SOUND SHORE FUND INC
497, 1998-05-08
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                                SOUND SHORE FUND
           2 Portland Square, Portland, Maine 04101 - 1-800-754-8758
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PROSPECTUS
MAY 1, 1998

Sound  Shore  Fund,  Inc.  (the  "Fund")  is a no-load,  open-end,  diversified,
management investment company. The Fund's investment objective is to seek growth
of capital,  and investments will be made based upon their potential for capital
growth.  Current income,  while considered  important,  will be secondary to the
objective of capital growth.



     Sound Shore Management, Inc. serves as Investment Adviser to the Fund.
   Forum Administrative Services, LLC serves as Administrator of the Fund and
        Forum Financial Services, Inc. serves as Distributor of the Fund.



This  Prospectus  sets forth  concisely the  information a prospective  investor
should know before investing in the Fund. A Statement of Additional  Information
dated May 1, 1998, containing additional and more detailed information about the
Fund (the "SAI"),  has been filed with the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission
(the "SEC") and is available together with other related materials for reference
on  the  SEC's  Internet  Web  Site  (http://www.sec.gov).  The  SAI  is  hereby
incorporated by reference into this Prospectus.  It is available  without charge
and can be  obtained  by writing  the Fund at the  address set forth above or by
calling the Fund at (800) 551-1980.




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THESE  SECURITIES  HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR  DISAPPROVED  BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES  COMMISSION;  NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND  EXCHANGE  COMMISSION  OR ANY STATE  SECURITIES  COMMISSION  PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
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1. PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE FUND

INVESTMENT  OBJECTIVE AND STRATEGY.  The investment  objective of the Fund is to
seek growth of capital,  and investments will be made based upon their potential
for  capital  growth.  In seeking  to meet this  objective  the Fund  intends to
purchase  securities that management  believes display good growth potential and
are selling at a discount to perceived value in the marketplace. Current income,
while  considered  important,  will be  secondary  to the  objective  of capital
growth. The Fund may invest in common stocks,  preferred stocks and fixed income
securities. See "Investment Objective, Policies and Restrictions."

RISK CONSIDERATIONS. The value of Fund shares will fluctuate with changes in the
market value of the Fund's portfolio  securities and is consequently  subject to
the usual market risks of investment.

INVESTMENT  ADVISER.   The  investment  adviser  to  the  Fund  is  Sound  Shore
Management,  Inc. (the  "Adviser"),  which also serves as investment  adviser to
individuals and  institutional  clients.  The investment  advisory fee is at the
annual  rate  of  0.75%  of the  average  daily  net  assets  of the  Fund.  See
"Management -- Investment Adviser."

ADMINISTRATOR.  The administrator of the Fund is Forum Administrative  Services,
LLC,  which  serves as  administrator  to other  mutual  funds.  For  serving as
administrator of the Fund, Forum Administrative Services, LLC, receives a fee at
the  annual  rate of 0.10% of the  average  daily net  assets  of the Fund.  See
"Management --Administrator."

NO SALES  CHARGES.  There are no sales  charges,  redemption  fees or Rule 12b-1
fees. Shares may be purchased and redeemed at net asset value.

PURCHASE OF SHARES. Shares may be purchased directly through the Fund's transfer
agent, Forum Shareholder Services, LLC, or through certain broker-dealers. There
is a $10,000  minimum  initial  investment  on shares  purchased  directly and a
$5,000  minimum  initial   investment  on  shares   purchased   through  certain
broker-dealers.  A $2,000  minimum  initial  investment  applies  to  IRAs.  See
"Purchases and Redemptions of Shares -- Purchase of Shares."

INVESTMENT FEATURES. Investors may elect TELEPHONE PRIVILEGES to make purchases,
redemptions  and exchanges  over the telephone.  Investors that elect  telephone
privileges may elect to use ELECTRONIC  FUNDS TRANSFER as the payment method for
telephone transactions.  Investors also may purchase shares by making systematic
monthly  investments  into the Fund with the Fund's  AUTOMATIC  INVESTMENT PLAN.
IRAS and other  RETIREMENT  PLANS  utilizing the Fund as an  investment  vehicle
provide  Federal income tax benefits for qualified  participants.  The Fund also
offers  EXCHANGE  PRIVILEGES  whereby  shareholders  of the Fund are entitled to
exchange  some or all of their shares in the Fund for shares of certain bond and
money market mutual funds. For information concerning these and other investment
features of the Fund see "Purchases and Redemptions of Shares."

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EXPENSES OF INVESTING IN THE FUND

The purpose of the following table is to assist an investor in understanding the
various  costs and expenses  that an investor in the Fund will bear  directly or
indirectly.

ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES (as a percentage of average net assets)
Management Fees..........................................................  0.75%
Other Expenses...........................................................  0.33%
                                                                         -------
Total Fund Operating Expenses..............................................1.08%


The  amounts of  expenses  and fees are those  incurred  during the Fund's  most
recent fiscal year ending December 31, 1997. Absent fee waivers,  the Total Fund
Operating Expenses for the Fund would have been 1.10%. For a further description
of these fees, see "Management."
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                   <C>         <C>          <C>           <C>
EXAMPLE
You would pay the following expenses on a
                                                                    1 Year       3 Years      5 Years     10 Years
$1,000 investment assuming a 5% annual return                       ------       -------      -------     --------
and redemption at the end of each period:                             $11          $34          $59         $132
</TABLE>

The  example  is based on the  expenses  listed  in the table  and  assumes  the
reinvestment of all dividends.  THE FIGURES  REFLECTED IN THE EXAMPLE SHOULD NOT
BE CONSIDERED AS A REPRESENTATION  OF PAST OR FUTURE EXPENSES OR RETURN.  ACTUAL
EXPENSES AND RETURN MAY BE GREATER OR LESS THAN INDICATED.


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2. FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The  following   information   represents  selected  data  for  a  single  share
outstanding  of the  Fund.  The  information  for the past  five  years has been
audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, Independent Certified Public Accountants.  The
Fund's  financial  statements  for the fiscal year ended  December  31, 1997 and
independent  auditors'  report thereon are contained in the Annual Report of the
Fund  and are  incorporated  by  reference  into  the  Statement  of  Additional
Information.  Further information about the performance of the Fund is contained
in the Annual Report, which may be obtained from the Fund without charge.
<TABLE>
<S>                               <C>             <C>           <C>           <C>          <C>         <C>
                                                         YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                             -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  1997            1996          1995          1994         1993        1992
                                  ----            ----          ----          ----         ----        ----
Beginning net asset
  value per share                $21.71          $18.16         15.46        $16.50       $16.24      $15.17
Net investment
  income                          0.12            0.13          0.25          0.22         0.14        0.17
Net realized and
  unrealized
  investment gain
  (loss) on securities            7.75            5.90          4.33         (0.17)        1.80        3.02
Dividends paid from
  net investment
  income                         (0.12)          (0.13)        (0.21)        (0.22)       (0.14)      (0.175)
Distributions from
  net realized gains             (0.87)          (2.35)        (1.67)        (0.87)       (1.54)      (1.95)

Distributions  in excess of
net realized gains               (0.02)            -              -            -            -            -
                                 ------          -------       ------        ------       ------       ------
Ending net asset
  value per share                $28.57          $21.71        $18.16        $15.46       $16.50      $16.24
                                =======          ======        ======        ======       ======      ======

Ratios to average net
assets:
  Expenses                       1.08%           1.15%          1.15%        1.22%        1.27%        1.37%
  Net investment
  income                         0.62%           0.70%          1.41%        1.32%        0.88%        1.10%
Total return                     36.40%          33.27%        29.87%        0.30%        11.96%      21.17%
Portfolio turnover rate          53.39%          69.31%        53.01%        75.52%       90.99%      88.33%
Net assets at end of
  year (000's omitted)         $1,313,686       $132,862       $67,602      $59,993      $58,179      $39,974
Average Brokerage
  Commission Rate (a)           $0.0568         $0.0563          N/A          N/A          N/A          N/A
</TABLE>


(a)  Amount  represents the average  commission per share paid to brokers on the
     purchase or sale of equity securities.


<TABLE>
<S>                                <C>            <C>             <C>              <C>
                                                 YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                ---------------------------------------------------------
                                   1991           1990            1989             1988
                                   ----           ----            -----            ----
Beginning net asset
  value per share                 $11.77         $13.73          $12.67           $11.58
Net investment
  income                           0.30           0.51            0.33             0.21
Net realized and
  unrealized
  investment gain
  (loss) on securities             3.48          (1.95)           2.50             2.24
Dividends paid from
  net investment
  income                         (0.285)         (0.52)          (0.35)           (0.18)
Distributions from
  net realized gains             (0.095)            -            (1.42)           (1.18)
                                 --------        ------         -------           -------
Ending net asset
  value per share                 $15.17         $11.77          $13.73           $12.67
                                 ========        ======         =======           =======
Ratios to average net
assets:
  Expenses                        1.30%           1.33%           1.24%           1.40%
  Net investment
  income                          2.10%           3.55%           2.37%           1.57%
Total return                      32.24%        (10.64%)         22.42%           21.14%
Portfolio turnover
  rate                           100.01%         105.20%         90.83%          134.30%
Net assets at end of
  year (000's omitted)           $32,211         $28,470         $42,470         $28,512
</TABLE>



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3. INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE, POLICIES AND RESTRICTIONS

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES

The  investment  objective  of  the  Fund  is to  seek  growth  of  capital  and
investments will be made based upon their potential for capital growth.  Current
income,  while  considered  important,  will be  secondary  to the  objective of
capital growth.  There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment
objective. The Fund's investment objective is fundamental and may not be changed
without shareholder  approval.  The Fund's investment policies may be changed by
the Fund's Board of Directors (the "Board").

EQUITY  INVESTMENTS.  The Fund will invest in securities  listed on a securities
exchange or included in the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated
Quotation  (NASDAQ)  National  Market  System or National  List.  As a matter of
policy,  not all aspects of the  national  economy  will be  represented  in the
Fund's portfolio and the portfolio will not have the same diversification as the
broad market averages such as the Dow Jones Industrial  Average and the Standard
& Poor's 500 Index.  Therefore,  its results  should  differ  from these  market
averages.

The Adviser  seeks  investments  in equity  securities  based on its judgment of
fundamental value. Factors deemed particularly  relevant include price, earnings
expectations,  earnings and price histories,  balance sheet  characteristics and
perceived  management skills.  Changes in the economic and political outlooks as
well as individual  corporate  developments  influence specific security prices.
When the Fund's investments lose their perceived value relative to other similar
investments  and  investment  alternatives,  they are sold.  It is the Adviser's
expectation,  based  on its  experience,  that  most  of the  holdings  will  be
long-term  in nature  (greater  than a  six-month  holding  period) and that the
annual turnover of the Fund should not exceed 100%. A portfolio turnover rate of
100% would occur, for example,  if all the stocks in the portfolio were replaced
in a one year period.

OTHER INVESTMENTS. The Fund expects that for most periods a substantial portion,
if not all, of its assets will be invested in a diversified  portfolio of common
stocks judged by the Adviser to have favorable  value to price  characteristics.
The Fund may also invest,  however,  in U.S.  Government  or  Government  agency
obligations,  investment grade corporate bonds,  preferred  stocks,  convertible
securities, and/or short-term money market instruments when the Adviser believes
that investment in these securities,  in light of current market conditions,  is
consistent with the Fund's investment objectives.

The Fund  may  invest  in  warrants  which  entitle  the  holder  to buy  equity
securities at a specific price for a specific period of time. The Fund will not,
however,  purchase any warrant if, as a result of such purchase, more than 5% of
the Fund's total assets would be invested in warrants.

The Fund may also  invest up to 10% of its total  assets  in the  securities  of
other  investment  companies.  To the extent the Fund does so, it would bear its
pro rata share of the other investment  company's  expenses,  such as investment
advisory and distributions fees, and operating expenses.

CASH  AND  TEMPORARY  DEFENSIVE  POSITIONS.  The  Fund  may  hold  cash  or cash
equivalents  pending investment and to retain flexibility in meeting redemptions
and paying  expenses.  Cash  equivalents may include (1) short-term  obligations
issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government,  its agencies or instrumentalities,
(2)  commercial  paper  rated  Prime-1  by Moody's  Investors  Service or A-1 by
Standard & Poor's,  (3) certificates of deposit and bankers'  acceptances issued
by domestic  banks  having total  assets in excess of one billion  dollars,  (4)
money market mutual funds,  and (5)  repurchase  agreements  covering any of the
securities in which the Fund may invest directly.  A repurchase  agreement is an
instrument under

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which an investor (E.G., the Fund) purchases a U.S.  Government  security from a
vendor,  with an agreement by the vendor to repurchase  the security at the same
price, plus interest at a specified rate.  Repurchase  agreements usually have a
short duration, often less than one week.

When  business or financial  conditions  warrant,  the Fund may take a defensive
position  and  invest  temporarily   without  limit  in  investment  grade  debt
securities, preferred stocks or cash equivalents.

INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

The Fund has adopted certain  investment  restrictions  which may not be changed
without the approval of the Fund's  shareholders.  Briefly,  these  restrictions
provide that the Fund may not:

1. Purchase the securities of any one issuer,  other than the U.S. Government or
any of its agencies or  instrumentalities,  if  immediately  after such purchase
more than 5% of the value of its total  assets  would be invested in such issuer
or the Fund would own more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such
issuer,  except  that up to 25% of the value of the Fund's  total  assets may be
invested without regard to such 5% and 10% limitations;

2.  Invest  more  than 25% of the value of its  total  assets in any  particular
industry;

3. Purchase securities on margin, but it may obtain such short-term credits from
banks  as may  be  necessary  for  the  clearance  of  purchases  and  sales  of
securities;

4. Make  loans of its assets to any  person,  except  for the  purchase  of debt
securities as discussed under "Investment Objective and Policies;"

5. Borrow money except for (1) the short-term  credits from banks referred to in
paragraph  3 above and (2)  borrowings  from banks for  temporary  or  emergency
purposes,  including the meeting of redemption  requests which might require the
untimely  disposition of  securities.  Borrowing in the aggregate may not exceed
15%, and borrowing for purposes other than meeting redemptions may not exceed 5%
of the value of the Fund's total assets  (including  the amount  borrowed)  less
liabilities  (not  including  the amount  borrowed) at the time the borrowing is
made.  Outstanding  borrowings  in excess of 5% of the value of the Fund's total
assets will be repaid before any subsequent investments are made;

6. Mortgage, pledge or hypothecate any of its assets, except as may be necessary
in connection with permissible borrowings mentioned in paragraph 5 above;

7. Purchase the securities of any other investment company, except that the Fund
may invest up to 10% of its total assets in such securities through purchases in
the open  market  where to the best  information  of the Fund no  commission  or
profit to a sponsor or dealer  (other than the  customary  broker's  commission)
results from such  purchase,  or except when such  purchase is part of a merger,
consolidation or acquisition of assets; or

8. Act as an underwriter  of securities of other  issuers,  except that the Fund
may acquire restricted or not readily marketable  securities under circumstances
where,  if such  securities  were  sold,  the  Fund  might  be  deemed  to be an
underwriter  for  purposes  of the  Securities  Act of 1933.  The Fund will not,
however,  invest more than 10% of the value of its total assets in the aggregate
in restricted or not readily marketable  securities or in repurchase  agreements
maturing or terminable in more than seven days.

If a percentage  restriction or a rating on investment is adhered to at the time
an investment is made, a later change in  percentage  resulting  from changes in
the value of the Fund's portfolio  securities or a later change in the rating of
a portfolio  security will not be considered a violation of the Fund's  policies
or restrictions.

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4. MANAGEMENT

INVESTMENT ADVISER

The investment  adviser to the Fund is Sound Shore Management,  Inc., a Delaware
corporation  with  its  principal  office  at 8 Sound  Shore  Drive,  Greenwich,
Connecticut  06836.  The  Adviser  was, at May 1, 1998,  investment  adviser for
assets  aggregating  in excess of $4.5  billion.  In addition  to the Fund,  the
Adviser's advisory clients include individuals,  pension trusts,  profit-sharing
trusts and endowments.  Most of the accounts which are managed or advised by the
Adviser  for  these  clients  have  investment  objectives  which  may vary only
slightly from those of each other and those of the Fund. The Adviser  expects to
invest assets of such  accounts in  investments  substantially  similar to those
which  constitute  the  principal  investments  of the Fund.  Such  accounts are
supervised  by officers  and  employees of the Adviser who may also be acting in
similar  capacities  for the Fund.  It is the policy of the  Adviser to allocate
advisory  recommendations  and the placing of orders in a manner which is deemed
equitable by the Adviser to the accounts involved, including the Fund.

Pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement, the Adviser furnishes a continuous
investment  program for the Fund's  portfolio,  makes the day-to-day  investment
decisions for the Fund,  executes the purchase and sale orders for the portfolio
transactions  of the  Fund and  generally  manages  the  Fund's  investments  in
accordance  with  the  stated  policies  of the  Fund,  subject  to the  general
supervision  of the Board.  Consistent  with the Rules of Fair  Practice  of the
National  Association  of Securities  Dealers,  Inc. and subject to seeking best
execution,  the Adviser may consider  sales of shares of the Fund as a factor in
the selection of brokers to execute  portfolio  transactions  for the Fund.  The
Adviser provides  persons  satisfactory to the Board to serve as officers of the
Fund.  Such  officers,  as well as certain other  employees and directors of the
Fund, may be directors,  officers,  or employees of the Adviser.  Messrs.  Harry
Burn III and T. Gibbs  Kane,  Jr.  may be deemed  "controlling  persons"  of the
Adviser on the basis of their ownership of the Adviser's stock.

While the Adviser's full staff  contributes to the investment  services provided
to the Fund, Mr. Kane,  President of the Fund and of the Adviser,  and Mr. Burn,
Chairman of the Fund and of the Adviser,  are primarily  responsible for the day
to day  management of the Fund.  They have served as portfolio  managers for the
Fund since its inception.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997, the Adviser, for its services under
the  Investment  Advisory  Agreement,  received an amount  equal to 0.75% of the
Fund's average daily net assets.

YEAR 2000. Like other mutual funds,  financial and other business  organizations
and individuals  around the world,  the Fund could be adversely  affected if the
computer systems used by the Adviser and other service  providers to the Fund do
not properly  process and calculate  date-related  information and data from and
after  January  2000.  The Adviser  and the  administrator  are taking  steps to
address the Year 2000 issue with  respect to the  computer  systems that it uses
and to obtain reasonable assurances that comparable steps are being taken by the
Fund's other major service providers.  Neither the Adviser nor the administrator
anticipates that the arrival of the Year 2000 will have a material impact on its
ability to continue to provide the Fund with service at current levels.

ADMINISTRATOR

Pursuant  to  an   Administration   Agreement   dated  January  24,  1997,   the
Administrator  for the Fund is Forum  Administrative  Services,  LLC, a Delaware
limited  liability  company  with  principal  offices  at Two  Portland  Square,
Portland,   Maine  04101  (the   "Administrator").   As  of  May  1,  1998,  the
Administrator  and  its  affiliates  provided  management,  

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administrative and distribution  services to registered investment companies and
collective investment funds with assets of approximately $48 billion.

The Administrator  administers all aspects of the Fund's  operations  subject to
the  supervision  of the Board except as set forth under  "Investment  Adviser."
Because of the services  rendered the Fund by the  Administrator  and the Fund's
Adviser, the Fund itself requires no employees other than its officers,  none of
whom  receives  compensation  from the Fund and all of whom are  employed by the
Adviser,  the  Administrator  or  their  affiliates.   In  connection  with  its
responsibilities  as Administrator  and in  consideration of its  administrative
fee,  the  Administrator  is  responsible  for the  supervision  of the  overall
management of the Fund  (including  the Fund's  receipt of services for which it
must pay),  providing  the Fund with general  office  facilities  and  providing
persons satisfactory to the Board of Directors to serve as officers of the Fund.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996, the Fund's previous  administrator,
Forum Financial Services,  Inc. received a fee of 0.10% of the average daily net
assets  of  the  Fund.  For  the  fiscal  year  ended  December  31,  1997,  the
Administrator received a fee of 0.10% of the Fund's average daily net assets.

DISTRIBUTOR

Pursuant to a Distribution  Agreement with the Fund,  Forum Financial  Services,
Inc.  (the  "Distributor"),  an  affiliate  of  the  Administrator  acts  as the
distributor of the Fund's shares.  The Distributor acts as the agent of the Fund
in connection with the offering of shares of the Fund. The Distributor  receives
no  compensation  for  its  services  under  the  Distribution  Agreement.   The
Distributor is a registered broker-dealer and investment adviser and is a member
of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.

TRANSFER AGENT

Forum Shareholder  Services,  LLC (the "Transfer  Agent"),  Two Portland Square,
Portland,  Maine 04101, a registered transfer agent, acts as the Fund's transfer
agent and dividend disbursing agent. The Transfer Agent maintains an account for
each   shareholder   of  the  Fund  (unless  such  accounts  are  maintained  by
sub-transfer agents or processing agents) and performs other transfer agency and
related functions.

The Transfer Agent is authorized to  subcontract  any or all of its functions to
one or more qualified sub-transfer agents or processing agents, which may or may
not be its  affiliates,  who  agree to  comply  with the  terms of the  Transfer
Agent's  agreement  with the Fund.  The Transfer  Agent may pay those agents for
their  services,  but  no  such  payment  will  increase  the  Transfer  Agent's
compensation from the Fund. The Transfer Agent provides transfer agency services
for the Fund for a fee equal to 0.10% of the annual  average daily net assets of
the Fund.

Under a Fund Accounting Agreement,  Forum Accounting Services, LLC, an affiliate
of the Transfer Agent, the Distributor and the Administrator, performs portfolio
accounting services for the Fund for a fee equal to $60,000 per year.

5. PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS OF SHARES

PURCHASE OF SHARES

Shares of the Fund are offered at the next  determined  net asset value  without
any  sales  charge  by  the  Fund  as an  investment  vehicle  for  individuals,
institutions, fiduciaries and retirement plans. Prospectuses, sales material and
subscription  order forms can be obtained from the Fund at the address listed on
the cover of this Prospectus or by calling (800) 551-1980.

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For each shareholder of record, the Transfer Agent, as the shareholder's  agent,
establishes an open account to which all shares purchased are credited, together
with any dividends and capital gain  distributions  which are paid in additional
shares. See "Dividends and Distributions."  Although most shareholders elect not
to receive stock  certificates,  certificates for full shares can be obtained on
specific  written request to the Transfer Agent. No certificates  are issued for
fractional shares.

MINIMUM  INVESTMENT.  There is a $10,000 minimum for an initial  investment made
directly and a $5,000  minimum  initial  investment  on  purchases  made through
certain broker-dealers. The minimum initial investment for individual retirement
accounts is $2,000. There is no minimum for subsequent investments made by check
or bank  wire and a $50  minimum  for  subsequent  telephone  purchases  made by
electronic  funds  transfer  and  for  monthly  transfers  under  the  Automatic
Investment  Plan. All purchase  payments will be invested in full and fractional
shares and the Fund has reserved the right to reject any purchase order.

PURCHASE PROCEDURES

BY MAIL.  To purchase  shares of the Fund an  investor  should send a check made
payable to "Sound Shore Fund, Inc." and a completed  subscription  order form to
the Transfer Agent at:

     Forum Shareholder Services, LLC
     ATTN: Transfer Agent
     P.O. Box 446
     Portland, Maine 04112

Checks are accepted  subject to  collection  at full face value in United States
currency.

BY BANK  WIRE.  To  purchase  shares  of the  Fund  using  the wire  system  for
transmittal  of money  among  banks,  an investor  should  first  telephone  the
Transfer  Agent at (800)  754-8758,  to obtain an account  number.  The investor
should then instruct a member commercial bank to wire funds to:

     BankBoston
     Boston, Massachusetts
     ABA # 011000390

     For Credit To:  Forum Shareholder Services, LLC
     Account #: 541-54171
     Ref: Sound Shore Fund, Inc.
     Account of (YOUR NAME)
     Fund Account #: (YOUR ACCOUNT NUMBER)
     SS # or Tax ID #: (YOUR SS # OR TAX ID #)

The investor should then promptly complete and mail the subscription order form.
Subsequent  purchases can be made by bank wire, as indicated above, by mailing a
check to the Transfer Agent at the address  listed above or by electronic  funds
transfer,  described  immediately  below. Each investment in shares of the Fund,
including dividends and capital gain distributions  reinvested,  is acknowledged
by a statement  showing the number of shares  purchased,  the net asset value at
which the shares were purchased, and the new balance of Fund shares owned.

BY AUTOMATED CLEARING HOUSE ("ACH").  An investor that elects telephone purchase
privileges may purchase shares by telephone with payment by ACH,  electronically
transferring funds from the investor's  designated bank account. An investor may
purchase  additional  shares by telephone  using ACH for purchases  greater than
$50.  In order to  purchase  shares by  telephone  and make  payment by ACH,  an
investor must complete the appropriate  sections of the subscription order form.
Shareholders  who have authorized  telephone  purchases may effect  purchases by
telephoning the Transfer Agent at (800) 754-8758.

BY PURCHASING THROUGH YOUR BROKER-DEALER. Shareholder accounts may be maintained
through certain  broker-dealers.  These broker-dealers may make arrangements for
their  customers  to  purchase  and redeem  Fund  shares by  telephone  and

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                                       9



<PAGE>
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some  broker-dealers may impose a charge for their services.  Alternatively,  an
investor  who has not made his  initial  purchase  through a  broker-dealer  may
purchase and redeem those shares directly through the Transfer Agent without any
such charges.  The Fund has authorized  various  brokers to accept on its behalf
purchase and redemption orders. These brokers may designate other intermediaries
to  accept  purchase  and  redemption  orders.  The Fund  will be deemed to have
received a  purchase  or  redemption  order when an  authorized  broker,  or its
authorized  designee,  accepts the order.  An order placed through an authorized
broker or its designee will be executed at the Fund's NAV next computed after it
is accepted by the broker or its designee.

BY AUTOMATIC  INVESTMENT  PLAN.  Investors may also purchase shares by arranging
systematic  monthly   investments  into  the  Fund  with  the  Fund's  Automatic
Investment  Plan  ("AIP").  The minimum  initial  investment  is $10,000 and the
minimum  subsequent  investment  is $50.  After  investors  give the Fund proper
authorization, their bank accounts, which must be with banks that are members of
Automated  Clearing  House,  will be debited  accordingly  to  purchase  shares.
Investors will receive a confirmation  for every  transaction,  and a withdrawal
will appear on their bank statements.

To participate in the AIP,  investors must complete the appropriate  sections of
the Subscription  Order Form or the Automatic  Investment Plan Form. These forms
may be obtained  by calling the Fund's  Transfer  Agent at (800)  754-8758.  The
amount investors specify will  automatically be invested in shares at the Fund's
net asset value per share next determined after payment is received by the Fund.

To change the amount invested, written instructions must be received by the Fund
at least seven  Business  Days in advance of the next  transfer.  If the bank or
bank  account  number is changed,  instructions  must be received by the Fund at
least 20  Business  Days in  advance.  If there  are  insufficient  funds in the
investor's  designated bank account to cover the shares purchased using AIP, the
investor's  bank may  charge  the  investor  a fee or may  refuse  to honor  the
transfer instruction (in which case no Fund shares will be purchased).

Investors should check with their banks to determine whether they are members of
the  Automatic  Clearing  House  and  whether  their  banks  charge  a  fee  for
transferring  funds through the Automatic  Clearing House.  Expenses incurred by
the Fund related to AIP are borne by the Fund and  therefore  there is no direct
charge by the Fund to investors for use of these services.

REDEMPTION OF SHARES

Upon  receipt by the  Transfer  Agent of a  redemption  request in proper  form,
shares of the Fund will be redeemed at their next determined net asset value.

REDEMPTION PROCEDURES

WRITTEN REQUESTS.  Redemptions may be made by letter to the Transfer Agent at:

     Forum Shareholder Services, LLC
     ATTN: Transfer Agent
     P.O. Box 446
     Portland, Maine 04112

The letter  must  specify the name of the Fund,  the dollar  amount or number of
shares to be  redeemed,  and the  account  number.  The letter must be signed in
exactly the same way the account is registered  (if there is more than one owner
of the shares, all must sign). A signature guarantee is required for any written
redemption request for an amount greater than $50,000.  Signature guarantees are
described more fully under "Signature Guarantees" below.

If shares to be redeemed are held in certificate  form, the certificates must be
enclosed  with the letter.  Certificates  must be  properly  endorsed  and,  for
protection, shareholders should use registered mail. Further documentation, such
as  copies  of  corporate  resolutions  and  instruments  of  authority, 

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                                       10



<PAGE>
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may  be  requested  from  corporations,   administrators,   executors,  personal
representatives,  trustees or custodians to evidence the authority of the person
or entity making the redemption request.

Redemptions  may be made through the  broker-dealer  through whom you  purchased
your shares.

BY TELEPHONE.  Shareholders  who wish to redeem  shares by telephone  must elect
this option by properly completing the appropriate section of their Subscription
Order Form.  This  privilege  may not be available  until  several weeks after a
shareholder's  application is received.  Shares for which certificates have been
issued may not be redeemed by telephone.

A  shareholder  who has  elected  telephone  redemption  privileges  may  make a
telephone redemption request by calling the Transfer Agent at (800) 754-8758 and
providing  the  shareholder's  account  number,  the  exact  name in  which  the
shareholder's  shares are registered and the  shareholder's  social  security or
taxpayer   identification  number.  In  response  to  the  telephone  redemption
instruction, the Fund will mail a check to the shareholder's record address, or,
if a shareholder  has provided bank wire or ACH  redemption  authorization,  the
Fund will wire or  electronically  transfer  the  proceeds to the  shareholder's
designated bank account.  Shareholders must complete the appropriate sections of
the Subscription Order Form to authorize receipt of redemption  proceeds by bank
wire or ACH.  Redemptions  for amounts less than $5,000 will be made by check or
by ACH. Redemptions of $5,000 or more may be made by bank wire.

In an effort to  prevent  unauthorized  or  fraudulent  redemption  requests  by
telephone,  the Transfer Agent will follow reasonable procedures to confirm that
such  instructions  are genuine.  If such  procedures are followed,  neither the
Transfer Agent, the  Administrator,  the Investment Advisor nor the Fund will be
liable for any losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent redemption requests.

In times of drastic  economic or market  changes,  it may be  difficult  to make
redemptions  by telephone.  If a shareholder  cannot reach the Transfer Agent by
telephone,  redemption  requests may be mailed or hand-delivered to the Transfer
Agent.

SIGNATURE GUARANTEES.  A signature guarantee is required for any written request
to redeem an amount  greater  than  $50,000 and for any  endorsement  on a stock
certificate.  In addition, a signature guarantee is required for instructions to
change a shareholder's (1) record name or address,  (2) ACH bank or bank account
information, (3) Systematic Withdrawal information, (4) dividend election or (5)
telephone purchase,  redemption or exchange options. Signature guarantees may be
provided by a bank, a broker-dealer,  a national securities  exchange,  a credit
union,  or a savings  association  that is authorized  to guarantee  signatures,
acceptable  to the Fund's  transfer  agent.  Whenever a signature  guarantee  is
required,  each person  required to sign for the account must have his signature
guaranteed. Signature guarantees by notaries public are not acceptable.

SYSTEMATIC  WITHDRAWAL PLAN. Any shareholder who owns shares of the Fund with an
aggregate  value of $10,000 or more may establish a Systematic  Withdrawal  Plan
under  which the  shareholder  offers to sell to the Fund at net asset value the
number of full and fractional shares which will produce the monthly or quarterly
payments  specified  (minimum  $100.00 per  payment).  Depending  on the amounts
withdrawn,   systematic   withdrawals  may  deplete  the  investor's  principal.
Investors  contemplating  participation  in this Plan should  consult  their tax
advisers.

Shareholders wishing to utilize this Plan may do so by completing an application
which  may be  obtained  by  writing  or  calling  the  Transfer  Agent at (800)
754-8758. No additional charge to the shareholder is made for this service.

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                                       11



<PAGE>
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OTHER REDEMPTION  INFORMATION.  The proceeds of a redemption may be more or less
than the amount  invested and,  therefore,  a redemption may result in a gain or
loss for Federal income tax purposes.  Checks for redemption  proceeds  normally
will be mailed, and bank wire or ACH redemption  payments will normally be made,
within  seven  days,  but will not be  mailed  until  all  checks  (including  a
certified  or  cashier's  check) in payment for the purchase of the shares to be
redeemed  have been cleared,  currently  considered by the Fund to occur 15 days
after investment.  Unless other instructions are given, a check for the proceeds
of a redemption will be sent to the shareholder's address of record.

The Fund may suspend the right of redemption  during any period when (1) trading
on the New York Stock  Exchange is restricted  or the Exchange is closed,  other
than customary weekend and holiday closings,  (2) the SEC has by order permitted
such  suspension  or (3) an  emergency,  as defined by rules of the SEC,  exists
making disposal of portfolio  investments or  determination  of the value of the
net assets of the Fund not reasonably practicable.

To be in a position to eliminate excessive expenses, the Fund reserves the right
to  redeem  upon not less  than 30 days'  notice  all  shares  of the Fund in an
account  (other  than an  IRA)  which  has a  value  below  $1,000.  However,  a
shareholder  will be allowed to make  additional  investments  prior to the date
fixed for redemption to avoid liquidation of the account.

Proceeds of redemptions normally are paid by check,  electronic transfer or bank
wire. However,  payments may be made wholly or partially in portfolio securities
if the Board  determines  that payment in cash would be  detrimental to the best
interests  of the  Fund.  The Fund  has  filed a  formal  election  with the SEC
pursuant to which the Fund will only effect a redemption in portfolio securities
if the  particular  shareholder  is  redeeming  more than  $250,000 or 1% of the
Fund's total net assets, whichever is less, during any 90-day period.

RETIREMENT PLANS

The fund may be a suitable investment vehicle for part or all of the assets held
in Traditional or Roth individual retirement accounts  (collectively "IRAs"). An
IRA account  application  form may be obtained by contacting  the Trust at (800)
551-1980. Generally, all contributions and investment earnings in an IRA will be
tax-deferred until withdrawn. In the case of a Roth IRA, if certain requirements
are met, investment earnings will not be taxed even when withdrawn.  Individuals
may  make  IRA  contributions  of up  to a  maximum  of  $2,000  annually.  Only
contributions to Traditional IRAs may be tax-deductible.  However, the deduction
will be  reduced  if the  individual  or, in the case of a  married  individual,
either the individual or the individual's  spouse is an active participant in an
employer-sponsored  retirement  plan and has adjusted gross income above certain
levels.  The ability of an  individual  to make  contributions  to a Roth IRA is
restricted if the individual  (or, in some cases, a married couple) has adjusted
gross income above certain levels.

The foregoing  discussion regarding IRAs is based on regulations in effect as of
January  1,  1998  and  summarizes  only  some  of  the  important  federal  tax
considerations  generally  affecting IRA  contributions  made by  individuals or
their employers. It is not intended as a substitute for tax planning.  Investors
should  consult their tax advisors with respect to their specific tax situations
as well as with respect to state and local taxes.

EXCHANGE PRIVILEGES

OTHER FUNDS.  Shareholders of the Fund are entitled to exchange their shares for
shares of certain other investment  companies managed by the Administrator which
participate in the exchange privilege program. Currently, the exchange privilege
program has been established  between the Fund and Investors Bond Fund, TaxSaver
Bond  Fund and  Daily  Assets  Government  Fund (a money  market  fund),  each a
separate  series of

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                                       12



<PAGE>
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Forum Funds.  Shareholders interested in exchanging their shares should obtain a
copy of those funds'  prospectuses  by writing the Transfer Agent or calling the
Transfer Agent at (800) 754-8758.  These funds currently  impose no exchange fee
or sales charge on Fund shareholders who exchange into them.

EXCHANGE  PROCEDURES.  Instructions  for  exchanges  may be made in  writing  to
Transfer Agent at the address listed above. The minimum amount necessary to open
an  account  in the Fund  through  an  exchange  from  another  fund is  $2,500.
Exchanges  may  only be made  between  identically  registered  accounts.  A new
account  application is required to open a new account  through an exchange only
if different shareholder  privileges are requested for the new account. The Fund
reserves  the right to reject any  exchange  request and may modify or terminate
the  exchange  privilege  at any  time.  There  is no  charge  for the  exchange
privilege or limitation as to frequency of exchanges.

An exchange  of shares in the Fund  pursuant to the  exchange  privilege  is, in
effect,  a  redemption  of Fund  shares  (at net asset  value)  followed  by the
purchase of shares of the investment company into which the exchange is made (at
net asset  value) and may result in a  shareholder  realizing a taxable  gain or
loss for Federal  income tax  purposes.  The exchange  privilege is available to
shareholders  residing in any state in which the investment company shares being
acquired may legally be sold.

TELEPHONE EXCHANGES. Shareholders who have elected telephone exchange privileges
may effect an exchange by telephoning the Transfer Agent at (800) 754-8758.  The
Fund and the Transfer Agent will employ reasonable procedures in order to verify
that telephone requests for exchanges are genuine, including recording telephone
instructions and causing written confirmations of the resulting  transactions to
be sent to  shareholders.  Shareholders  should verify the accuracy of telephone
instructions immediately upon receipt of confirmation statements.

6. DIVIDENDS AND TAX MATTERS

DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

Each dividend and capital gain distribution, if any, declared by the Fund on its
outstanding shares will, at the election of each shareholder, be paid in cash or
in  additional  shares of common stock of the Fund having an aggregate net asset
value as of the payment date of such dividend or distribution  equal to the cash
amount of such  dividend  or  distribution.  Election to receive  dividends  and
distributions  in cash or shares is made at the time shares are  subscribed  for
and may be  changed  by  notifying  the Fund in writing at any time prior to the
record date for a particular dividend or distribution.  If the shareholder makes
no election the Fund will make all distributions in shares. There is no sales or
other charge in connection  with the  reinvestment of dividends and capital gain
distributions.

While  it is the  intention  of  the  Fund  to  distribute  to its  shareholders
substantially all of each fiscal year's net income (on a semi-annual  basis) and
net realized  capital gain, if any (on an annual basis),  the amount and time of
any such distribution  must necessarily  depend upon the realization by the Fund
of income and capital gains from  investments.  There is no fixed dividend rate,
and there can be no assurance that the Fund will pay any dividends or distribute
any capital gains.

Reports  containing  appropriate  information with respect to the Federal income
tax status of dividends and distributions  paid during the year by the Fund will
be mailed to shareholders shortly after the close of each year.

TAXES

The Fund has qualified and intends to continue to qualify for tax treatment as a
"regulated  investment  company"  under the Internal  Revenue  Code of 1986,  as
amended.  Qualification as a regulated  investment  company relieves the Fund of
Federal

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                                       13



<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

income tax on that part of its net ordinary income and net realized capital gain
which it pays out to its shareholders.  Dividends out of net ordinary income and
distributions  of net  short-term  capital  gains are  taxable to the  recipient
shareholders as ordinary  income.  In the case of corporate  shareholders,  such
distributions are eligible for the dividends-received  deduction,  to the extent
that such  dividends and  distributions  are derived from  qualifying  dividends
received   by   the   Fund   from   domestic   corporations.   A   corporation's
dividends-received  deduction will be disallowed  unless the  corporation  holds
shares   in  the  Fund  more  than  46  days.   Furthermore,   a   corporation's
dividends-received  deduction  will be disallowed to the extent a  corporation's
investment in shares of the Fund is financed with indebtedness.

The  excess of net  long-term  capital  gain over net  short-term  capital  loss
realized  and  distributed  by the  Fund to its  shareholders  as  capital  gain
distributions  are  taxable  to the  shareholders  as  long-term  capital  gain,
irrespective of the length of time a shareholder  may have held his stock.  Such
long-term capital gain distributions are not eligible for the dividends-received
deduction  referred to above. If a shareholder  held shares less than six months
and during that period  received a distribution  taxable to such  shareholder as
long-term capital gain, any loss realized on the sale of such shares during such
six month period would be a long-term loss to the extent of such distribution.

Any dividend or  distribution  received by a  shareholder  on shares of the Fund
shortly after the purchase of the shares by him will have the effect of reducing
the net asset value of the shares by the amount of the dividend or distribution.
Furthermore,  such  dividend  or  distribution,  although  in effect a return of
capital,  is subject to  applicable  taxes to the extent  that the  investor  is
subject  to such  taxes  regardless  of the  length of time he may have held his
stock.

Dividends  and  distributions  declared  by the Fund may be subject to state and
local taxes. Prior to investing in shares of the Fund a prospective  shareholder
may wish to consult his tax adviser concerning the Federal,  state and local tax
consequences of such an investment.

The Fund is  required  by Federal law to  withhold  31% of  reportable  payments
(which may include dividends,  capital gains distributions and redemptions) paid
to shareholders who have not complied with IRS  regulations.  In connection with
this  withholding  requirement,  a  shareholder  will be asked to certify on his
application  that the social security or tax  identification  number provided is
correct  and that the  shareholder  is not  subject  to backup  withholding  for
previous under reporting to the IRS.

7. OTHER INFORMATION

DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE

The Fund  determines  the net  asset  value  per  share of the Fund on each Fund
Business  Day as of 4:00 p.m.,  New York City time.  Fund  Business Day for this
purpose means  weekdays  (Monday  through  Friday) except days when the New York
Stock  Exchange is closed.  Fund  Business  Day does not include New Year's Day,
Martin  Luther  King,  Jr. Day,  President's  Day,  Good Friday,  Memorial  Day,
Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas. Net asset value per
share is determined  by dividing the value of the Fund's net assets  (i.e.,  the
value of its securities and other assets less its  liabilities) by the number of
shares  outstanding  at the  time  the  determination  is  made.  Purchases  and
redemptions  will be  effected at the time of  determination  of net asset value
next following the receipt of any purchase or redemption order. See "Purchase of
Shares" and "Redemption of Shares."

Portfolio  securities  for which market  quotations  are readily  available  are
valued at market value.  All other  investment  assets of the Fund are valued in
such  manner  as the  Board  of  Directors  of the  Fund  in  good  faith  deems
appropriate to reflect their fair value.

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                                       14



<PAGE>
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DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK

The Fund was  incorporated  in Maryland on February  19,  1985.  The  authorized
capital stock of the Fund consists of one hundred million shares of common stock
having a par value of one-tenth  of one cent  ($.001) per share.  Each share has
equal  dividend,  distribution,  liquidation  and  voting  rights.  There are no
conversion or preemptive  rights in connection  with any shares of the Fund. All
shares when issued in  accordance  with the terms of the offering  will be fully
paid and non-assessable.

PERFORMANCE

From  time  to  time  the  Fund  may  distribute  sales  literature  or  publish
advertisements  containing  "total return"  quotations for the Fund.  Such sales
literature or advertisements  will disclose the Fund's average annual compounded
total return for recent one-,  five-,  and  ten-year  periods.  The Fund's total
return for each period is computed,  through use of a formula  prescribed by the
SEC, by finding the average  annual  compounded  rates of return over the period
that  would  equate  an  assumed  initial  amount  invested  to the value of the
investment  at the end of the period.  For purposes of computing  total  return,
income dividends and capital gain  distributions  paid on shares of the Fund are
assumed to have been reinvested when received.

The Fund's advertisements may reference ratings and rankings among similar funds
by independent  evaluators such as Morningstar,  Value Line,  Lipper  Analytical
Services, Inc. or CDA/Wiesenberger. In addition, the performance of the Fund may
be  compared  to  recognized  indices  of market  performance.  The  comparative
material  found in the Fund's  advertisements,  sales  literature  or reports to
shareholders  may contain  performance  ratings.  These are not to be considered
representative or indicative of future performance.

CUSTODIAN

BANKBOSTON, N.A. in Boston, Massachusetts,  is custodian for the Fund's cash and
securities.

INFORMATION FOR SHAREHOLDERS

All shareholder inquiries regarding administrative procedures should be directed
to Sound Shore Fund, Inc., Two Portland  Square,  Portland,  Maine 04101,  (800)
551-1980.  The Fund  sends to all its  shareholders  semi-annual  unaudited  and
annual audited reports, including a list of investment securities held.

NO  PERSON  HAS  BEEN  AUTHORIZED  TO  GIVE  ANY  INFORMATION  OR  TO  MAKE  ANY
REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS,  THE STATEMENT OF
ADDITIONAL  INFORMATION AND THE FUND'S  OFFICIAL SALES  LITERATURE IN CONNECTION
WITH THE OFFERING OF THE FUND'S SHARES,  AND IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH  INFORMATION
OR  REPRESENTATIONS  MUST NOT BE RELIED  UPON AS HAVING BEEN  AUTHORIZED  BY THE
FUND.  THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER IN ANY STATE IN WHICH, OR TO
ANY PERSON TO WHOM, SUCH OFFER MAY NOT LAWFULLY BE MADE.


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                                       15



<PAGE>





                    TABLE OF CONTENTS
- ---------------------------------------------------------

1.   PROSPECTUS SUMMARY................................ 2
       Highlights of the Fund.......................... 2
       Expenses of Investing in the Fund............... 3
2.   FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS.............................. 4
3.   INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE,
     POLICIES AND RESTRICTIONS......................... 5
       Investment Objective and Policies............... 5
       Investment Restrictions......................... 6
4.   MANAGEMENT........................................ 7
       Investment Adviser.............................. 7
       Administrator................................... 7
       Distributor..................................... 8
       Transfer Agent.................................. 8
5.   PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS
     OF SHARES......................................... 8
       Purchase of Shares.............................. 8
       Redemption of Shares............................10
       Retirement Plans................................12
       Exchange Privileges.............................12
6.   DIVIDENDS AND TAX MATTERS.........................13
       Dividends and Distributions.....................13
       Taxes...........................................13
7.   OTHER INFORMATION.................................14







SOUND
SHORE
FUND



PROSPECTUS
MAY 1, 1998

Sound Shore Fund, Inc.
Two Portland Square
Portland, Maine 04101



<PAGE>



                             SOUND SHORE FUND, INC.
                               TWO PORTLAND SQUARE
                              PORTLAND, MAINE 04101





                       STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
                                   MAY 1, 1998


Sound  Shore  Fund,  Inc.  (the  "Fund")  is a no-load,  open-end,  diversified,
management investment company. The Fund's investment objective is to seek growth
of capital and  investments  will be made based upon their potential for capital
growth. Therefore, current income, while considered important, will be secondary
to the objective of capital growth.

This  Statement of Additional  Information is not a Prospectus and is authorized
for  distribution  only when preceded or  accompanied  by the Fund's  prospectus
dated May 1, 1998 (the "Prospectus").  This Statement of Additional  Information
contains  additional  and more detailed  information  than that set forth in the
Prospectus  and  should  be  read  only  in  conjunction  with  the  Prospectus,
additional copies of which may be obtained without charge by writing the Fund at
the address set forth above or by calling the Fund at (800) 551-1980.








<TABLE>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
<S>                                                <C>       <C>                                               <C>
Investment Policies................................   2     Redemption of Shares...............................   9
Special Investment Methods.........................   2     Description of Common Stock........................   9
Investment Restrictions............................   3     Performance........................................  10
Management ........................................   3     Net Asset Value....................................  11
Expenses...........................................   8     Counsel and Auditors...............................  11
Portfolio Transactions                                      Financial Statements...............................  11
  and Brokerage....................................   8
</TABLE>



<PAGE>



INVESTMENT POLICIES

The Fund expects that for most periods,  a substantial  portion,  if not all, of
its assets will be invested in a  diversified  portfolio of common stocks judged
by Sound Shore Management, Inc. (the "Adviser") to have favorable value to price
characteristics.  The Fund may also invest in US government or government agency
obligations,  investment grade corporate bonds,  preferred  stocks,  convertible
securities,  and/or short-term money market  instruments when deemed appropriate
by the Adviser.  The investment  policies of the Fund set forth above, and under
"Special  Investment  Methods" below,  may be changed or altered by the Board of
Directors of the Fund (the "Board").

SPECIAL INVESTMENT METHODS

WARRANTS

The Fund  may  invest  in  warrants  which  entitle  the  holder  to buy  equity
securities at a specific  price for a specific  period of time.  Warrants may be
considered more speculative than certain other types of investments in that they
do not  entitle a holder to  dividends  or voting  rights  with  respect  to the
securities which may be purchased nor do they represent any rights in the assets
of the issuing  company.  Investments  in warrants  involve  certain  additional
risks,  including  the  possible  lack of a liquid  market for the resale of the
warrants,  potential  price  fluctuations  as a result of  speculation  or other
factors and failure of the price of the underlying  security to reach a level at
which the  warrant  can be  prudently  exercised  (in which case the warrant may
expire  without  being  exercised,  resulting  in the loss of the Fund's  entire
investment therein). The Fund will not invest in warrants if (i) more than 5% of
the Fund's  total  assets  would be invested in warrants or (ii) more than 2% of
the value of the Fund's total assets would be invested in warrants not listed on
the New York Stock Exchange or the American Stock Exchange.

REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS

The Fund may invest in repurchase agreements with major dealers in US Government
securities and member banks of the Federal  Reserve System which are selected by
the Adviser in accordance  with  procedures  approved by the Board. A repurchase
agreement is an instrument under which the purchaser (I.E., the Fund) acquires a
debt security and the seller agrees,  at the time of the sale, to repurchase the
obligation at a mutually  agreed upon time and price,  thereby  determining  the
yield during the  purchaser's  holding  period.  This results in a fixed rate of
return  insulated from market  fluctuations  during such period.  The underlying
securities  are ordinarily US Treasury or other  government  obligations or high
quality money market  instruments and the Fund will monitor and require that the
value of such  underlying  securities  always  equal or exceed the amount of the
repurchase  obligations of the borrower.  While the maturities of the underlying
securities in repurchase  agreement  transactions may be more than one year, the
term of each repurchase  agreement will always be less than one year. The Fund's
risk is limited to the  ability of the seller to pay the agreed  upon  amount on
the delivery date. If the seller defaults,  the underlying security  constitutes
collateral  for the seller's  obligation  to pay; in such event,  the Fund might
suffer a loss to the extent that the  proceeds  from the sale of the  collateral
were less than the repurchase  price. If the seller becomes  bankrupt,  the Fund
might be delayed in selling the collateral.  Under the Investment Company Act of
1940 ("1940 Act"),  repurchase agreements are considered loans. The Fund is not,
however,  restricted from investing in repurchase  agreements  under  investment
restriction number 4 listed in the Prospectus. Repurchase agreements usually are
for short periods,  such as one week or less, but could be longer. The Fund will
not enter into  repurchase  agreements  of a duration  of more than one week if,
taken together with illiquid securities and other securities for which there are
no readily available  quotations,  more than 10% of its total assets would be so
invested.

                                       2
<PAGE>

INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

The Fund has adopted the following investment restrictions which are in addition
to those described in the Prospectus.  Under the following  restrictions,  which
may not be changed without the approval of the Fund's stockholders, the Fund may
not:

1.   Purchase  or  otherwise  acquire  interests  in real  estate,  real  estate
     mortgage  loans or interests in oil, gas or other  mineral  exploration  or
     development programs;

2.   Sell  securities  short or invest in puts,  calls,  straddles,  spreads  or
     combinations thereof;

3.   Purchase or acquire commodities or commodity contracts;

4.   Issue senior  securities,  except insofar as the Fund may be deemed to have
     issued a senior security in connection with any permitted borrowing;

5.   Participate  on a joint,  or a joint and several,  basis in any  securities
     trading account; or

6.   Invest in companies for the purpose of exercising control.

The Fund has adopted the following nonfundamental investment restrictions, which
may be changed  without the  approval of the Fund's  stockholders.  The Fund may
not:

a.   Invest in any oil, gas or other mineral lease.

b.   Invest in the securities of other investment companies except to the extent
     permitted by the 1940 Act.

MANAGEMENT

DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

The  directors  and  executive   officers  of  the  Fund,  and  their  principal
occupations for the past five years,  are listed below.  Directors  deemed to be
"interested  persons" of the Fund for purposes of the 1940 Act are  indicated by
an asterisk.

DR. D. KENNETH BAKER (74), Director, is a physicist and is the retired President
of  Harvey  Mudd  College.  He is a  trustee  of the  College  and  serves  as a
consultant to several foundations.  His address is 3088 Fairway Woods,  Carolina
Trace, Sanford, North Carolina 27330.

HARRY BURN, III, M.B.A.* (54),  Chairman and Director,  is Chairman and Director
of Sound Shore Management, Inc. with which he has been associated since 1978. He
is a Chartered Financial Analyst. His address is that of the Adviser.

CHARLES  J.  HEDLUND  (80),  Director,  is  currently  a member  of the Board of
Trustees  of the  American  University  in Cairo  and a member  of the  Board of
Trustees of  Conservation  International  of  Washington,  D.C. Mr.  Hedlund was
previously Vice President,  Exxon Corporation until 1980. His address is Country
Club of Florida, 58 Country Road South, Village of Golf, Florida 33436.

T. GIBBS KANE, JR.* (50),  President and Director,  is President and Director of
Sound Shore Management, Inc. with which he has been associated since 1977. He is
a Chartered Financial Analyst. His address is that of the Adviser.

                                       3
<PAGE>

JOHN L. LESHER (64), Director,  is President of Resource  Evaluation,  Inc. from
March  1994.  He is also a member of the board of Resource  Evaluation,  Ltd. as
well as First Industrial Real Estate Trust. Previously, he was Managing Director
of Korn Ferry  International  from 1989 to 1993.  His address is 500  Mamaroneck
Avenue, Harrison, New York 10528.

JOHN  J.  MCCLOY  II  (60),   Director,   is  Director  of  Noise   Cancellation
Technologies, Inc., Passenger Express, and EPT Technologies and Geo History, and
is a Trustee of the American  University  in Cairo.  His address is 313 Stanwich
Road, Greenwich, Connecticut 06830.

WALTER R. NELSON (65), Director, has been a Director of the Fund since 1994. Mr.
Nelson is President of W.R. Nelson & Company,  a private  investment firm and is
the founder and former President of Nelson Publications, an information provider
to the financial services and investment industry. His address is 60 Kirby Lane,
Rye, New York 10580.

JOHN Y. KEFFER (55),  Vice  President,  has been President and Director of Forum
Financial  Services,  Inc.  for  more  than  five  years.  He is also  the  sole
shareholder  (directly and indirectly)  and Director of Forum  Financial  Group,
LLC, which owns (directly or indirectly)  Forum  Administrative  Services,  LLC,
Forum Shareholder Services, LLC and Forum Investment Advisors, LLC (a registered
investment  adviser).  Mr.  Keffer is also an  officer,  director  or trustee of
various funds managed and  distributed  by Forum  Financial  Services,  Inc. and
Forum Administrative Services LLC. His address is Two Portland Square, Portland,
Maine 04101.

SARA  M.  MORRIS  (34),  Treasurer,  is a  Managing  Director,  Forum  Financial
Services,  Inc., with which she has been associated  since 1994.  Prior thereto,
from 1991 to 1994, Ms. Morris was  Controller of Wright  Express  Corporation (a
national  credit card  company) and for six years prior  thereto was employed at
Deloitte & Touche LLP as an accountant. Ms. Morris is also an officer of various
registered investment companies for which Forum Administrative  Services, LLC or
Forum  Financial  Services,   Inc.  serves  as  manager,   administrator  and/or
distributor. Her address is Two Portland Square, Portland, Maine 04101.

PAMELA  J.  WHEATON  (38),  Assistant  Treasurer,  is a  Manager  of the Tax and
Compliance  Group,  Forum  Financial  Services,  Inc.,  with  which she has been
associated  since  1989.  Ms.  Wheaton is also an officer of various  registered
investment  companies  for which  Forum  Administrative  Services,  LLC or Forum
Financial Services,  Inc. serves as manager,  administrator  and/or distributor.
Her address is Two Portland Square, Portland, Maine 04101.

SHANNA S. SULLIVAN (52), Secretary, is Vice President,  Treasurer, Secretary and
Director  of Sound Shore  Management,  Inc.  with which she has been  associated
since 1979. Her address is that of the Adviser.

ELLEN S. SMOLLER (39), Assistant  Secretary,  is an equity trader at Sound Shore
Management,  Inc., with which she has been associated since 1984. Her address is
that of the Adviser.

MAX BERUEFFY (46), Assistant Secretary,  is Managing Director and Counsel, Forum
Financial  Services,  Inc., with which he has been associated  since 1994. Prior
thereto,  Mr.  Berueffy  was on the staff of the U.S.  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission for seven years,  first in the appellate  branch of the Office of the
General  Counsel,  then as a counsel to Commissioner  Grundfest and finally as a
senior special counsel in the Division of Investment Management. Mr. Berueffy is
also an officer of  various  registered  investment  companies  for which  Forum
Administrative  Services,  LLC or  Forum  Financial  Services,  Inc.  serves  as
manager,  administrator and/or distributor.  His address is Two Portland Square,
Portland, Maine 04101.

STEPHEN J. BARRETT (29),  Assistant  Secretary,  is Manager of Client  Services,
Forum  Financial  Services,  Inc.,  with  which  he has  been  associated  since
September 1996.  Prior to joining Forum,  Mr. Barrett spent two and a half years
at Fidelity  Investments  where he served as a Senior Product Manager.  Prior to
that, he was a Securities Analyst for two and a half years with Bingham,  Dana &
Gould in  Boston,  Massachusetts.  Mr.  Barrett  also is an  officer  of various
registered investment companies for which Forum Financial 


                                       4
<PAGE>

Services, Inc. serves as manager,  administrator and/or distributor. His address
is Two Portland Square, Portland, Maine 04101.

The following  table provides the fees paid to each Director of the Fund for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 1997. Mssrs. Burn and Kane are not compensated as
Directors of the Fund.


<TABLE>
<S>                               <C>                 <C>                   <C>                   <C>
Name of Person, Position        Aggregate            Pension or            Estimated Annual     Total Compensation
                                Compensation From    Retirement Benefits   Benefits Upon        From Fund Paid To
                                Fund                 Accrued As Part of    Retirement           Directors
                                                     Fund Expenses
- ------------------------------- -------------------- --------------------- -------------------- ---------------------
Dr. D. Kenneth Baker
Director                                  $5,500.00                 $0.00                $0.00             $5,500.00

Charles J. Hedlund
Director                                  $6,000.00                 $0.00                $0.00             $6,000.00
John L. Lesher
Director                                  $5,500.00                 $0.00                $0.00             $5,500.00
John J. McCloy II
Director                                  $5,000.00                 $0.00                $0.00             $5,000.00
Walter R. Nelson
Director                                  $5,000.00                 $0.00                $0.00             $5,000.00
</TABLE>



ADVISER

The investment  adviser to the Fund is Sound Shore Management,  Inc., a Delaware
corporation  with principal  offices located at 8 Sound Shore Drive,  Greenwich,
Connecticut  06836.  The  Adviser  was, at May 1, 1998,  investment  adviser for
assets  aggregating  in excess of $4.5  billion.  In addition  to the Fund,  the
Adviser's advisory clients include individuals,  pension trusts,  profit-sharing
trusts and endowments.  Most of the accounts which are managed or advised by the
Adviser  for  these  clients  have  investment  objectives  which  may vary only
slightly  from those of each other and those of the Fund.  The  Adviser  invests
assets of such  accounts in  investments  substantially  similar to, those which
constitute the principal  investments of the Fund.  Such accounts are supervised
by  officers  and  employees  of the  Adviser  who may also be acting in similar
capacities  for the Fund.  It is the policy of the Adviser to allocate  advisory
recommendations  and the placing of orders in a manner which is deemed equitable
by the Adviser to the accounts involved, including the Fund. When two or more of
the clients of the Adviser (including the Fund) are purchasing the same security
on a given day from the same broker-dealer, such transactions may be averaged as
to price.

Pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement, the Adviser furnishes a continuous
investment  program for the Fund's  portfolio,  makes the day-to-day  investment
decisions for the Fund,  executes the purchase and sale orders for the portfolio
transactions  of the  Fund and  generally  manages  the  Fund's  investments  in
accordance  with  the  stated  policies  of the  Fund,  subject  to the  general
supervision of the Board.

The Adviser provides  persons  satisfactory to the Board to serve as officers of
the Fund. Such officers, as well as certain other employees and directors of the
Fund, may be directors,  officers or employees of the Adviser.  Messrs. Burn and
Kane,  who are  officers  and/or  directors  of the  Fund  and  officers  and/or
directors of the Adviser, may be deemed "controlling  persons" of the Adviser on
the basis of their ownership of the Adviser's stock.

As  compensation  for the services  rendered and related  expenses  borne by the
Adviser under the  Investment  Advisory  Agreement,  the Fund pays the Adviser a
fee, computed daily and payable monthly,  equal to 0.75% per annum of the Fund's
average daily net assets.  The Adviser is obligated to reimburse the Fund in 


                                       5
<PAGE>

the event certain of the Fund's expenses exceed certain  prescribed  limits. See
"Expenses." For the fiscal years ended December 31, 1995,  December 31, 1996 and
December  31,  1997,  the fees  under the  Investment  Advisory  Agreement  were
$485,139, $614,941 and $5,000,341, respectively.

The  Investment  Advisory  Agreement was approved on April 3, 1985 by the Board,
including a majority of the directors who are not interested persons (as defined
in the 1940 Act) of the Fund or the Adviser and by the sole  stockholder  of the
Fund on May 2, 1985. The Investment  Advisory Agreement was also approved by the
Fund's  public  stockholders  at an annual  meeting held on July 22,  1986.  The
Investment  Advisory  Agreement  will  continue  in  effect  from  year to year,
provided that continuance is specifically  approved  annually by the Board or by
vote of the stockholders,  and in either case by a majority of the directors who
are not parties to the Investment  Advisory  Agreement or interested  persons of
any such party, by vote cast in person at a meeting called for that purpose.

The Investment  Advisory  Agreement is terminable without penalty by the Fund on
sixty days'  written  notice  when  authorized  either by  majority  vote of its
outstanding  voting  shares or by a vote of a majority  of the Board,  or by the
Adviser on sixty days' written notice, and will  automatically  terminate in the
event of its assignment.  The Investment Advisory Agreement provides that in the
absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the
Adviser,  or of reckless  disregard of its obligations  thereunder,  the Adviser
shall not be liable  for any action or  failure  to act in  accordance  with its
duties thereunder.

ADMINISTRATOR AND DISTRIBUTOR

Pursuant  to  an  Administration  Agreement  effective  January  24,  1997,  the
administrator  of the Fund is Forum  Administrative  Services,  LLC,  a Delaware
limited  liability  company  with  principal  offices  at Two  Portland  Square,
Portland, Maine 04101 ("FAS").

As administrator,  FAS administers all aspects of the Fund's operations  subject
to the supervision of the Board except as set forth under "Adviser."  Because of
the services rendered the Fund by FAS and the Adviser,  the Fund itself requires
no employees other than its officers,  none of whom receives  compensation  from
the Fund and all of whom are employed by the Adviser or FAS. In connection  with
its responsibilities as administrator and in consideration of its administrative
fee, FAS  supervises  the overall  administration  of the Fund (which  includes,
among  other  responsibilities,  monitoring  of  performance  and billing of the
transfer agent and custodian and arranging for  maintenance of books and records
of the Fund), and provides the Fund with general office  facilities  pursuant to
an Administration Agreement with the Fund. The Administration Agreement provides
for an initial term of twelve months from its  effective  date with respect to a
Fund and for its automatic  renewal each year  thereafter for an additional term
of one year.

At the request of the Board, FAS provides  persons  satisfactory to the Board to
serve  as  officers  of the  Fund.  Those  officers,  as well as  certain  other
employees and Directors of the Fund, may be directors,  officers or employees of
FAS, the Adviser or their affiliates.

For its services under the Administration  Agreement,  FAS receives with respect
to the Fund an annual fee, computed daily and payable monthly, equal to 0.10% of
the average daily net assets of the Fund. FAS is obligated to reimburse the Fund
in the event  certain  of the  Fund's  exceed  certain  prescribed  limits.  See
"Expenses."  For the fiscal years ended December 31, 1996 and December 31, 1997,
the Fund's former administrator,  Forum Financial Services,  Inc. received a fee
under the then existing Administration Agreement of 0.10%.

Prior to January 1, 1996, the  controlling  Administration  Agreement with Forum
Financial Services,  Inc. provided for fees of 0.25% of the Fund's average daily
net assets for administration as well as portfolio accounting services.  For the
fiscal  year  ended   December  31,  1995,  the  fee  under  the  then  existing
Administration  Agreement was $161,713.  For the fiscal years ended December 31,
1996 and December 31, 1997,  the fees payable to FAS were $81,993 and  $666,712,
respectively.  For the fiscal year ended 


                                       6
<PAGE>

December 31, 1997, FAS waived fees in the amount of $114,906. Under both the new
Administration   Agreement,   effective   January  24,   1997,   and  the  prior
Administration  Agreement  in effect on January 1, 1996,  pursuant  to which the
administrator  receives a fee of 0.10%, the administrator is not responsible for
providing portfolio accounting services.

Forum Financial Services, Inc. ("FFSI") acts as distributor of the Fund's shares
pursuant to a Distribution  Agreement.  Under the Distribution  Agreement,  FFSI
offers shares of the Fund on a best efforts basis. FFSI does not receive any fee
for  its  services  under  the  Distribution  Agreement.  FFSI  is a  registered
broker-dealer and investment adviser and is a member of the National Association
of Securities  Dealers,  Inc. As of the date hereof, FAS and FFSI are controlled
(directly or  indirectly)  by John Y. Keffer,  Vice President of the Fund. As of
May 1, 1998, FAS and FFSI provided  management,  administrative and distribution
services to registered investment companies and collective investment funds with
assets of approximately $48 billion.

The  Administration  Agreement and the Distribution  Agreement are terminable by
either party on sixty days' written notice to the other. Each agreement provides
that in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the
part of FAS or FFSI,  respectively,  or of reckless disregard of its obligations
thereunder, FAS and FFSI shall not be liable for any action or failure to act in
accordance with its duties thereunder.

TRANSFER AGENT

Forum  Shareholder  Services,  LLC (the "Transfer Agent") acts as transfer agent
and  dividend  disbursing  agent  of the  Fund  pursuant  to a  Transfer  Agency
Agreement.  Among the  responsibilities  of the Transfer  Agent as agent for the
Fund are: answering customer inquiries regarding account status and history, the
manner in which purchases and redemptions of shares of the Funds may be effected
and certain other  matters  pertaining to the Fund;  assisting  shareholders  in
initiating and changing account designations and addresses;  furnishing periodic
statements and  confirmations of purchases and  redemptions;  and providing such
other related services as the Fund or a shareholder may reasonably request.

For the fiscal years ended December 31, 1995, December 31, 1996 and December 31,
1997,  fees paid by the Fund and  received by the Transfer  Agent were  $12,000,
$74,231 and $512,034, respectively.

PORTFOLIO ACCOUNTING

Forum  Accounting  Services  LLC ("Fund  Accountant"),  an  affiliate  of Forum,
performs  portfolio  accounting  services  for  the  Fund  pursuant  to  a  Fund
Accounting Agreement. The Fund Accounting Agreement will continue in effect only
if such  continuance is specifically  approved at least annually by the Board or
by a vote of the  shareholders  of the Fund and in either  case by a majority of
the Directors who are not parties to the Fund Accounting Agreement or interested
persons of any such party,  at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the
Fund Accounting Agreement.

Under its  agreement,  the Fund  Accountant  prepares  and  maintains  books and
records  of the Fund  that are  required  to be  maintained  under the 1940 Act,
calculates  the net asset value per share of the Fund and  dividends and capital
gain  distributions  and prepares  periodic reports to shareholders and the SEC.
The  Fund  Accountant  is  required  to use its best  judgment  and  efforts  in
rendering fund accounting  services and is not liable to the Fund for any action
or inaction in the absence of bad faith, willful misconduct or gross negligence.
The Fund  Accountant  is not  responsible  or liable for any failure or delay in
performance  of its  fund  accounting  obligations  arising  out  of or  caused,
directly or indirectly,  by circumstances  beyond its reasonable control and the
Fund has agreed to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund, its employees,  agents,
officers and Directors against and from any and all claims,  judgments,  losses,
charges (including attorneys' fees) and other reasonable expenses arising out of
or in any way related to the Fund Accountant's  actions taken or failures to act
with respect to a Fund or based, if applicable,  upon information,  instructions
or requests  with  respect to a Fund given or made to the Fund  Accountant  by a

                                       7
<PAGE>

duly authorized officer of the Fund. This  indemnification does not apply to the
Fund  Accountant's  actions or failures to act in cases of the Fund Accountant's
own bad faith, willful misconduct or gross negligence.

The Fund  Accounting  Agreement  became  effective  on January  1,  1996.  Prior
thereto,  FFSI was responsible for performing fund accounting  services pursuant
to  the  then-existing   Administration  Agreement  with  the  Fund,  which  had
provisions identical in all material respects to the Fund Accounting  Agreement.
For the fiscal years ended  December  31, 1996 and  December 31, 1997,  the Fund
paid fees in the  amount of  $61,494  and  $500,034,  respectively,  to the Fund
Accountant.

EXPENSES

Except as set forth above under "Adviser" and  "Administrator  and Distributor,"
the Fund is  responsible  for the payment of its expenses.  Without  limitation,
such  expenses  include the fees payable to the Adviser and  Administrator;  the
organizational   expenses  payable  to  the  Adviser;  any  brokerage  fees  and
commissions;  taxes;  interest;  the cost of any liability insurance or fidelity
bonds;  legal and auditing fees and expenses;  the fees and certain  expenses of
the Fund's custodian and transfer and dividend disbursing agent; the fees of any
trade  association  of which the Fund is a member;  the expenses of printing and
mailing  reports  and  notices to the Fund's  stockholders;  filing fees for the
registration or  qualification  of Fund shares under federal or state securities
laws; the fees and expenses involved in registering and maintaining registration
of the Fund and of its shares with the SEC; the costs of registering the Fund as
a broker or dealer;  the costs of  qualifying  the  Fund's  shares  under  state
securities  laws;  the  expenses  of  servicing   stockholders  and  stockholder
accounts; and any extraordinary expenses incurred by the Fund.

The  Investment  Advisory  Agreement and the  Administration  Agreement  include
provisions allowing the Adviser and Forum, respectively,  to defray the cost of,
or  compensate  other  persons,   including  banks,   broker-dealers  and  other
organizations  whose customers or clients are Fund  stockholders,  for providing
stockholder  servicing and related  administrative  and accounting  functions on
behalf  of the Fund.  Under  such  agreements,  the  Adviser  and Forum may also
compensate the foregoing persons and  organizations for providing  assistance in
distributing  the Fund's shares.  Such agreements  further  contemplate that the
Adviser and Forum may arrange to compensate  sales  personnel and to pay for the
preparation and printing of brochures and other promotional materials,  mailings
to prospective stockholders, advertising and other activities in connection with
the distribution of the Fund's shares.

The Adviser and Forum have each agreed that if in any fiscal year the sum of the
Fund's  expenses  exceeds  the limits  set by  applicable  regulations  of state
securities  commissions,  the amounts payable by the Fund to the Adviser for the
advisory fee and to Forum for the administration fee for that year shall each be
reduced by 75% and 25%, respectively,  of the amount of such excess. However, if
the excess  should be greater than the amounts  payable to the Adviser and Forum
in that  year,  the  Adviser  and Forum  shall each pay to the Fund 75% and 25%,
respectively,  of the difference between such excess and the fees of the Adviser
and Administrator  for that year. For the purpose of this calculation,  expenses
shall include the fees payable to the Adviser and Forum and the  amortization of
organization  expenses paid to the Adviser,  but shall exclude taxes,  interest,
brokerage and extraordinary expenses.

PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE

The Adviser is  responsible  for  decisions to buy and sell  securities  for the
Fund,  the selection of brokers and dealers to effect the  transactions  and the
negotiation  of brokerage  commissions.  Purchases  and sales of securities on a
securities  exchange are effected  through  brokers who charge a commission  for
their services.  Brokerage commissions on United States securities exchanges are
subject to negotiation between the Adviser and the broker.

In the over-the-counter market, securities are generally traded on a "net" basis
with  dealers  acting  as  principal  for their  own  accounts  without a stated
commission,  although the price of the security usually includes a profit to the
dealer.  In  underwritten  offerings,  securities are purchased at a fixed price
which 


                                       8
<PAGE>

includes an amount of compensation to the underwriter,  generally referred to as
the  underwriter's  concession  or discount.  On occasion,  certain money market
instruments  may be  purchased  directly  from  an  issuer,  in  which  case  no
commissions or discounts are paid.

In placing orders for portfolio  securities of the Fund, the Adviser is required
to give  primary  consideration  to  obtaining  the  most  favorable  price  and
efficient  execution.  Within the  framework  of this  policy,  the Adviser will
consider the research and investment services provided by brokers or dealers who
effect or are parties to  portfolio  transactions  of the Fund or the  Adviser's
other clients.  Such research and investment  services are those which brokerage
houses customarily  provide to institutional  investors and include  statistical
and economic data and research  reports on particular  companies and industries.
Such services are used by the Adviser in connection  with all of its  investment
activities,  and some of such services obtained in connection with the execution
of transactions for the Fund may be used in managing other investment  accounts.
Conversely,  brokers  furnishing such services may be selected for the execution
of  transactions  of such other  accounts,  and the  services  furnished by such
brokers may be used by the Adviser in providing  investment  management  for the
Fund.  Commission rates are established pursuant to negotiations with the broker
based on the quality and quantity of execution  services  provided by the broker
in light of generally  prevailing  rates.  The Adviser's policy is to pay higher
commissions  to brokers for particular  transactions  than might be charged if a
different broker had been selected on occasions when, in the Adviser's  opinion,
this policy  furthers the  objective of obtaining the most  favorable  price and
execution.  In addition,  the Adviser is authorized to pay higher commissions on
brokerage  transactions  for the Fund to brokers in order to secure research and
investment services described above, subject to review by the Board from time to
time as to the extent and continuation of the practice. The allocation of orders
among brokers and the  commission  rates paid are reviewed  periodically  by the
Board.

During the fiscal years  December  31, 1995,  December 31, 1996 and December 31,
1997, the Fund paid a total of $145,962, $264,939 and $2,392,468,  respectively,
in brokerage  commissions  with respect to  portfolio  transactions  aggregating
$63,613,535,  $86,699,731 and  $1,383,395,176,  respectively.  Such transactions
were  placed  with  brokers or  dealers  who  provide  research  and  investment
services.

REDEMPTION OF SHARES

Payment of the redemption  price for shares  redeemed may be made either in cash
or in portfolio securities (selected in the discretion of the Board and taken at
their value used in determining the Funds net asset value per share as described
under "Net Asset Value"), or partly in cash and partly in portfolio  securities.
However,  payments  will be made wholly in cash unless the Board  believes  that
economic  conditions  exist which would make such a practice  detrimental to the
best  interests  of the Fund.  If payment for shares  redeemed is made wholly or
partly in portfolio securities,  brokerage costs may be incurred by the investor
in  converting  the  securities  to cash.  The Fund will not  distribute in kind
portfolio  securities  that are not  readily  marketable.  The Fund has  filed a
formal  election  with the SEC  pursuant  to which the Fund  will only  effect a
redemption in portfolio securities where the particular stockholder of record is
redeeming more than $250,000 or 1% of the Fund's total net assets,  whichever is
less,  during  any 90-day  period.  In the  opinion  of the  Fund's  management,
however,  the amount of a  redemption  request  would  have to be  significantly
greater than  $250,000 or 1% of total net assets  before a redemption  wholly or
partly in portfolio securities would be made.

DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK

As of March 31, 1998,  the amount of shares owned by all officers and  directors
of the Fund, as a group, was less than 1% of the Fund's outstanding  shares. Set
forth  below is certain  information  as to persons  who owned 5% or more of the
Fund's outstanding common stock as of March 31, 1998:

                                       9
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                 <C>                       <C>
                                                                                              Nature
Name and Address                                                  % of Shares              of Ownership
- ----------------                                                  -----------              ------------
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.                                          48.75%                  Beneficial
101 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, California
94104

National Financial Services Corp.                                   22.40%                  Beneficial
P.O. Box 3908
Church Street Station
New York, New York
10008-3908
</TABLE>

PERFORMANCE

From  time  to  time  the  Fund  may  distribute  sales  literature  or  publish
advertisements  containing  "total return"  quotations for the Fund.  Such sales
literature or advertisements  will disclose the Fund's average annual compounded
total  return for the most  recent  12-month,  5-year and 10-year  periods.  The
Fund's  total  return  for each  period is  computed,  through  use of a formula
prescribed by the SEC, by finding the average annual  compounded rates of return
over the period  that would  equate an assumed  initial  amount  invested to the
value of the  investment  at the end of the period.  For  purposes of  computing
total return, income dividends and capital gains distributions paid on shares of
the Fund are assumed to have been reinvested when received.

The Fund's total return for the fiscal year ended  December 31, 1997 was 36.40%.
The Fund's average annual total returns for the 5 year and 10 year periods ended
December 31, 1997 were 21.52% and 18.84%, respectively.

The  Fund's  total  return  is not  fixed  and will  fluctuate  in  response  to
prevailing  market  conditions  or as a function  of the type and quality of the
securities  in the  Fund's  portfolio  and the  Fund's  expenses.  Total  return
information is useful in reviewing the Fund's  performance but such  information
may not provide a basis for comparison  with bank deposits or other  investments
which pay a fixed return for a stated period of time.  An  investor's  principal
invested in the Fund is not fixed and will  fluctuate in response to  prevailing
market conditions.

In  performance  advertising,  the  Fund  may  compare  any of  its  performance
information  with data published by independent  evaluators such as Morningstar,
Lipper  Analytical  Services,  Inc.,  CDA/Wiesenberger  or other companies which
track  the  investment  performance  of  investment  companies  ("Fund  Tracking
Companies").  The Fund may also compare any of its performance  information with
the performance of recognized stock,  bond and other indexes,  including but not
limited to the Standard & Poor's 500 Index, the Standard & Poor's 100 Index, the
Dow Jones  Industrial  Average,  the Salomon  Brothers Bond Index,  the Shearson
Lehman Bond Index, US Treasury bonds, bills or notes and changes in the Consumer
Price Index as published by the US Department of Commerce. The Fund may refer to
general market  performances over past time periods.  The Fund may also refer in
such materials to mutual fund  performance  rankings and other data published by
Fund Tracking Companies.  Performance  advertising may also refer to discussions
of the Fund and comparative mutual fund data and ratings reported in independent
periodicals, such as newspapers and financial magazines.

                                       10
<PAGE>

NET ASSET VALUE

The Fund  does not  determine  its net asset  value  per share on the  following
holidays:  New Year's Day,  Martin Luther King, Jr. Day,  President's  Day, Good
Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

For  purposes  of  determining  the  Fund's net asset  value per share,  readily
marketable  portfolio  securities  listed  on the New York  Stock  Exchange  are
valued,  except as  indicated  below,  at the last sale price  reflected  on the
consolidated  tape at the close of the New York Stock  Exchange on the  business
day as of which  such  value is being  determined.  If there has been no sale on
such day,  the  securities  are valued at the mean of the  closing bid and asked
prices are quoted on such day, then the security is valued by such method as the
Board shall  determine in good faith to reflect its fair market  value.  Readily
marketable  securities  not listed on the New York Stock  Exchange but listed on
other  national  securities  exchanges  or admitted  to trading on the  National
Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations, Inc. ("NASDAQ") National
List are valued in like  manner.  Portfolio  securities  traded on more than one
national  securities  exchange are valued at the last sale price on the business
day as of which such value is being  determined  as reflected on the tape at the
close of the exchange representing the principal market for such securities.

Readily marketable securities traded in the over-the-counter  market,  including
listed  securities  whose  primary  market  is  believed  by the  Adviser  to be
over-the-counter,  but  excluding  securities  admitted to trading on the NASDAQ
National  List,  are valued at the mean of the current  bid and asked  prices as
reported  by NASDAQ or, in the case of  securities  not  quoted by  NASDAQ,  the
National  Quotation  Bureau or such  other  comparable  sources  as the Board of
Directors deems appropriate to reflect their fair market value.

United States  government  obligations and other debt  instruments  having sixty
days or less remaining  until  maturity are stated at amortized  cost. All other
investment assets,  including restricted and not readily marketable  securities,
are  valued in such  manner  as the Board in good  faith  deems  appropriate  to
reflect their fair market value.

COUNSEL AND AUDITORS

Legal matters in connection with the issuance of shares of stock of the Fund are
passed upon by Messrs.  Dechert Price & Rhoads, 30 Rockefeller  Plaza, New York,
New York 10112.  Dechert  Price & Rhoads has relied upon the opinion of Venable,
Baetjer and Howard, Baltimore, Maryland, for matters relating to Maryland law.

Deloitte  &  Touche  LLP,  125  Summer  Street,  Boston,   Massachusetts  02110,
independent certified public accountants, have been selected as auditors for the
Fund.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The financial statements of the Fund including the Independent  Auditors' Report
for the year ended December 31, 1997; Statement of Net Assets as of December 31,
1997; Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 1997; Statement of
Changes in Net Assets for the years ended  December 31, 1997 and 1996;  Notes to
Financial  Statements;  and Financial Highlights for the year ended December 31,
1997,  which are included in the Annual Report to  Shareholders  of the Fund and
delivered along with this Statement of Additional Information,  are incorporated
herein by reference.






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