HERITAGE CAPITAL APPRECIATION TRUST
PRES14A, 1997-01-02
Previous: SEPARATE ACCOUNT FP OF EQUITABLE VARIABLE LIFE INSURANCE CO, N-8B-2/A, 1997-01-02
Next: AMERICAN BUSINESS FINANCIAL SERVICES INC /DE/, DEF 14A, 1997-01-02




                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                                (Amendment No. )

Filed by the Registrant[x]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant[ ]
Check the appropriate box:
[x] Preliminary Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-11(c) or Section 240.14a-12

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       HERITAGE CAPITAL APPRECIATION TRUST
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

[ ]  $125 per Exchange Act Rules 0-11(c)(1)(ii), 14a-6(i)(1), or 14a-6(j)(2).

[ ]  $500 per each  party  to the  controversy  pursuant  to  Exchange  Act Rule
     14a-6(i)(3).

[ ]  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.
     1)  Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
     2)  Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     3) Per unit  price  or  other  underlying  value  of  transaction  computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11:(1)
     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
     4)  Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

(1) Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated  and state how it
was determined.

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

     1)  Amount Previously Paid:
     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
     2)  Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
     3)  Filing Party:
     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
     4)  Date Filed:
     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------


<PAGE>


   PRELIMINARY COPY -- TO BE FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                       HERITAGE CAPITAL APPRECIATION TRUST
                                    NOTICE OF
                         SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
                                FEBRUARY 28, 1997


TO THE SHAREHOLDERS:

         A special  meeting of the holders of shares of  beneficial  interest of
Heritage Capital  Appreciation Trust ("Trust") will be held on February 28, 1997
at  8:30  a.m.,  Eastern  standard  time,  at  the  offices  of  Heritage  Asset
Management,  Inc., at 100 Carillon Parkway,  Suite 280, St. Petersburg,  Florida
33716, for the following purposes:

         (1)   To  approve  a  Subadvisory   Agreement  between  Heritage  Asset
               Management, Inc. and Liberty Investment Management, a division of
               Goldman Sachs Asset Management, with respect to the Trust;

         (2)   To ratify the  selection of Price  Waterhouse  LLP as the Trust's
               independent  accountants  for the fiscal year  ending  August 31,
               1997; and

         (3)   To transact  such other  business as may properly come before the
               meeting or any adjournments thereof.

         You  will  be  entitled  to vote at the  meeting  and any  adjournments
thereof if you owned  shares of the Trust at the close of business on January 7,
1997. If you attend the meeting,  you may vote your shares in person.  IF YOU DO
NOT EXPECT TO ATTEND THE MEETING,  PLEASE  COMPLETE,  DATE,  SIGN AND RETURN THE
ENCLOSED PROXY CARD IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE PAID ENVELOPE.

                                            By order of the Board of Trustees,

                                            CLIFFORD J. ALEXANDER
                                            SECRETARY


January 14, 1997
880 Carillon Parkway
St. Petersburg, Florida  33716


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
                        NO MATTER HOW MANY SHARES YOU OWN

         Please  indicate your voting  instructions  on the enclosed proxy form,
date and sign the form,  and return the form in the  envelope  provided.  If you
sign,  date and  return  the proxy  form but give no voting  instructions,  your
shares will be voted "FOR" the proposals  noticed  above.  In order to avoid the
additional expense of further  solicitation,  we ask your cooperation in mailing
your proxy card  promptly.  Unless  proxy cards  submitted by  corporations  and
partnerships  are signed by the  appropriate  persons as indicated in the voting
instructions on the proxy card, they will not be voted.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>

                       HERITAGE CAPITAL APPRECIATION TRUST

               880 CARILLON PARKWAY, ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA 33716

                                   ----------
                                 PROXY STATEMENT
                                   ----------

         SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON FEBRUARY 28, 1997

         This is a proxy  statement  for  Heritage  Capital  Appreciation  Trust
("Trust") in connection with the  solicitation of proxies made by, and on behalf
of, the Trust's board of Trustees ("Trustees") to be used at the special meeting
of shareholders of the Trust and at any adjournments thereof  ("Meeting").  This
proxy will be mailed to shareholders on or about January 14, 1997.

         A majority of the shares of beneficial interest of the Trust ("Shares")
outstanding  on January 7, 1997  ("Record  Date"),  represented  in person or by
proxy, must be present to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at
the  Meeting.  Only  holders of Shares as of this date are entitled to notice of
and to vote at the  Meeting.  In the  absence of a quorum or in the event that a
quorum is present at the  Meeting  but votes  sufficient  to approve  any of the
proposals are not received, the persons named as proxies may propose one or more
adjournments of the Meeting to permit further  solicitation of proxies. Any such
adjournment  will  require the  affirmative  vote of a majority of those  Shares
represented  at the Meeting in person or by proxy.  If a quorum is present,  the
persons named as proxies will vote those proxies which they are entitled to vote
FOR any such  proposal  in favor of such an  adjournment,  and will  vote  those
proxies required to be voted AGAINST any such proposal against such adjournment.
A  shareholder  vote may be taken on one or more of the  proposals in this proxy
statement prior to any such  adjournment if sufficient  votes have been received
and it is otherwise appropriate.

         Broker  non-votes  are shares  held in street name for which the broker
indicates that instructions have not been received from the beneficial owners or
other persons entitled to vote and the broker does not have discretionary voting
authority.  Abstentions  and broker  non-votes will be counted as Shares present
for purposes of determining  whether a quorum is present,  but will not be voted
for or against any  adjournment.  Accordingly,  abstentions and broker non-votes
effectively will be a vote against adjournment or against the proposal where the
required  vote is a percentage  of the Shares  present.  Abstentions  and broker
non-votes  will  not  be  counted,  however,  as  votes  cast  for  purposes  of
determining whether sufficient votes have been received to approve a proposal.

         The  individuals  named as proxies in the enclosed proxy card will vote
in accordance  with your  directions as indicated  thereon if your proxy card is
received  properly  executed.  If you sign,  date and return the proxy card, but
give no voting instructions, your Shares will be voted in favor of the proposals
described  in this proxy  statement.  The duly  appointed  proxies may, in their
discretion,  vote upon such  other  matters  as may  properly  come  before  the
Meeting.  Your proxy card may be revoked by giving another  proxy,  by letter or
telegram  revoking your proxy if received by the Trust prior to the Meeting,  or
by appearing and voting at the Meeting.

         As of the  Record  Date,  the Trust had  _________  Shares  issued  and
outstanding.  No person owns of record or beneficially 5% or more of the Trust's
outstanding  Shares.  All  costs  associated  with the  Meeting,  including  the
solicitation  of  proxies,  will be borne by Liberty  Investment  Management,  a
division of Goldman Sachs Asset Management ("GSAM").  Solicitations will be made

<PAGE>

primarily  by mail but also may  include  telephone  communications  by  regular
employees  of  Heritage  Asset  Management,   Inc.  ("Heritage"),   the  Trust's
investment  adviser and  administrator,  who will not  receive any  compensation
therefor  from the Trust.  Each full  Share is  entitled  to one vote,  and each
fractional  Share is  entitled  to a  proportionate  share of one vote.  YOU MAY
OBTAIN A COPY OF THE TRUST'S MOST RECENT ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS,  FREE OF
CHARGE, BY WRITING TO HERITAGE AT 880 CARILLON PARKWAY, ST. PETERSBURG,  FLORIDA
33716 OR BY CALLING 1-800-421-4184.


         PROPOSAL 1.       APPROVAL OF THE SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT

         The  Trustees  and  Heritage   propose  that  the  Liberty   Investment
Management Division of GSAM ("GSAM-Liberty") be appointed as a subadviser to the
Trust.  GSAM  is  a  separate  operating  division  of  Goldman,   Sachs  &  Co.
("Goldman").  If this  appointment  is approved by  shareholders,  Heritage will
terminate the current subadvisory agreement with Liberty Investment  Management,
Inc.  ("Liberty")  dated October 27, 1994  ("Liberty  Agreement").  In addition,
GSAM-Liberty  would replace Liberty as the second subadviser to the Trust. Eagle
Asset Management, Inc. ("Eagle") is the other investment subadviser to the Trust
and has served as such since the Trust's  inception  pursuant  to a  subadvisory
agreement   between   Heritage  and  Eagle  dated   November  22,  1985  ("Eagle
Agreement").

         The proposed  appointment  of  GSAM-Liberty  is based  primarily on the
desire of Trustees  to have  Herbert E. Ehlers  ("Ehlers")  continue  serving as
portfolio  manager of the Trust.  Ehlers has served in this  capacity  since the
Trust's  inception and is responsible for its day-to-day  portfolio  management.
Ehlers serves as the sole director, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment
Officer of Liberty. On or about January 2, 1997, Goldman acquired certain assets
of Liberty,  including employment agreements for Ehlers and other key employees.
Pending certain actions,  including the shareholders'  decision as to whether to
appoint  GSAM-Liberty as the Trust's  subadviser,  Ehlers remains an employee of
Liberty,  and will continue to serve as the Trust's portfolio manager.  However,
it is expected that he will terminate his relationship with Liberty at some time
in 1997 and it is anticipated that Liberty will be dissolved prior to the end of
1997.

         If  GSAM-Liberty   is  approved  as  subadviser,   Heritage  will  have
discretion  to allocate  the assets of the Trust  among Eagle and  GSAM-Liberty,
subject to the oversight of the Trustees. Heritage initially intends to allocate
all of the Trust's assets to GSAM-Liberty. The proportion of assets allocated to
each  subadviser  will be reviewed  periodically  by Heritage.  If  shareholders
approve GSAM-Liberty's appointment as subadviser, then GSAM-Liberty will provide
substantially  similar  portfolio  management  services as Liberty has provided,
will employ the same portfolio  manager,  and will receive the same  subadvisory
fee from Heritage that Liberty currently receives.

         At a meeting on November 18,  1996,  the  Trustees  determined  that it
would be in the Trust's best interest to continue to retain Ehlers'  services by
appointing GSAM-Liberty as an investment subadviser to the Trust. In making this
decision,  the  Trustees  considered,  among other  factors,  continuity  in the
Trust's  investment  strategy  and style,  Ehlers'  specialized  experience  and
success as a growth equity portfolio manager, his experience and track record to
date  as  the  Trust's  portfolio  manager,  the  other  personnel  employed  by
GSAM-Liberty  who would continue to assist in portfolio  management  activities,
and other portfolio management alternatives available to the Trust.

         Accordingly,  at  their  meeting,  the  Trustees  unanimously  approved
proposals that (1) GSAM-Liberty be appointed as an investment  subadviser to the
Trust  under  substantially  the same terms and  conditions  as set forth in the
Liberty Agreement,  (2) the Trust enter into the proposed subadvisory  agreement
between Heritage and GSAM-Liberty ("Goldman Agreement"),  subject to shareholder
approval,  and (3) the  GSAM-Liberty  Agreement  be  submitted  for  shareholder
approval.  These decisions  included the unanimous  approval of all Trustees who
are not "interested  persons" of the Trust,  Heritage or Liberty as that term is
defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940 ("Independent Trustees").



                                       2
<PAGE>


DESCRIPTION OF THE SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT

         Under the  Goldman  Agreement,  GSAM-Liberty  will  manage the  Trust's
investments  and will be responsible for placing all orders for the purchase and
sale of portfolio  securities,  subject to the  supervision  of the Trustees and
Heritage. As compensation for GSAM-Liberty's  services and for expenses borne by
GSAM-Liberty under the Agreement,  GSAM-Liberty will be paid monthly by Heritage
(not by the Trust) at an annual rate equal to .25% of the Trust's  average daily
net assets subject to its investment  discretion.  This is the same fee schedule
that exists under the Liberty Agreement.

         The Goldman Agreement provides that GSAM-Liberty will not be liable for
any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Trust in
connection with the  performance of the Agreement,  except a loss resulting from
willful  misfeasance,  bad  faith  or  gross  negligence  on  its  part  in  the
performance  of its duties or from reckless  disregard by it of its  obligations
and duties under the Subadvisory Agreement.

         If approved by  shareholders,  the Goldman  Agreement would be executed
promptly by Heritage and GSAM-Liberty. Unless sooner terminated, it would remain
in  effect  for one  year  following  its  effective  date  and  would  continue
automatically  for successive  annual periods,  provided that it is specifically
approved  at  least  annually  (1) by a vote of a  majority  of the  Independent
Trustees and (2) by a majority of all Trustees or by a vote of a majority of the
outstanding  Shares of the Trust.  The Trust may terminate the proposed  Goldman
Agreement  by a  vote  of a  majority  of  its  Trustees  or a  majority  of its
outstanding  voting  securities  on 60  days'  written  notice  to  Heritage  or
GSAM-Liberty.  Heritage may at any time  terminate  that agreement upon 60 days'
written notice to Goldman. Goldman may at any time terminate that agreement upon
90 days' written notice to Heritage. That agreement automatically will terminate
without  penalty  in the  event of  assignment  or  termination  of the  Trust's
Investment Advisory and Administration Agreement.

INFORMATION CONCERNING GOLDMAN SACHS

         GSAM is a separate  operating division of Goldman and has its principal
business  address at One New York Plaza,  New York,  New York 10004.  Goldman is
registered as an investment  adviser under the Investment  Advisers Act of 1940,
as amended.  As of  November  30,  1996,  GSAM and its  affiliates  served as an
investment  adviser  and/or  administrator  to ____  investment  companies  with
aggregate assets in excess of $______.  Goldman serves as investment  adviser to
the following investment companies with a similar investment strategy (Goldman's
annual  rate of  compensation  as a  percentage  of average  daily net assets is
included in parenthesis):

      .  EAI Select Managers Equity Fund (0.375%)
      .  Managers Special Equity Fund (0.500%)
      .  Diversified Investors Special Equity Fund (0.500%)

         Goldman  Sachs  is a  worldwide  investment  banking  firm  and has its
principal  business  address at 85 Broad Street,  New York, New York 10004.  The
principal  executive offices of Goldman are Jon S. Corzine and Henry M. Paulson.
The  principal  occupation of Messrs.  Corzine and Paulson is the  management of
Goldman.  The general partners of Goldman are Thye Goldman Sachs Group,  L.P. (a
Delaware limited partnership)  ("GSGLP") and The Goldman, Sachs & Co. L.L.C. ( a
Delaware limited liability company)  ("GSCLLC").  The principal business address
of the  executive  officers and general  partners of Goldman is 85 Broad Street,
New York, New York 10004.  The Goldman Sachs  Corporation  ("GSC") is the parent
company of both GSGLP (.2%) and GSCLLC (.2%). GSGLP is also the parent of GSCLLC
(99.8%). GSC is the sole general partner of GSCLP.

RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

         In order  for the  Trust to  benefit  from  having  access to a premier
financial services  organization and its extensive resources,  and to assure the
long-term  stability of the Trust's  investment team and preserve the continuity
of Liberty's investment  philosophy and process, the Trustees decided to appoint
Goldman as a subadviser to the Trust and they recommend that shareholders


                                       3
<PAGE>


approve the proposed Goldman Agreement. In approving the Goldman Agreement,  the
Board analyzed the factors  discussed  above and other factors that would affect
positively or negatively the provision of portfolio management services.

         If Proposal 1 is not approved by  shareholders,  Heritage will continue
as the Trust's investment adviser and investment discretion with respect to 100%
of the Trust's  assets will continue to be allocated to Liberty,  as subadviser.
The  Trustees  would  then  consider  whether  any  other  arrangements  for the
provision of investment  subadvisory  services are  appropriate  and in the best
interests of the Trust's shareholders.

VOTE REQUIRED

         Approval of Proposal 1 requires the affirmative  vote of the holders of
the LESSER of (1) 67% or more of the Shares of the Trust present at the Meeting,
if the holders of more than 50% of the  outstanding  Trust Shares are present or
represented  by proxy at the  Meeting,  or (2) more than 50% of the  outstanding
Shares of the Trust entitled to vote at the Meeting.

                    THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES RECOMMENDS THAT YOU
                             VOTE "FOR" PROPOSAL 1.

         PROPOSAL 2.  RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF ACCOUNTANTS

         The  Independent   Trustees  have  selected  Price  Waterhouse  LLP  as
independent  public  accountants for the Trust for the fiscal year ending August
31, 1997.  During 1996, the  Independent  Trustees  accepted the  resignation of
Coopers & Lybrand  L.L.P.  and  appointed  Price  Waterhouse  LLP as the Trust's
independent public accountants.  Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.'s reports for the last
two years did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, and were
not  qualified  or  modified  as to  uncertainty,  audit  scope,  or  accounting
principles.  No disagreement  occurred  between Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. and the
Trust  during  the last two years  with  respect  to any  matter  of  accounting
principles or practices,  financial statement  disclosure,  or auditing scope or
procedure.

         The Trust's  financial  statements for the fiscal year ended August 31,
1996 were audited by Price Waterhouse LLP. Price Waterhouse LLP has informed the
Trust that it has no  material  direct or  indirect  financial  interest  in the
Trust. Representatives of Price Waterhouse LLP are not expected to be present at
the meeting but have been given the  opportunity  to make a statement if they so
desire, and will be available should any matter arise requiring their presence.

VOTE REQUIRED

         The affirmative  vote of at least a majority of the shares of the Trust
present, in person or by proxy, is required for ratification.


                    THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES RECOMMENDS THAT YOU
                             VOTE "FOR" PROPOSAL 2.

                           INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRUST

CURRENT ADVISORY ARRANGEMENTS

         Heritage is a Florida  corporation  organized in 1985 and registered as
an  investment  adviser under the  Investment  Advisers Act of 1940, as amended.
Heritage serves as investment adviser and administrator to the Trust pursuant to
an Investment Advisory and Administration  Agreement dated November 22, 1985, as


                                       4
<PAGE>


amended  on  November  19,  1996 to  reduce  the  advisory  fee rate  ("Advisory
Agreement").  The  Advisory  Agreement  was approved by the Trust's sole initial
shareholder  on November  13, 1985,  and its  continuance  was last  approved by
shareholders  on June 19, 1989.  Liberty serves as a subadviser  pursuant to the
Liberty  Agreement.  Eagle has been an investment  subadviser to the Trust since
the Trust's inception pursuant to the Eagle Agreement.

         All of the  capital  stock  of  Heritage  is  owned  by  Raymond  James
Financial,  Inc.  ("RJF").  RJF is the parent company of, among other companies,
Eagle and Heritage.  Thomas A. James,  a Trustee of the Trust,  by virtue of his
direct  or  indirect  ownership  of RJF,  owns  beneficially  more  than  10% of
Heritage.  RJF,  through its  subsidiaries,  is engaged  primarily  in providing
customers  with  a  wide  variety  of  financial  services  in  connection  with
securities,  limited  partnerships,  options,  investment  banking  and  related
fields.  Heritage  also serves as  investment  adviser and manager to five other
investment  companies  which,  together with the Trust,  had aggregate assets of
approximately $2.6 billion as of November 30, 1996.

         The  principal  address of Heritage,  RJF,  Thomas A. James and each of
Heritage's  directors and principal  executive  officer is 880 Carillon Parkway,
St. Petersburg,  Florida 33716. The directors and principal executive officer of
Heritage  are:  Jeffrey P. Julien,  Director;  Richard K. Riess,  Director;  and
Stephen G. Hill, Director, President and Chief Executive Officer.

         Under the Advisory  Agreement,  and subject to the  supervision  of the
Trustees,  Heritage  has agreed,  among other  duties,  to provide a  continuous
investment  program  for the  Trust's  portfolio,  supervise  all aspects of the
Trust's operation and hold itself available to respond to shareholder inquiries.
The Advisory  Agreement  expressly  permits advisory services to be delegated to
and performed by a subadviser. Under the Advisory Agreement, the Trust bears all
of its expenses not specifically  assumed by Heritage  incurred in its operation
and the offering of shares.

         For  services  provided  under the Advisory  Agreement,  the Trust pays
Heritage an annualized  advisory fee, computed daily and paid monthly,  of 0.75%
of the  Trust's  average  daily net  assets.  (Prior to  November  19,  1996 the
advisory  fee was 1.00%,  although  Heritage  waived the first .25% of the fee.)
During any period  that  expenses  exceed  1.60% and 2.35% of average  daily net
assets of Class A and Class C shares of the Trust,  respectively,  Heritage will
waive  management  fees to limit  Trust  expenses.  During the fiscal year ended
August 31, 1996,  the Trust paid (or accrued) to Heritage fees of  approximately
$552,000 (net of fees waived in the amount of approximately $______).

         The Advisory  Agreement  provides  that Heritage will not be liable for
any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Trust in
connection  with  the  matter  to which  the  Agreement  relates,  except a loss
resulting from willful  misfeasance,  bad faith, or gross negligence on its part
in the  performance  of its  duties  or  from  reckless  disregard  by it of its
obligations and duties thereunder.

         Under the Liberty  Agreement,  Liberty manages the Trust's  investments
and is responsible for placing all orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio
securities,  subject  to  the  supervision  of the  Trustees  and  Heritage.  As
compensation for Liberty's  services and for expenses borne by Liberty under the
Liberty  Agreement,   Heritage,  and  not  the  Fund,  pays  Liberty  a  monthly
subadvisory fee at an annual rate equal to 0.25% of the Fund's average daily net
assets allocated to Liberty by Heritage. During the fiscal year ended August 31,
1996, Heritage paid to Liberty fees of approximately $184,000.

         The Liberty Agreement  provides that Liberty will not be liable for any
error of  judgment  or mistake of law or for any loss  suffered  by the Trust in
connection with the  performance of the Agreement,  except a loss resulting from
willful  misfeasance,  bad  faith  or  gross  negligence  on  its  part  in  the
performance  of its duties or from reckless  disregard by it of its  obligations
and duties under the Subadvisory Agreement.

         Ehlers  is  the  sole  director,  Chief  Executive  Officer  and  Chief
Investment Officer of Liberty. He also owns all of the outstanding capital stock
issued by Liberty.  Lincoln Kinnicutt is Liberty's President and Chief Operating
Officer.  The address of Liberty  and each of these  persons is 2502 Rocky Point
Drive, Suite 500, Tampa, Florida 33607.

                                       5
<PAGE>


PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

         For the fiscal year ended  August 31,  1996,  the Trust paid Rule 12b-1
distribution  fees in the  amount of  approximately  $_____ to  Raymond  James &
Associates,  Inc. ("Raymond James"), an affiliated broker-dealer and the Trust's
principal underwriter.  The Trust also paid transfer agency fees to Heritage for
the fiscal year ended August 31, 1996 in the amount of approximately $____. Once
the  proposed  agreement  is  approved,  Raymond  James and  Heritage  intend to
continue to provide these services.

TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS

         Trustees  and  officers of the Trust who also are employed by Heritage,
Liberty or Eagle are:

         THOMAS A. JAMES, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD AND TRUSTEE. Mr. James serves as
Chairman of Eagle.

         RICHARD K. RIESS,  TRUSTEE.  Mr. Riess is a director and the  President
and Chief Executive Officer of Eagle and a director of Heritage.

         STEPHEN  G.  HILL,  PRESIDENT.  Mr.  Hill is a  director  and the Chief
Executive Officer and President of Heritage and a director of Eagle.

         DONALD H. GLASSMAN, TREASURER. Mr. Glassman is Treasurer of Heritage.

         PATRICIA  SCHNEIDER,   ASSISTANT   SECRETARY.   Ms.  Schneider  is  the
Compliance Administrator of Heritage.


                              SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

         As a general  matter,  the Trust does not hold regular  annual or other
meetings of  shareholders.  Any shareholder who wishes to submit proposals to be
considered  at a special  meeting of the Trust's  shareholders  should send such
proposals to the Trust at 880 Carillon Parkway,  St. Petersburg,  Florida 33733,
so as to be received a reasonable  time before the proxy  solicitation  for that
meeting is made.

         Shareholder  proposals  that are  submitted in a timely manner will not
necessarily  be included  in the  Trust's  proxy  materials.  Inclusion  of such
proposals is subject to limitations under the federal securities laws.

                                 OTHER BUSINESS

         Management  knows of no business to be presented  to the Meeting  other
than the  matters  set forth in this  statement,  but  should  any other  matter
requiring a vote of shareholders  arise, the proxies will vote thereon according
to their best judgment in the interests of the Trust.

                                         By the order of the Board of Trustees,

                                         CLIFFORD J. ALEXANDER
                                         SECRETARY
January 14, 1997

        IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU EXECUTE AND RETURN YOUR PROXY PROMPTLY.


                                       6
<PAGE>

                                                                          PROXY
                                                                          -----
                       HERITAGE CAPITAL APPRECIATION TRUST

               SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS - FEBRUARY 28, 1997

The  undersigned  hereby  appoints as proxies  Stephen G. Hill,  K.C.  Clark and
Donald  H.  Glassman,  each  with  the  power of  substitution,  to vote for the
undersigned  all  shares  of  beneficial  interest  of  the  undersigned  at the
aforementioned  meeting  and any  adjournment  thereof  with all the  power  the
undersigned  would have if personally  present.  The shares  represented by this
proxy will be voted as instructed.  Unless indicated to the contrary, this proxy
shall be deemed to indicate authority to vote "FOR" all proposals. THIS PROXY IS
SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

                             YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT

Please  date and sign this  proxy and  return it in the  enclosed  postage  paid
envelope to: 880 Carillon Parkway, St. Petersburg, Florida 33716.

        PLEASE INDICATE YOUR VOTE BY AN "X" IN THE APPROPRIATE BOX BELOW.

          THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" EACH PROPOSAL.

1.  Approval  of the  proposed  Subadvisory  Agreement  between  Heritage  Asset
Management,  Inc. and Liberty Investment Management, a division of Goldman Sachs
Asset Management,  a separate operating  division of Goldman,  Sachs & Co., with
respect to the Heritage Capital Appreciation Trust.

             FOR  _______           AGAINST  _______        ABSTAIN  ______

2. Ratification of Price Waterhouse LLP as independent  accountants of the Trust
for the fiscal year ending August 31, 1997.

             FOR  _______           AGAINST  _______        ABSTAIN  ______

This proxy will not be voted unless it is dated and signed exactly as instructed
below.

Date: ______________________           ________________________________
                                       Signature

                                       ________________________________
                                       Signature


If shares are held  jointly,  each  shareholder  named should sign;  if only one
signs,  his  or  her  signature  will  be  binding.  If  the  shareholder  is  a
corporation,  the  President  or Vice  President  should  sign in her own  name,
indicating title. If the shareholder is a partnership,  a partner should sign in
his own name, indicating that he is a "Partner."



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