders should consult their own tax advisers as to whether they (i) may be
"substantial users" with respect to a facility or "related" to such users within
the meaning of the Code and (ii) are subject to a federal alternative minimum
tax, the federal "branch profits" tax, or the federal "excess net passive
income" tax.
While each Fund does not expect to realize net long-term capital
gains, any such realized gains will be distributed as described in the
Prospectus. Such distributions ("capital
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<PAGE> 51
gain dividends") will be taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gains,
regardless of how long a shareholder has held Fund shares, and will be
designated as capital gain dividends in a written notice mailed by a Fund to
shareholders after the close of the Fund's taxable year. Gain or loss, if any,
recognized on the sale or other disposition of shares of the Fund will be taxed
as capital gain or loss if the shares are capital assets in the shareholder's
hands. Generally, a shareholder's gain or loss will be a long-term gain or loss
if the shares have been held for more than one year. If a shareholder sells or
otherwise disposes of a share of the Fund before holding it for more than six
months, any loss on the sale or other disposition of such share shall be treated
as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any capital gain dividends received
by the shareholder with respect to such share. This rule will apply to a sale of
shares of the New York Tax Exempt Fund only to the extent the loss is not
disallowed under the provision described above.
A shareholder of a Fund receiving dividends or distributions in
additional shares should be treated for federal income tax purposes as receiving
a distribution in an amount equal to the amount of money that a shareholder
receiving cash dividends or distributions receives, and should have a cost basis
in the shares received equal to that amount.
Each shareholder of the Cash Reserve Fund will receive an annual
statement as to the federal income tax status of his dividends and distributions
from the Fund for the prior calendar year. Furthermore, shareholders will also
receive, if appropriate, various written notices after the close of the Fund's
taxable year regarding the federal income tax status of certain dividends and
distributions that were paid (or that are treated as having been paid) by the
Fund to its shareholders during the preceding year.
Each shareholder of the New York Tax Exempt Fund will receive an
annual statement as to the federal and New York State and New York City personal
income tax status of his dividends and distributions from the Fund for the prior
calendar year. Furthermore, shareholders will also receive, if appropriate,
various written notices after the close of the Fund's taxable year regarding the
federal income tax status of certain dividends and distributions that were paid
(or that are treated as having been paid) by the Fund to its shareholders during
the preceding year. Shareholders should consult their tax advisers as to any
other state and local taxes that may apply to the Fund's dividends and
distributions. The dollar amount of dividends excluded from federal income
taxation and exempt from New York State and New York City personal income
taxation and the dollar amounts subject to federal income and New York State and
New York City personal income taxation, if any, will vary for each shareholder
depending upon the size and duration of each shareholder's investment in the
Fund. In the event that the Fund derives taxable net investment income, it
intends to designate as taxable dividends the same percentage of each day's
dividend as its actual taxable net investment income bears to its total net
investment income earned on that day. Therefore, the percentage of each day's
dividend designated as taxable, if any, may vary from day to day.
If a shareholder fails to furnish a correct taxpayer identification
number, fails to report fully dividend or interest income, or fails to certify
that he has provided a correct taxpayer identification number and that he is not
subject to withholding, then the shareholder
-39-
<PAGE> 52
may be subject to a 31% "backup withholding" tax with respect to taxable
dividends and distributions. An individual's taxpayer identification number is
his social security number. Corporate shareholders and other shareholders
specified in the Code are or may be exempt from backup withholding. The backup
withholding tax is not an additional tax and may be credited against a
taxpayer's federal income tax liability.
THE FOREGOING IS ONLY A SUMMARY OF CERTAIN MATERIAL TAX CONSEQUENCES
AFFECTING A FUND AND ITS SHAREHOLDERS. SHAREHOLDERS ARE ADVISED TO
CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISERS WITH RESPECT TO THE PARTICULAR TAX
CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUND.
DETERMINATION OF YIELD
From time to time, each Fund may quote its yield, effective yield
and tax equivalent yield, as applicable, in advertisements or in reports and
other communications to shareholders. The Cash Reserve Fund's yield and
effective yield for the seven-day period ended on December 31, 1998 were 4.61%
and 4.72%, respectively. In the absence of waivers, these yields would have been
4.49% and 4.59%, respectively. The New York Tax Exempt Fund's yield, effective
yield and tax equivalent yield for the seven-day period ended on December 31,
1998, was 3.08%, 3.13% and 6.18% (based on a 50.14% total of 3 tax rates),
respectively. In the absence of waivers these yields would have been 2.84%,
2.88% and 5.70%, respectively. Each Fund's seven-day yield is calculated by (i)
determining the net change in the value of a hypothetical pre-existing account
in the Fund having a balance of one share at the beginning of a seven calendar
day period for which yield is to be quoted, (ii) dividing the net change by the
value of the account at the beginning of the period to obtain the base period
return and (iii) annualizing the results (i.e., multiplying the base period
return by 365/7). The net change in the value of the account reflects the value
of additional shares purchased with dividends declared on the original share and
any such additional shares, but does not include realized gains and losses or
unrealized appreciation and depreciation. Each Fund's seven-day compound
effective annualized yield is calculated by adding 1 to the base period return
(calculated as described above), raising the sum to a power equal to 365/7 and
subtracting 1. The New York Tax Exempt Fund's tax equivalent yield is calculated
by dividing that portion of the base period return which is exempt from federal,
New York State and New York City personal income taxes by 1 minus the highest
marginal federal, New York State and New York City individual income tax rates
and adding the quotient to that portion, if any, of the yield which is not
exempt from those taxes.
Each Fund's yield will vary from time to time depending upon market
conditions, the composition of a Fund's portfolio and operating expenses
allocable to it. Yield information may be useful in reviewing the Fund's
performance and for providing a basis for comparison with other investment
alternatives. However, the Fund's yield will fluctuate, unlike certain bank
deposits or other investments which pay a fixed yield for a stated period of
time. In comparing the Fund's yield with that of other money market funds,
investors should give consideration to the quality and maturity of the portfolio
securities of the respective funds.
-40-
<PAGE> 53
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS AND COUNSEL
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP ("PwC"), with principal offices at 2400
Eleven Penn Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, serves as independent
accountants for each Fund. The Funds' financial statements for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1998, that is incorporated by reference in this Statement of
Additional Information have been audited by PwC, and have been included herein
by reference in reliance upon the report of such firm of independent accountants
given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
Willkie Farr & Gallagher serves as counsel for each Fund and
provides legal services from time to time for CSAM, Counsellors Service and
CSAMSI.
MISCELLANEOUS
The Funds are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Warburg,
Pincus & Co. Warburg, Pincus & Co. makes no representation or warranty, express
or implied, to the owners of the Funds or any member of the public regarding the
advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Funds particularly.
Warburg, Pincus & Co. licenses certain trademarks and trade names of Warburg,
Pincus & Co., and is not responsible for and has not participated in the
calculation of the Funds' net asset value, nor is Warburg, Pincus & Co. a
distributor of the Funds. Warburg, Pincus & Co. has no obligation or liability
in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Funds.
As of March 31, 1999, the name, address and percentage of ownership
of other persons that control a Fund (within the meaning of the rules and
regulations under the 1940 Act) or own of record 5% or more of the Fund's
outstanding shares were as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CASH RESERVE FUND COMMON STOCK
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Neuberger and Berman* 37.88%
#114000
Attn.: Operations Control Dept.
Steve Gallaro
55 Water Street, FL 27
New York, NY 10041-0001
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiduciary Trust Company International* 19.25%
Cust A/C Attn Felyce Porr
Securities Services Group
Church Street Station
P.O. Box 3199
New York, NY 10008-3199
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
-41-
<PAGE> 54
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CASH RESERVE FUND COMMON STOCK
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
The Bank of New York* 6.72%
c/o Frank Notaro
Special Processing Dept.
2nd Floor
One Wall Street
New York, NY 10005-2501
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NEW YORK TAX EXEMPT FUND COMMON STOCK
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Neuberger & Berman* 56.85%
#114000
Attn.: Operations Control Dept.
Steve Gallaro
55 Water Street, FL 27
New York, NY 10041-0001
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiduciary Trust Company International* 33.02%
Cust A/C Attn Felyce Porr
Securities Services Group
Church Street Station
P.O. Box 3199
New York, NY 10008-3199
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
* To the knowledge of each Fund, these entities are not the beneficial
owners of a majority of the shares held by them of record.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Each Fund's audited annual report, dated December 31, 1998, which
either accompanies this Statement of Additional Information or has previously
been provided to the investor to whom this Statement of Additional Information
is being sent, is incorporated herein by reference. A Fund will furnish without
charge a copy of its annual report upon request by calling Warburg Pincus Funds
at (800) 927-2874.
-42-
<PAGE> 55
APPENDIX
DESCRIPTION OF COMMERCIAL PAPER RATINGS
Commercial paper rated A-1 by Standard & Poor's Ratings
Services ("S&P") indicates that the degree of safety regarding timely payment is
strong. Those issues determined to possess extremely strong safety
characteristics are denoted with a plus sign designation. Capacity for timely
payment on commercial paper rated A-2 is satisfactory, but the relative degree
of safety is not as high as for issues designated A-1.
The rating Prime-1 is the highest commercial paper rating
assigned by Moody's Investor Services, Inc. ("Moody's"). Issuers rated Prime-1
(or related supporting institutions) are considered to have a superior capacity
for repayment of short-term promissory obligations. Issuers rated Prime-2 (or
related supporting institutions) are considered to have a strong capacity for
repayment of short-term promissory obligations. This will normally be evidenced
by many of the characteristics of issuers rated Prime-1 but to a lesser degree.
Earnings trends and coverage ratios, while sound, will be more subject to
variation. Capitalization characteristics, while still appropriate, may be more
affected by external conditions. Ample alternative liquidity is maintained.
Short term obligations, including commercial paper, rated A1+
by IBCA are obligations supported by the highest capacity for timely repayment.
Obligations rated A1 have a very strong capacity for timely repayment.
Obligations rated A2 have a strong capacity for timely repayment, although such
capacity may be susceptible to adverse changes in business, economic or
financial conditions.
Fitch Investors Services, Inc. employs the rating F-1+ to
indicate issues regarded as having the strongest degree of assurance for timely
payment. The rating F-1 reflects an assurance of timely payment only slightly
less in degree than issues rated F-1+, while the rating F-2 indicates a
satisfactory degree of assurance for timely payment, although the margin of
safety is not as great as indicated by the F-1+ and F-1 categories.
Duff & Phelps, Inc. employs the designation of Duff 1 with
respect to top grade commercial paper and bank money instruments. Duff 1+
indicates the highest certainty of timely payment: short-term liquidity is
clearly outstanding and safety is just below risk-free U.S. Treasury short-term
obligations. Duff 1- indicates high certainty of timely payment. Duff 2
indicates good certainty of timely payment: liquidity factors and company
fundamentals are sound.
<PAGE> 56
DESCRIPTION OF MUNICIPAL SECURITIES RATINGS
The following summarizes the highest two ratings used by S&P
for Municipal Securities:
AAA - This is the highest rating assigned by S&P to a debt
obligation and indicates an extremely strong capacity to pay interest and repay
principal.
AA - Debt rated AA has a very strong capacity to pay interest
and repay principal and differs from AAA issues only in small degree.
To provide more detailed indications of credit quality, the
"AA" rating may be modified by the addition of a plus or minus sign to show
relative standing within this major rating category.
The following summarizes the highest two ratings used by
Moody's for bonds:
Aaa - Bonds that are rated Aaa are judged to be of the best
quality. They carry the smallest degree of investment risk and are generally
referred to as "gilt edge." Interest payments are protected by a large or
exceptionally stable margin and principal is secure. While the various
protective elements are likely to change, such changes as can be visualized are
most unlikely to impair the fundamentally strong position of such issues.
Aa - Bonds that are rated As are judged to be of high quality
by all standards. Together with the Aaa group they are rated lower than the best
bonds because margins of protection may not be as large as in Aaa securities or
fluctuation of protective elements may be of greater amplitude or there may be
other elements present which make the long-term risks appear somewhat larger
than in Aaa securities.
Moody's applies numerical modifiers (1, 2 and 3) with respect
to the bonds rated Aa. The modifier 1 indicates that the bond being rated ranks
in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a
mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates that the bond ranks in the lower
end of its generic rating category.
The following summarizes the two highest ratings used by S&P
for short-term notes:
SP-1 - Loans bearing this designation evidence a very strong
or strong capacity to pay principal and interest. Those issues determined to
possess overwhelming safety characteristics will be given a (+) designation.
SP-2 - Loans bearing this designation evidence a satisfactory
capacity to pay principal and interest.
The following summarizes the two highest ratings used by
Moody's for short-term notes and variable rate demand obligations:
A-2
<PAGE> 57
MIG-1/VMIG-1 - Obligations bearing these designations are of
the best quality, enjoying strong protection from established cash flows of
funds for their servicing or from established and broad-based access to the
market for refinancing, or both.
MIG-2/VMIG-2 - Obligations bearing these designations are of
high quality with margins of protection ample although not so large as in the
preceding group.
Commercial paper rated A-1 by S&P indicates that the degree of
safety regarding timely payment is strong. Those issues determined to possess
extremely strong safety characteristics are denoted with a plus sign
designation. Capacity for timely payment on commercial paper rated A-2 is
satisfactory, but the relative degree of safety is not as high as for issues
designated A-1.
The rating Prime-1 is the highest commercial paper rating
assigned by Moody's Investors Services, Inc. Issuers rated Prime-1 (or related
supporting institutions) are considered to have a superior capacity for
repayment of short-term promissory obligations. Issuers rated Prime-2 (or
related supporting institutions) are considered to have a strong capacity for
repayment of short-term promissory obligations. This will normally be evidenced
by many of the characteristics of issuers rated Prime-1 but to a lesser degree.
Earnings trends and coverage ratios, while sound, will be more subject to
variation. Capitalization characteristics, while still appropriate, may be more
affected by external conditions. Ample alternative liquidity is maintained.
Short term obligations, including commercial paper, rated A1 +
by IBCA are obligations supported by the highest capacity for timely repayment.
Obligations rated A1 have a very strong capacity for timely repayment.
Obligations rated A2 have a strong capacity for timely repayment, although such
capacity may be susceptible to adverse changes in business, economic or
financial conditions.
Fitch Investors Services, Inc. employs the rating F-1+ to
indicate issues regarded as having the strongest degree of assurance for timely
payment. The rating F-1 reflects an assurance of timely payment only slightly
less in degree than issues rated F-1+, while the rating F-2 indicates a
satisfactory degree of assurance for timely payment, although the margin of
safety is not as great as indicated by the F-1+ and F-1 categories.
Duff & Phelps, Inc. employs the designation of Duff 1 with
respect to top grade commercial paper and bank money instruments. Duff 1+
indicates the highest certainty of timely payment: short-term liquidity is
clearly outstanding and safety is just below risk-free U.S. Treasury short-term
obligations. Duff 1- indicates high certainty of timely payment. Duff 2
indicates good certainty of timely payment: liquidity factors and company
fundamentals are sound.
A-3
