<PAGE>
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Van Eck Global
Worldwide Insurance Trust
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANNUAL REPORT
December 31, 1998
discipline
Worldwide Hard Asset Fund
allocation
diversity
A TRADITION OF GLOBAL SOLUTIONS DESIGNED FOR INTELLIGENT INVESTMENT PLANNING AND
DIVERSIFICATION
<PAGE>
Van Eck Worldwide Hard Assets Fund
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Fellow Shareholder:
Hard assets endured an exceptionally difficult year in 1998 as global economic
conditions, oversupplied commodity markets, and trying real estate finance
markets all conspired to pull hard asset prices lower. As was true in the
general equity markets, value investments provided little support despite
relative valuations (prices in terms of underlying fundamentals) that were at
30-year lows in some sectors. In this environment, the Worldwide Hard Assets
Fund had a total return of -30.9%. We are certainly disappointed with 1998
results. However, looking forward, the seeds of favorable conditions in hard
assets are being sown and value is exceptional. We believe the multiple shocks
that resulted in difficult conditions are priced into current valuations. As we
go forward, we see multiple opportunities in cheap and under-owned hard asset
stocks. We expect that these contrarian opportunities will be recognized by the
marketplace in time.
Review
Almost every hard asset market declined during 1998. The confluence of events
that led to these declines has not been seen in decades; in fact, policymakers
called last year's world financial crisis the worst in 50 years. Among the key
events of this scenario were country debt defaults in the emerging markets
(notably in Russia and Latin America), disastrous hedge fund performance that
rocked the financial markets, legislative changes that negatively impacted the
valuation and structure of real estate securities and the warmest year in
decades (or centuries, in fact), which affected energy prices. Even
presidential impeachment was thrown into the mix toward the end of the year.
The most significant factor behind the decline in hard assets was the difficult
economic conditions that prevailed throughout the year. Markets witnessed an
economic earthquake caused by massive credit creation over a multi-year period.
This credit creation eventually led to over-capacity and a large debt burden
and what economists have called deflationary conditions. More
practically, 1997 saw the beginnings of the Asian economic crisis that spread
geographically in 1998 to other developing markets such as Russia and Latin
America, and affected developed markets such as the United States during the
third quarter. In addition, the European economies finished the year with
downward momentum. The net result was a slowdown in global growth from the 3.7%
rate the global economy enjoyed in 1997 to a significantly slower 1.8% rate in
1998. Many markets were affected by this slowdown, but commodity markets and
the manufacturing sectors were especially hard hit as industrial production
slowed throughout the world.
However, central bankers and politicians recognized this slowdown and started
easing monetary policy dramatically in the fourth quarter, which should be
positive for hard assets.
Commodities and Resource Equities
The significant slowdown in global growth negatively impacted commodity prices,
in turn curtailing earnings and the values of hard asset producers. In addition
to this "demand shock," other factors affected demand, including the warmest
year in decades. In fact, according to the National Oceanic and Atmosphere
Administration, 1998 was the warmest year in the Northern Hemisphere in the
last 1,200 years. This reduced the demand for oil and other energy products and
helped cause the 33% decline in oil prices to the lowest prices in real terms
since 1986. The decline in demand, combined with a significant build-up in
supply in the last several years, led to a drop of 35%, the largest decline in
commodity prices recorded by the Goldman Sachs Commodity Index. This negatively
impacted earnings of all commodity producers and share prices fell as a result.
The worst damage occurred in the oil service sector, where share prices dropped
over 40%. In addition, exploration shares declined approximately 35%. (In
Canada, where the Fund held a number of these companies, currency weakness
further exacerbated the situation.) Unfortunately, the Fund had significant
weightings in both sectors as we took the view that
<PAGE>
Van Eck Worldwide Hard Assets Fund
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equity multiples of these companies were trading at huge discounts relative to
history and that these stocks represented value investments. Instead, earnings
projections were continuously lowered as the oil price continued down its path
to $10 per barrel. We did not foresee these prices and held on to investments
too long. In other commodity markets, industrial metals prices declined 20%
while shares of metals producers declined nearly 30%. The Fund avoided the
carnage in these markets by keeping allocations low.
It appears to us that commodity markets have priced in the difficult economic
conditions that exist in the world and the surprise of 1999 could be that
commodity markets perform well. Asian economies appear to be beginning the
recovery process and economic growth continues to surprise on the upside here
in the U.S. In addition, valuations on commodity companies are cheap with
relative price-to-sales ratios at 30-year lows. Little buying is necessary to
move these companies significantly higher. In addition, we expect more
consolidation activity in coming years and think this will buoy the sector,
particularly over the long term. One of our favorite groups is the forest
products group, which should benefit from improving supply/demand balances and
the minimal capital spending in recent years. These markets will be choppy, but
we believe opportunities are exceptional.
Gold
Gold, the best performing major hard asset in 1998, ended the year unchanged
while gold shares fell 12%. An approximate 19% weighting to gold helped
stabilize Fund performance, although a higher weighting would have been in
order. Perceptions of gold bounced throughout the year between negative and
positive influences. Negative influences included reduced demand from Asia,
concerns of gold sales by European central banks, and low inflation. Positive
influences included potential reflation and gold's role as a safe-haven asset
in times of turmoil.
We are becoming more positive on gold and believe the metal is likely to trade
in a higher range, surpassing 1998's high of $315. First, gold is cheap. At
its August lows, gold was at the lowest prices in real terms since 1973. In
real terms, gold is back to levels existing in the 1950s-1960s when paper
currencies and the global economy were relatively sound. Second, we are
concerned that the dollar may come under additional pressure as it faces what
appears to be a strong euro, a large current account deficit and less
attractive interest rate differentials. The dollar is already significantly
below its highs. Generally, the dollar and gold move inversely. Third, the
significant global monetary easing we saw in the fourth quarter is likely to
continue and is sowing the seeds of reflation and possible renewed investment
interest in gold. Our strategy is to keep assets in both bullion and high-
quality shares. Bullion represents a defensive allocation while the shares
represent the traditional leveraged play on bullion.
Real Estate
Despite a benign interest rate environment, healthy underlying fundamentals,
and attractive yields, real estate securities declined 17% in 1998. Real estate
was the largest weighting in the Fund during much of the year, averaging over
25%, and thus, the decline was a significant contributor to negative
performance. At the beginning of the year, our assumptions had been for healthy
cash flow growth of approximately 15% and stable multiples. While cash flow
growth came in at the 15% rate, multiples declined nearly 30%. This significant
multiple contraction arose primarily from concern over property values and
overbuilding during the first half of the year, and lack of financing and
slower demand in the second half of the year.
We remain positive on real estate going into the new year as values have come
down, new supply has slowed and demand has remained strong. With cash flow
growth of approximately 10%, yields of 7%, and a relatively constant multiple,
the group should produce attractive returns in 1999. Multiples on real estate
securities are exceptionally low by historical standards and we believe that
they should not contract significantly this year.
<PAGE>
Van Eck Worldwide Hard Assets Fund
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The Outlook
Global monetary easing should be positive for hard assets. The fourth quarter
of 1998 saw approximately 75 interest rate cuts by more than 37 central banks.
These extensive rate cuts, which we believe will continue during 1999, are
sowing the seeds for eventual reflation, a very positive development for hard
assets. In the meantime, hard asset markets have to continue to battle against
the forces of deflation and over-capacity that dogged them this year. We think
that reflationary forces will dominate this battle in the long term, but that
deflationary influences may hold sway in the short-term. As discussed above,
we expect certain hard asset sectors to offer attractive investment
opportunities during the first half of the year.
We appreciate your participation in the Worldwide Hard Assets Fund and look
forward to helping you meet your investment goals in the future.
[PHOTO OF [PHOTO OF [PHOTO OF
JOHN C. DEREK S. KEVIN L.
VAN ECK VAN ECK REID
APPEARS APPEARS APPEARS
HERE] HERE] HERE]
/s/ John C. van Eck /s/ Derek S. van Eck /s/ Kevin L. Reid
John C. van Eck Derek S. van Eck Kevin L. Reid
Chairman Co-Portfolio Co-Portfolio
Manager Manager
January 27, 1999
Van Eck Worldwide Hard Assets Fund
vs. Ibbotson Hard Assets Index
[LINE GRAPH APPEARS HERE]
Van Eck Worldwide Hard Assets Fund Ibbotson Hard Assets Index
---------------------------------- --------------------------
9/89 10,000 10,000
10,000 10,172
10,000 9,967
10,750 10,363
12/89 10,870 10,796
11,160 10,641
10,770 10,336
10,340 10,132
9,510 9,669
10,070 10,113
9,596 10,009
10,363 10,720
10,242 10,822
10,262 10,593
8,931 10,024
8,870 9,889
12/90 9,336 10,098
8,373 9,911
9,113 10,429
9,073 10,425
8,971 10,523
9,134 10,710
9,503 10,638
9,637 10,862
8,980 10,557
9,031 10,616
9,391 10,855
9,226 10,499
12/91 9,062 10,546
9,216 10,728
9,185 10,597
8,641 10,365
8,467 10,526
8,970 10,890
9,330 10,750
9,733 10,800
9,423 10,556
9,372 10,442
8,990 10,000
8,341 9,852
12/92 8,691 10,016
8,588 10,146
9,176 10,577
10,186 11,147
10,939 11,611
12,331 11,980
12,568 11,976
13,796 12,331
13,012 12,262
11,598 11,772
12,785 12,197
12,619 11,815
12/93 14,325 12,369
15,080 13,108
14,243 12,950
14,305 12,614
13,560 12,728
14,181 13,065
13,548 13,062
13,693 13,370
14,316 13,655
15,146 13,828
14,544 13,841
13,287 13,140
12/94 13,640 13,454
12,403 12,851
12,788 13,011
13,806 13,675
14,025 13,926
13,942 14,007
14,109 14,008
14,735 14,516
14,892 14,364
15,237 14,459
13,691 13,930
14,867 14,449
12/95 15,140 14,796
16,935 15,299
17,272 15,444
17,408 15,858
17,765 16,251
18,171 16,192
16,728 15,624
16,076 15,375
17,017 15,748
16,664 15,661
17,316 15,908
17,701 16,592
12/96 17,872 16,602
17,797 16,396
17,808 16,651
17,160 16,236
16,556 15,987
17,897 16,840
17,819 16,757
18,512 17,219
19,026 16,849
20,424 17,724
19,261 16,144
17,640 15,080
12/97 17,573 14,892
16,835 15,140
16,901 15,183
17,469 15,647
17,548 16,045
15,978 14,888
15,239 14,357
13,537 13,535
11,307 11,809
12,336 13,760
12,745 13,893
12,429 13,727
12/98 12,138 13,236
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Average Annual Total Return 12/31/98 1 Year 5 Years Since Inception*
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Van Eck Worldwide Hard Assets Fund -30.9% -3.3% 2.1%
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Ibbotson Hard Assets Fund -11.1% 1.4% 3.1%
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This graph compares an initial $10,000 investment in the Van Eck Worldwide
Hard Assets Fund made at its inception with a similar investment in the
Ibbotson Hard Assets Index. The graph shows month-end net asset values;
however, the net asset value fluctuates daily.
*Inception date for the Van Eck Worldwide Hard Assets Fund was 9/1/89; index
returns are calculated as of nearest month end (8/31/89).
We will no longer compare the Fund to the S&P 500 Index since the S&P 500 is
not a hard assets index. A $10,000 investment in the S&P 500 in 1998 would
have grown to $12,852 by 12/31/98 versus the same investment in the Fund,
which would have declined to $6,907 by year end.
The Ibbotson Hard Assets Index is an unmanaged index and includes the
reinvestment of all dividends, but does not reflect the payment of transaction
costs, advisory fees or expenses that are associated with an investment in the
Fund.
+The Ibbotson Hard Assets Index is 75% equities of global companies whose
primary business is linked to hard assets and 25% commodity futures. The
equity component consists of equal weightings of the MSCI Gold Mines, Non-
Ferrous Metals, Energy Sources, and Forest Products and Paper Indices, and the
National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts Equity Index. The
commodity component consists of equal weightings of the Goldman Sachs Energy,
Precious Metals and Industrial Metals Indices.
Past performance is not indicative of future results. Performance data quoted
represents past performance; the investment return and principal value of an
investment will fluctuate so that an investor's shares, when redeemed, may be
worth more or less than the original cost. These returns do not take variable
annuity/life fees and expenses into account.
<PAGE>
Van Eck Worldwide Hard Assets Fund
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Worldwide Hard Assets Fund
Sector Weightings
December 31, 1998
[WORLDWIDE HARD ASSETS FUND PIE CHART APPEARS HERE]
Forest Products & Paper 8.2%
Industrial Metals 7.5%
Precious Metals 19.1%
Real Estate 26.6%
Insurance 0.1%
Cash/Other 11.5%
Energy 27.0%
Worldwide Hard Assets Fund
Geographical Weightings
December 31, 1998
[WORLDWIDE HARD ASSETS FUND PIE CHART APPEARS HERE]
United States 55.4%
Cash/Other 11.5%
Australia 5.4%
Canada 21.7%
France 0.6%
Italy 1.0%
South Africa 1.5%
United Kingdom 0.9%
Russia 2.0%
<PAGE>
Van Eck Worldwide Hard Assets Fund
Top Ten Equity Holdings as of December 31, 1998*
Barrick Gold Corporation
(Canada, 3.3%)
Barrick Gold explores for and produces gold. The company operates four mines in
North and South America.
Aluminum Company of America (ALCOA)
(U.S., 3.1%)
Alcoa is an integrated aluminum company. The company produces aluminum and
alumina. It is involved in mining, refining, smelting, fabricating and
recycling. Alcoa serves customers worldwide in the packaging, automotive,
aerospace, construction and other markets with a variety of fabricated and
finished projects.
Plum Creek Timber Company, L.P.
(U.S., 2.9%)
Plum Creek Timber is an integrated forest products company. The company's
timberlands and mills are located in the Pacific Northwest and the southeast
and northeast United States.
Exxon Corporation
(U.S., 2.1%)
Exxon explores for and produces crude oil and natural gas, manufactures
petroleum products, and transports and sells crude oil, natural gas and
petroleum products. The company also manufactures and markets basic petro-
chemicals, including olefins and aromatics, as well as supplying specialty
rubbers and additives for fuels and lubricants.
TrizecHahn Corporation
(Canada, 2.0%)
TrizecHahn is a real estate development and operating company. The company,
through its wholly owned subsidiaries, acquires, develops, manages and owns
income-producing commercial real estate comprised primarily of office buildings
in the United States and Canada.
Pasminco Limited
(Australia, 2.0%)
Pasminco's activities include exploration and integrated mining, smelting and
marketing to produce zinc and lead concentrates, and zinc, lead and silver
metals together with a variety of alloys and byproducts. The company's smelting
operations include Cockle Creek, Port Pirie and ARA. Pasminco operations are
located in Australia, Europe and Asia.
Khanty Mansiysk Oil Company (KMOC)
(Russia, 2.0%)
KMOC, formerly Ural Petroleum Corp., is a U.S.-registered, privately-held oil
exploration and production company focused exclusively on the Western Siberian
region of the Russian Federation. Through controlled subsidiaries, KMOC holds
production licenses in eleven fields totalling an estimated 2 billion barrels
in proven, probable and possible reserves.
Stillwater Mining Company
(U.S., 1.9%)
Stillwater Mining explores for, develops, extracts, processes and refines
platinum, palladium and associated metals from the J-M Reef, located in
Stillwater and Sweet Grass Counties, Montana. The company's current mining
operations consist of the Stillwater Mine, an underground mine located in Nye,
Montana.
Occidental Petroleum Corporation
(U.S., 1.9%)
Occidental Petroleum explores for, develops, produces, and markets crude oil
and natural gas. The company also manufactures and markets a variety of
chlorovinyls, specialty chemicals and petrochemicals. Occidental operates
through Occidental Oil and Gas Corporation and Occidental Chemical Corporation.
Bowater Incorporated
(U.S., 1.7%)
Bowater manufactures, sells and distributes newsprint, directory paper,
uncoated groundwood specialties, coated groundwood paper, market pulp and
lumber. The company operates pulp and paper mills in the United States, Canada
and Korea. Bowater owns more than four million acres of timberlands in the
United States and Canada.
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* Portfolio is subject to change.
<PAGE>
Worldwide Hard Assets Fund
Schedule of Portfolio Investments
December 31, 1998
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
No. of
Shares or
Principal Value
Amount Securities (a) (Note 1)
- -------------------------------------------------------------
<C> <S> <C>
AUSTRALIA: 5.4%
Energy: 0.6%
971,800 Portman Mining Ltd. $ 517,002
----------
Industrial Metals: 2.0%
2,280,000 Pasminco Ltd. 1,728,833
----------
Precious Metals: 2.8%
945,985 Acacia Resources Ltd. 1,397,005
458,600 Delta Gold NL 695,476
425,000 Gullewa Gold NL+ 16,893
130,000 Ranger Minerals NL 317,980
----------
2,427,354
----------
4,673,189
----------
CANADA: 21.7%
Energy: 6.5%
93,000 AltaGas Service Inc. (Special
Warrants expiring
6/30/99)+(b)* 474,363
65,800 Berkley Petroleum Corp.+ 498,550
375,000 Cypress Energy Inc.+ 943,011
165,000 Edge Energy Inc. 255,960
170,000 Interoil Corp.+ 187,000
179,000 NQL Drilling Tools Inc.+ 467,668
222,500 Pacalta Resources Ltd.+ 632,185
CAD375,000 Pacalta Resources Ltd. Sr. Notes
Series B 10.75%, 6/15/04+ 301,875
180,000 Plains Energy Services Ltd.+ 367,407
55,000 Poco Petroleums Ltd.+ 459,830
147,000 Startech Energy, Inc.+ 360,059
274,000 Stellarton Energy Corp.+ 250,555
700,000 Volterra Resources Inc. 214,892
706,000 Windsor Energy Corp.(b)+ 179,843
----------
5,593,198
----------
Forest Products: 1.6%
185,600 St. Laurent Paperboard Inc.+ 1,303,201
----------
Precious Metals: 6.9%
145,450 Barrick Gold Corp. 2,836,275
1,614,800 Brazilian Resources Inc.+ 158,210
74,600 Euro-Nevada Mining Corp. 1,218,158
56,500 Meridian Gold Inc.+ 332,136
121,000 Placer Dome Inc. 1,391,500
----------
5,936,279
----------
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
No. of
Shares or
Principal Value
Amount Securities (a) (Note 1)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
<C> <S> <C>
CANADA (continued)
Real Estate: 6.7%
55,000 Bentall Corp. $ 574,788
105,000 Boardwalk Equities, Inc.+ 1,159,046
60,000 Brookfield Properties Corp. 736,773
65,000 Cadillac Fairview Corp.+ 1,214,688
76,900 Legacy Hotels REIT 321,463
85,000 TrizecHahn Corp. 1,742,500
-----------
5,749,258
-----------
18,581,936
-----------
FRANCE: 0.6%
Real Estate: 0.6%
2,500 Accor S.A. 541,169
-----------
ITALY: 1.0%
Energy: 1.0%
13,000 Ente Nazionale Idrocaburi S.p.A. (ADR) 880,750
-----------
RUSSIA: 2.0%
Energy: 2.0%
4,230 Khanty Mansiysk Oil Co.+(b)* 1,692,024
-----------
SOUTH AFRICA: 1.5%
Precious Metals: 1.5%
688 Anglo American Platinum Corp. (ADR) 9,417
65,100 AngloGold Ltd. (ADR) 1,273,519
1,011 Western Areas Gold Mining Co. Ltd. (ADR) 3,235
-----------
1,286,171
-----------
UNITED KINGDOM: 0.9%
Industrial Metals: 0.9%
392,900 Billiton PLC 778,574
-----------
UNITED STATES: 55.4%
Energy: 16.9%
33,000 Anadarko Petroleum Corp. 1,018,875
54,400 Apache Corp. 1,377,000
20,000 BJ Services Co.+ 312,500
69,900 Denali Inc.+ 978,600
24,200 Exxon Corp. 1,769,625
185,500 Forcenergy Inc.+ 486,938
51,500 Gulf Island Fabrication, Inc.+ 399,125
33,000 J. Ray McDermott, S.A.+ 806,438
113,000 KCS Energy, Inc. 346,063
21,000 Kerr-McGee Corp. 803,250
9,500 Marine Drilling Companies, Inc.+ 73,031
74,500 Miller Exploration Co.+ 335,250
</TABLE>
See Notes to Financial Statements
<PAGE>
Worldwide Hard Assets Fund
Schedule of Portfolio Investments
December 31, 1998
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
No. of
Shares or
Principal Value
Amount Securities (a) (Note 1)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<C> <S> <C>
UNITED STATES (continued)
Energy (continued)
4,400 Mobil Corp. $ 383,350
96,200 Occidental Petroleum Corp. 1,623,375
81,000 Pogo Producing Co. 1,053,000
32,500 Pride International, Inc.+ 229,531
27,500 Santa Fe International Corp. 402,188
42,800 Stone Energy Corp.+ 1,230,500
86,000 Swift Energy Co.+ 634,250
27,500 UNIFAB International, Inc.+ 220,000
-----------
14,482,889
-----------
Forest Products: 6.7%
35,300 Bowater Inc. 1,462,744
24,500 Fort James Corp. 980,000
94,300 Plum Creek Timber
Company, L.P. 2,457,694
16,800 Weyerhaeuser Co. 853,650
-----------
5,754,088
-----------
Industrial Metals: 4.6%
35,300 Aluminum Co. of America 2,632,056
17,700 Nucor Corp. 765,525
49,000 Steel Dynamics, Inc.+ 575,750
-----------
3,973,331
-----------
Insurance: 0.1%
3,000 Highlands Insurance Group, Inc. 39,188
-----------
Precious Metals: 7.9%
USD2,800,000 Business Development Bank of Canada
Yen/Gold Linked Note
4.85%, 9/30/99 2,364,040
USD2,800,000 Morgan Guaranty Trust Co. Gold/Silver Ratio
Indexed Note 2.61%, 6/18/99 2,749,320
40,600 Stillwater Mining Co. 1,664,597
-----------
6,777,957
-----------
Real Estate: 19.2%
40,000 AMB Property Corp. 880,000
16,000 Arden Realty, Inc. 371,000
22,000 Bedford Property Investors, Inc. 371,250
5,300 Boston Properties, Inc. 161,650
46,000 Brandywine Realty Trust 822,250
35,000 CarrAmerica Realty Corp. 840,000
70,000 Cornerstone Properties, Inc. 1,093,750
35,000 Equity Office Properties Trust 840,000
25,000 Equity Residential Properties Trust 1,010,938
34,000 Excel Legacy Corp.+ 136,000
50,000 Kilroy Realty Corp. 1,150,000
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
No. of
Shares or
Principal Value
Amount Securities (a) (Note 1)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<C> <S> <C>
UNITED STATES (continued)
Real Estate (continued)
21,300 Macerich Co. (The) $ 545,813
40,000 Mack-Cali Realty Corp. 1,235,000
48,000 New Plan Excel Realty Trust 1,065,000
29,800 Pan Pacific Retail Properties, Inc. 594,138
200,000 Patriot American Hospitality, Inc. 1,200,000
60,000 Philips International Realty Corp. 922,500
40,000 Prentiss Properties Trust 892,500
50,000 ProLogis Trust 1,037,500
32,000 Starwood Hotels & Resorts 726,000
12,900 United Dominion Realty Trust, Inc. 133,031
29,000 Westfield America, Inc. 500,250
-----------
16,528,570
-----------
47,556,023
-----------
Total Stocks and Other Investments: 88.5%
(Cost: $92,609,736) 75,989,836
-----------
Short-Term Obligations
USD1,600,000 General Electric Co. due 1/04/99 Interest Yield
4.77% 1,599,373
7,500,000 U.S. Treasury Bill due 1/21/99 Interest Yield 4.54% 7,481,334
-----------
Total Short-Term Obligations: 10.6%
(Amortized Cost: $9,080,707) 9,080,707
-----------
Total Investments: 99.1%
(Cost: $101,690,443) 85,070,543
Other assets less liabilities: 0.9% 742,115
-----------
Net Assets: 100% $85,812,658
===========
</TABLE>
- -------
(a) Unless otherwise indicated, securities owned are shares of common stock.
(b) Restricted security, See Note 6.
* Fair value as determined by the Board of Trustees.
+ Non-income producing.
Glossary:
ADR-American Depositary Receipt
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Summary of
Net Assets % of
By Industry Net Assets
- ----------- ----------
<S> <C>
Energy 27.0%
Forest Products
& Paper 8.2%
Industrial Met-
als 7.5%
Insurance 0.1%
Precious Metals 19.1%
Real Estate 26.6%
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Summary of
Net Assets % of
By Industry Net Assets
----------- ----------
<S> <C>
U.S. Treasury Bill 8.7%
Commercial Paper 1.9%
Other assets less liabilities 0.9%
-----
100.0%
=====
</TABLE>
See Notes to Financial Statements
<PAGE>
Worldwide Hard Assets Fund Financial Statements
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
December 31, 1998
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Assets:
Investments at value (cost, $101,690,443) (Note 1)............... $ 85,070,543
Cash, at value (cost, $1,240,844)................................ 1,248,904
Receivables:
Securities sold................................................. 783,522
Dividends and interest.......................................... 400,509
Capital shares sold............................................. 149,033
------------
Total assets................................................... 87,652,511
------------
Liabilities:
Payables:
Securities purchased............................................ 1,723,948
Capital shares repurchased...................................... 95,702
Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency contracts
(Note 5)....................................................... 812
Accounts payable................................................ 19,391
------------
Total liabilities.............................................. 1,839,853
------------
Net assets....................................................... $ 85,812,658
============
Shares outstanding............................................... 9,325,274
============
Net asset value, redemption and offering price per share
($85,812,658 / 9,325,274)....................................... $ 9.20
============
Net assets consist of:
Aggregate paid in capital....................................... $120,158,957
Unrealized depreciation of investments, forward foreign currency
contracts and foreign currencies............................... (16,613,301)
Undistributed net investment income............................. 1,183,174
Accumulated realized loss....................................... (18,916,172)
------------
$ 85,812,658
============
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Statement of Operations
Year Ended December 31, 1998
Income (Note 1):
Dividends (less foreign taxes withheld of $54,226).. $ 2,527,631
Interest............................................ 791,103
------------
Total income...................................... 3,318,734
Expenses:
Management (Note 2)................................. $1,185,714
Administration (Note 2)............................. 2,367
Professional........................................ 68,659
Reports to shareholders............................. 51,288
Custodian........................................... 35,528
Trustees' fees and expenses......................... 26,892
Other............................................... 50,068
----------
Total expenses.................................... 1,420,516
Expenses reduced by brokerage and custodian fee
arrangements (Note 2).............................. (47,876)
----------
Net expenses...................................... 1,372,640
------------
Net investment income............................. 1,946,094
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments
(Note 3):
Realized loss from security transactions............ (16,221,058)
Realized gain from foreign currency transactions.... 512,577
Realized loss from options.......................... (657,012)
Realized loss from futures contracts................ (40,085)
Change in unrealized depreciation of forward foreign
currency contracts and foreign currencies.......... 45,665
Change in unrealized appreciation of investments and
futures contracts.................................. (28,023,387)
------------
Net Decrease in Net Assets Resulting from
Operations......................................... $(42,437,206)
============
</TABLE>
See Notes to Financial Statements
<PAGE>
Worldwide Hard Assets Fund Financial Statements
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year Ended Year Ended
December 31, 1998 December 31, 1997
----------------- -----------------
<S> <C> <C>
Decrease in Net Assets:
Operations:
Net investment income..................... $ 1,946,094 $ 1,105,680
Realized gain (loss) from security trans-
actions.................................. (16,221,058) 19,469,353
Realized gain (loss) from foreign currency
transactions............................. 512,577 (156,861)
Realized gain (loss) from options......... (657,012) 405,632
Realized loss from futures contracts...... (40,085) --
Change in unrealized appreciation
(depreciation) of forward foreign
currency contracts and foreign
currencies............................... 45,665 (31,422)
Change in unrealized appreciation (depre-
ciation) of investments and futures con-
tracts................................... (28,023,387) (22,921,982)
------------- -------------
Decrease in net assets resulting from op-
erations................................. (42,437,206) (2,129,600)
------------- -------------
Dividends and distributions to shareholders
from:
Net investment income..................... (892,481) (3,252,318)
Net realized gains........................ (21,915,372) (4,406,366)
------------- -------------
Total dividends and distributions......... (22,807,853) (7,658,684)
------------- -------------
Capital share transactions*:
Net proceeds from sales of shares......... 125,168,914 217,010,487
Reinvestment of dividends................. 22,807,853 7,658,684
------------- -------------
147,976,767 224,669,171
Cost of shares reacquired................. (152,851,736) (226,365,559)
------------- -------------
Decrease in net assets resulting from cap-
ital share transactions.................. (4,874,969) (1,696,388)
------------- -------------
Total decrease in net assets.............. (70,120,028) (11,484,672)
Net Assets:
Beginning of year.......................... 155,932,686 167,417,358
------------- -------------
End of year (including undistributed net
investment income of $1,183,174 and
$853,417, respectively)................... $ 85,812,658 $ 155,932,686
============= =============
*Shares of Beneficial Interest Issued and
Redeemed (with an Unlimited number of
$.001 par value shares authorized):
Shares sold............................... 11,346,475 13,234,532
Reinvestment of dividends................. 1,787,449 481,073
------------- -------------
13,133,924 13,715,605
Shares reacquired......................... (13,725,658) (13,811,497)
------------- -------------
Net decrease.............................. (591,734) (95,892)
============= =============
</TABLE>
See Notes to Financial Statements
<PAGE>
Worldwide Hard Assets Fund
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Financial Highlights
For a share outstanding throughout each period
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year Ended Eight Months
December 31, Ended Year Ended April 30,
------------------ December 31, -----------------------------
1998 1997 1996 1996 1995 1994
-------- -------- ------------ -------- -------- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net Asset Value,
Beginning of Period.... $ 15.72 $ 16.72 $ 16.92 $ 13.49 $ 13.11 $ 10.61
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------
Income from Investment
Operations:
Net Investment Income.. 0.21 0.09 0.02 0.12 0.08 0.07
Net Gain (Loss) on
Investments (both
realized and
unrealized)........... (4.43) (0.36) 0.09 3.44 0.37 2.47
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------
Total from Investment
Operations............. (4.22) (0.27) 0.11 3.56 0.45 2.54
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------
Less Dividends and
Distributions:
Dividends from Net
Investment Income..... (0.09) (0.31) (0.16) (0.13) (0.07) (0.04)
Dividends from Capital
Gains................. (2.21) (0.42) (0.15) -- -- --
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------
Total Distributions..... (2.30) (0.73) (0.31) (0.13) (0.07) (0.04)
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------
Net Asset Value, End of
Period................. $ 9.20 $ 15.72 $ 16.72 $ 16.92 $ 13.49 $ 13.11
======== ======== ======== ======== ======== =======
Total Return (a)........ (30.93%) (1.67%) 0.60% 26.66% 3.43% 23.96%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratios/Supplementary
Data
Net Assets, End of
Period (000)........... $ 85,813 $155,933 $167,417 $186,370 $127,320 $81,248
Ratio of Gross Expenses
to Average Net Assets.. 1.20% 1.18% 1.24%* 1.08% -- --
Ratio of Net Expenses to
Average Net Assets..... 1.16% 1.17% 1.23%* 1.08%(b) 0.96% 0.96%
Ratio of Net Investment
Income to Average Net
Assets................. 1.64% 0.64% 0.10%* 0.81% 0.71% 0.64%
Portfolio Turnover Rate. 153.25% 102.82% 46.14% 26.37% 23.30% 15.84%
</TABLE>
- -------
(a) Total return is calculated assuming an initial investment made at the net
asset value at the beginning of the period, reinvestment of dividends and
distributions at net asset value during the period and a redemption on the
last day of the period. Total return for periods of less than one year are
not annualized.
(b) The ratio was not impacted by the directed brokerage arrangement.
* Annualized.
See Notes to Financial Statements
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes to Financial Statements
Note 1--Significant Accounting Policies:
Van Eck Worldwide Insurance Trust (the "Trust"), organized as a Massachusetts
business trust on January 7, 1987, is registered under the Investment Company
Act of 1940. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies
consistently followed by the Worldwide Hard Assets Fund series, a diversified
fund (the "Fund") of the Trust, in the preparation of its financial
statements. The policies are in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates
and assumptions that effect the reported amounts in the financial statements.
Actual results could differ from those estimates.
A. Security Valuation--Securities traded on national exchanges or traded on
the NASDAQ National Market System are valued at the last sales prices reported
at the close of business on the last business day of the year. Over-the-
counter securities not included in the NASDAQ National Market System and
listed securities for which no sale was reported are valued at the mean of the
bid and asked prices. Short-term obligations purchased with more than sixty
days remaining to maturity are valued at market. Short-term obligations
purchased with sixty days or less to maturity are valued at amortized cost
which with accrued interest approximates value. Futures are valued using the
closing price reported at the close of the Chicago Board of Trade. Forward
foreign currency contracts are valued at the spot currency rate plus an amount
("points") which reflects the differences in interest rates between the U.S.
and the foreign markets. Securities for which quotations are not available are
stated at fair value as determined by the Board of Trustees.
B. Federal Income Taxes--It is the Fund's policy to comply with the provisions
of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and
to distribute all of its taxable income to its shareholders. Therefore, no
federal income tax provision is required.
C. Currency Translation--Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign
currencies and commitments under forward foreign currency contracts are
translated into U.S. dollars at the mean of the quoted bid and asked prices of
such currencies on the last business day of the year. Purchases and sales of
investments are translated at the exchange rates prevailing when such
investments were acquired or sold. Income and expenses are translated at the
exchange rates prevailing when accrued. The portion of realized and unrealized
gains and losses on investments that results from fluctuations in foreign
currency exchange rates is not separately disclosed. Recognized gains or
losses attributable to foreign currency fluctuations on foreign currency
denominated assets and liabilities are recorded as net realized gains and
losses from foreign currency transactions.
D. Dividends and Distributions--Dividend income and distributions to
shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Income distributions and
capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with income tax
regulations which may differ from such amounts reported in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles. These differences are primarily due
to differing treatments of foreign currency transactions, short-term capital
gains and real estate trust transactions. The effect of these differences for
the year ended December 31, 1998 decreased undistributed net investment income
and decreased accumulated realized loss by $723,856.
<PAGE>
Worldwide Hard Assets Fund
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
E. Other--Security transactions are accounted for on the date the securities
are purchased or sold. Interest income is accrued as earned.
F. Use of Derivative Instruments
Option Contracts--The Fund may invest, for hedging and other purposes, in call
and put options on securities, currencies and commodities. Call and put
options give the Fund the right but not the obligation to buy (calls) or sell
(puts) the instrument underlying the option at a specified price. The premium
paid on the option, should it be exercised, will, on a call, increase the cost
of the instrument acquired and, on a put, reduce the proceeds received from
the sale of the instrument underlying the option. If the options are not
exercised, the premium paid will be recorded as a capital loss upon
expiration. The Fund may incur additional risk to the extent the value of the
underlying instrument does not correlate with the movement of the option
value.
The Fund may also write call or put options. As the writer of an option, the
Fund receives a premium. The Fund keeps the premium whether or not the option
is exercised. The premium will be recorded, upon expiration of the option, as
a short-term capital gain. If the option is exercised, the Fund must sell, in
the case of a written call, or buy, in the case of a written put, the
underlying instrument at the exercise price. The Fund may write only covered
puts and calls. A covered call option is an option in which the Fund owns the
instrument underlying the call. A covered call sold by the Fund exposes it
during the term of the option to possible loss of opportunity to realize
appreciation in the market price of the underlying instrument or to possible
continued holding of an underlying instrument which might otherwise have been
sold to protect against a decline in the market price of the underlying
instrument. A covered put exposes the Fund during the term of the option to a
decline in price of the underlying instrument. A put option sold by the Fund
is covered when, among other things, cash or short-term liquid securities are
placed in a segregated account to fulfill the obligations undertaken. The Fund
may incur additional risk from investments in written currency options if
there are unanticipated movements in the underlying currencies.
Futures Contracts--The Fund may buy and sell financial futures contracts for
hedging purposes. When a fund enters into a futures contract, it must make an
initial deposit ("initial margin") as a partial guarantee of its performance
under the contract. As the value of the futures contract fluctuates, the Fund
is required to make additional margin payments ("variation margin") to cover
any additional obligation it may have under the contract. In the remote chance
a broker cannot fulfill its obligation, the Fund could lose the variation
margin due to it. Risks may be caused by an imperfect correlation between the
movements in price of the futures contract and the price of the underlying
instrument and interest rates. Gains and losses on futures contracts are
separately disclosed.
Structured Notes--The Fund may invest in indexed securities whose value is
linked to one or more currencies, interest rates, commodities, or financial or
commodity indices. When the Fund purchases a structured note (a non-publicly
traded indexed security entered into directly between two parties) it will
make a payment of principal to the counterparty. The Fund will purchase
structured notes only from counterparties rated A or better by S&P, Moody's or
another nationally recognized statistical rating organization. Van Eck
Associates Corp. will monitor the liquidity of structured notes under
supervision of the Board of Trustees and structured notes determined to be
illiquid will be aggregated with other illiquid securities limited to 15% of
the net assets of the Fund. Indexed securities may be more volatile than the
underlying instrument itself, and present many of the same risks as investing
in futures and options. Indexed securities are also subject to credit risks
associated with the issuer of the security with respect to both principal and
interest. At December 31, 1998, the Fund had a Morgan Guaranty Trust Co.
Gold/Silver Ratio Indexed Note, and Business Development Bank of Canada
Yen/Gold Linked Note with values of $2,749,320 and $2,364,040, respectively,
that represented a total of 5.96% of the net assets of the Fund.
Note 2--Van Eck Associates Corporation (the "Adviser") earned fees of
$1,185,714 for the year ended December 31, 1998 for investment management and
advisory services. This fee is based on an annual rate of 1% of the first $500
million of average daily net assets, .90 of 1% on the next $250 million and
.70 of 1% on the excess over $750 million. Certain of the officers and
trustees of the Trust are officers, directors or stockholders of the Adviser
and Van Eck Securities Corporation.
In accordance with the advisory agreement, the Fund paid the Adviser for costs
incurred in connection with certain administrative functions which amounted to
$2,367 for the year ended December 31, 1998.
The Fund has a fee arrangement based on cash balances left on deposit with the
custodian, which reduced the Fund's operating expenses by $5,271 for the year
ended December 31, 1998. The Fund also directs certain portfolio trades to a
broker that, in turn, pays a portion of the Fund's operating expenses. For the
year ended December 31, 1998, the portion of the Fund's expenses reduced by
this directed brokerage arrangement amounted to $42,605.
Note 3--Purchases and sales of securities other than short-term obligations
aggregated $160,159,732 and $182,457,525, respectively, for the year ended
December 31, 1998. For federal income tax purposes, the identified cost of
investments owned at December 31, 1998 was $102,939,510. As of December 31,
1998, the Fund had a capital loss carry forward of $7,560,621 available,
expiring December 31, 2006.
As of December 31, 1998, net unrealized depreciation for federal income tax
purposes aggregated $17,868,967, of which $3,437,793, related to appreciated
securities and $21,306,760 related to depreciated securities.
Transactions in put options written for the year ended December 31, 1998 were
as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Number of
Contracts Premiums
--------- ---------
<S> <C> <C>
Options outstanding at beginning of year 0 $ 0
Options written 115 26,571
Options expired (115) (26,571)
---- --------
Options outstanding at end of year 0 $ 0
==== ========
</TABLE>
Note 4--The Fund invests in foreign securities. Investments in foreign
securities may involve a greater degree of risk than investments in domestic
securities due to political, economic or social instability. In addition, some
foreign companies are not generally subject to the same uniform accounting,
auditing and financial reporting rules as are American companies and there may
be less government supervision and regulation. Foreign investments may also be
subject to foreign taxes, dividend collection fees and settlement delays.
The Fund invests in South African securities. South African securities may be
subject to greater political, social and economic risks than investments in
more developed foreign markets. Emerging market countries, such as South
Africa, may present the risk of nationalization of businesses, or prohibitions
of repatriation of assets, and may have less protection of property rights
than more developed countries.
The Fund may concentrate its investments in companies which are significantly
engaged in the exploration, development, production and distribution of gold
and other natural resources such as strategic and other metals, minerals,
forest products, oil, natural gas and coal and by investing in gold bullion
and coins. Since the Fund may so concentrate, it may be subject to greater
risks and market fluctuations than other more diversified portfolios. The
production and marketing of gold and other natural resources may be affected
by actions and changes in governments. In addition, gold and natural resources
may be cyclical in nature.
<PAGE>
Worldwide Hard Assets Fund
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Note 5--Forward Foreign Currency Contracts-The Fund may buy and sell forward
currency contracts to settle purchases and sales of foreign denominated
securities. In addition, the Fund may enter into forward currency contracts to
hedge foreign denominated assets. Realized gains and losses from forward
currency contracts are included in realized gain from foreign currency
transactions.
At December 31, 1998, the Fund had the following outstanding forward foreign
currency contracts:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Value at
Settlement Current Unrealized
Contract Date Value Depreciation
- -------- ---------- -------- ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Forward Foreign Currency Purchase
Contracts:
AUD 187,828 expiring
1/04/99-1/08/99 $114,857 $115,139 $(282)
GBP 132,848 expiring 1/08/99 220,295 220,825 (530)
-----
$(812)
=====
</TABLE>
The Fund may incur additional risk from investments in forward foreign
currency contracts if the counterparty is unable to fulfill its obligation or
there are unanticipated movements of the foreign currency relative to the U.S.
dollar.
Note 6--Restricted Securities
The following securities are restricted as to sale and deemed illiquid:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Percent of
Net Assets
Date at
Acquired Cost Value 12/31/98
-------- --------- --------- ----------
<C> <S> <C> <C> <C>
4/23/98 AltaGas Service
Inc. (Special
Warrants
expiring
6/30/99) $ 507,069 $ 474,363 0.6%
1/31/97 Khanty-Mansiysk
Oil Co. 1,410,006 1,692,024 2.0%
7/09/96- Windsor Energy
5/27/98 Corp. 1,906,154 179,843 0.2%
</TABLE>
Note 7--Trustee Deferred Compensation Plan--The Trust established a Deferred
Compensation Plan (the "Plan") for Trustees. Commencing January 1, 1996, the
Trustees can elect to defer receipt of their Trustee fees until retirement,
disability or termination from the board. The Fund's contributions to the Plan
are limited to the amount of fees earned by the participating Trustees. The
fees otherwise payable to the participating Trustees are invested in shares of
the Van Eck Funds as directed by the Trustees. The Plan has been approved by
the Internal Revenue Service.
The Fund has elected to show the deferred liability net of the asset for
financial statement purposes.
As of December 31, 1998, the total value of the assets and corresponding
liability of the Fund's portion of the Plan is $34,933.
Note 8--An income dividend of $0.14 a share was paid on January 29, 1999 to
shareholders of record date January 27, 1999 with a reinvestment date of
January 29, 1999.
To the Trustees of Van Eck Worldwide Insurance Trust and the Shareholders of
Worldwide Hard Assets Fund:
In our opinion, the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities,
including the schedule of portfolio investments, and the related statements of
operations and of changes in net assets and the financial highlights present
fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Worldwide Hard
Assets Fund (one of the Funds comprising Van Eck Worldwide Insurance Trust,
hereafter referred to as the "Fund") at December 31, 1998, and the results of
its operations, the changes in its net assets and the financial highlights for
each of the periods presented, in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles. These financial statements and financial highlights
(hereafter referred to as "financial statements") are the responsibility of
the Fund's management; our responsibility is to express an opinion on these
financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these
financial statements in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards
which require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable
assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence
supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing
the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management,
and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that
our audits, which included confirmation of securities at December 31, 1998 by
correspondence with the custodian and brokers, provide a reasonable basis for
the opinion expressed above.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
February 12, 1999
<PAGE>
[LOGO OF VAN ECK GLOBAL APPEARS HERE]
Investment Adviser: Van Eck Associates Corporation
Distributor: Van Eck Securities Corporation
99 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10016 www.vaneck.com
This report must be accompanied or preceded by a prospectus, which includes more
complete information, such as charges and expenses and the risks associated with
international investing, including currency fluctuation or controls,
expropriation, nationalization and confiscatory taxation. Please read the
prospectus carefully before investing.
