GABELLI ASSET FUND
485BPOS, 1999-04-30
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                                          Registrant Nos. 33-1719 and 811-4494

                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM N-1A

             REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                        PRE-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT No.
                              POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT No.    17             X
                                       and
               REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
                              AMENDMENT No.    19                            X




                             THE GABELLI ASSET FUND
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

                 One Corporate Center, Rye, New York 10580-1434
                     (Address of Principal Executive Office)
                  Registrant's Telephone Number (800) 422-3554

                                 Bruce N. Alpert
                               Gabelli Funds, LLC
                 One Corporate Center, Rye, New York 10580-1434
                     (Name and Address of Agent for Service)



                                   Copies to:
James E. McKee, Esq.                       Richard T. Prins, Esq.
Gabelli Funds, Inc.                        Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
One Corporate Center                       919 Third Avenue
Rye, New York 10580-1434                   New York, New York 10022

It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box):
   
                  immediately upon filing pursuant to Rule 485(b); or
          X       on April 30, 1998 pursuant to paragraph (b); or
                  60 days after filing pursuant to Rule 485(a)(1);  or on [____]
                  pursuant to paragraph (a)(1); or 75 days after filing pursuant
                  to Rule 485(a)(2); or on [____] pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)
    
If appropriate, check the following box:
                  this post-effective amendment designates a new effective date 
                  for a previously filed post-effective amendment.

       



                             THE GABELLI ASSET FUND
                              One Corporate Center
                            Rye, New York 10580-1434
                    Telephone: 1-800-GABELLI (1-800-422-3554)
                             http://www.gabelli.com

                                   PROSPECTUS
                                   May 1, 1999

                                Class AAA Shares

                          This Prospectus  contains important  information about
                         the Fund.  Please read it before  investing and keep it
                         for future reference.



===============================================================================

LIKE ALL MUTUAL FUNDS, THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED 
BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE  
COMMISSION DETERMINED WHETHER THIS PROSPECTUS IS ACCURATE OR COMPLETE.  IT IS A 
CRIMINAL OFFENSE TO STATE OTHERWISE.
===============================================================================






                                                    
                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                                         Page
   
INVESTMENT AND PERFORMANCE SUMMARY.........................................1
INVESTMENT AND RISK INFORMATION............................................2
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND.....................................................4
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS................................................5
PURCHASING, SELLING AND EXCHANGING SHARES..................................5
PRICING OF FUND SHARES.....................................................5
TAX INFORMATION............................................................5
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS.......................................................6
    


<PAGE>



                       INVESTMENT AND PERFORMANCE SUMMARY

Investment Objective:
   
The Gabelli Asset Fund (the "Fund") seeks to provide growth of capital.  Capital
is the amount of money you invest in the Fund.  The Fund's  secondary goal is to
provide current income.

Principal Investment Strategies:

The Fund will  primarily  invest in common stocks and  preferred  stocks and may
also invest in securities  which may be converted into common stocks.  In making
stock selections,  the Fund strives to earn a 10% real rate of return.  The Fund
focuses on companies which appear underpriced  relative to their "private market
value." Private market value is the value the Fund's adviser  believes  informed
investors would be willing to pay for a company.     

   
Principal Risks:

The Fund's  share price will  fluctuate  with changes in the market value of the
Fund's portfolio securities. Stocks are subject to market, economic and business
risks that cause their prices to fluctuate.  Investments  in foreign  securities
involve risks related to political,  social and economic developments abroad, as
well as risks  resulting from the  differences  between the regulations to which
U.S.  and foreign  issuers and markets are  subject.  When you sell Fund shares,
they may be worth less than what you paid for them.  Consequently,  you can lose
money by  investing  in the Fund.  The Fund is also subject to the risk that the
issuers' private market values may never be realized by the market,  or that the
portfolio securities' prices decline.

Who May Want to Invest:

The Shares offered herein (which for  convenience  are referred to as the "Class
AAA Shares") are offered only to investors who acquire them directly through the
Fund's distributor or through a select member of financial  intermediaries  with
whom  the   distributor  has  entered  into  selling   agreements   specifically
authorizing them to offer Class AAA Shares.

The Fund may appeal to you if:

                   you are a long-term investor or saver
                   you seek growth of capital
                   you  believe  that the market  will favor  value over  growth
                   stocks  over  the  long  term  you  wish to  include  a value
                   strategy as a portion of your overall investments.

You may not want to invest in the Fund if:

                   you are  seeking  a high  level  of  current  income  you are
                   conservative in your  investment  approach you seek stability
                   of principal more than growth of capital

    
An  investment  in the Fund is not a  deposit  of a bank and is not  insured  or
guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance  Corporation or any other government
agency.

Performance:
   
The bar  chart and table  shown  below  provide  an  indication  of the risks of
investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's  performance from year to
year (since 1989), and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for 1, 5
and 10 years compared to those of the S&P(R) 500 Stock Index. As with all mutual
funds, the Fund's past performance does not predict how the Fund will perform in
the future.
    
BAR CHART (GRAPHIC OMITTED)
EDGAR REPRESENTATION OF DATA POINTS
USED IN PRINTED GRAPHIC

   
               Calendar Year              Total Return
               -------------              ------------
                    1989                       26.2%
                    1990                       (5.0)
                    1991                       18.1
                    1992                       14.9
                    1993                       21.8
                    1994                       (0.1)
                    1995                       24.9
                    1996                       13.4
                    1997                       38.1
                    1998                       15.9

During the period shown in the bar chart,  the highest  return for a quarter was
18.2% (quarter  ended  12/31/98) and the lowest return for a quarter was (14.2)%
(quarter ended 9/30/98).
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                 <C>                    <C>                    <C> 

 ---------------------------------------------- ----------------------- ---------------------- ---------------------
         Average Annual Total Returns               Past One Year          Past Five Years        Past Ten Years
   (for the periods ended December 31, 1998)
 ---------------------------------------------- ----------------------- ---------------------- ---------------------
 ---------------------------------------------- ----------------------- ---------------------- ---------------------
 The Gabelli Asset Fund Class AAA Shares                15.9%                   17.8%                 16.2%
 ---------------------------------------------- ----------------------- ---------------------- ---------------------
 ---------------------------------------------- ----------------------- ---------------------- ---------------------
 S&P(R)500 Stock Index*                                  28.7%                   24.1%                 19.2%
 ---------------------------------------------- ----------------------- ---------------------- ---------------------
    
</TABLE>

*    The  S&P(R)  500  Composite  Stock  Price  Index  is a  widely  recognized,
     unmanaged  index of common stock prices.  The performance of the Index does
     not include expenses or fees.

Fees and Expenses of the Fund:

This table  describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold
Class AAA shares of the Fund.

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that are deducted from Fund assets):
Management Fees....................................................     1.00%
Distribution (Rule 12b-1) Expenses1................................     0.25%
Other Expenses.....................................................     0.11%
                                                                        ----
Total Annual Operating Expenses...................................      1.36%

          1 Long-term  shareholders  may indirectly pay more than the equivalent
     of the maximum permitted front-end sales charge.

Expense Example:
   
This  example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in Class AAA
shares of the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example
assumes (1) you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods  shown,  (2) you
redeem your shares at the end of those  periods,  (3) your  investment  has a 5%
return each year and (4) the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although
your actual costs may be higher or lower,  based on these assumptions your costs
would be:     

               1 Year            3 Years          5 Years          10 Years
               ------            -------          -------          --------

                $138              $431             $745             $1,635

                         INVESTMENT AND RISK INFORMATION

The Fund's  primary  investment  objective  is to seek  growth of  capital,  and
investments will be made based on management's perception of their potential for
capital  appreciation.  Current  income,  to the extent it may affect  potential
growth of capital, is a secondary  objective.  The investment  objectives of the
Fund may not be changed without shareholder approval.

   
Under normal market  conditions,  the Fund invests at least 80% of its assets in
stocks that are listed on a nationally  recognized securities exchange or traded
on the NASDAQ National  Market System of the National  Association of Securities
Dealers. The Fund's adviser, Gabelli Funds, LLC (the "Adviser"),  will invest in
companies that, in the public market,  are selling at a significant  discount to
their  "private  market  value."  Private  market value is the value the Adviser
believes  informed  investors would be willing to pay to acquire  companies with
similar  characteristics.  The Adviser considers factors such as price, earnings
expectations,  earnings and price histories,  balance sheet  characteristics and
perceived  management skills. The Adviser also considers changes in economic and
political  outlooks as well as individual  corporate  developments.  The Adviser
will sell any Fund  investments  which lose their  perceived  value  relative to
other investments.

The  Fund's  assets  will be  invested  primarily  in a broad  range of  readily
marketable  equity  securities  consisting of common stock,  preferred stock and
securities which may be converted at a later time into common stock. Many of the
common stocks the Fund will buy will not pay dividends;  instead, stocks will be
bought for the  potential  that their prices will  increase,  providing  capital
appreciation for the Fund. The value of equity  securities will fluctuate due to
many  factors,  including  the past and  predicted  earnings of the issuer,  the
quality of the issuer's management, general market conditions, the forecasts for
the issuer's  industry and the value of the issuer's  assets.  Holders of equity
securities  only have rights to value in the  company  after all debts have been
paid, and they could lose their entire  investment in a company that  encounters
financial difficulty.  Warrants are rights to purchase securities at a specified
time at a specified price.

The Fund may also use the following investment techniques:

          Foreign Securities.  The Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets
     in securities of non-U.S. issuers.

          Defensive  Investments.  When  opportunities for capital growth do not
         appear attractive or when adverse market or economic  conditions occur,
         the Fund may  temporarily  invest  all or a  portion  of its  assets in
         defensive  investments.  Such  investments  include  preferred  stocks,
         high-grade debt securities,  obligations of the U.S. Government and its
         agencies and instrumentalities, and short-term money market instruments
         such as high-quality commercial paper (rated at least "A-1" by Standard
         & Poor's Rating Service ("S&P") or "P-1" by Moody's Investors  Service,
         Inc.).  When  following  a  defensive  strategy,  the Fund will be less
         likely to achieve its investment goal of capital growth.
    
          Borrowing.  The  Fund  may  borrow  money  from  banks  (1)  as may be
         necessary  for the  clearance  of portfolio  transactions,  and (2) for
         temporary or emergency  purposes,  including  the meeting of redemption
         requests.  Borrowing for any purpose  (including  redemptions)  may not
         exceed  15% of the value of the  Fund's  total  assets.  Borrowing  for
         purposes other than meeting  redemptions may not exceed 5% of the value
         of the Fund's total  assets at the time a borrowing  is made.  The Fund
         will not make any additional  purchases of portfolio  securities at any
         time its borrowings exceed 5% of its assets.  The Fund may use not more
         than 20% of its assets as collateral in connection  with the borrowings
         described  above. The Fund may also engage to a limited extent in other
         investment practices in order to achieve its investment goal.

Investing in the Fund involves the following risks, listed in the order of 
importance.
   
          Equity  Risk.  The  principal  risk of investing in the Fund is equity
         risk. Equity risk is the risk that the prices of the securities held by
         the Fund will  change due to general  market and  economic  conditions,
         perceptions regarding the industries in which the companies issuing the
         securities    participate   and   the   issuer   company's   particular
         circumstances.
    


          Fund and  Management  Risk.  The Fund  invests  in  stocks  issued  by
         companies  believed by the Adviser to be trading at a discount to their
         private  market  value  (value  stocks).  The Fund's  price may decline
         because the market favors other stocks or large  capitalization  stocks
         over stocks of small to mid-size companies. If the Adviser is incorrect
         in its  assessment of the private  market  values of the  securities it
         holds, then the value of the Fund's shares may decline.

   
          Foreign Risk. The Fund's investments in foreign securities may go down
         because  of   unfavorable   foreign   government   actions,   political
         instability  or the  absence  of  accurate  information  about  foreign
         issuers. Also, a decline in the value of foreign currencies relative to
         the U.S.  dollar will  reduce the value of  securities  denominated  in
         those  currencies.  Foreign  securities  are sometimes  less liquid and
         harder to value than securities of U.S. issuers.

      Borrowing Risk.  Borrowing may exaggerate the effect on net asset value of
         any  increase or decrease in the market value of  securities  purchased
         with borrowed  funds.  Money borrowed will be subject to interest costs
         which may or may not be  recovered  by an  appreciation  of  securities
         purchased.

                             MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

The Adviser. Gabelli Funds, LLC, with principal offices located at One Corporate
Center, Rye, New York 10580-1434,  serves as investment adviser to the Fund. The
Adviser makes  investment  decisions for the Fund and  continuously  reviews and
administers  the Fund's  investment  program under the supervision of the Fund's
Board  of  Trustees.  The  Adviser  also  manages  several  other  open-end  and
closed-end investment companies in the Gabelli family of funds. The Adviser is a
New York  limited  liability  company  organized in 1999 as successor to Gabelli
Funds,  Inc., a New York corporation  organized in 1980. The Adviser is a wholly
owned  subsidiary of Gabelli Asset  Management  Inc.  ("GAMI"),  a publicly held
company listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
    

As compensation for its services and the related expenses the Adviser bears, for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998, the Fund paid the Adviser an annual fee
equal to 1.00% of the value of the Fund's average daily net assets.

   
          The Portfolio Manager.  Mr. Mario J. Gabelli,  CFA, is responsible for
     the day-to-day management of the Fund. Mr. Gabelli has been Chairman, Chief
     Executive  Officer  and Chief  Investment  Officer of the  Adviser  and its
     predecessor  since inception and its parent company,  GAMI, since 1999. Mr.
     Gabelli also acts as Chief Executive  Officer and Chief Investment  Officer
     of GAMCO Investors,  Inc. ("GAMCO"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of GAMI, and
     is an officer or director of various other companies  affiliated with GAMI.
     The  Adviser  relies  to a  considerable  extent  on the  expertise  of Mr.
     Gabelli,  who may be  difficult  to  replace  in the  event  of his  death,
     disability or resignation.

Year 2000. As the year 2000 approaches,  an issue has emerged  regarding how the
software used by the Fund's service  providers can  accommodate the date "2000."
Failure to  adequately  address  this  issue  could  result in major  systems or
process  failures  which  could  disrupt the Fund's  operations.  The Adviser is
working with the Fund's service providers to prepare for the year 2000. Based on
information currently available,  the Adviser does not expect that the Fund will
incur significant  operating  expenses or be required to incur material costs to
be year 2000 compliant.  The Fund cannot guarantee,  however, that all year 2000
issues will be identified and corrected by January 1, 2000 and any non-compliant
computer system could hurt key Fund  operations  such as shareholder  servicing,
pricing and trading. In addition, the Year 2000 problem may adversely affect the
companies  in  which  the  Fund  invests,   particularly  companies  in  foreign
countries.  For example,  these companies may incur substantial costs to correct
the Year 2000 problem, which could lower the value of such companies' securities
and negatively affect the Fund's performance.     



<PAGE>


   
Rule 12b-1 Plan. The Fund has adopted a plan under Rule 12b-1 (the "Plan") which
authorizes payments by the Fund on an annual basis of .25% of the Fund's average
daily net assets attributable to Class AAA Shares to finance distribution of the
Fund's  Class  AAA  Shares.  The Fund may make  payments  under the Plan for the
purpose of financing any activity  primarily  intended to result in the sales of
Class AAA Shares of the Fund.  To the extent any  activity is one which the Fund
may finance  without a  distribution  plan,  the Fund may also make  payments to
compensate  such  activity  outside  of  the  Plan  and  not be  subject  to its
limitations.  Because  payments under the Plan are paid out of the Fund's assets
on an  ongoing  basis,  over  time  these  fees will  increase  the cost of your
investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges.

                    PURCHASING, SELLING AND EXCHANGING SHARES

Information about purchasing, selling and exchanging your shares is contained in
a separate document called the Owner's Manual which has been delivered with this
Prospectus.   The  Owner's  Manual  is  considered  an  integral  part  of  this
Prospectus.  The Owner's  Manual also contains  information  about the Telephone
Investment  Plan,   Telephone   Redemption  Plan,   Automatic  Investment  Plan,
Systematic Withdrawal Plan and Retirement Plans.

                             PRICING OF FUND SHARES

The net asset value per share of the Class AAA Shares is  calculated on each day
the New York  Stock  Exchange  ("NYSE")  is open for  trading.  The NYSE is open
Monday  through  Friday,  but  currently is scheduled to be closed on New Year's
Day, Dr. Martin Luther King,  Jr. Day,  Presidents'  Day, Good Friday,  Memorial
Day,  Independence  Day,  Labor  Day,  Thanksgiving  and  Christmas  and  on the
preceding  Friday or  subsequent  Monday  when a holiday  falls on a Saturday or
Sunday, respectively.

The net asset  value per share of the Class AAA Shares is  determined  as of the
close of regular  trading on the NYSE,  normally 4:00 p.m.,  New York time.  Net
asset value is computed by dividing the value of the Fund's net assets (i.e. the
value  of its  securities  and  other  assets  less its  liabilities,  including
expenses  payable or accrued but  excluding  capital  stock and  surplus) by the
total number of its shares  outstanding at the time the  determination  is made.
The Fund uses market quotations in valuing its portfolio securities.  Short-term
investments  that mature in 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost,  which
the Trustees of the Fund believes represents fair value.

The Fund may from  time to time hold  securities  that are  primarily  listed on
foreign  exchanges.  Such  securities  may  trade on days when the Fund does not
price its  shares.  Therefore,  the net asset  value of the Class AAA Shares may
change on days when you are not able to purchase or redeem Class AAA Shares.
    

                           DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

The Fund intends to pay dividends and capital gain distributions,  if any, on an
annual basis.  Shareholders  may have  dividends or capital gains  distributions
that are  declared by the Fund  automatically  reinvested  at net asset value in
additional  shares of the Fund.  You will make an election to receive  dividends
and  distributions  in cash or Fund shares at the time you purchase your shares.
You may change this  election by notifying the Fund in writing at any time prior
to the record date for a particular dividend or distribution. There are no sales
or other charges in connection  with the  reinvestment  of dividends and capital
gains  distributions.  There is no fixed  dividend  rate,  and  there  can be no
assurance that the Fund will pay any dividends or realize any capital gains.

                                 TAX INFORMATION

   
The Fund expects that its distributions will consist primarily of net investment
income and capital gains,  which may be taxable at different  rates depending on
the length of time the Fund holds its assets.  Dividends  out of net  investment
income and distributions of realized short-term capital gains are taxable to you
as ordinary income.  Distributions of net long-term capital gains are taxable to
you at  long-term  capital  gain rates.  The Fund's  distributions,  whether you
receive them in cash or reinvest them in additional  shares of the Fund,  may be
subject to federal  state or local taxes.  An exchange of the Fund's  shares for
shares of another  fund will be treated for tax purposes as a sale of the Fund's
shares;  therefore,  any gain you realize on such a transaction  may be taxable.
    

Foreign shareholders may be subject to special withholding requirements.

This summary of tax consequences is intended for general  information  only. You
should consult a tax adviser  concerning the tax consequences of your investment
in the Fund.



<PAGE>


                              FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

   
The financial  highlights  table is intended to help you  understand  the Fund's
financial  performance  for the past five  fiscal  years of the Fund.  The total
returns in the table  represent  the rate that an investor  would have earned or
lost on an investment in the Fund's Class AAA shares.  This information has been
audited by  PricewaterhouseCoopers  LLP, independent  accountants,  whose report
along with the Fund's financial statements and related notes are included in the
annual report, which is available upon request.

Per share amounts for the Fund's Class AAA shares  outstanding  throughout  each
year ended December 31,
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                              <C>         <C>             <C>           <C>         <C>    

                                                  1998         1997            1996         1995          1994
                                                  ----         ----            ----         ----          ----
Operating performance:
Net asset value, beginning of year..........     $31.85      $ 26.42         $ 25.75       $ 22.21     $ 23.30
                                                 ------      -------         -------       -------     -------
Net investment income.......................       0.02         0.07            0.15          0.26        0.26
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss)
     on investments.........................       5.02         9.97            3.29          5.28       (0.30)
                                                   ----         ----            ----          ----       ------
Total from investment operations                   5.04        10.04            3.44          5.54       (0.04)
                                                   ----        -----            ----          ----       ------

Distributions to shareholders from:
     Net investment income..................      (0.02)       (0.07)          (0.15)        (0.25)      (0.25)
     Excess of net investment income........                   (0.00)(a)         -----         -----     (0.01)
     Net realized gains.....................      (1.40)       (4.54)          (2.61)        (1.75)      (0.76)
     Excess of net realized gains...........       0.00(a)     (0.00)(a)       (0.01)        (0.00)(a)   (0.03)
                                                   -------     ---------       ------        ---------   ------
Total distributions.........................      (1.42)       (4.61)          (2.77)        (2.00)      (1.05)
                                                  ------       ------          ------        ------      ------

Net asset value, end of year................     $35.47       $31.85         $ 26.42        $25.75      $22.21
                                                 ------       ------         -------        ------      ------

Total return*...............................      15.9%        38.1%           13.4%         24.9%       (0.1)%
                                                  -----        -----           -----         -----       ------

Ratios to average net assets/supplemental data:
Net assets, end of year (in 000's)             $1,575,976    $1,335,052    $1,080,639    $1,091,539    $982,250
     Ratio of net investment income to
          average net assets................       0.06%        0.22%           0.52%         0.95%       1.10%
     Ratio of operating expenses to
          average net assets................       1.36%        1.38%           1.34%         1.33%       1.28%
Portfolio turnover rate.....................      21%          22%             15%           26%         19%

</TABLE>

*    Total return  represents  aggregate  total return of a hypothetical  $1,000
     investment at the beginning of the period and sold at the end of the period
     including reinvestment of dividends.
(a)   Amount represents less than $0.005 per share.
    




                                [BACK COVER PAGE]

                             THE GABELLI ASSET FUND

   
Additional Information.
A Statement of  Additional  Information  dated May 1, 1999 (the "SAI")  includes
additional information about the Fund. The SAI is incorporated by reference into
this Prospectus and, therefore, is legally a part of this Prospectus.

Purchase  and sale  information  is provided in a separate  document  called the
Owner's Manual which is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus.

Semi-Annual Reports.
Information  about the Fund's  investments is available in the Fund's annual and
semi-annual reports to shareholders.  In the Fund's annual report, you will find
a  discussion  of  the  market   conditions  and  investment   strategies   that
significantly affected the Fund's performance during its fiscal year.

Inquiries.
You may make  inquiries  about the  Fund,  or obtain a copy of the SAI or of the
annual  or  semi-annual   reports  without  charge,  by  calling   1-800-GABELLI
(1-800-422-3554).

You can review and copy  information  about the Fund  (including the SAI) at the
SEC  Public   Reference   Room  in   Washington,   DC  (for   information   call
1-800-SEC-0330).  Such  information is also available on the SEC's Internet site
at  http://www.sec.gov.  You may request  documents  by mail from the SEC,  upon
payment  of a  duplicating  fee,  by  writing  to the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission, Public Reference Section, Washington, DC 20549-6009.

    

















Investment Company Act File No:  811-04494)



<PAGE>


                             THE GABELLI ASSET FUND
                              One Corporate Center
                            Rye, New York 10580-1434
                    Telephone: 1-800-GABELLI (1-800-422-3554)
                             http://www.gabelli.com

                                   PROSPECTUS
                                   May 1, 1999

                                 Class A Shares
                                 Class B Shares
                                 Class C Shares

                          This Prospectus  contains important  information about
                         the Fund.  Please read it before  investing and keep it
                         for future reference.



===============================================================================

LIKE ALL MUTUAL FUNDS, THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED 
BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE 
COMMISSION DETERMINED WHETHER THIS PROSPECTUS IS ACCURATE OR COMPLETE.  IT IS A 
CRIMINAL OFFENSE TO STATE OTHERWISE.
===============================================================================





<PAGE>




                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                      Page
   
INVESTMENT AND PERFORMANCE SUMMARY.......................................1
INVESTMENT AND RISK INFORMATION..........................................3
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND...................................................4
CLASSES OF SHARES........................................................5
PURCHASE OF SHARES.......................................................8
REDEMPTION OF SHARES.....................................................10
EXCHANGES OF SHARES......................................................11
PRICING OF FUND SHARES...................................................11
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS..............................................13
TAX INFORMATION..........................................................13
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS.....................................................13
    



<PAGE>



                       INVESTMENT AND PERFORMANCE SUMMARY


                              INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE:


   
The Gabelli Asset Fund (the "Fund") seeks to provide growth of capital.  Capital
is the amount of money you invest in the Fund.  The Fund's  secondary goal is to
provide current income.

Principal Investment Strategies:

                   The Fund will primarily invest in common stocks and preferred
         stocks and may also invest in  securities  which may be converted  into
         common stocks. The Fund may also invest in foreign securities. The Fund
         focuses  on  companies  which  appear  underpriced  relative  to  their
         "private  market  value."  Private market value is the value the Fund's
         adviser  believes  informed  investors  would be  willing  to pay for a
         company.


Principal Risks:

The Fund's  share price will  fluctuate  with changes in the market value of the
Fund's portfolio securities. Stocks are subject to market, economic and business
risks that cause their prices to fluctuate.  Investments  in foreign  securities
involve risks related to political,  social and economic developments abroad, as
well as risks  resulting from the  differences  between the regulations to which
U.S.  and foreign  issuers and markets are  subject.  When you sell Fund shares,
they may be worth less than what you paid for them.  Consequently,  you can lose
money by  investing  in the Fund.  The Fund is also subject to the risk that the
issuers' private market values may never be realized by the market,  or that the
portfolio securities prices decline.     

Who May Want to Invest:

The Fund may appeal to you if:
   
                   you are a long-term investor or saver
                   you seek growth of capital
                   you  believe  that the market  will favor  value over  growth
                   stocks  over  the  long  term  you  wish to  include  a value
                   strategy as a portion of your overall investments.

You may not want to invest in the Fund if:

                   you are  seeking  a high  level  of  current  income  you are
                   conservative in your  investment  approach you seek stability
                   of principal more than growth of capital
    

An  investment  in the Fund is not a  deposit  of a bank and is not  insured  or
guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance  Corporation or any other government
agency.

Performance:

   
The bar  chart and table  shown  below  provide  an  indication  of the risks of
investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's  performance from year to
year (since 1989), and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for 1, 5
and 10 years compared to those of the S&P(R) 500 Stock Index. As with all mutual
funds, the Fund's past performance does not predict how the Fund will perform in
the future.
    

BAR CHART* (Graphic Omitted)
EDGAR REPRESENTATION OF DATA POINTS USED IN PRINTED GRAPHIC




<PAGE>




                               ---------------------- ------------------------
                                   Calendar Year           Total Returns
                               ---------------------- ------------------------
                               ---------------------- ------------------------
                                       1989                     26.2%
                               ---------------------- ------------------------
                               ---------------------- ------------------------
                                       1990                     (5.0)
                               ---------------------- ------------------------
                               ---------------------- ------------------------
                                       1991                     18.1
                               ---------------------- ------------------------
                               ---------------------- ------------------------
                                       1992                     14.9
                               ---------------------- ------------------------
                               ---------------------- ------------------------
                                       1993                     21.8
                               ---------------------- ------------------------
                               ---------------------- ------------------------
                                       1994                     (0.1)
                               ---------------------- ------------------------
                               ---------------------- ------------------------
                                       1995                     24.9
                               ---------------------- ------------------------
                               ---------------------- ------------------------
                                       1996                     13.4
                               ---------------------- ------------------------
                               ---------------------- ------------------------
                                       1997                     38.1
                               ---------------------- ------------------------
                               ---------------------- ------------------------
                                       1998                     15.9
                               ---------------------- ------------------------
   
*    The Class A,  Class B and Class C shares  are new  classes  of the Fund for
     which  performance is not yet  available.  The Class AAA shares of the Fund
     are offered in a separate prospectus.  The returns for the Class A, Class B
     and Class C shares will be substantially  similar to those of the Class AAA
     shares shown in the chart above because all shares of the Fund are invested
     in the same  portfolio of  securities.  The annual returns of the different
     Classes of shares will  differ only to the extent that the  expenses of the
     Classes differ.


                   Class A, B and C share  sales load are not  reflected  in the
         above chart. If sales loads were reflected, the Fund's returns would be
         less than those shown.  During the period  shown in the bar chart,  the
         highest return for a quarter was 18.2% (quarter ended 12/31/98) and the
         lowest return for a quarter was (14.2)% (quarter ended 9/30/98).
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>    <C>                                            <C>                   <C>                   <C>    

    ------------------------------------------------- -------------------- --------------------- ----------------------
              Average Annual Total Returns               Past One Year       Past Five Years        Past Ten Years
       (for the periods ended December 31, 1998)
    ------------------------------------------------- -------------------- --------------------- ----------------------
    ------------------------------------------------- -------------------- --------------------- ----------------------
    The Gabelli Asset Fund Class AAA Shares                  15.9%                17.8%                  16.2%
    ------------------------------------------------- -------------------- --------------------- ----------------------
    ------------------------------------------------- -------------------- --------------------- ----------------------
    S&P(R)500 Stock Index**                                   28.7%                24.1%                  19.2%
    ------------------------------------------------- -------------------- --------------------- ----------------------
</TABLE>

    
**   The  S&P(R)  500  Composite  Stock  Price  Index  is a  widely  recognized,
     unmanaged  index of common stock prices.  The performance of the Index does
     not include expenses or fees.

Fees and Expenses of the Fund:

These tables describe the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold
shares of the Fund.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                            <C>               <C>              <C>    

   
                                                               Class A Shares    Class B Shares   Class C Shares
Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment):
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) on Purchases (as a percentage of
offering price).............................................       5.75%1             None             None
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of
redemption price*)..........................................        None2            5.00%2           1.00%2

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that are deducted from Fund assets):
Management Fees.............................................        1.00%            1.00%             1.00%
Distribution and Service (Rule 12b-1) Fees3.................        0.25%            1.00%             1.00%
Other Expenses..............................................        0.11%            0.11%             0.11%
                                                                    -----            -----             -----
Total Annual Operating Expenses.............................        1.36%            2.11%             2.11%
                                                                    =====            =====             =====
</TABLE>

- ----------------------
1 The sales charge declines as the amount invested increases.
2    The Fund imposes a CDSC upon  redemption  of B shares,  which is a back-end
     load, if you sell your shares within eighty-four  months after purchase.  A
     maximum  CDSC  of 1%  applies  to  redemptions  of  Class C  shares  within
     twenty-four  months  after  purchase  and a maximum  CDSC of 1%  applies to
     redemptions of certain Class A shares within twelve months after purchase.
3    Long-term  shareholders may indirectly pay more than the equivalent of the
     maximum  permitted  front-end sales
     charge.
*    "Redemption Price" equals the net asset value at the time of investment of 
     redemption, whichever is lower.
    


<PAGE>


   
Expense Example:

This  example is intended to help you compare the cost of  investing in the Fund
with the cost of investing in other mutual  funds.  The example  assumes (1) you
invest  $10,000 in the Fund for the time  periods  shown,  (2) you  redeem  your
shares at the end of the period,  except as noted,  (3) your investment has a 5%
return each year and (4) the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although
your actual costs may be higher or lower,  based on these assumptions your costs
would be:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                       <C>                  <C>                  <C>                <C>    

                                          1 Year               3 Years              5 Years            10 Years
                                          ------               -------              -------            --------

Class A shares                             $706                $981                 $1,277              $2,116

Class B shares
     - assuming redemption                 $714                $961                 $1,334              $2,441
     - assuming no redemption              $214                $661                 $1,134              $2,441

Class C shares
     - assuming redemption                 $314                $661                 $1,134              $2,441
     - assuming no redemption              $214                $661                 $1,134              $2,441
    
</TABLE>

                         INVESTMENT AND RISK INFORMATION


         The Fund's primary  investment  objective is to seek growth of capital,
         and investments will be made based on management's  perception of their
         potential for capital  appreciation.  Current income,  to the extent it
         may affect potential growth of capital, is a secondary  objective.  The
         investment   objectives  of  the  Fund  may  not  be  changed   without
         shareholder approval.


            

         Under normal  market  conditions,  the Fund invests at least 80% of its
         assets in stocks that are listed on a nationally  recognized securities
         exchange or traded on the NASDAQ National Market System of the National
         Association  of  Securities  Dealers.  The Fund's  investment  adviser,
         Gabelli Funds, LLC (the  "Adviser"),  will invest in companies that, in
         the public  market,  are  selling at a  significant  discount  to their
         "private  market value."  Private market value is the value the Adviser
         believes  informed  investors  would  be  willing  to  pay  to  acquire
         companies with similar  characteristics.  The Adviser considers factors
         such as price,  earnings  expectations,  earnings and price  histories,
         balance sheet  characteristics  and perceived  management  skills.  The
         Adviser also  considers  changes in economic and political  outlooks as
         well as individual  corporate  developments.  The Adviser will sell any
         Fund  investments  which lose their  perceived  value relative to other
         investment alternatives.


The  Fund's  assets  will be  invested  primarily  in a broad  range of  readily
marketable  equity securities  consisting of: common stock,  preferred stock and
securities which may be converted at a later time into common stock. Many of the
common stocks the Fund will buy will not pay dividends;  instead, stocks will be
bought for the  potential  that their prices will  increase,  providing  capital
appreciation for the Fund. The value of equity  securities will fluctuate due to
many  factors,  including  the past and  predicted  earnings of the issuer,  the
quality of the issuer's management, general market conditions, the forecasts for
the issuer's  industry and the value of the issuer's  assets.  Holders of equity
securities  only have rights to value in the  company  after all debts have been
paid, and they could lose their entire  investment in a company that  encounters
financial difficulty.  Warrants are rights to purchase securities at a specified
time at a specified price.     


<PAGE>


The Fund may also use the following investment techniques:
   
          Foreign  Securities.  The Fund may invest up to 25% of its total 
          assets  in  securities  of  non-U.S. issuers.

          Defensive  Investments.  When  opportunities for capital growth do not
         appear attractive or when adverse market or economic  conditions occur,
         the Fund may  temporarily  invest  all or a  portion  of its  assets in
         defensive  investments.  Such  investments  include  preferred  stocks,
         high-grade debt securities,  obligations of the U.S. Government and its
         agencies and instrumentalities, and short-term money market instruments
         such as high-quality commercial paper (rated at least "A-1" by Standard
         & Poor's Rating Service ("S&P") or "P-1" by Moody's Investors  Service,
         Inc.) When following a defensive strategy, the Fund will be less likely
         to achieve its investment goal of capital growth.

          Borrowing.  The  Fund  may  borrow  money  from  banks  (1)  as may be
         necessary  for the  clearance  of portfolio  transactions,  and (2) for
         temporary or emergency  purposes,  including  the meeting of redemption
         requests.  Borrowing for any purpose  (including  redemptions)  may not
         exceed  15% of the value of the  Fund's  total  assets.  Borrowing  for
         purposes other than meeting  redemptions may not exceed 5% of the value
         of the Fund's total  assets at the time a borrowing  is made.  The Fund
         will not make any additional  purchases of portfolio  securities at any
         time its borrowings exceed 5% of its assets.  The Fund may not use more
         than 20% of its assets as collateral in connection  with the borrowings
         described above.

The Fund may also engage to a limited  extent in other  investment  practices in
order to  achieve  its  investment  goal.  Investing  in the Fund  involves  the
following risks, listed in the order of importance:

          Equity  Risk.  The  principal  risk of investing in the Fund is equity
         risk. Equity risk is the risk that the prices of the securities held by
         the Fund will  change due to general  market and  economic  conditions,
         perceptions regarding the industries in which the companies issuing the
         securities    participate   and   the   issuer   company's   particular
         circumstances.

          Fund and  Management  Risk.  The Fund  invests  in  stocks  issued  by
         companies  believed by the Adviser to be trading at a discount to their
         private  market  value  (value  stocks).  The Fund's  price may decline
         because the market favors other stocks or small  capitalization  stocks
         over stocks of larger  companies.  If the Adviser is  incorrect  in its
         assessment  of the private  market  values of the  securities it holds,
         then the value of the Fund's shares may decline.

          Foreign Risk. The Fund's investments in foreign securities may go down
         because  of   unfavorable   foreign   government   actions,   political
         instability  or the  absence  of  accurate  information  about  foreign
         issuers. Also, a decline in the value of foreign currencies relative to
         the U.S.  dollar will  reduce the value of  securities  denominated  in
         those  currencies.  Foreign  securities  are sometimes  less liquid and
         harder to value than securities of U.S. issuers.


      Borrowing Risk.  Borrowing may exaggerate the effect on net asset value of
         any  increase or decrease in the market value of  securities  purchased
         with borrowed  funds.  Money borrowed will be subject to interest costs
         which may or may not be recovered by an  appreciation of the securities
         purchased.

                             MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND


The Adviser. Gabelli Funds, LLC, with principal offices located at One Corporate
Center, Rye, New York 10580-1434,  serves as investment adviser to the Fund. The
Adviser makes  investment  decisions for the Fund and  continuously  reviews and
administers  the Fund's  investment  program under the supervision of the Fund's
Board  of  Trustees.  The  Adviser  also  manages  several  other  open-end  and
closed-end investment companies in the Gabelli family of funds. The Adviser is a
New York  limited  liability  company  organized in 1999 as successor to Gabelli
Funds,  Inc.,  a New York  corporation  organized  in  1980.  The  Adviser  is a
wholly-owned  subsidiary of Gabelli Asset Management Inc.  ("GAMI"),  a publicly
held company listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

         As compensation  for its services and the related expenses borne by the
         Adviser, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998, the Fund paid the
         Adviser an annual fee equal to 1.00% of the value of the Fund's average
         daily net assets.

    
   
          The Portfolio Manager.  Mr. Mario J. Gabelli,  CFA, is responsible for
     the day-to-day management of the Fund. Mr. Gabelli has been Chairman, Chief
     Executive  Officer  and Chief  Investment  Officer of the  Adviser  and its
     predecessor  since its inception  and of its parent  company,  GAMI,  since
     1999. Mr. Gabelli also acts as Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment
     Officer of GAMCO Investors,  Inc. ("GAMCO"),  a wholly-owned  subsidiary of
     GAMI, and is an officer or director of various other  companies  affiliated
     with GAMI. The Adviser relies to a considerable  extent on the expertise of
     Mr.  Gabelli,  who may be  difficult  to replace in the event of his death,
     disability or resignation.

Year 2000. As the year 2000 approaches,  an issue has emerged  regarding how the
software used by the Fund's service  providers can  accommodate the date "2000."
Failure to  adequately  address  this  issue  could  result in major  systems or
process  failures  which  could  disrupt the Fund's  operations.  The Adviser is
working with the Fund's service providers to prepare for the year 2000. Based on
information currently available,  the Adviser does not expect that the Fund will
incur significant  operating  expenses or be required to incur material costs to
be year 2000 compliant.  The Fund cannot guarantee,  however, that all year 2000
issues will be identified and corrected by January 1, 2000 and any non-compliant
computer system could hurt key Fund operations,  such as shareholder  servicing,
pricing and trading. In addition, the Year 2000 problem may adversely affect the
companies  in  which  the  Fund  invests,   particularly  companies  in  foreign
countries.  For example,  these companies may incur substantial costs to correct
the Year 2000 problem, which could lower the value of such companies' securities
and negatively affect the Fund's performance.

                                CLASSES OF SHARES


Three  classes of the Fund's  shares are  offered in this  prospectus  - Class A
shares,  Class B shares  and Class C  shares.  The table  below  summarizes  the
differences among the classes of shares.  Note that the Fund's shareholders must
approve certain technical  amendments to the Fund's  Declaration of Trust before
the Fund is able to implement a multi-class structure.  Therefore, the Fund will
not offer Class A, Class B or Class C shares until it receives such  shareholder
approval.

          A "front-end  sales load," or sales charge,  is a one-time fee charged
          at the time of  purchase  of  shares.  A  "contingent  deferred  sales
          charge"  ("CDSC") is a one-time fee charged at the time of redemption.
          A "Rule 12b-1 fee" is a recurring annual fee for  distributing  shares
          and servicing shareholder accounts based on the Fund's average daily 
          net assets attributable to the particular class of shares.



<PAGE>





<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                               <C>                            <C>                      <C>    

- --------------------------------- ------------------------------ ----------------------- ---------------------------
                                  Class A Shares                 Class B Shares          Class C Shares
- --------------------------------- ------------------------------ ----------------------- ---------------------------
- --------------------------------- ------------------------------ ----------------------- ---------------------------

- --------------------------------- ------------------------------ ----------------------- ---------------------------
- --------------------------------- ------------------------------ ----------------------- ---------------------------
Front-End Sales Load?             Yes.  The percentage           No.                     No.
                                  declines as the amount
                                  invested increases.

- --------------------------------- ------------------------------ ----------------------- ---------------------------
- --------------------------------- ------------------------------ ----------------------- ---------------------------
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge  Yes, for certain shares        Yes, for shares         Yes, for shares redeemed
                                  redeemed within twelve         redeemed within         within twenty-four months
                                  months of purchase.            eighty-four months      after purchase.
                                                                 after purchase.
                                                                 Declines over time.

- --------------------------------- ------------------------------ ----------------------- ---------------------------
- --------------------------------- ------------------------------ ----------------------- ---------------------------
Rule 12b-1 Fee                    0.25%                          1.00%                   1.00%

- --------------------------------- ------------------------------ ----------------------- ---------------------------
- --------------------------------- ------------------------------ ----------------------- ---------------------------
Convertible to Another Class?     No.                            Yes. Automatically      No.
                                                                 converts to Class A
                                                                 shares after
                                                                 approximately
                                                                 eighty-four months.

- --------------------------------- ------------------------------ ----------------------- ---------------------------
- --------------------------------- ------------------------------ ----------------------- ---------------------------
Fund Expense Levels               Lower annual expenses than     Higher annual           Higher annual expenses
                                  Class B or Class C shares.     expenses than Class A   than Class A shares.
                                                                 shares.
- --------------------------------- ------------------------------ ----------------------- ---------------------------
    
</TABLE>


<PAGE>


In selecting a class of shares in which to invest, you should consider
   
          the length of time you plan to hold the shares
          the amount of sales charge and Rule 12b-1 fees
          whether you  qualify  for a  reduction  or waiver of the Class A sales
          charge  that Class B shares  convert  to Class A shares  approximately
          eighty-four months after purchase
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                                 <C>  

- ----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------
If you...                                                           then you should consider...
- ----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------
- ----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------
          intend to hold your  shares  for less than  purchasing    Class C shares
         instead of either Class A eighty-four months shares or     Class B shares
          do not qualify for a reduced or waived
         front-end sales load
- ----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------
- ----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------
          intend to hold your shares for seven years or             purchasing Class B shares instead of either Class A
         more                                                       shares or Class C shares
          do not qualify for a reduced or waived
         front-end sales load
- ----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------
          qualify for a reduced or waived front-end sales           purchasing Class A shares no matter how long you intend
         load                                                       to hold your shares
- ----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

        Sales  Charge - Class A Shares.  The sales charge is imposed on Class A
        shares in accordance with the following schedule:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                   <C>                   <C>                       <C> 


                                                        Sales Charge          Sales Charge               Reallowance
                                                         as % of the             as % of                     to
Amount of Investment                                   Offering Price*       Amount Invested           Broker-Dealers

Under $50,000........................................      5.75%                  6.10%                    5.00%
$50,000 but under $100,000...........................      4.50%                  4.71%                    3.75%
$100,000 but under $250,000..........................      3.50%                  3.62%                    2.75%
$250,000 but under $500,000..........................      2.50%                  2.56%                    2.00%
$500,000 but under $1 million........................      2.00%                  2.04%                    1.75%
$1 million but under $2 million......................      1.00%                  1.01%                    1.00%
$2 million or more...................................      0.00%                  0.00%                    1.00%

*  Includes front-end sales load
</TABLE>

Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers - Class A Shares

                   Reduced  sales charges are available to (1) investors who are
         eligible to combine their purchases of Class A shares to receive volume
         discounts  and (2)  investors  who sign a Letter of Intent and agree to
         make purchases  over time.  Certain types of investors are eligible for
         sales charge waivers.



Volume Discounts. Investors eligible to receive volume discounts are individuals
and their immediate families, tax-qualified employee benefit plans and a trustee
or other  fiduciary  purchasing  shares  for a single  trust  estate  or  single
fiduciary  account even though more than one  beneficiary is involved.  You also
may combine  the value of Class A shares you already  hold in the Fund and other
funds advised by Gabelli Funds,  LLC or its  affiliates  along with the value of
the Class A shares being  purchased to qualify for a reduced sales  charge.  For
example,  if you own Class A shares of the Fund that have an aggregate  value of
$100,000,  and make an  additional  investment  in Class A shares of the Fund of
$4,000, the sales charge applicable to the additional investment would be 3.50%,
rather than the 5.75% normally  charged on a $4,000  purchase.  If you want more
information  on  volume   discounts,   call  the  Distributor  at  1-800-GABELLI
(1-800-422-3554) or your broker.

Letter of Intent.  If you initially  invest at least $1,000 in Class A shares of
the  Fund and  submit  a  Letter  of  Intent  to the  Distributor,  you may make
purchases of Class A shares of the Fund during a 13-month  period at the reduced
sales charge rates applicable to the aggregate amount of the intended  purchases
stated in the  Letter.  The  Letter  may apply to  purchases  made up to 90 days
before the date of the  Letter.  For more  information  on the Letter of Intent,
call  1-800-GABELLI  (1-800-422-3554).            Investors  Eligible  for Sales
Charge Waivers. Class A shares of the Fund may be offered without a sales charge
to: (1) employees of Gabelli & Company,  Inc. BFDS, State Street, and First Data
Investor  Services Group,  Inc.,  employee benefit plans for those employees and
the spouses and minor children of such employees when orders on their behalf are
placed by such employees (the minimum  initial  investment for such purchases is
$500); (2) the Adviser, GAMCO, officers, directors,  trustees, general partners,
directors and employees of other  investment  companies  managed by the Adviser,
employee  benefit  plans for such persons and their  spouses and minor  children
when orders on their behalf are placed by such persons (with no required minimum
initial  investment),  the term "immediate  family" for this purpose refers to a
person's  spouse,  children and  grandchildren  (adopted or  natural),  parents,
grandparents,  siblings, a spouse's siblings, a sibling's spouse and a sibling's
children; (3) any other investment company in connection with the combination of
such company with the Fund by merger,  acquisition  of assets or otherwise;  (4)
shareholders who have redeemed shares in the Fund and who wish to reinvest their
redemption  proceeds in the Fund,  provided the  reinvestment  is made within 30
days of the  redemption;  (5)  tax-exempt  organizations  enumerated  in Section
501(c)(3)  of the  Internal  Revenue  Code of 1986  (the  "Code")  and  private,
charitable  foundations that in each case make lump-sum purchases of $100,000 or
more; (6) qualified  employee benefit plans established  pursuant to Section 457
of the Code that have established  omnibus accounts with the Fund; (7) qualified
employee  benefit  plans having more than one hundred  eligible  employees and a
minimum of $1 million in plan  assets  invested in the Fund (plan  sponsors  are
encouraged  to notify  the Fund's  distributor  when they  first  satisfy  these
requirements);  (8) any unit investment  trusts  registered under the Investment
Company  Act of 1940  (the  "1940  Act")  which  have  shares  of the  Fund as a
principal  investment;  (9)  investment  advisory  clients  of GAMCO  and  their
immediate  families;  (10) employee  participants of organizations  adopting the
401(k) Plan  sponsored by the Adviser;  (11) financial  institutions  purchasing
Class A shares  of the Fund  for  clients  participating  in a fee  based  asset
allocation  program  or  wrap  fee  program  which  has  been  approved  by  the
Distributor;  and (12) registered  investment advisers or financial planners who
place  trades for their own  accounts or the  accounts of their  clients and who
charge a management,  consulting or other fee for their services; and clients of
such  investment  advisers or financial  planners who place trades for their own
accounts if the  accounts  are linked to the master  account of such  investment
adviser or financial planner on the books and records of a broker or agent.

Investors who qualify under the categories  described above should contact their
brokerage firm or the Distributor.

Contingent Deferred Sales Charges.  You will pay a CDSC when you redeem:

          Class A shares  purchased as part of an  investment of greater than $2
         million if no  front-end  sales load was paid at the time of  purchase,
         within twelve months of buying them.
          Class B shares  within  eighty-four  months  of buying  them.  Class C
          shares within twenty-four months of buying them.

                   The CDSC payable upon redemption of Class A or Class C shares
         in the circumstances described above is 1%. The CDSC schedule for Class
         B shares is set forth  below.  The CDSC is based on the net asset value
         at the time of your  investment  or the net asset  value at the time of
         redemption, whichever is lower.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                                                    <C> 
                                                                                       Class B
                                                                                       Shares
                   Years Since Purchase                                                 CDSC
                  ---------------------                                             -   ----
 ............................................................... First                   5.00%
 .............................................................. Second                   4.00%
 ............................................................... Third                   3.00%
 .............................................................. Fourth                   3.00%
 ............................................................... Fifth                   2.00%
 ............................................................... Sixth                   1.00%
 .............................................. Seventh and thereafter                   0.00%
</TABLE>


                   The  Distributor  pays  sales  commissions  of  4.00%  of the
         purchase  price of Class B shares of the Fund to brokers at the time of
         sale that  initiate and are  responsible  for purchases of such Class B
         shares of the Fund.



                   You will not pay a CDSC to the  extent  that the value of the
redeemed shares represents:

          reinvestment of dividends or capital gains distributions
          capital appreciation of shares redeemed
    
   
                   When you redeem shares, we will assume that you are redeeming
         first shares  representing  reinvestment of dividends and capital gains
         distributions,  then any  appreciation  on  shares  redeemed,  and then
         remaining  shares held by you for the longest  period of time.  We will
         calculate the holding period of shares acquired  through an exchange of
         shares of another fund from the date you  acquired the original  shares
         of the other  fund.  The time you hold shares in a money  market  fund,
         however,  will not count for  purposes of  calculating  the  applicable
         CDSC.



                   We will waive the CDSC  payable  upon  redemptions  of shares
for:



          redemptions and  distributions  from  retirement  plans made after the
          death or disability of a shareholder  minimum  required  distributions
          made from an IRA or other  retirement plan account after you reach age
          59 1/2 involuntary  redemptions made by the Fund a distribution from a
          tax-deferred  retirement plan after your retirement  returns of excess
          contributions to retirement plans following the shareholder's death or
          disability

Conversion Feature - Class B Shares

          Class B shares automatically  convert to Class A shares of the Fund on
         the first business day of the eighty-fifth month following the month in
         which you acquired such shares.
          After conversion,  your shares will be subject to the lower Rule 12b-1
         fees charged on Class A shares,  which will  increase  your  investment
         return compared to the Class B shares.
          You will not pay any sales  charge or fees when your  shares  convert,
         nor will the transaction be subject to any tax.
          If you  exchange  Class B shares  of one fund  for  Class B shares  of
         another fund,  your holding period will be calculated  from the time of
         your original purchase of Class B shares. If you exchange shares into a
         Gabelli  money  market  fund,  however,  your  holding  period  will be
         suspended.
          The dollar  value of Class A shares you receive  will equal the dollar
value of the B shares converted.

The Board of Trustees may suspend the automatic conversion of Class B to Class A
shares for legal  reasons or due to the exercise of its  fiduciary  duty. If the
Board  determines  that such  suspension is likely to continue for a substantial
period of time, it will create another class of shares into which Class B shares
are convertible.

Rule 12b-1 Plan.  The Fund has adopted a plan under Rule 12b-1 (the  "Plan") for
each of its  classes of shares.  Under the Plan,  the Fund may use its assets to
finance  activities  relating  to the sale of its  shares and the  provision  of
certain shareholder services.

The Rule 12b-1 fees vary by class as follows:

                       Class A                 Class B                 Class C
Service Fees            0.25%                   0.25%                   0.25%
Distribution Fees       None                    0.75%                   0.75%

These are  annual  rates  based on the value of each  Class'  average  daily net
assets.  Because  the Rule  12b-1 fees are higher for Class B and Class C shares
than  Class A  shares,  Class B and  Class C  shares  will  have  higher  annual
expenses.  Because  Rule  12b-1  fees are paid out of the  Fund's  assets  on an
on-going  basis,  over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment
and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges.
    

                               PURCHASE OF SHARES
   
                   You can  purchase  the Fund's  shares on any day the New York
         Stock Exchange,  Inc.  ("NYSE") is open for trading (a "Business Day").
         You  may  purchase  shares  through   Gabelli  &  Company,   Inc.  (the
         "Distributor"),  directly  from the Fund  through  the Fund's  transfer
         agent  or  through   broker-dealers  that  have  entered  into  selling
         agreements with the Distributor.

                       



      By Mail or In  Person.  You may open an  account  by  mailing a  completed
         subscription  order  form with a check or money  order  payable to "The
         Gabelli Asset Fund" to:


         By Mail                                  By Personal Delivery
         The Gabelli Funds                        The Gabelli Funds
         P.O. Box 8308                            The BFDS Building, 7th Floor
         Boston, MA 02266-8308                    Two Heritage Drive
                                                  Quincy, MA 02171

         You can obtain a  subscription  order  form by calling  1-800-422-3554.
         Checks made payable to a third party and endorsed by the  depositor are
         not acceptable.  For additional investments,  send a check to the above
         address  with a note stating  your exact name and account  number,  the
         name of the Fund and class of shares you wish to purchase.


          By Bank Wire.  To open an account  using the bank wire  system,  first
         telephone the Fund at  1-800-422-3554  to obtain a new account  number.
         Then instruct a Federal Reserve System member bank to wire funds to:
   
                       State Street Bank and Trust Company
                       ABA #011-0000-28 REF DDA #99046187
                           Re: The Gabelli Asset Fund
                             Class A, B or C Shares
                               Account #__________
                         Account of [Registered Owners]
                      225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110
    

         If you are making an initial  purchase,  you should also  complete  and
         mail a  subscription  order form to the address  shown under "By Mail."
         Note that banks may charge fees for wiring funds, although State Street
         Bank  and  Trust  Company  ("State  Street")  will not  charge  you for
         receiving wire transfers.



          From a Broker-Dealer. You may purchase shares from broker-dealers. The
         broker-dealer  will  transmit  a  purchase  order and  payment to State
         Street on your behalf.  Broker-dealers  may send you  confirmations  of
         your  transactions  and  periodic  account   statements   showing  your
         investments in the Fund.

         Minimum  Investments.  Your minimum initial investment must be at least
         $1,000.  See  "Retirement   Plans"  and  "Automatic   Investment  Plan"
         regarding minimum investment amounts applicable to such plans. There is
         no  minimum  for  subsequent   investments.   Broker-dealers  may  have
         different minimum investment requirements.


   
Share Price.  The Fund sells its shares at the "net asset value" next determined
after the Fund receives your completed  subscription order form and your payment
in Federal funds,  subject to a sales charge in the case of Class A shares.  See
"Pricing of Fund Shares" for a description  of the  calculation of the net asset
value and "Classes of Shares - Sales Charge - Class A Shares" for a  description
of the sales charges.

Retirement  Plans.  The Fund has available a form of IRA for  investment in Fund
shares  that may be  obtained  from the  Distributor  by  calling  1-800-GABELLI
(1-800-422-3554).  Self-employed  investors  may  purchase  shares  of the  Fund
through   tax-deductible   contributions   to  existing   retirement  plans  for
self-employed  persons,  known as  Keogh or H.R.  10  plans.  The Fund  does not
currently  act as  sponsor  to such  plans.  Fund  shares may also be a suitable
investment for other types of qualified  pension or  profit-sharing  plans which
are employer  sponsored,  including  deferred  compensation or salary  reduction
plans  known as  "401(k)  Plans"  which  give  participants  the  right to defer
portions of their  compensation  for  investment on a  tax-deferred  basis until
distributions  are made from the plans. The minimum initial  investments for all
such  retirement  plans is $250. The minimum for all  subsequent  investments is
$100.
             



<PAGE>


   
Automatic Investment Plan. The Fund offers an automatic monthly investment plan.
There is no minimum  monthly  investment for accounts  establishing an automatic
investment plan. Call the Distributor at 1-800-GABELLI (1-800-422-3554) for more
details about the plan.


                   General.  State  Street  will not  issue  share  certificates
         unless  requested by you. The Fund reserves the right to (i) reject any
         purchase  order if, in the  opinion  of Fund  management,  it is in the
         Fund's best  interest to do so and (ii)  suspend the offering of shares
         for any period of time.

                       



                              REDEMPTION OF SHARES


                   You  can  redeem   shares  on  any  Business  Day  without  a
         redemption fee. The Fund may temporarily stop redeeming its shares when
         the  NYSE is  closed  or  trading  on the NYSE is  restricted,  when an
         emergency  exists and the Fund  cannot  sell its  shares or  accurately
         determine the value of its assets,  or if the  Securities  and Exchange
         Commission ("SEC") orders the Fund to suspend redemptions.



                      

                   The Fund  redeems  its  shares  at the net asset  value  next
         determined after the Fund receives your redemption request,  subject in
         some cases to a CDSC,  as described  under "Class of Shares  Contingent
         Deferred  Sales  Charges"  above.  See  "Pricing of Fund  Shares" for a
         description of the calculation of net asset value.



                   You may redeem shares through the Distributor,  directly from
         the Fund through its transfer agent or through a broker-dealer.



          Through a Broker-Dealer. You may redeem shares through a broker-dealer
         which will transmit a redemption  order to State Street on your behalf.
         A redemption  request received from a broker-dealer will be effected at
         the net asset value next  determined  (less any applicable  CDSC) after
         State Street receives the request. If you hold share certificates,  you
         must  present  the  certificates  to  the  broker-dealer  endorsed  for
         transfer. A broker-dealer may charge you fees for effecting redemptions
         for you.

          By Letter.  You may mail a letter requesting  redemption of shares to:
         The Gabelli Funds, P.O. Box 8308,  Boston,  MA 02266-8308.  Your letter
         should  state  the name of the Fund and the  share  class,  the  dollar
         amount or number of shares you are redeeming  and your account  number.
         You must  sign the  letter  in  exactly  the  same way the  account  is
         registered  and if there is more  than one  owner of  shares,  all must
         sign.  A signature  guarantee  is required  for each  signature on your
         redemption letter. You can obtain a signature  guarantee from financial
         institutions  such as commercial  banks,  brokers,  dealers and savings
         associations. A notary public cannot provide a signature guarantee.
    

          By  Telephone.  You may  redeem  your  shares  in a direct  registered
         account   by   calling   either    1-800-422-3554   or   1-800-872-5365
         (617-328-5000  from  outside the United  States),  subject to a $25,000
         limitation. You may not redeem shares held through an IRA by telephone.
         If State Street  properly  acts on telephone  instructions  and follows
         reasonable  procedures to protect  against  unauthorized  transactions,
         neither  State Street nor the Fund will be  responsible  for any losses
         due  to  telephone  transactions.   You  may  be  responsible  for  any
         fraudulent  telephone  order as long as State  Street or the Fund takes
         reasonable   measures  to  verify  the  order.  You  may  request  that
         redemption  proceeds be mailed to you by check (if your address has not
         changed  in the  prior  30  days),  forwarded  to you by  bank  wire or
         invested in another  mutual fund advised by the Adviser (see  "Exchange
         of Shares" below).

         1.       Telephone  Redemption  By Check.  The Fund  will  make  checks
                  payable  to the name in which the  account is  registered  and
                  normally  will mail the check to the address of record  within
                  seven days.

         2.       Telephone  Redemption  By  Wire.  The Fund  accepts  telephone
                  requests for wire  redemption  in amounts of at least  $1,000.
                  The Fund will send a wire to either a bank  designated on your
                  subscription  order  form  or on a  subsequent  letter  with a
                  guaranteed  signature.  The proceeds are normally wired on the
                  next Business Day.

          Through the Automatic  Cash  Withdrawal  Plan.  You may  automatically
         redeem  shares on a monthly,  quarterly  or annual basis if you have at
         least  $10,000  in  your  account  and  if  your  account  is  directly
         registered  with State Street.  If you redeem Class B or Class C shares
         under this plan,  you must pay the  applicable  CDSC.  Please  call the
         Distributor at 1-800-422-3554 for more information.

   
    

          Through Involuntary Redemption. The Fund may redeem all shares in your
         account  (other than an IRA  account) if their value falls below $1,000
         as a result of  redemptions  (but not as a result  of a decline  in net
         asset  value).  You will be  notified in writing and allowed 30 days to
         increase the value of your shares to at least $1,000.

   
Redemption Proceeds.  If you request redemption proceeds by check, the Fund will
normally  mail the  check to you  within  seven  days  after  it  receives  your
redemption  request.  If you  purchased  your Fund shares by check,  you may not
redeem  shares until the check  clears,  which may take up to 15 days  following
purchase.


                   The Fund may pay to you your  redemption  proceeds  wholly or
         partly in  portfolio  securities.  Payments  would be made in portfolio
         securities, however, only in the rare instance that the Fund's Board of
         Trustees  believes  that it would be in the Fund's best interest not to
         pay redemption proceeds in cash.

                       



                                                     EXCHANGES OF SHARES


You may  exchange  shares of the Fund you hold for  shares of the same  class of
another fund managed by the Adviser or its  affiliates  based on their  relative
net asset  values.  To obtain a list of the funds  whose  shares you may acquire
through exchange call 1-800-GABELLI (1-800-422-3554). You may also exchange your
shares  for  shares  of a  money  market  fund  managed  by the  Adviser  or its
affiliates. Class B and Class C shares will continue to age from the date of the
original  purchase  of such shares and will assume the CDSC rate they had at the
time of exchange.



                   In effecting an exchange:



          you must meet the  minimum  purchase  requirements  for the fund whose
     shares you purchase  through  exchange.  if you are exchanging into Class A
     shares of a fund with a higher sales charge, you must pay the difference at
     the time of exchange.  you may realize a taxable  gain or loss.  you should
     read the  prospectus  of the fund  whose  shares you are  purchasing  (call
     1-800-GABELLI  (1-800-422-3554)  to obtain the  prospectus).  you should be
     aware that brokers may charge a fee for handling an exchange for you.

You may exchange share by telephone, by mail or through a broker-dealer.

          Exchanges  by  Telephone.   You  may  give  exchange  instructions  by
     telephone by calling 1-800-GABELLI  (1-800-422-3554).  You may not exchange
     shares by telephone if you hold share certificates.

   
          Exchanges by Mail.  You may send a written  request for  exchanges to:
         The Gabelli Funds,  P.O. Box 8308,  Boston,  MA 02266-8308.  State your
         name,  your  account  number,  the dollar value or number of shares you
         wish to exchange,  the name and class of the fund whose shares you wish
         to  exchange,  and the  name of the  funds  whose  shares  you  wish to
         acquire.
    

We may modify or terminate the exchange privilege at any time. You will be given
notice 60 days prior to any material change in the exchange privilege.


                             PRICING OF FUND SHARES


The Fund's net asset value per share is  calculated  on each  Business  Day. The
NYSE is currently  scheduled to be closed on New Year's Day, Dr.  Martin  Luther
King, Jr. Day,  Presidents' Day, Good Friday,  Memorial Day,  Independence  Day,
Labor Day,  Thanksgiving and Christmas and on the preceding Friday or subsequent
Monday when a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, respectively.

   
The  Fund's net asset  value is  calculated  separately  for each  class.  It is
determined as of the close of regular  trading on the NYSE,  normally 4:00 p.m.,
New York time.  Net asset value is computed by dividing  the value of the Fund's
net  assets  (i.e.  the  value  of its  securities  and  other  assets  less its
liabilities,  including  expenses payable or accrued but excluding capital stock
and  surplus)  by the total  number of its  shares  outstanding  at the time the
determination is made. The Fund uses market  quotations in valuing its portfolio
securities.  Short-term investments that mature in 60 days or less are valued at
amortized cost, which the Trustees of the Fund believe represents fair value.

The Fund may from  time to time hold  securities  that are  primarily  listed on
foreign  exchanges.  Such  securities  may  trade on days when the Fund does not
price its shares.  Therefore, the Fund's net asset value may change on days when
you are not able to purchase or redeem Fund shares.

                           DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS


Dividends  and  distributions  may  differ  for  different  classes  of  shares.
Dividends from net investment  income and  distributions of net realized capital
gains, if any, will be paid at least annually.  Shareholders  may have dividends
or capital  gains  distributions  that are  declared  by the Fund  automatically
reinvested at net asset value in additional shares of the Fund. You will make an
election to receive  dividends and  distributions  in cash or Fund shares at the
time you purchase  your shares.  You may change this  election by notifying  the
Fund in writing at any time prior to the record date for a  particular  dividend
or  distribution.  There are no sales or other  charges in  connection  with the
reinvestment  of dividends  and capital gains  distributions.  There is no fixed
dividend  rate,  and  there  can be no  assurance  that  the  Fund  will pay any
dividends or realize any capital gains.

                                 TAX INFORMATION


The Fund expects that its distributions will consist primarily of net investment
income and capital gains,  which may be taxable at different  rates depending on
the length of time the Fund holds its assets.  Dividends  out of net  investment
income and distributions of realized short-term capital gains are taxable to you
as ordinary income.  Distributions of net long-term capital gains are taxable to
you at  long-term  capital  gain rates.  The Fund's  distributions,  whether you
receive them in cash or reinvest them in additional  shares of the Fund,  may be
subject to federal,  state or local taxes.  An exchange of the Fund's shares for
shares of another  fund will be treated for tax purposes as a sale of the Fund's
shares;  therefore,  any gain you realize on such a transaction  may be taxable.
Foreign shareholders may be subject to special withholding requirements.

This summary of tax consequences is intended for general  information  only. You
should consult a tax adviser  concerning the tax consequences of your investment
in the Fund.

                              FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS


The Class A,  Class B and Class C shares  of the Fund have not  previously  been
offered and therefore do not have previous financial history.
    


<PAGE>




                                [BACK COVER PAGE]

                             THE GABELLI ASSET FUND

   
Additional Information.
A Statement of  Additional  Information  dated May 1, 1999 (the "SAI")  includes
additional information about the Fund. The SAI is incorporated by reference into
this Prospectus and, therefore, is legally a part of this Prospectus.

Semi-Annual Reports.
Information  about the Fund's  investments is available in the Fund's annual and
semi-annual reports to shareholders.  In the Fund's annual report, you will find
a  discussion  of  the  market   conditions  and  investment   strategies   that
significantly affected the Fund's performance during its fiscal year.

Inquiries.
You may make  inquiries  about the  Fund,  or obtain a copy of the SAI or of the
annual  or  semi-annual   reports  without  charge,  by  calling   1-800-GABELLI
(1-800-422-3554).

You can review and copy  information  about the Fund  (including the SAI) at the
SEC  Public   Reference   Room  in   Washington,   DC  (for   information   call
1-800-SEC-0330).  Such  information is also available on the SEC's Internet site
at  http://www.sec.gov.  You may request  documents  by mail from the SEC,  upon
payment  of a  duplicating  fee,  by  writing  to the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission, Public Reference Section, Washington, DC 20549-6009.


    






















Investment Company Act File No.:  811-04494










<PAGE>



                             THE GABELLI ASSET FUND

                       STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

                                   May 1, 1999

This Statement of Additional Information (the "SAI"), which is not a prospectus,
describes the Gabelli Asset Fund. The SAI should be read in conjunction with the
Fund's Prospectuses for Class A, Class B, Class C and Class AAA shares dated May
1, 1999.  For a free copy of the  Prospectuses,  please  contact the Fund at the
address, telephone number or Internet Web site printed below.

                              One Corporate Center
                            Rye, New York 10580-1434
                    Telephone 1-800-GABELLI (1-800-422-3554)
                             http://www.gabelli.com


<PAGE>


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                      Page
   

GENERAL INFORMATION.........................................................1


INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS.............................................1


INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS.....................................................4


TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS.......................................................6


CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS..................................9


INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES......................................9


DISTRIBUTION PLAN...........................................................12


PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE........................................13


RETIREMENT PLANS............................................................15


REDEMPTION OF SHARES........................................................16


COMPUTATION OF NET ASSET VALUE..............................................16


DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES..........................................17


INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE INFORMATION..........................................20


DESCRIPTION OF THE FUND'S SHARES............................................21


FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.........................................................1





APPENDIX A..................................................................A-1

    





                               GENERAL INFORMATION

   
         The Fund is a diversified, open-end, management investment company. The
Fund was  organized as a business  trust under the laws of the  Commonwealth  of
Massachusetts on November 25, 1985 and commenced investment  operations on March
3, 1986.

                         INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS

          The Prospectus  discusses the investment objective of the Fund and the
         principal  strategies  to be employed to achieve that  objective.  This
         section contains supplemental  information  concerning certain types of
         securities  and  other  instruments  in  which  the  Fund  may  invest,
         additional  strategies  that the Fund may  utilize  and  certain  risks
         associated with such investments and strategies.

Convertible Securities

         The Fund may invest in  convertible  securities  when it appears to the
Adviser  that it may not be prudent to be fully  invested in common  stocks.  In
evaluating a convertible  security,  the Adviser places primary  emphasis on the
attractiveness  of the  underlying  common stock and the  potential  for capital
appreciation through conversion. The Fund will normally purchase only investment
grade,  convertible  debt  securities  having a rating of, or equivalent  to, at
least "BBB" (which securities may have speculative  characteristics) by Standard
& Poor's Rating Service  ("S&P") or, if unrated,  judged by the Adviser to be of
comparable quality. However, the Fund may also invest up to 25% of its assets in
more speculative  convertible  debt securities,  provided such securities have a
rating of, or equivalent to, at least an S&P rating of B.     

          Convertible  securities may include corporate notes or preferred stock
         but  are  ordinarily  a  long-term   debt   obligation  of  the  issuer
         convertible at a stated  exchange rate into common stock of the issuer.
         As with all debt securities, the market value of convertible securities
         tends to  decline  as  interest  rates  increase  and,  conversely,  to
         increase as interest rates decline.  Convertible  securities  generally
         offer lower interest or dividend yields than non-convertible securities
         of similar quality.  However, when the market price of the common stock
         underlying a convertible  security  exceeds the conversion  price,  the
         price of the  convertible  security  tends to reflect  the value of the
         underlying  common stock. As the market price of the underlying  common
         stock declines, the convertible security tends to trade increasingly on
         a yield basis,  and thus may not  depreciate  to the same extent as the
         underlying common stock.  Convertible  securities rank senior to common
         stocks on an issuer's capital  structure and are consequently of higher
         quality and entail less risk than the issuer's  common stock,  although
         the extent to which such risk is reduced  depends in large measure upon
         the degree to which the convertible security sells above its value as a
         fixed income security.

          In selecting  convertible  securities for the Fund, the Adviser relies
         primarily on its own  evaluation  of the issuer and the  potential  for
         capital appreciation through conversion. It does not rely on the rating
         of the security or sell  because of a change in rating  absent a change
         in its own evaluation of the underlying common stock and the ability of
         the issuer to pay principal and interest or dividends  when due without
         disrupting its business  goals.  Interest or dividend yield is a factor
         only to the extent it is reasonably  consistent with  prevailing  rates
         for securities of similar quality and thereby  provides a support level
         for the  market  price of the  security.  The Fund  will  purchase  the
         convertible  securities of highly  leveraged  issuers only when, in the
         judgment  of the  Adviser,  the risk of  default is  outweighed  by the
         potential for capital appreciation.

          The issuers of debt obligations having speculative characteristics may
         experience  difficulty in paying principal and interest when due in the
         event  of  a  downturn  in  the  economy  or  unanticipated   corporate
         developments.   The  market  prices  of  such   securities  may  become
         increasingly  volatile  in periods of economic  uncertainty.  Moreover,
         adverse  publicity  or the  perceptions  of  investors  over  which the
         Adviser has no control,  whether or not based on fundamental  analysis,
         may  decrease  the  market  price and  liquidity  of such  investments.
         Although the Adviser  will  attempt to avoid  exposing the Fund to such
         risks,  there  is no  assurance  that it will be  successful  or that a
         liquid   secondary  market  will  continue  to  be  available  for  the
         disposition of such securities.

Debt Securities

   
          The Fund may  invest up to 5% of its  assets in low rated and  unrated
         corporate  debt  securities   (often  referred  to  as  "junk  bonds").
         Corporate  debt   securities   which  are  either  unrated  or  have  a
         predominantly   speculative   rating  may  present   opportunities  for
         significant long-term capital appreciation if the ability of the issuer
         to repay  principal  and  interest  when due is  underestimated  by the
         market or the rating  organizations.  Because of its  perceived  credit
         weakness,  the issuer is  generally  required to pay a higher  interest
         rate and/or its debt securities may be selling at a significantly lower
         market  price  than the debt  securities  of  issuers  actually  having
         similar  strengths.  When  the  inherent  value of such  securities  is
         recognized,   the  market  value  of  such  securities  may  appreciate
         significantly. The Adviser believes that its research on the credit and
         balance  sheet  strength  of certain  issuers may enable it to select a
         limited number of corporate debt securities  which, in certain markets,
         will  better  serve  the   objective  of  capital   appreciation   than
         alternative  investments in common stocks.  Of course,  there can be no
         assurance that the Adviser will be successful.  In its evaluation,  the
         Adviser will not rely  exclusively on ratings and the receipt of income
         is only an incidental consideration.
                       

          The ratings of Moody's Investors  Service,  Inc. and Standard & Poor's
         Rating Service generally  represent the opinions of those organizations
         as to the  quality  of the  securities  that they rate.  Such  ratings,
         however,  are relative and  subjective,  are not absolute  standards of
         quality and do not evaluate the market risk of the securities. Although
         the Adviser  uses these  ratings as a criterion  for the  selection  of
         securities  for the Fund,  the Adviser  also relies on its  independent
         analysis to evaluate potential investments for the Fund. See Appendix A
         - "Description of Corporate Bond Ratings."

          As in the case of the convertible debt securities discussed above, low
         rated and unrated corporate debt securities are generally considered to
         be more subject to default and therefore significantly more speculative
         than  those  having  an  investment  grade  rating.  They also are more
         subject to market price  volatility  based on increased  sensitivity to
         changes in interest  rates and economic  conditions or the liquidity of
         their secondary  trading  market.  The Fund does not intend to purchase
         debt  securities  for which a liquid  trading market does not exist but
         there can be no assurance that such a market will exist for the sale of
         such securities.

Investments in Warrants and Rights

          Warrants  basically  are options to purchase  equity  securities  at a
         specified  price valid for a specific  period of time.  Their prices do
         not  necessarily   move  parallel  to  the  prices  of  the  underlying
         securities.  Rights are similar to warrants,  but normally have a short
         duration   and  are   distributed   directly   by  the  issuer  to  its
         shareholders.  Rights and warrants  have no voting  rights,  receive no
         dividends and have no rights with respect to the assets of the issuer.

          The Fund may invest in warrants and rights (other than those  acquired
         in units or  attached to other  securities)  but will do so only if the
         underlying equity securities are deemed  appropriate by the Adviser for
         inclusion in the Fund's portfolio.

         Investing in rights and warrants  can provide a greater  potential  for
profit or loss than an equivalent  investment in the  underlying  security,  and
thus can be a  speculative  investment.  The  value of a right  or  warrant  may
decline  because  of a decline  in the  value of the  underlying  security,  the
passage of time,  changes in interest rates or in the dividend or other policies
of the Fund whose equity  underlies the warrant or a change in the perception as
to the future price of the  underlying  security,  or any  combination  thereof.
Rights and warrants  generally  pay no  dividends  and confer no voting or other
rights other than to purchase the underlying security.

Investment in Small, Unseasoned Companies and Other Illiquid Securities

          The Fund may invest in small,  less  well-known  companies  which have
         operated  for less  than  three  years  (including  predecessors).  The
         securities of such companies may have a limited trading  market,  which
         may adversely  affect their  disposition  and can result in their being
         priced  lower than might  otherwise  be the case.  If other  investment
         companies  and  investors  who  invest in such  issuers  trade the same
         securities when the Fund attempts to dispose of its holdings,  the Fund
         may receive lower prices than might otherwise be obtained.

          The Fund will not invest,  in the aggregate,  more than 10% of its net
         assets in illiquid  securities.  These  securities  include  securities
         which are  restricted  for public  sale,  securities  for which  market
         quotations  are  not  readily  available,   and  repurchase  agreements
         maturing  or  terminable  in more than seven  days.  Securities  freely
         salable among  qualified  institutional  investors  under special rules
         adopted by the SEC may be treated as liquid if they  satisfy  liquidity
         standards established by the Board of Trustees. The continued liquidity
         of such  securities  is not as well assured as that of publicly  traded
         securities,  and accordingly,  the Board of Trustees will monitor their
         liquidity.

Corporate Reorganizations

          In  general,   securities  of  companies   engaged  in  reorganization
         transactions   sell  at  a  premium  to  their  historic  market  price
         immediately   prior  to  the   announcement  of  the  tender  offer  or
         reorganization  proposal.  However,  the increased market price of such
         securities may also discount what the stated or appraised  value of the
         security  would be if the  contemplated  transaction  were  approved or
         consummated.  Such  investments may be  advantageous  when the discount
         significantly  overstates  the  risk  of  the  contingencies  involved;
         significantly undervalues the securities, assets or cash to be received
         by shareholders of the prospective portfolio company as a result of the
         contemplated   transaction;   or  fails  adequately  to  recognize  the
         possibility that the offer or proposal may be replaced or superseded by
         an  offer  or  proposal  of  greater  value.  The  evaluation  of  such
         contingencies  requires unusually broad knowledge and experience on the
         part of the  Adviser  which  must  appraise  not only the  value of the
         issuer and its component businesses as well as the assets or securities
         to be received as a result of the  contemplated  transaction,  but also
         the financial  resources and business motivation of the offeror as well
         as the dynamic of the business climate when the offer or proposal is in
         progress.

          In  making  such  investments,  the Fund will not  violate  any of its
         diversification  requirements  or investment  restrictions  (see below,
         "Investment  Restrictions") including the requirements that, except for
         the  investment  of up to 25% of its  assets  in  any  one  company  or
         industry,  not  more  than  5% of its  assets  may be  invested  in the
         securities of any issuer.  Since such  investments are ordinarily short
         term in  nature,  they  will  tend to  increase  the  Fund's  portfolio
         turnover ratio thereby  increasing its brokerage and other  transaction
         expenses.  The  Adviser  intends  to  select  investments  of the  type
         described  which,  in its view,  have a reasonable  prospect of capital
         appreciation which is significant in relation to both the risk involved
         and the potential of available alternate investments.

When Issued, Delayed Delivery Securities & Forward Commitments

          The Fund is  authorized  to buy and sell when issued  securities as an
         additional   investment  strategy  in  furtherance  of  its  investment
         objectives.

          In  utilizing  this   strategy,   the  Fund  may  enter  into  forward
         commitments  for the  purchase or sale of  securities,  including  on a
         "when  issued"  or  "delayed  delivery"  basis in excess  of  customary
         settlement periods for the type of securities involved.  In some cases,
         a  forward  commitment  may be  conditioned  upon the  occurrence  of a
         subsequent  event,  such as  approval  and  consummation  of a  merger,
         corporate reorganization or debt restructuring, i.e., a when, as and if
         issued security.  When such  transactions are negotiated,  the price is
         fixed at the time of the  commitment,  with payment and delivery taking
         place in the  future,  generally  a month or more after the date of the
         commitment.  While the Fund will only enter  into a forward  commitment
         with the intention of actually  acquiring  the  security,  the Fund may
         sell the security before the settlement date if it is deemed advisable.

          Securities  purchased under a forward commitment are subject to market
         fluctuation and no interest (or dividends) accrues to the Fund prior to
         the settlement date. The Fund will segregate cash or liquid  securities
         with its custodian in an aggregate  amount at least equal to the amount
         of its outstanding forward commitments.

Other Investment Companies

          The Fund does not  intend to  purchase  the  shares of other  open-end
         investment  companies but reserves the right to invest up to 10% of its
         total  assets in the  securities  of  closed-end  investment  companies
         including small business investment  companies (not more than 5% of its
         total assets may be invested in more than 3% of the  securities  of any
         investment  company).  To the  extent  that  the  Fund  invests  in the
         securities of other investment companies,  shareholders in the Fund may
         be subject to duplicative advisory and administrative fees.

Repurchase Agreements

          The Fund may enter into repurchase  agreements with "primary  dealers"
         in U.S.  Government  securities and member banks of the Federal Reserve
         System which furnish collateral at least equal in value or market price
         to  the  amount  of  their  repurchase  obligation.   In  a  repurchase
         agreement,  an investor (e.g., the Fund) purchases a debt security from
         a seller which  undertakes  to  repurchase  the security at a specified
         resale price on an agreed future date  (ordinarily a week or less). The
         resale price  generally  exceeds the purchase  price by an amount which
         reflects  an  agreed-upon  market  interest  rate  for the  term of the
         repurchase agreement.

          The  Fund's  risk is  primarily  that,  if the  seller  defaults,  the
         proceeds  from the  disposition  of  underlying  securities  and  other
         collateral  for the seller's  obligation  are 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, as
         amended (the "1940 Act"),  repurchase  agreements are considered loans.
         Repurchase  agreements usually are for short periods,  such as one week
         or less, but could be longer.  Except for  repurchase  agreements for a
         period of a week or less in respect to obligations issued or guaranteed
         by the U.S.  Government,  its agencies or  instrumentalities,  not more
         than 5% of the  Fund's  total  assets  may be  invested  in  repurchase
         agreements.  In  addition,  the Fund  will not  enter  into  repurchase
         agreements  of a duration  of more than seven days if,  taken  together
         with restricted  securities and other securities for which there are no
         readily available  quotations,  more than 10% of its total assets would
         be so invested.  These  percentage  limitations are fundamental and may
         not be changed without shareholder approval.

                             INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

          The  Fund's  investment   objectives  and  the  following   investment
         restrictions  are  fundamental  and  may  not be  changed  without  the
         approval  of a  majority  of the  Fund's  shareholders,  defined as the
         lesser of (1) 67% of the  Fund's  shares  present  at a meeting  if the
         holders  of more than 50% of the  outstanding  shares  are  present  in
         person or by  proxy,  or (2) more  than 50% of the  Fund's  outstanding
         shares. Under such restrictions, the Fund may not:

(1)  Purchase the  securities  of any one issuer,  other than the United  States
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  purchase  and sales of
securities;

(4)      Make loans of its assets except for the purchase of debt securities;

(5) Borrow money except subject to the  restrictions set forth in the prospectus
under "Special Investment Methods - Borrowing";

(6) Mortgage, pledge or hypothecate any of its assets except that, in connection
with permissible borrowings mentioned in paragraph 5 above, not more than 20% of
the  assets  of the  Fund  (not  including  amounts  borrowed)  may be  used  as
collateral;

(7) Invest more than 5% of its total assets in more than 3% of the securities of
another  investment  company or invest more than 10% of its total  assets in the
securities of other investment  companies,  nor make any such investments  other
than through  purchase 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;

(8)      Act as an underwriter of securities of other issuers;

(9) Invest, in the aggregate,  more than 10% of the value of its total assets in
securities  for which market  quotations are not readily  available,  securities
which are  restricted for public sale, or in repurchase  agreements  maturing or
terminable in more than seven days;

(10)  Purchase  or  otherwise  acquire  interests  in real  estate,  real estate
mortgage  loans  or  interests  in oil,  gas or  other  mineral  exploration  or
development programs;

(11) Sell  securities  short or invest in puts,  calls,  straddles,  spreads  or
combination thereof;

(12)     Purchase or acquire commodities or commodity contracts;

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

(14) Participate on a joint, or a joint and several, basis in any securities 
     trading account; or

(15) Invest in companies for the purpose of exercising control.



<PAGE>


                              TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS

          Under  Massachusetts  law, the Fund's Board of Trustees is responsible
         for  establishing the Fund's policies and for overseeing the management
         of the Fund. The Board also elects the Fund's  officers who conduct the
         daily business of the Fund. The Trustees and principal  officers of the
         Fund,  their  ages and their  principal  occupations  for the past five
         years,  are listed below.  Unless otherwise  specified,  the address of
         each such person is One  Corporate  Center,  Rye, New York  10580-1434.
         Trustees deemed to be "interested  persons" of the Fund for purposes of
         the 1940 Act are indicated by an asterisk.




<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                    <C>


Name, Address, Age and
Position(s) with Fund                                          Principal Occupations During Past Five Years
   
Mario J. Gabelli,* 56                                  Chairman  of the Board,  Chief  Executive  Officer and Chief
Trustee                                                Investment  Officer of Gabelli Asset Management Inc., (since
                                                       1999) and  Gabelli  Funds
                                                       Inc., Director or Trustee
                                                       and  Officer  of  various
                                                       other     mutual    funds
                                                       advised by Gabelli Funds,
                                                       LLC and  its  affiliates;
                                                       Chairman of the Board and
                                                       Chief  Executive  Officer
                                                       of   Lynch    Corporation
                                                       (diversified
                                                       manufacturing         and
                                                       communications   services
                                                       company)  and Director of
                                                       East/West  Communications
                                                       Inc.



    
Felix J. Christiana, 73                                Formerly  Senior Vice  President of Dry Dock  Savings  Bank;
Trustee                                                Director or Trustee of various  other mutual  funds  advised
                                                       by Gabelli Funds, LLC and its affiliates.
Anthony J. Colavita, 64                                President  and Attorney at Law in the law firm of Anthony J.
Trustee                                                Colavita,  P.C.  since 1961;  Director or Trustee of various
                                                       other mutual  funds  advised by Gabelli  Funds,  LLC and its
                                                       affiliates.
James P. Conn, 61                                      Former  Managing   Director/Chief   Investment   Officer  of
Trustee                                                Financial  Security   Assurance  Holdings  Ltd.   1992-1998;
                                                       Director  of Santa  Anita
                                                       Operating  Company  since
                                                       1995;     Director     of
                                                       California   Jockey  Club
                                                       since  1983;  Director of
                                                       Meditrust Corporation and
                                                       First    Republic   Bank;
                                                       Director  or  Trustee  of
                                                       various    other   mutual
                                                       funds  advised by Gabelli
                                                       Funds,    LLC   and   its
                                                       affiliates.

Name, Address, Age and
Position(s) with Fund                                          Principal Occupations During Past Five Years
   
Karl Otto Pohl,*+ 69                                   Member of the  Shareholder  Committee of Sal Oppenheim Jr. &
Trustee                                                Cie (private  investment  bank);  Director of Gabelli  Asset
                                                       Management          Inc.,
                                                       (investment  management),
                                                       Zurich             Allied
                                                       (insurance),          and
                                                       TrizecHahn Corp.;  Former
                                                       President of the Deutsche
                                                       Bundesbank  and  Chairman
                                                       of   its   Central   Bank
                                                       Council from 1980 through
                                                       1991; Director or Trustee
                                                       of all other mutual funds
                                                       advised by Gabelli Funds,
                                                       LLC and its affiliates.

    
Anthony R. Pustorino, CPA, 73                          Certified Public Accountant;  Professor of Accounting,  Pace
Trustee                                                University,  since  1965;  Director  or  Trustee  of various
                                                       other mutual  funds  advised by Gabelli  Funds,  LLC and its
                                                       affiliates.
Anthonie C. van Ekris, 65                              Managing  Director  of  Balmac  International;  Director  of
Trustee                                                Stahel  Hardmeyer  AG;  Director or Trustee of various other
                                                       mutual  funds  advised  by  Gabelli   Funds,   LLC  and  its
                                                       affiliates.
Salvatore J. Zizza*+, 53                               Executive  Vice  President of FMG Group (OTC),  a healthcare
Trustee                                                provider;  Chairman  of The  Bethlehem  Corp.  (ASE);  Board
                                                       Member  of  Hollis   Eden
                                                       Pharmaceuticals    (OTC);
                                                       Director of various other
                                                       mutual  funds  advised by
                                                       Gabelli  Funds,  LLC  and
                                                       its affiliates.
Bruce N. Alpert, 47                                    Executive Vice President and Chief Operating  Officer of the
President and Treasurer                                Adviser;  President and Director of Gabelli  Advisers,  Inc.
                                                       and an Officer of all funds  advised by Gabelli  Funds,  LLC
                                                       and its affiliates.

Name, Address, Age and
Position(s) with Fund                                          Principal Occupations During Past Five Years
   
James E. McKee, 35                                     Vice  President  and General  Counsel of the  Adviser;  Vice
Secretary                                              President  and  General  Counsel  of GAMCO  Investors,  Inc.
                                                       since  1993;  Secretary  of all  funds  advised  by  Gabelli
                                                       Funds, LLC and Gabelli Advisers, Inc. since August 1995.
    
</TABLE>


  + Mr. Pohl is a director  of the parent  company of the  Adviser.  Mr.
     Zizza may be an "interested person" as a result of his previous association
     with Binnings Building  Products,  Inc., an entity controlled by GLI, Inc.,
     an affiliate of the Adviser.

   
          No director,  officer or employee of Gabelli & Company, Inc. ("Gabelli
         & Company" or the  "Distributor") or the Adviser or of any affiliate of
         Gabelli & Company or the Adviser  receives  any  compensation  from the
         Fund for  serving as an  officer or Trustee of the Fund.  The Fund pays
         each of its Trustees who is not a director,  officer or employee of the
         Adviser  or any of their  affiliates,  $6,000  per annum  plus $500 per
         meeting  attended  in person and  reimburses  each  Trustee for related
         travel  and  out-of-pocket  expenses.  The Fund also pays each  Trustee
         serving as a member of the Audit, Proxy or Nominating  Committees a fee
         of $500 per  committee  meeting if held on a day other than a regularly
         scheduled  board meeting,  and the Chairman of each committee  receives
         $1,000 per annum.  For the fiscal year ended  December 31,  1998,  such
         fees paid totaled $61,000.
                       
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                           <C>                            <C>   

                               Compensation Table

- ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
                 (1)                                     (2)                                  (3)

                                                                                       Total Compensation
                                             Aggregate Compensation from     from Registrant and Fund Complex Paid
                                                   Registrant for                         to Trustees
        Name of Person, Position                     Fiscal Year                       for Calendar Year*
- ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
                                                    $       0                          $           0     (13)
Mario J. Gabelli
Trustee

Anthony J. Colavita                                 $9,000                             $      81,500     (14)
Trustee

Felix J. Christiana                                 $9,000                             $      88,100     (10)
Trustee

James P. Conn                                       $8,000                             $      46,000     (5)
Trustee
   
Karl Otto Pohl                                      $8,000                             $     102,466     (15)
Trustee

Anthony R. Pustorino                                $11,000                            $     100,500     (10)
Trustee

Anthonie C. van Ekris                               $8,000                             $      57,500     (11)
Trustee

Salvatore J. Zizza                                  $8,000                             $      51,000     (5)
Trustee
    
</TABLE>


*      The total  compensation  paid to such persons  during the  calendar  year
       ending  December 31, 1998 by investment  companies  (including  the Fund)
       from which such person  receives  compensation  that are part of the same
       Fund  complex  as the  Fund,  because  they  have  common  or  affiliated
       investment advisers.  The number in parentheses  represents the number of
       such investment companies.

                   CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS

                      
          As of April  1,  1999,  the  following  persons  owned  of  record  or
         beneficially 5% or more of the Fund's outstanding shares:

       Name and Address                 % of Class           Nature of Ownership

       Charles Schwab & Co. Inc.        12.35%               Record(a)
       101 Montgomery Street
       San Francisco, CA 94104-4122

       Suntrust Bank Atlanta             6.20%               Record(a)
       P.O. Box 105870
       Atlanta, GA 30348-5870



(a)    Charles Schwab and Suntrust Bank Atlanta  disclaim  beneficial  ownership
       and no one underlying  shareholder owns  beneficially more than 5% of the
       shares of the Fund.

          As of April 1, 1999,  as a group the Trustees and officers of the Fund
         owned  less than 1% of the  outstanding  shares of common  stock of the
         Fund.
                       

                     INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES

    Investment Adviser

          The Adviser is a New York limited  liability company which also serves
         as Adviser to 12 other open-end investment companies,  and 3 closed-end
         investment  companies.  The Adviser is a registered  investment adviser
         under the  Investment  Advisers Act of 1940,  as amended.  Mr. Mario J.
         Gabelli  may be deemed a  "controlling  person"  of the  Adviser on the
         basis of his controlling interest of the parent company of the Adviser.
         GAMCO  Investors,  Inc.  ("GAMCO"),  a  wholly-owned  subsidiary of the
         Adviser,  acts as investment  adviser for individuals,  pension trusts,
         profit-sharing  trusts  and  endowments,  and had  aggregate  assets in
         excess of $8.0 billion under its management as of December 31, 1998.

                       

          Affiliates  of the  Adviser  may,  in the  ordinary  course  of  their
         business,  acquire for their own  account or for the  accounts of their
         advisory clients,  significant (and possibly controlling)  positions in
         the securities of companies that may also be suitable for investment by
         the Fund.  The securities in which the Fund might invest may thereby be
         limited  to some  extent.  For  instance,  many  companies  in the past
         several years have adopted  so-called  "poison pill" or other defensive
         measures   designed  to  discourage   or  prevent  the   completion  of
         non-negotiated  offers  for  control  of the  company.  Such  defensive
         measures  may have the effect of  limiting  the  shares of the  company
         which might  otherwise be acquired by the Fund if the affiliates of the
         Adviser  or their  advisory  accounts  have or  acquire  a  significant
         position in the same securities.  However, the Adviser does not believe
         that the investment  activities of its affiliates  will have a material
         adverse  effect  upon the Fund in  seeking to  achieve  its  investment
         objectives.  Securities  purchased or sold pursuant to  contemporaneous
         orders  entered on behalf of the  investment  company  accounts  of the
         Adviser or the advisory  accounts  managed by its  affiliates for their
         unaffiliated  clients are allocated pursuant to principles  believed to
         be fair and not disadvantageous to any such accounts. In addition,  all
         such orders are accorded  priority of execution  over orders entered on
         behalf  of  accounts  in which the  Adviser  or its  affiliates  have a
         substantial pecuniary interest. The Adviser may on occasion give advice
         or take  action  with  respect to other  clients  that  differ from the
         actions  taken  with  respect  to the Fund.  The Fund may invest in the
         securities  of companies  which are  investment  management  clients of
         GAMCO. In addition,  portfolio companies or their officers or directors
         may be minority shareholders of the Adviser or its affiliates.

          Pursuant  to an Amended and  Restated  Investment  Advisory  Contract,
         which was approved by the shareholders of the Fund at a meeting held on
         May 11,  1992 (the  "Contract"),  the Adviser  furnishes  a  continuous
         investment  program  for the  Fund's  portfolio,  makes the  day-to-day
         investment decisions for the Fund, arranges 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 of Trustees of the Fund.

          Under the  Contract,  the Adviser  also (i) provides the Fund with the
         services   of   persons   competent   to  perform   such   supervisory,
         administrative,  and  clerical  functions  as are  necessary to provide
         effective  administration of the Fund,  including  maintaining  certain
         books and records and overseeing the activities of the Fund's Custodian
         and Transfer Agent; (ii) oversees the performance of administrative and
         professional  services  to the Fund by  others,  including  the  Fund's
         Sub-Administrator,  Custodian,  Transfer Agent and Dividend  Disbursing
         Agent, as well as accounting, auditing and other services performed for
         the Fund;  (iii)  provides  the Fund  with  adequate  office  space and
         facilities;  (iv) prepares, but does not pay for, the periodic updating
         of  the  Fund's  registration  statement,   Prospectus  and  Additional
         Statement,  including the printing of such documents for the purpose of
         filings with the SEC and state  securities  administrators,  the Fund's
         tax returns,  and reports to the Fund's  shareholders  and the SEC; (v)
         calculates  the net asset value of shares in the Fund;  (vi)  prepares,
         but does not pay for, all filings  under the  securities  or "Blue Sky"
         laws of such states or countries as are designated by the  Distributor,
         which  may  be  required  to  register  or  qualify,  or  continue  the
         registration or qualification, of the Fund and/or its shares under such
         laws; and (vii) prepares notices and agendas for meetings of the Fund's
         Board of Trustees and minutes of such meetings in all matters  required
         by the Act to be acted upon by the Board.



<PAGE>


          The Contract  provides  that absent  willful  misfeasance,  bad faith,
         gross negligence or reckless disregard of its duty, the Adviser and its
         employees,  officers,  directors and controlling persons are not liable
         to the  Fund or any of its  investors  for any act or  omission  by the
         Adviser or for any error of  judgment  or for losses  sustained  by the
         Fund.  However,  the Contract provides that the Fund is not waiving any
         rights it may have with respect to any violation of law which cannot be
         waived. The Contract also provides  indemnification for the Adviser and
         each of these  persons for any conduct for which they are not liable to
         the Fund.  The Contract in no way  restricts the Adviser from acting as
         Adviser  to others.  The Fund has  agreed by the terms of the  Contract
         that the word  "Gabelli"  in its name is  derived  from the name of the
         Adviser  which in turn is  derived  from the name of Mario J.  Gabelli;
         that such name is the  property  of the Adviser  for  copyright  and/or
         other purposes;  and that,  therefore,  such name may freely be used by
         the Adviser for other investment companies,  entities or products.  The
         Fund has  further  agreed  that in the event that for any  reason,  the
         Adviser ceases to be its investment adviser,  the Fund will, unless the
         Adviser  otherwise  consents  in  writing,   promptly  take  all  steps
         necessary to change its name to one which does not include "Gabelli."

          By its terms,  the  Contract  will remain in effect from year to year,
         provided each such annual  continuance is specifically  approved by the
         Fund's  Board of  Trustees or by a  "majority"  (as defined in the 1940
         Act) vote of its  shareholders  and, in either case, by a majority vote
         of the  Trustees  who are not  parties to the  Contract  or  interested
         persons  of  any  such  party,  cast  in  person  at a  meeting  called
         specifically for the purpose of voting on the Contract. The Contract 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 its Board of  Trustees,  or by the
         Adviser on sixty days' written notice, and will automatically terminate
         in the event of its "assignment" as defined by the 1940 Act.

          For the Fund's fiscal years ended December 31, 1996, December 31, 1997
         and December 31, 1998,  the Fund paid  investment  advisory fees to the
         Adviser   amounting  to  $11,146,282,   $11,701,148  and   $14,882,733,
         respectively.

Sub-Administrator

          First Data Investor Services Group, Inc. (the "Sub-Administrator"),  a
         subsidiary  of First Data  Corporation  which is  located  at  Exchange
         Place, Boston,  Massachusetts 02109, serves as Sub-Administrator to the
         Fund pursuant to a  Sub-Administration  Agreement with the Adviser (the
         "Sub-Administration    Agreement").    Under   the   Sub-Administration
         Agreement, the Sub-Administrator (a) assists in supervising all aspects
         of the Fund's  operations  except those  performed by the Adviser under
         its advisory agreement with the Fund; (b) supplies the Fund with office
         facilities  (which  may be in  the  Sub-Administrator's  own  offices),
         statistical  and research data,  data  processing  services,  clerical,
         accounting and bookkeeping services, including, but not limited to, the
         calculation  of the net asset  value of  shares  in the Fund,  internal
         auditing and legal  services,  internal  executive  and  administrative
         services,   and  stationery  and  office  supplies;  (c)  prepares  and
         distributes   materials  for  all  Fund  Board  of  Trustees'  Meetings
         including  the mailing of all Board  materials  and  collates  the same
         materials  into the Board books and assists in the  drafting of minutes
         of the Board Meetings;  (d) prepares reports to Fund shareholders,  tax
         returns and  reports to and  filings  with the SEC and state "Blue Sky"
         authorities;  (e)  calculates  the  Fund's  net asset  value per share,
         provides any equipment or services necessary for the purpose of pricing
         shares or valuing the Fund's investment  portfolio and, when requested,
         calculates  the  amounts  permitted  for the  payment  of  distribution
         expenses under any distribution  plan adopted by the Fund; (f) provides
         compliance   testing  of  all  Fund   activities   against   applicable
         requirements  of the 1940 Act and the rules  thereunder,  the Code, and
         the Fund's investment  restrictions;  (g) furnishes to the Adviser such
         statistical and other factual  information  and  information  regarding
         economic  factors  and  trends  as the  Adviser  from  time to time may
         require;  and (h) generally provides all  administrative  services that
         may be  required  for the  ongoing  operation  of the  Fund in a manner
         consistent with the requirements of the 1940 Act.

For the services it provides,  the Advisor pays the  Sub-Administrator an annual
fee based on the value of the  aggregate  average  daily net assets of all funds
under its administration  managed by the Adviser as follows:  up to $1 billion -
0.10%;  $1 billion to $1.5 billion - 0.08%;  $1.5 billion to $3 billion - 0.03%;
over $3 billion - 0.02%. The  Sub-Administrator's fee is paid by the Adviser and
will result in no additional expenses to the Fund.
   
    

Counsel

          Skadden,  Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, 919 Third Avenue, New York,
         New York 10022, serves as the Fund's legal counsel.

   

Independent Accountants

          PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, 1177 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New
         York 10036,  independent  accountants,  have been selected to audit and
         express their opinions on the Fund's annual financial statements.
                       

Custodian, Transfer Agent and Dividend Disbursing Agent

          State Street Bank and Trust  Company  ("State  Street"),  225 Franklin
         Street,  Boston,  MA 02110 is the  Custodian  for the  Fund's  cash and
         securities. Boston Financial Data Services, Inc. ("BFDS"), an affiliate
         of State  Street  located at the BFDS  Building,  Two  Heritage  Drive,
         Quincy,  Massachusetts  02171,  performs the services of transfer agent
         and  dividend  disbursing  agent for the Fund.  Neither  BFDS nor State
         Street assists in or is responsible for investment  decisions involving
         assets of the Fund.

   

Distributor

          To  implement  the Fund's  12b-1  Plan,  the Fund has  entered  into a
         Distribution  Agreement with the  Distributor,  a New York  corporation
         which  is an  indirect  majority  owned  subsidiary  of  Gabelli  Asset
         Management  Inc.,  having  principal  offices  located at One Corporate
         Center,  Rye, New York 10580.  The  Distributor  continuously  solicits
         offers for the purchase of shares of the Fund on a best efforts basis.
                       

                                DISTRIBUTION PLAN

          On February 26, 1997,  the Fund  adopted a Plan of  Distribution  (the
         "Plan") pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Payments may be made
         by the Fund under the Plan for the purpose of  financing  any  activity
         primarily  intended  to  result  in the  sales of shares of the Fund as
         determined by the Board of Trustees.  Such activities typically include
         advertising,  compensation  for sales and  marketing  activities of the
         Distributor  and other  banks,  broker-dealers  and service  providers;
         shareholder   account   servicing;   production  and  dissemination  of
         prospectus  and sales and  marketing  materials;  and  capital or other
         expenses of associated equipment, rent, salaries, bonuses, interest and
         other  overhead.  To the extent any  activity is one which the Fund may
         finance without a distribution plan, the Fund may also make payments to
         finance  such  activity  outside  of the Plan and not be subject to its
         limitations.  Payments  under  the Plan  are not  solely  dependent  on
         distribution expenses actually incurred by the Distributor.



<PAGE>


          Under its terms, the Plan remains in effect so long as its continuance
         is specifically  approved at least annually by vote of the Fund's Board
         of  Trustees,  including  a  majority  of  the  Trustees  who  are  not
         interested  persons  of the  Fund and who have no  direct  or  indirect
         financial   interest  in  the  operation  of  the  Fund   ("Independent
         Trustees").  The Plan may not be amended  to  increase  materially  the
         amount to be spent for services provided by the Distributor  thereunder
         without shareholder  approval,  and all material amendments of the Plan
         must also be approved by the  Trustees in the manner  described  above.
         The Plan may be terminated at any time,  without penalty,  by vote of a
         majority of the Independent Trustees, or by a vote of a majority of the
         outstanding voting securities of the Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act).
         Under the Plan,  the  Distributor  will provide the  Trustees  periodic
         reports of amounts  expanded  under the Plan and the  purpose for which
         expenditures were made.

          No  interested  person of the Fund or any  Independent  Trustee of the
         Fund had a direct or indirect  financial  interest in the  operation of
         the Plan or related agreements.

          During the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998, the Fund made payments
         to the Distributor pursuant to the Plan totaling $3,708,303 or 0.25% of
         the Fund's average daily net assets.  Such payments funded expenditures
         of  approximately:  $434,700 for  advertising,  $206,300 for  printing,
         postage and stationary,  $2,675,403 for overhead  support  expenses and
         $391,900  for  salaries  of  personnel  of the  Distributor.  The  Plan
         compensates the Distributor regardless of its expenses.

                      PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE

          Under the Contract, the Adviser is authorized on behalf of the Fund to
         employ  brokers to effect the purchase or sale of portfolio  securities
         with  the  objective  of  obtaining  prompt,   efficient  and  reliable
         execution  and  clearance of such  transactions  at the most  favorable
         price obtainable ("best execution") at reasonable expense.  The Adviser
         is  permitted  to (1)  direct  Fund  portfolio  brokerage  to Gabelli &
         Company, a broker-dealer  affiliate of the Adviser; (2) pay commissions
         to brokers  other than Gabelli & Company which are higher than might be
         charged by another qualified broker to obtain brokerage and/or research
         services  considered  by the Adviser to be useful or desirable  for its
         investment  management of the Fund and/or other advisory accounts under
         the  management of the Adviser and any  investment  adviser  affiliated
         with it;  and (3)  consider  the sales of shares of the Fund by brokers
         other than  Gabelli & Company as a factor in its  selection  of brokers
         for Fund portfolio transactions.  Transactions in securities other than
         those for which a  securities  exchange  is the  principal  market  are
         generally  executed  through a brokerage  firm and a commission is paid
         whenever it appears that the broker can obtain a more favorable overall
         price.  In  general,  there may be no stated  commission  on  principal
         transactions  in  over-the-counter  securities,  but the prices of such
         securities may usually include undisclosed commissions or markups.

          When consistent  with the objective of obtaining best execution,  Fund
         brokerage may be directed to brokers or dealers which furnish brokerage
         or research  services to the Fund or the Adviser of the type  described
         in Section  28(e) of the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
         The  commissions  charged  by a broker  furnishing  such  brokerage  or
         research  services  may be greater  than that which  another  qualified
         broker might charge if the Adviser determines,  in good faith, that the
         amount of such  greater  commission  is  reasonable  in relation to the
         value of the additional  brokerage or research services provided by the
         executing broker, viewed in terms of either the particular  transaction
         or  the  overall  responsibilities  of  the  Adviser  or  its  advisory
         affiliates  to  the  accounts  over  which  they  exercise   investment
         discretion.  Since it is not  feasible to do so, the  Adviser  need not
         attempt  to  place a  specific  dollar  value on such  services  or the
         portion of the  commission  which  reflects  the  amount  paid for such
         services but must be prepared to demonstrate a good faith basis for its
         determinations.

          Investment  research obtained by allocations of Fund brokerage is used
         to  augment  the  scope  and  supplement  the  internal   research  and
         investment strategy capabilities of the Adviser but does not reduce the
         overall expenses of the Adviser to any material extent. Such investment
         research  may  be in  written  form  or  through  direct  contact  with
         individuals  and  includes  information  on  particular  companies  and
         industries as well as market, economic or institutional activity areas.
         Research  services  furnished by brokers through which the Fund effects
         securities  transactions  are  used by the  Adviser  and  its  advisory
         affiliates in carrying out their  responsibilities  with respect to all
         of their accounts over which they exercise investment discretion.  Such
         investment  information  may be useful only to one or more of the other
         accounts of the  Adviser  and its  advisory  affiliates,  and  research
         information  received for the commissions of those particular  accounts
         may be useful both to the Fund and one or more of such other accounts.

          Neither the Fund nor the Adviser has any agreement or legally  binding
         understanding   with  any  broker  regarding  any  specific  amount  of
         brokerage  commissions  which  will  be  paid  in  recognition  of such
         services.  However, in determining the amount of portfolio  commissions
         directed  to such  brokers,  the  Adviser  does  consider  the level of
         services  provided  and,  based on such  determinations,  has allocated
         brokerage  commissions  of $592,888 on  portfolio  transactions  in the
         principal amounts of $414,928,963,  during 1998. The average commission
         on these transactions was $0.0479 per share.

          The  Adviser  may  also  place  orders  for  the  purchase  or sale of
         portfolio securities with Gabelli & Company when it appears that, as an
         introducing  broker or otherwise,  Gabelli & Company can obtain a price
         and  execution  which is at least as  favorable as that  obtainable  by
         other qualified brokers.  As required by Rule 17e-1 under the 1940 Act,
         the Board of  Trustees  has adopted  "Procedures"  which  provide  that
         commissions  paid to Gabelli & Company on stock  exchange  transactions
         may not exceed that which would have been charged by another  qualified
         broker  or  member  firm  able  to  effect  the  same  or a  comparable
         transaction  at an  equally  favorable  price and  contains  a schedule
         setting forth maximum commission charges for such transactions designed
         to  reflect  that  standard.  Rule  17e-1  and the  Procedures  contain
         requirements  that the Board,  including  its  "independent"  Trustees,
         conduct periodic  compliance reviews of such brokerage  allocations and
         review such schedule at least  annually for its  continuing  compliance
         with the foregoing standard. The Adviser and Gabelli & Company are also
         required to furnish  reports and maintain  records in  connection  with
         such reviews.

          To obtain the best execution of portfolio transactions on the New York
         Stock Exchange  ("NYSE"),  Gabelli & Company  controls and monitors the
         execution  of  such  transactions  on the  floor  of the  NYSE  through
         independent  "floor brokers" or through the Designated Order Turnaround
         System of the NYSE. Such  transactions  are then cleared,  confirmed to
         the Fund for the  account of Gabelli & Company,  and  settled  directly
         with the  Custodian  of the Fund by a clearing  house member firm which
         remits the commission less its clearance  charges to Gabelli & Company.
         Pursuant  to an  agreement  with the Fund,  Gabelli & Company  pays all
         charges  incurred for such  services and reports at least  quarterly to
         the  Board  the  amount  of  such  expenses  and  commissions.  The net
         compensation  realized by Gabelli & Company for its brokerage  services
         is subject to the approval of the Board and the Independent Trustees of
         the Fund who must approve the  continuance of the  arrangement at least
         annually.  Commissions paid by the Fund pursuant to the arrangement may
         not exceed the commission  level specified by the Procedures  described
         above. Gabelli may also effect Fund portfolio  transactions in the same
         manner  and  pursuant  to  the  same  arrangements  on  other  national
         securities  exchanges  which adopt direct order access rules similar to
         those of the NYSE.

          The  following  table sets forth  certain  information  regarding  the
         Fund's payment of brokerage  commissions  including commissions paid to
         Gabelli & Company and Keeley Investment Corp. ("Keeley"). A significant
         shareholder  of Keeley is a director of a company  that is an affiliate
         of the Adviser.



<PAGE>




<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                                        <C>                   <C>

                                                                           Fiscal Year Ended
                                                                              Commissions
                                                                              December 31         Paid

Total Brokerage Commissions........................................              1996             $494,944
                                                                                 1997             $700,560
                                                                                 1998             $592,888

Commissions paid to Gabelli & Company..............................              1996             $130,061
                                                                                 1997             $216,768
                                                                                 1998             $333,718

Commissions paid to Keeley Investment Corp.........................              1996             $5,550
                                                                                 1997             $4,025
                                                                                 1998             $1,350

% of Total Brokerage Commissions paid to Gabelli & Company.........
                                                                                 1998             56.29%

% of Total Brokerage Commissions paid to Keeley Investment Corp....
                                                                                 1998             0.23%

% of Total  Transactions  involving  Commissions  paid to  Gabelli  &
Company............................................................              1998             47.62%

%  of  Total  Transactions   involving  Commissions  paid  to  Keeley
Investment Corp....................................................              1998             0.12%
</TABLE>

                                RETIREMENT PLANS

Under    the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), individuals
         may make wholly or partly tax  deductible  IRA  contributions  of up to
         $2,000 annually,  depending on whether they are active  participants in
         an  employer-sponsored  retirement  plan  and on  their  income  level.
         However,  dividends and distributions held in the account are not taxed
         until  withdrawn in  accordance  with the  provisions  of the Code.  An
         individual  with a non-working  spouse may establish a separate IRA for
         the spouse under the same conditions and contribute a combined  maximum
         of $4,000  annually to both IRAs  provided that no more than $2,000 may
         be  contributed to the IRA of either spouse.  Other  provisions  permit
         additional IRA  contributions  which are not tax deductible but the tax
         on reinvested dividends and distributions is deferred while held in the
         account.  There  are  also  rules  on  the  amount  of  tax  deductible
         contributions which may be made to other retirement plans.

                  Investors may be eligible to make  contributions to a new type
         of individual retirement account (a "Roth IRA"). An investor can open a
         Roth IRA if he or she meets  certain  income  limits  specified  in the
         Code.  Any  contributions  made  by  an  investor  to a  Roth  IRA  are
         nondeductible for U.S. Federal income tax purposes.  Distributions from
         a Roth IRA are not included in the investor's  gross income and are not
         subject to a 10% penalty for early withdrawal if the  distributions are
         made after the end of the five-year period beginning with the first tax
         year in which the investor made a contribution  to the Roth IRA and the
         distributions  meet other  criteria set forth in the Code.  The maximum
         annual aggregate contribution that can be made to IRAs and Roth IRAs is
         $2,000. In addition,  certain low and middle-income  investors may open
         an  education  individual  retirement  account  (an  "Education  IRA").
         Eligible  individuals  are  permitted to contribute up to $500 per year
         per  beneficiary  under 18 years old to an  Education  IRA. The minimum
         initial  investment  for an  Education  IRA through the Fund is $250. A
         distribution  from an Education IRA is generally  excludable from gross
         income to the extent that such  distribution  does not exceed qualified
         higher education  expenses incurred by the beneficiary  during the year
         in which the distribution is made.


Investorsshould be aware  that they may be subject to  penalties  or  additional
         tax on  contributions  to or withdrawals  from IRAs or other retirement
         plans which are not permitted by the applicable  provisions of the Code
         and prior to a  withdrawal,  shareholders  may be  required  to certify
         their  age and  awareness  of such  restrictions  in  writing.  Persons
         desiring  information  concerning  investments  through  IRAs or  other
         retirement plans should write or telephone the Distributor.

                              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  of  Trustees  of the  Fund and  taken  at  their  value  used in
         determining  the Fund's net asset  value per share as  described  under
         "Computation  of Net Asset  Value"),  or  partly in cash and  partly in
         portfolio  securities.  However,  payments  will be made wholly in cash
         unless the Board of Trustees  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  shareholder 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 before a redemption  wholly or partly in portfolio  securities
         would be made.

          Cancellation of purchase orders for Fund shares (as, for example, when
         checks  submitted to purchase shares are returned unpaid) causes a loss
         to be incurred  when the net asset value of the Fund shares on the date
         of  cancellation  is less than on the original  date of  purchase.  The
         investor  is  responsible  for such  loss,  and the Fund may  reimburse
         itself  or the  Distributor  for such loss by  automatically  redeeming
         shares from any account  registered  at any time in that  shareholder's
         name,  or by seeking  other  redress.  In the event  shares held in the
         account of such  shareholder are not sufficient to cover such loss, the
         Distributor  will  promptly  reimburse  the Fund for the amount of such
         unrecovered loss.

                         COMPUTATION OF NET ASSET VALUE

         Net asset value is  calculated  separately  for each class of the Fund.
The net asset value of Class B and Class C shares of the Fund will  generally be
lower than the net asset value of Class A or Class AAA shares as a result of the
large  distribution-related fee to which Class B and Class C shares are subject.
It is expected,  however,  that the net asset value per share of each class will
tend to converge  immediately  after the recording of dividends,  if any,  which
will differ by approximately  the amount of the distribution  and/or service fee
expense accrual differential among the classes.



<PAGE>


                      
          For  purposes  of  determining  the Fund's net asset  value per share,
         readily marketable  portfolio securities listed on the NYSE are valued,
         except as  indicated  below,  at the last sale price  reflected  at the
         close of the regular trading session of the NYSE 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 average of the closing bid
         and asked  prices on such day.  If no asked  prices  are quoted on such
         day,  then the security is valued at the closing bid price on such day.
         If no bid or asked prices are quoted on such day,  then the security is
         valued by such method as the Board of Trustees shall  determine in good
         faith to reflect its fair market value.  Readily marketable  securities
         not  listed  on the  NYSE  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.
                       

          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 Trustees deems appropriate to
         reflect  their fair value.  If no asked  prices are quoted on such day,
         then the security is valued at the closing bid price on such day. If no
         bid or asked prices are quoted on such day, then the security is valued
         by such method as the Board of Trustees  shall  determine in good faith
         to reflect its fair market value.

          Portfolio  securities  traded  on more  than one  national  securities
         exchange  or market  are  valued  according  to the  broadest  and most
         representative  market as determined by the Adviser.  Securities traded
         primarily on foreign  exchanges are valued at the closing price on such
         foreign exchange immediately prior to the close of the NYSE.

          United States Government obligations and other debt instruments having
         60 days or less remaining  until maturity are stated at amortized cost.
         Debt instruments  having a greater remaining maturity will be valued at
         the  highest bid price  obtained  from a dealer  maintaining  an active
         market  in that  security  or on the basis of  prices  obtained  from a
         pricing  service  approved as reliable  by the Board of  Trustees.  All
         other  investment   assets,   including   restricted  and  not  readily
         marketable  securities,  are valued under procedures established by and
         under the general supervision and responsibility of the Fund's Board of
         Trustees  designed  to  reflect  in good  faith the fair  value of such
         securities.

   
                       DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES

General

         Dividends and distributions  will be automatically  reinvested for each
shareholder's  account  at net  asset  value in  additional  shares of the Fund,
unless the shareholder instructs the Fund to pay all dividends and distributions
in cash and to credit the amounts to his or her brokerage  account or to pay the
amounts  by check.  Fractional  shares may be paid in cash.  Dividends  from net
investment  income,  if any, and distributions of any net realized capital gains
earned by the Fund will be paid annually.

Under the Code,  amounts not  distributed on a timely basis in accordance with a
calendar year distribution  requirement are subject to a nondeductible 4% excise
tax. To avoid the tax, the Fund must  distribute  during each calendar  year, at
least the sum of (1) 98% of its  ordinary  income (not  taking into  account any
capital gains or losses) for the calendar  year, (2) 98% of its capital gains in
excess of its capital losses for the twelve-month period ending on October 31 of
the calendar year or, upon election,     



<PAGE>


   
during the calendar  year and (3) all ordinary  income and net capital gains for
previous years that were not  previously  distributed.  A  distribution  will be
treated as paid during the calendar  year if it is paid during the calendar year
or declared by the Fund in October, November or December of the year, payable to
shareholders  of record as of a specified date in such a month and actually paid
by the Fund during January of the following  year. Any such  distributions  paid
during  January of the following  year will be deemed to be paid and received on
December 31 of the year the distributions are declared.

         Gains  or  losses  on the  sales  of  securities  by the  Fund  will be
long-term  capital gains or losses if the securities  have been held by the Fund
for more than twelve months.  Gains or losses on the sale of securities held for
twelve months or less will be short-term capital gains or losses.

         The  Fund has  qualified  and  intends  to  continue  to  qualify  as a
"Regulated  Investment Company" under Subchapter M of the Code. If so qualified,
the Fund will not be subject to federal income tax on its net investment  income
and net short-term  and long-term  capital gains,  if any,  realized  during any
taxable  year in which it  distributes  such  income  and  capital  gains to its
shareholders. Although the Fund is non-diversified for purposes of the 1940 Act,
the  Fund  nevertheless  is  subject  to   diversification   requirements  under
Subchapter  M. In general,  the Code requires the Fund to diversify its holdings
so that, at the close of each quarter of its taxable  year,  (1) at least 50% of
the value of its total  assets  consist of cash,  cash  items,  U.S.  Government
securities,  securities  of other  regulated  investment  companies,  and  other
securities  limited generally with respect to any one issuer to not more than 5%
of the total assets of the Fund and not more than 10% of the outstanding  voting
securities of each issuer,  and (2) not more than 25% of the value of its assets
is  invested  in the  securities  of any  issuer  (other  than  U.S.  Government
securities or the securities of other regulated investment companies).

         If the Fund is the holder of record of any stock on the record date for
any  dividends  payable  with  respect to such stock,  such  dividends  shall be
included in the Fund's  gross  income as of the later of (a) the date such stock
became  ex-dividend  with respect to such dividends  (i.e.,  the date on which a
buyer of the stock would not be entitled  to receive the  declared,  but unpaid,
dividends) or (b) the date the Fund acquired such stock.  Accordingly,  in order
to satisfy its income distribution requirements, the Fund may be required to pay
dividends based on anticipated earnings,  and shareholders may receive dividends
in an earlier year than would otherwise be the case.

         The Fund's  short  sales  against the box and  transactions  in futures
contracts  and options will be subject to special  provisions  of the Code that,
among other things, may affect the character of gains and losses realized by the
Fund (i.e.,  may affect  whether  gains or losses are ordinary or capital),  may
accelerate  recognition  of income to the Fund and may defer Fund losses.  These
rules could therefore  affect the character,  amount and timing of distributions
to   shareholders.   These   provisions  also  (a)  will  require  the  Fund  to
mark-to-market certain types of the positions in its portfolio (i.e., treat them
as if they were  closed  out),  and (b) may cause the Fund to  recognize  income
without receiving cash with which to make  distributions in amounts necessary to
satisfy the 90% and 98% distribution requirements for avoiding income and excise
taxes described  above.  The Fund will monitor its  transactions,  will make the
appropriate tax elections and will make the appropriate entries in its books and
records  when it engages in short sales  against the box or acquires any futures
contract,  option or hedged  investment in order to mitigate the effect of these
rules  and  prevent  disqualification  of the  Fund  as a  regulated  investment
company.     



<PAGE>


   

Foreign Withholding Taxes

         Income received by the Fund from investments in foreign  securities may
be subject to  withholding  and other taxes  imposed by foreign  countries.  Tax
conventions  between  certain  countries  and the  United  States  may reduce or
eliminate  such taxes.  It is impossible to determine the rate of foreign tax in
advance  since  the  amount  of the  Fund's  assets to be  invested  in  various
countries  is not  known.  Because  the Fund  will not have more than 50% of its
total assets invested in securities of foreign governments or corporations,  the
Fund will not be  entitled  to  "pass-through"  to  shareholders  the  amount of
foreign taxes paid by the Fund.

Passive Foreign Investment Companies

         If the Fund purchases  shares in certain foreign  investment  entities,
called "passive foreign investment  companies" (a "PFIC"),  it may be subject to
United States  federal income tax on a portion of any "excess  distribution"  or
gain from the disposition of such shares even if such income is distributed as a
taxable  dividend  by the Fund to its  shareholders.  Additional  charges in the
nature of  interest  may be imposed on the Fund in  respect  of  deferred  taxes
arising from such  distributions  or gains. If the Fund were to invest in a PFIC
and elected to treat the PFIC as a "qualified  electing fund" under the Code, in
lieu of the  foregoing  requirements,  the Fund might be  required to include in
income each year a portion of the ordinary earnings and net capital gains of the
qualified  electing fund,  even if not distributed to the Fund, and such amounts
would be subject to the 90% and excise tax distribution  requirements  described
above.  In order to make this  election,  the Fund would be  required  to obtain
certain annual  information  from the passive  foreign  investment  companies in
which it invests, which may be difficult or not possible to obtain.

         Alternatively,  the Fund may make a  mark-to-market  election that will
result in the Fund being  treated as if it had sold and  repurchased  all of the
PFIC stock at the end of each year. In this case, the Fund would report gains as
ordinary  income and would  deduct  losses as  ordinary  losses to the extent of
previously recognized gains. The election, once made, would be effective for all
subsequent  taxable  years of the Fund,  unless  revoked with the consent of the
IRS. By making the election,  the Fund could potentially  ameliorate the adverse
tax  consequences  with respect to its ownership of shares in a PFIC, but in any
particular  year  may  be  required  to  recognize   income  in  excess  of  the
distributions it receives from PFICs and its proceeds from  dispositions of PFIC
company stock. The Fund may have to distribute this "phantom" income and gain to
satisfy its  distribution  requirement and to avoid  imposition of the 4% excise
tax. The Fund will make the appropriate tax elections, if possible, and take any
additional steps that are necessary to mitigate the effect of these rules.

Distributions

         Distributions  of investment  company  taxable  income (which  includes
interest  and  dividends  and the excess of net  short-term  capital  gains over
long-term capital losses, but not the excess of net long-term capital gains over
net  short-term  capital  losses) are taxable to a U.S.  shareholder as ordinary
income, whether paid in cash or shares.  Dividends paid by the Fund will qualify
for the 70% deduction generally available for dividends received by corporations
to the extent the Fund's income  consists of qualified  dividends  received from
U.S.  corporations.  Distributions  of net capital gains (which  consists of the
excess of net long-term  capital gains over net short-term  capital losses),  if
any, are taxable as long-term capital gains,  whether paid in cash or in shares,
regardless of how long the shareholder  has held the Fund's shares,  and are not
eligible  for  the  dividends   received   deduction.   Shareholders   receiving
distributions  in the  form of newly  issued  shares  will  have a basis in such
shares  of the Fund  equal  to the  fair  market  value  of such  shares  on the
distribution date.
    



<PAGE>


   
         The price of shares  purchased just prior to a distribution by the Fund
may reflect the amount of the forthcoming distribution. Those purchasing at that
time will receive a distribution  that  represents a return of  investment,  but
that will nevertheless be taxable to them.

Sales of Shares

         Upon a sale  or  exchange  of his or her  shares,  a  shareholder  will
realize a taxable  gain or loss  depending  upon his or her basis in the shares.
The gain or loss will be  treated  as a  long-term  capital  gain or loss if the
shares  have been held for more than one year.  Any loss  realized  on a sale or
exchange will be  disallowed  to the extent the shares  disposed of are replaced
within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the
shares are disposed of. In such case,  the basis of the shares  acquired will be
adjusted to reflect the  disallowed  loss. Any loss realized by a shareholder on
the sale of Fund shares held by the  shareholder  for six months or less will be
treated  for tax  purposes  as a  long-term  capital  loss to the  extent of any
distributions  of  long-term  capital  gains  received by the  shareholder  with
respect to such shares.  However,  capital  losses are  deductible  only against
capital gains plus, for individuals, up to $3,000 of ordinary income.

Backup Withholding

         The Fund may be required to withhold  federal income tax at the rate of
31% with respect to (1) taxable  dividends and distributions and (2) proceeds of
any  redemptions of Fund shares if a shareholder  fails to provide the Fund with
his  or  her  correct  taxpayer   identification  number  or  to  make  required
certifications, or who has been notified by the Internal Revenue Service that he
or she is subject to backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional
tax. Any amounts withheld may be credited against a shareholder's federal income
tax liability.

         Shareholders  are urged to  consult  their  attorneys  or tax  advisers
regarding specific questions as to federal, state, local or foreign taxes.
    

                       INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

          The investment  performance of the Fund quoted in advertising or sales
         literature  for the sale of its shares  will be  calculated  on a total
         return  basis  which  assumes the  reinvestment  of all  dividends  and
         distributions.  Total return is computed by  comparing  the value of an
         assumed  investment  in Fund shares at the offering  price in effect at
         the beginning of the period shown with the redemption price of the same
         investment at the end of the period (including share(s) accrued thereon
         by  the  reinvestment  of  dividends  and  distributions).  Performance
         quotations given as a percentage will be derived by dividing the amount
         of such total return by the amount of the assumed investment.  When the
         period  shown is greater  than one year,  the result is  referred to as
         cumulative performance or cumulative total return.

          Performance  quotations  will ordinarily be accompanied by the average
         annual  total  return of the Fund for the past ten years as well as its
         total  return for the past five  years and for the twelve  months as of
         the end of the most  recent  calendar  quarter.  Quotations  of average
         annual  total  return  for  periods  greater  than one year will be the
         compounded  annual  rate of return  which  equates to the result of the
         previously described  calculation of cumulative total return.  Computed
         in the  manner  described,  the total  return of the  Fund's  Class AAA
         shares has been:

                               Year ended                         Total Return

                               12/31/88                              31.1%
                               12/31/89                              26.2%
                               12/31/90                              (5.0)%
                               12/31/91                              18.1%
                               12/31/92                              14.9%
                               12/31/93                              21.8%
                               12/31/94                              (0.1)%
                               12/31/95                              24.9%
                               12/31/96                              13.4%
                               12/31/97                              38.1%
                               12/31/98                              15.9%

         The Fund's average annual total return figures for Class AAA shares are
as follows:

          15.9% for the one year period from  January 1, 1998  through  December
31, 1998

          17.8% for the five year period from January 1, 1993  through  December
31, 1998

          16.2% for the ten year period from  January 1, 1988  through  December
31, 1998

          17.2%  for the  period  from the  Fund's  inception  on March 3,  1986
through December 31, 1998

The formula for computing the foregoing annual rate of total return is:

                                P (1 + T) n = ERV

P = Investment  at the  beginning of the period.  T = Compounded  annual rate of
total return.
n =  Number of years.
ERV      =  Redemption  value of the same  investment  at the end of the  period
         assuming the reinvestment of all dividends and distributions.

Investors are cautioned that past results are not necessarily  representative of
future results; that investment returns and principal value will fluctuate; that
investment performance is primarily a function of portfolio management (which is
affected by the economic and market  environment  as well as the  volatility  of
portfolio investments) and operating expenses; and that performance information,
such as that described  above,  may not provide a valid basis of comparison with
other investments and investment companies using a different method of computing
performance data.

                        DESCRIPTION OF THE FUND'S SHARES

         The Fund may issue an unlimited number of full and fractional shares of
beneficial  interest  (par value $.01 per  share).  The  Fund's  shares  have no
preemptive or conversion rights.

Voting Rights

          Shareholders  are  entitled  to one  vote  for each  share  held  (and
         fractional votes for fractional shares) and may vote on the election of
         Trustees and on other matters submitted to meetings of shareholders. As
         a Massachusetts  Business Trust, the Fund is not required, and does not
         intend,  to hold  regular  annual  shareholder  meetings  but may  hold
         special  meetings  for  the   consideration   of  proposals   requiring
         shareholder  approval  such  as  changing  fundamental   policies.   In
         addition,  the Fund's Trustees will call a meeting of shareholders upon
         the  written  request  of the  shareholders  of  331/3 % of the  Fund's
         outstanding  shares  (10%  in  the  case  of  removal  of  a  Trustee).
         Furthermore,  ten  shareholders  holding the lesser of $25,000 worth or
         one percent of Fund shares may advise the Trustees in writing that they
         wish  to  communicate  with  other  shareholders  for  the  purpose  of
         requesting a meeting to remove a Trustee.  The Trustees  will then,  if
         requested  by the  applicants,  mail at the  applicants'  expense,  the
         applicants' communication to all other shareholders. The Declaration of
         Trust provides that the Fund's  shareholders  have the right,  upon the
         declaration  in  writing  or  vote  of  more  than  two  thirds  of its
         outstanding  shares,  to remove a  Trustee.  Except for a change in the
         name of the Trust, no amendment may be made to the Declaration of Trust
         without  the  affirmative  vote of the  holders of more than 50% of its
         outstanding  shares.  Shareholders  have no  preemptive  or  conversion
         rights.  The Fund may be  terminated  upon  the sale of its  assets  to
         another issuer,  if such sale is approved by the vote of the holders of
         more than 50% of its outstanding shares. If not so terminated, the Fund
         intends to continue indefinitely.

Liabilities; Separate Series of Shares

          The Fund's Declaration of Trust provides that the Trustees will not be
         liable for errors of judgment  or mistakes of fact or law,  but nothing
         in the Declaration of Trust protects a Trustee against any liability to
         which he would  otherwise be subject by reason of willful  misfeasance,
         bad  faith,  gross  negligence,  or  reckless  disregard  of the duties
         involved  in  the  conduct  of his  office.  Under  Massachusetts  law,
         shareholders of such a trust may, under certain circumstances,  be held
         personally liable as partners for a trust's  obligations.  However, the
         risk  of  a  shareholder   incurring   financial  loss  on  account  of
         shareholder  liability  is limited to  circumstances  in which the Fund
         itself is unable to meet its obligations since the Declaration of Trust
         provides for  indemnification  and reimbursement of expenses out of the
         property of the Fund to any shareholder held personally  liable for any
         obligation  of the Fund  and also  provides  that  the Fund  shall,  if
         requested, assume the defense of any claim made against any shareholder
         for any  act or  obligation  of the  Trust  and  satisfy  any  judgment
         recovered thereon.

          The Fund  reserves the right to create and issue a number of series of
         shares,  in which  case the  shares of each  series  would  participate
         equally in the earnings,  dividends and assets of the particular series
         and would vote separately to approve  management  agreements or changes
         in investment policies, but shares of all series would vote together in
         the  election or  selection of  Trustees,  principal  underwriters  and
         accountants  and on  any  proposed  material  amendment  to the  Fund's
         Declaration of Trust.  Upon  liquidation of the Fund,  shareholders  of
         each  series  would be  entitled to share pro rata in the net assets of
         their respective series available for distribution to shareholders.



<PAGE>


                              FINANCIAL STATEMENTS



THE GABELLI ASSET FUND
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS -- DECEMBER 31, 1998
- - ----------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       MARKET
       SHARES                                           COST           VALUE
       ------                                           ----           ------
<C>                     <S>                         <C>            <C>
                        COMMON STOCKS -- 96.3%
                        AEROSPACE--0.6%
        150,000         Boeing Co. ...............  $  5,329,532   $    4,893,750
         55,000         Northrop Grumman Corp. ...     4,456,982        4,021,875
                                                    ------------   --------------
                                                       9,786,514        8,915,625
                                                    ------------   --------------
                        AGRICULTURE--0.6%
         20,000         Agribrands International
                         Inc. ....................       282,787          600,000
        500,000         Archer-Daniels-Midland
                         Co. .....................     8,729,803        8,593,750
         10,000         Monsanto Co. .............       405,188          475,000
                                                    ------------   --------------
                                                       9,417,778        9,668,750
                                                    ------------   --------------
                        AUTOMOTIVE--0.6%
        140,000         General Motors Corp. .....     4,054,621       10,027,500
                                                    ------------   --------------
                        AUTOMOTIVE: PARTS AND
                         ACCESSORIES--3.8%
         20,000         Borg-Warner Automotive
                         Inc. ....................       652,845        1,115,000
        120,809         Dana Corp. ...............     1,759,438        4,938,068
        123,000         Federal-Mogul Corp. ......     3,262,690        7,318,500
        600,000         GenCorp Inc. .............     3,684,662       14,962,500
        255,000         Genuine Parts Co. ........     6,225,641        8,526,563
        115,000         Johnson Controls Inc. ....     2,268,501        6,785,000
        238,500         Modine Manufacturing
                         Co. .....................     5,125,982        8,645,625
        180,000         Standard Motor Products
                         Inc. ....................     2,323,936        4,365,000
         35,000         Superior Industries
                         International Inc. ......       693,283          973,438
        100,000         TransPro Inc. ............       788,321          487,500
         90,000         Wynn's International
                         Inc. ....................     1,140,063        1,991,250
                                                    ------------   --------------
                                                      27,925,362       60,108,444
                                                    ------------   --------------
                        AVIATION: PARTS AND SERVICES--1.3%
         10,000         BE Aerospace Inc.+........       193,625          210,000
        370,000         Coltec Industries Inc.+...     5,060,746        7,215,000
        181,000         Curtiss-Wright Corp. .....     2,275,020        6,900,625
         55,000         Fairchild Corp., Cl. A....     1,047,890          866,250
         60,000         Hi-Shear Industries
                         Inc. ....................       510,932          155,625
         40,000         Hudson General Corp. .....     1,121,008        2,520,000
         72,000         Precision Castparts
                         Corp. ...................     2,725,279        3,186,000
                                                    ------------   --------------
                                                      12,934,500       21,053,500
                                                    ------------   --------------
                        BROADCASTING--4.5%
         75,000         CBS Corp. ................     1,874,672        2,456,250
        445,255         Chris-Craft Industries
                         Inc. ....................     9,829,327       21,455,725
         69,551         Chris-Craft Industries
                         Inc., Cl. B (a)..........     1,132,440        3,351,489
          8,700         Gray Communications
                         Systems Inc. ............       172,878          159,319
        181,300         Gray Communications
                         Systems Inc., Cl. B......     2,352,215        2,481,544
        175,000         Grupo Televisa SA, GDR+...     3,689,840        4,320,313
          3,000         Infinity Broadcasting
                         Corp. ...................        61,500           82,125
        129,700         Liberty Corp. ............     4,361,332        6,371,513
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       MARKET
       SHARES                                           COST           VALUE
       ------                                           ----           ------
<C>                     <S>                         <C>            <C>
        115,000         Paxson Communications
                         Corp., Cl. A+............  $  1,231,309   $    1,056,563
        400,000         Television Broadcasting
                         Ltd. ....................     1,815,551        1,032,578
        247,500         United Television Inc. ...    15,847,291       28,462,500
                                                    ------------   --------------
                                                      42,368,355       71,229,919
                                                    ------------   --------------
                        BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION--0.3%
        167,000         Nortek Inc.+..............       797,319        4,613,375
          4,333         Nortek Inc., Special
                         Common (a)...............        59,049          119,699
                                                    ------------   --------------
                                                         856,368        4,733,074
                                                    ------------   --------------
                        BUSINESS SERVICES--1.0%
         48,000         Avis Rent A Car Inc.+.....     1,198,503        1,161,000
         54,100         Berlitz International
                         Inc., New+...............       847,842        1,568,900
        140,000         Cendant Corp. ............     2,249,607        2,668,750
         14,100         Dollar Thrifty Automotive
                         Group Inc.+..............       227,336          181,538
        100,000         Ecolab Inc. ..............     1,571,512        3,618,750
         23,046         Hach Co. .................       186,972          276,552
         16,546         Hach Co., Cl. A...........       113,613          169,597
         20,000         Hertz Corp. ..............       784,937          912,500
         68,000         Landauer Inc. ............       422,093        2,201,500
        200,000         Nashua Corp.+.............     3,675,056        2,662,500
                                                    ------------   --------------
                                                      11,277,471       15,421,587
                                                    ------------   --------------
                        CABLE--7.4%
        810,000         Cablevision Systems Corp.,
                         Cl. A+...................     7,971,521       40,651,875
         40,000         Comcast Corp., Cl. A......       593,113        2,297,500
        555,000         MediaOne Group Inc. ......    11,600,961       26,085,000
         70,000         Shaw Communications Inc.,
                         Cl. B....................       555,126        1,695,391
        640,000         TCI Ventures Group........     3,891,947       15,080,000
        522,556         Tele-Communications Inc.,
                         Cl. A New+...............     9,228,178       28,903,879
         65,000         United International
                         Holdings Inc., Cl. A+....       884,424        1,251,250
                                                    ------------   --------------
                                                      34,725,270      115,964,895
                                                    ------------   --------------
                        CLOSED-END FUNDS--0.1%
         84,000         Royce Value Trust Inc. ...       949,972        1,155,000
                                                    ------------   --------------
                        COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT--0.4%
        110,000         Allen Telecom Inc.+.......       687,440          735,625
         47,000         Motorola Inc. ............       622,493        2,869,939
         43,000         Northern Telecom Ltd......       822,685        2,155,375
                                                    ------------   --------------
                                                       2,132,618        5,760,939
                                                    ------------   --------------
                        CONSUMER PRODUCTS--4.2%
         10,000         Avon Products Inc. .......       307,750          442,500
        607,000         Carter-Wallace Inc. ......     9,514,363       11,912,375
          2,750         Christian Dior SA.........       307,335          303,971
        206,500         Church & Dwight Co.
                         Inc. ....................     4,664,837        7,421,094
</TABLE>
 
                See accompanying notes to financial statements.
                                       12
<PAGE>
THE GABELLI ASSET FUND
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED) -- DECEMBER 31, 1998
- - ----------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       MARKET
       SHARES                                           COST           VALUE
       ------                                           ----           ------
<C>                     <S>                         <C>            <C>
                        COMMON STOCKS (CONTINUED)
                        CONSUMER PRODUCTS (CONTINUED)
         20,000         Department 56 Inc.+.......  $    386,250   $      751,250
         22,000         Eastman Kodak Co. ........     1,271,475        1,584,000
         65,000         First Brands Corp. .......       910,850        2,563,439
        250,000         Fortune Brands Inc. ......     5,681,567        7,906,250
        230,000         Gallaher Group plc, ADR...     2,857,199        6,253,125
        100,000         General Cigar Holdings
                         Inc. ....................       954,213          868,750
         93,356         General Cigar Holdings
                         Inc., Cl. B+ (a).........       917,834          811,030
         85,000         Gillette Co. .............     1,215,450        4,106,563
         40,000         Harley Davidson Inc. .....       198,900        1,895,000
         13,000         National Presto Industries
                         Inc. ....................       501,400          554,125
         25,000         Nine West Group Inc. .....       489,573          389,063
         40,000         Philip Morris Companies
                         Inc. ....................     1,585,937        2,140,000
        505,000         Ralston Purina Group......     6,131,945       16,349,375
         41,700         Syratech Corp.+...........       954,711          667,200
                                                    ------------   --------------
                                                      38,851,589       66,919,110
                                                    ------------   --------------
                        CONSUMER SERVICES--0.7%
        500,000         Loewen Group Inc. ........     7,225,157        4,218,750
        370,000         Rollins Inc. .............     5,905,989        6,475,000
                                                    ------------   --------------
                                                      13,131,146       10,693,750
                                                    ------------   --------------
                        DIVERSIFIED INDUSTRIAL--3.6%
         10,000         Anixter International
                         Inc.+....................        90,087          203,125
         10,000         Cooper Industries Inc. ...       484,437          476,875
        315,000         Crane Co. ................     3,712,294        9,509,063
        205,000         GATX Corp. ...............     4,329,860        7,764,375
         16,000         General Electric Co. .....       394,980        1,633,000
        118,000         Honeywell Inc. ...........     6,297,010        8,886,875
        270,000         ITT Industries Inc. ......     7,130,128       10,732,500
        145,000         Katy Industries Inc. .....     1,312,250        2,546,564
         13,000         Kyocera Corp., ADR........       448,063          675,188
        350,000         Lamson & Sessions Co.+....     1,899,408        1,793,750
        260,000         Lawter International
                         Inc. ....................     2,596,834        3,022,500
         46,062         Myers Industries Inc. ....       172,636        1,318,525
         68,000         National Service
                         Industries Inc. .........     1,591,349        2,584,000
          8,000         Pentair Inc. .............       321,588          318,500
        125,000         Thomas Industries Inc. ...     1,397,900        2,453,125
         80,000         Trinity Industries
                         Inc. ....................       977,970        3,080,000
                                                    ------------   --------------
                                                      33,156,794       56,997,965
                                                    ------------   --------------
                        ELECTRONICS--0.4%
          3,000         Hitachi Ltd., ADR.........       302,567          181,314
         10,000         Imation Corp.+............       203,344          175,000
        800,000         Oak Technology Inc.+......     2,960,082        2,800,000
         10,000         Sony Corp., ADR...........       544,302          717,500
        120,000         UCAR International
                         Inc. ....................     2,704,342        2,137,500
                                                    ------------   --------------
                                                       6,714,637        6,011,314
                                                    ------------   --------------
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       MARKET
       SHARES                                           COST           VALUE
       ------                                           ----           ------
<C>                     <S>                         <C>            <C>
                        ENERGY AND UTILITIES--3.8%
        100,000         Atlantic Richfield Co. ...  $  5,368,509   $    6,525,000
        145,500         BJ Services Co.+..........     2,263,687        2,273,438
         50,000         British Petroleum Co. plc,
                         ADR......................     1,110,595        4,750,000
         40,000         Brown (Tom) Inc. .........       653,595          401,250
         30,000         Chevron Corp. ............     1,016,500        2,488,125
        202,413         Citizens Utilities Co.,
                         Cl. B....................     1,984,213        1,644,604
        153,000         Eastern Enterprises.......     4,306,015        6,693,750
         15,000         Energy East Corp. ........       653,767          847,500
         60,000         Enron Oil & Gas Co. ......       548,976        1,035,000
        180,000         Exxon Corp. ..............     5,413,043       13,162,500
         30,000         Global Marine Inc. .......       483,312          275,625
         40,000         Halliburton Co. ..........       840,758        1,185,000
         10,000         New England Electric
                         System...................       484,301          481,250
         20,000         Niagara Mohawk Power
                         Corp. ...................       307,875          322,500
        200,000         PennzEnergy Co.+..........     6,043,516        3,262,500
        195,000         Pennzoil-Quaker State
                         Co.+.....................     6,098,468        2,888,438
        325,000         Southwest Gas Corp. ......     5,939,311        8,734,375
         55,000         Texaco Inc. ..............     1,741,375        2,908,125
                                                    ------------   --------------
                                                      45,257,816       59,878,980
                                                    ------------   --------------
                        ENTERTAINMENT--12.4%
        230,000         Ascent Entertainment Group
                         Inc. ....................     2,214,090        1,696,250
         19,406         EMI Group plc.............        75,408          129,707
        100,000         EMI Group plc, ADR........     1,246,297        1,362,500
         13,600         Fisher Companies Inc. ....       905,975          931,600
         40,000         Fox Entertainment Group
                         Inc. ....................       887,437        1,007,500
        150,000         GC Companies Inc.+........     5,073,921        6,243,750
        862,500         Tele-Communications
                         Inc./Liberty Media Group,
                         Cl. A+...................     9,062,411       39,728,906
      1,170,000         Time Warner Inc. .........    16,600,406       72,613,125
         11,000         Todd-AO Corp., Cl. A......        30,000           88,000
        900,000         USA Networks Inc.+........    13,134,802       29,812,500
        360,000         Viacom Inc., Cl. A+.......     9,191,153       26,482,500
        215,000         Viacom Inc., Cl. B+.......     6,644,147       15,910,000
                                                    ------------   --------------
                                                      65,066,047      196,006,338
                                                    ------------   --------------
                        ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES--0.0%
         30,000         EnviroSource Inc. ........       185,450          153,750
                                                    ------------   --------------
                        EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES--10.6%
        700,000         Aeroquip-Vickers Inc. ....    21,533,611       20,956,250
        300,000         AMETEK Inc. ..............     3,455,782        6,693,750
        155,000         AMP Inc. .................     6,078,170        8,069,688
         98,000         Amphenol Corp., Cl. A+....     2,582,750        2,958,375
         22,000         AptarGroup Inc. ..........       197,343          617,375
         88,100         Caterpillar Inc. .........     1,178,142        4,052,600
        110,000         CLARCOR Inc. .............     1,490,481        2,200,000
        285,000         CTS Corp. ................     1,959,101       12,397,500
        410,000         Deere & Co. ..............     6,454,360       13,581,250
        230,000         Donaldson Co. Inc. .......     1,457,271        4,772,500
</TABLE>
 
                See accompanying notes to financial statements.
                                       13
<PAGE>
THE GABELLI ASSET FUND
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED) -- DECEMBER 31, 1998
- - ----------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       MARKET
       SHARES                                           COST           VALUE
       ------                                           ----           ------
<C>                     <S>                         <C>            <C>
                        COMMON STOCKS (CONTINUED)
                        EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES (CONTINUED)
         32,000         EG&G Inc. ................  $    567,663   $      890,000
         10,000         Fedders Corp. ............        59,939           58,125
        110,000         Flowserve Corp. ..........     2,660,256        1,821,875
        166,300         Gerber Scientific Inc. ...     1,754,645        3,960,019
        315,000         Hussmann International
                         Inc. ....................     3,070,548        6,103,125
        445,000         IDEX Corp. ...............     3,661,463       10,902,500
         60,000         Ingersoll-Rand Co. .......     1,496,510        2,816,250
        200,000         Kollmorgen Corp. .........     1,861,980        3,050,000
         88,000         Lufkin Industries Inc. ...     1,591,261        1,628,000
         35,000         Manitowoc Co. Inc. .......       367,746        1,553,125
        160,000         Mark IV Industries
                         Inc. ....................     1,227,050        2,080,000
         50,000         Materials Sciences
                         Corp.+...................       452,506          425,000
         28,000         Met-Pro Corp. ............       374,588          350,000
        365,000         Navistar International
                         Corp.+...................     4,974,591       10,402,500
         20,000         PACCAR Inc. ..............       522,020          822,500
        291,000         Pittway Corp. ............     2,160,298        9,839,438
        313,000         Pittway Corp., Cl. A......     1,076,919       10,348,563
         97,355         Sequa Corp., Cl. A+.......     4,394,277        5,829,131
         96,000         Sequa Corp., Cl. B+.......     4,869,340        7,056,000
        173,000         SPS Technologies Inc.+....     2,740,938        9,623,125
         50,000         U.S. Filter Corp. ........       610,576        1,143,750
         30,000         Valmont Industries
                         Inc. ....................       242,908          416,250
                                                    ------------   --------------
                                                      87,125,033      167,418,564
                                                    ------------   --------------
                        FINANCIAL SERVICES--6.0%
              1         Al-Zar Ltd.+ (a)..........             0              350
          3,000         Alleghany Corp.+..........       596,673          563,625
         65,000         American Bankers Insurance
                         Group Inc. ..............     3,384,286        3,144,375
        320,000         American Express Co. .....     7,431,567       32,720,000
         29,700         Argonaut Group Inc. ......       894,382          727,650
            220         Berkshire Hathaway
                         Inc.+....................       874,549       15,400,000
        130,000         Block (H&R) Inc. .........     4,448,127        5,850,000
         70,000         Commerzbank AG, ADR.......     1,365,494        2,187,500
        150,000         Deutsche Bank AG, ADR.....     6,596,875        8,737,500
        175,000         Lehman Brothers Holdings
                         Inc. ....................     3,156,725        7,710,938
          5,000         Leucadia National
                         Corp. ...................       185,050          157,500
         20,000         Mellon Bank Corp. ........     1,220,895        1,375,000
          5,000         Merrill Lynch & Co. ......       351,519          333,750
         15,917         Metris Companies Inc. ....       438,360          800,821
        255,000         Midland Co. ..............     2,686,195        6,151,875
          2,000         MONY Group Inc.+..........        57,225           62,622
         50,000         Paine Webber Group
                         Inc. ....................     1,351,387        1,931,250
         30,000         Pioneer Group Inc. .......       487,000          592,500
         43,000         State Street Corp. .......       638,075        2,991,185
         20,000         SunTrust Banks Inc. ......       424,879        1,530,000
         11,941         Transamerica Corp. .......       583,636        1,379,186
          8,000         Value Line Inc. ..........       115,500          315,000
                                                    ------------   --------------
                                                      37,288,399       94,662,627
                                                    ------------   --------------
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       MARKET
       SHARES                                           COST           VALUE
       ------                                           ----           ------
<C>                     <S>                         <C>            <C>
                        FOOD AND BEVERAGE--7.2%
         50,000         Bestfoods Inc. ...........  $  1,329,872   $    2,662,500
         76,300         Brown-Forman Corp., Cl.
                         A........................     2,574,752        5,321,925
         90,000         Chock Full o'Nuts
                         Corp.+...................       554,148          562,500
         45,000         Coca-Cola Co. ............       387,203        3,009,375
         60,000         Corn Products
                         International Inc. ......     1,821,807        1,822,500
         29,000         Diageo plc, ADR...........     1,306,076        1,341,250
          4,500         Farmer Brothers Co. ......       476,380          963,000
         85,000         General Mills Inc. .......     2,867,929        6,608,750
         60,000         Heinz (H.J.) Co. .........     2,398,556        3,397,500
         48,000         Hershey Foods Corp. ......     1,016,513        2,985,000
         15,000         Keebler Foods Co.+........       427,150          564,375
        240,000         Kellogg Co. ..............     6,053,037        8,190,000
         30,000         LVHM Moet Hennessy Louis
                         Vuitton, ADR.............     1,144,062        1,222,500
        410,000         PepsiCo Inc. .............    13,030,375       16,784,375
        330,000         Quaker Oats Co. ..........    11,989,122       19,635,000
         50,000         Ralcorp Holdings Inc.+....       595,439          912,500
        310,000         Seagram Co. ..............     9,346,822       11,780,000
        129,602         Tootsie Roll Industries
                         Inc. ....................     2,074,905        5,070,678
        560,000         Whitman Corp. ............     6,164,368       14,210,000
         80,000         Wrigley (Wm.) Jr. Co. ....     3,673,016        7,165,000
                                                    ------------   --------------
                                                      69,231,532      114,208,728
                                                    ------------   --------------
                        HEALTH CARE--2.7%
         12,000         Amgen Inc. ...............       220,320        1,254,747
         18,000         Biogen Inc.+..............       270,450        1,494,000
         40,000         Chiron Corp.+.............       550,315        1,047,500
        100,000         Genentech Inc.+...........     4,804,136        7,968,750
         10,000         Glaxo Wellcome plc........       549,120          695,000
        100,000         IVAX Corp. ...............       884,612        1,243,750
         65,000         Johnson & Johnson.........     1,343,465        5,451,875
         55,000         Merck & Co. Inc. .........     1,853,500        8,122,813
        105,000         Pfizer Inc. ..............     1,677,963       13,170,938
         25,000         SmithKline Beecham plc....     1,520,214        1,737,500
                                                    ------------   --------------
                                                      13,674,095       42,186,873
                                                    ------------   --------------
                        HOTELS AND GAMING--1.7%
        200,000         Circus Circus Enterprises
                         Inc.+....................     4,440,166        2,287,500
        320,700         Gaylord Entertainment Co.,
                         Cl. A....................     8,604,007        9,661,088
         30,000         GTECH Holdings Corp.+.....       545,939          768,750
         12,000         Harrah's Entertainment
                         Inc.+....................       113,002          188,250
        360,000         Hilton Hotels Corp. ......     5,950,853        6,885,000
        203,389         Ladbroke Group plc........       535,440          816,668
        300,000         Mirage Resorts Inc.+......     2,782,182        4,481,250
         40,000         Starwood Hotels & Resorts
                         Worldwide Inc. ..........     1,790,993          907,500
         60,000         Trump Hotels & Casino
                         Resorts Inc.+............       256,680          225,000
                                                    ------------   --------------
                                                      25,019,262       26,221,006
                                                    ------------   --------------
</TABLE>
 
                See accompanying notes to financial statements.
                                       14
<PAGE>
THE GABELLI ASSET FUND
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED) -- DECEMBER 31, 1998
- - --------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       MARKET
       SHARES                                           COST           VALUE
       ------                                           ----           ------
<C>                     <S>                         <C>            <C>
                        COMMON STOCKS (CONTINUED)
                        METALS AND MINING--0.2%
         30,000         Barrick Gold Corp. .......  $    622,076   $      585,000
        100,000         Echo Bay Mines Ltd.+......       754,551          175,000
         45,000         Homestake Mining Co. .....       650,187          413,438
         65,000         Newmont Mining Corp. .....     1,546,169        1,174,064
        360,000         Pegasus Gold Inc.+........       263,140            6,300
         22,500         Placer Dome Inc. .........       285,944          258,750
        250,000         Royal Oak Mines Inc.+.....       652,034           62,500
         40,000         TVX Gold Inc.+............        91,563           72,500
                                                    ------------   --------------
                                                       4,865,664        2,747,552
                                                    ------------   --------------
                        PAPER AND FOREST PRODUCTS--0.9%
        180,000         Greif Bros. Corp., Cl.
                         A........................     3,637,710        5,253,750
         35,000         Sealed Air Corp. .........     1,318,842        1,787,185
        312,000         St. Joe Corp. ............     3,601,269        7,312,500
                                                    ------------   --------------
                                                       8,557,821       14,353,435
                                                    ------------   --------------
                        PUBLISHING--3.4%
         70,000         American Media Inc., Cl.
                         A+.......................       674,812          389,375
          4,000         Central Newspapers Inc.,
                         Cl. A....................       289,413          285,750
         55,000         Dow Jones & Co. Inc. .....     2,569,066        2,646,875
         38,000         Harcourt General Inc. ....     1,749,900        2,023,500
         53,600         McClatchy Newspapers Inc.,
                         Cl. A....................     1,026,635        1,896,100
         80,000         McGraw-Hill Companies
                         Inc. ....................     2,603,081        8,150,000
        325,000         Media General Inc., Cl.
                         A........................     7,448,870       17,225,000
         88,000         Meredith Corp. ...........     1,787,933        3,333,000
        140,000         New York Times Co., Cl.
                         A........................     1,148,435        4,856,250
         15,000         News Corp. Ltd., ADR......       255,587          396,563
        305,000         Penton Media Inc. ........     1,064,715        6,176,250
         50,000         Reader's Digest
                         Association Inc., Cl.
                         A........................     1,384,340        1,259,375
         84,000         Reader's Digest
                         Association Inc., Cl.
                         B........................     1,999,190        2,026,500
      1,650,000         Seat-Pagine Gialle SpA+...       343,343        1,556,745
          6,000         Scripps (E.W.) Co., Cl.
                         A........................       108,669          298,500
         68,700         Thomas Nelson Inc. .......       938,906          927,450
                                                    ------------   --------------
                                                      25,392,895       53,447,233
                                                    ------------   --------------
                        REAL ESTATE--0.5%
        380,000         Catellus Development
                         Corp.+...................     3,687,688        5,438,750
         48,000         Florida East Coast
                         Industries Inc. .........       631,838        1,689,000
         70,000         Griffin Land & Nurseries
                         Inc.+....................       889,441          892,500
          1,000         Lennar Corp. .............        13,369           25,250
          1,000         LNR Property Corp. .......        21,243           19,938
                                                    ------------   --------------
                                                       5,243,579        8,065,438
                                                    ------------   --------------
                        RETAIL--2.3%
         41,000         Aaron Rents Inc. .........       146,083          620,125
         20,000         Aaron Rents Inc., Cl. A...        83,263          298,750
        105,000         Amercian Stores Co. ......     2,535,243        3,878,435
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       MARKET
       SHARES                                           COST           VALUE
       ------                                           ----           ------
<C>                     <S>                         <C>            <C>
        190,000         Burlington Coat Factory
                         Warehouse Corp. .........  $  2,180,142   $    3,099,372
         50,000         Coldwater Creek Inc.+.....       960,937          687,500
         50,000         Fingerhut Companies
                         Inc. ....................       272,975          771,872
         70,000         Kroger Co.+...............       818,000        4,235,000
        150,000         Lillian Vernon Corp. .....     2,201,747        2,475,000
         50,000         Midas Inc. ...............       376,453        1,556,250
        576,700         Neiman Marcus Group
                         Inc.+....................     8,105,603       14,381,456
        200,000         Republic Industries
                         Inc.+....................     3,600,569        2,950,000
        200,000         Scheib (Earl) Inc.+.......     1,432,580        1,100,000
                                                    ------------   --------------
                                                      22,713,595       36,053,760
                                                    ------------   --------------
                        SATELLITE--0.6%
        200,000         COMSAT Corp. .............     3,731,935        7,200,000
        100,000         Globalstar
                         Telecommunications Ltd...       423,210        2,012,500
                                                    ------------   --------------
                                                       4,155,145        9,212,500
                                                    ------------   --------------
                        SPECIALTY CHEMICALS--0.7%
        375,000         Ferro Corp. ..............     5,437,040        9,750,000
         95,000         Sybron Chemicals Inc. ....     2,038,204        1,282,500
                                                    ------------   --------------
                                                       7,475,244       11,032,500
                                                    ------------   --------------
                        TELECOMMUNICATIONS-- 7.5%
        122,000         Aliant Communications
                         Inc. ....................     1,900,906        4,986,750
          5,000         Allegiance Telecom
                         Inc. ....................        74,063           60,625
         85,000         Alltel Corp. .............     2,106,961        5,084,064
        140,000         AT&T Corp. ...............     4,923,962       10,535,000
         50,000         BC Telecom Inc. ..........       877,855        1,364,405
         30,000         BC Telecom Inc., ADR......       537,319          818,645
        210,000         BCE Inc. .................     3,525,210        7,966,873
         36,000         BellSouth Corp. ..........       455,094        1,795,500
        130,000         Cable & Wireless plc,
                         ADR......................     2,878,267        4,777,500
        170,200         Commonwealth Telephone
                         Enterprises Inc.+........     2,290,984        5,701,700
        186,965         Commonwealth Telephone
                         Enterprises Inc., Cl.
                         B+.......................     3,517,737        5,889,398
         65,000         Embratel Participacoes
                         SA+......................     1,368,933          905,938
        110,000         Frontier Corp. ...........     2,648,244        3,740,000
        155,000         GTE Corp. ................     3,595,431       10,452,813
         32,000         Hong Kong
                         Telecommunications Ltd.,
                         ADR......................       502,292          562,000
        400,000         RCN Corp. ................     2,835,846        7,075,000
         10,000         Rogers Communications
                         Inc., Cl. B+.............        77,553           89,111
        310,000         Rogers Communications
                         Inc., Cl. B, ADR+........     2,230,006        2,751,250
        270,000         SBC Communications
                         Inc. ....................     6,265,205       14,478,750
        100,000         Sprint Corp. .............     1,714,705        8,412,500
         13,500         Tele Centro Sul
                         Participacoes SA+........       784,466          564,469
        500,000         Telecom Italia SpA........     1,046,696        4,263,812
        125,000         Telecom Italia SpA, ADR...     2,773,903       10,875,000
</TABLE>
 
                See accompanying notes to financial statements.
                                       15
<PAGE>
THE GABELLI ASSET FUND
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED) -- DECEMBER 31, 1998
- - -------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       MARKET
       SHARES                                           COST           VALUE
       ------                                           ----           ------
<C>                     <S>                         <C>            <C>
                        COMMON STOCKS (CONTINUED)
                        TELECOMMUNICATIONS (CONTINUED)
         67,500         Telecomunicacoes
                         Brasileiras SA, ADR......  $      5,188   $        7,383
         15,300         Telefonica de Espana,
                         ADR......................       596,375        2,071,238
         10,000         Telefonos de Mexico SA,
                         Cl. L, ADR...............       281,828          486,875
         67,500         Tele Norte Leste
                         Participacoes SA+........     1,032,465          839,531
         67,500         Telesp Participacoes SA...     2,531,873        1,493,438
          8,000         US West Inc.+.............       245,907          517,000
                                                    ------------   --------------
                                                      53,625,274      118,566,568
                                                    ------------   --------------
                        TRANSPORTATION--0.7%
        132,000         AMR Corp.+................     4,051,686        7,837,500
          3,000         Burlington Northern Santa
                         Fe Corp. ................        94,519          101,250
         40,000         CSX Corp. ................     1,859,563        1,660,000
         10,000         Kansas City Southern
                         Industries Inc. .........       317,503          491,875
          1,000         Norfolk Southern Corp. ...        31,738           31,689
          1,000         Providence & Worcester
                         Railroad Co. ............        18,050           12,500
          1,000         RailAmerica Inc.+.........         6,719            8,500
          3,000         Wisconsin Central
                         Transportation Corp.+....        60,946           51,563
                                                    ------------   --------------
                                                       6,440,724       10,194,877
                                                    ------------   --------------
                        WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS--5.6%
         35,000         AirTouch Communications
                         Inc.+....................       791,589        2,524,375
         85,000         Associated Group Inc., Cl.
                         A+.......................     1,677,738        3,655,000
         37,000         Associated Group Inc., Cl.
                         B+.......................        98,787        1,572,500
        460,000         Century Telephone
                         Enterprises Inc. ........     7,528,687       31,050,000
         55,000         NEXTEL Communications
                         Inc., Cl. A+.............       660,330        1,299,375
         50,000         Rogers Cantel Mobile
                         Communications Inc.+.....       554,438          609,375
         50,000         Sprint Corp.(PCS Group)...       220,292        1,156,250
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       MARKET
       SHARES                                           COST           VALUE
       ------                                           ----           ------
<C>                     <S>                         <C>            <C>
          6,750         Tele Celular Sul
                         Participacoes SA.........  $    107,916   $      117,703
         22,500         Tele Centro Oeste Celular
                         Participacoes SA+........        67,447           66,094
      1,800,000         Telecom Italia Mobile
                         SpA......................     1,661,796       13,281,321
          1,350         Tele Leste Celular
                         Participacoes SA.........        36,110           38,306
          3,375         Telemig Celular
                         Participacoes SA+........        97,539           71,719
          3,375         Tele Nordeste Celular
                         Participacoes SA.........        49,807           62,438
          1,350         Tele Norte Celular
                         Participacoes SA+........        20,857           30,459
        700,800         Telephone & Data Systems
                         Inc. ....................    25,126,188       31,492,200
         27,000         Telesp Celular
                         Participacoes SA+........       863,327          472,500
         13,500         Tele Sudeste Celular
                         Participacoes SA+........       427,513          279,281
         10,000         United States Cellular
                         Corp. ...................       312,933          380,000
                                                    ------------   --------------
                                                      40,303,294       88,158,896
                                                    ------------   --------------
                        TOTAL COMMON STOCKS.......   769,903,864    1,517,230,997
                                                    ------------   --------------
                        PREFERRED STOCKS -- 0.2%
                        METALS AND MINING--0.0%
         10,000         Freeport-McMoRan Inc.,
                         7.00% Conv. Pfd. ........       213,000          148,750
                                                    ------------   --------------
                        TELECOMMUNICATIONS--0.2%
         35,000         Sprint Corp.,
                         8.25% Conv. Pfd. ........     1,295,406        2,887,500
      1,588,267         Telecomunicacoes de Sao
                         Paulo SA (Telesp),
                         Preference Shares........       152,310          216,501
      1,588,267         Telecomunicacoes de Sao
                         Paulo SA (Telesp),
                         Preference Shares, Cl. B
                         .........................        60,929           69,801
                                                    ------------   --------------
                                                       1,508,645        3,173,802
                                                    ------------   --------------
                        TOTAL PREFERRED STOCKS....     1,721,645        3,322,552
                                                    ------------   --------------
</TABLE>
 
                See accompanying notes to financial statements.
                                       16
<PAGE>
THE GABELLI ASSET FUND
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED) -- DECEMBER 31, 1998
- - --------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 PRINCIPAL                                                MARKET
  AMOUNT                                   COST           VALUE
 ---------                                 ----           ------
<S>           <C>                      <C>            <C>
              CORPORATE BONDS--0.2%
              ENTERTAINMENT--0.2%
$2,300,000    Viacom Inc., Sub. Deb.
               8.00%, 07/07/06.......  $  1,677,650   $    2,397,750
                                       ------------   --------------
              U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS--4.6%
74,665,000    U.S. Treasury Bills,
              4.21% to 5.14%++, due
               01/14/99 to 03/18/99..    74,095,837       74,117,524
                                       ------------   --------------
              TOTAL INVESTMENTS --
               101.3%................  $847,398,996*   1,597,068,823
                                       ============
              OTHER ASSETS AND 
                LIABILITIES (NET)--(1.3)%..........      (21,092,918)
                                                      --------------
              NET ASSETS --100.0%
               (44,429,209 shares outstanding).....   $1,575,975,905
                                                      ==============
              NET ASSET VALUE, OFFERING AND
               REDEMPTION PRICE PER SHARE..........           $35.47
                                                              ====== 
                                                               
 PRINCIPAL                              SETTLEMENT    NET UNREALIZED
  AMOUNT                                   DATE        DEPRECIATION
- - -----------                            ------------   --------------
<C>           <S>                      <C>            <C>
              FORWARD FOREIGN
               EXCHANGE CONTRACTS
 12,100,000(b) Deliver Hong Kong
               Dollars in exchange for    
               USD $1,561,119............  02/26/99   $      (52,861)
</TABLE>
 
- - ---------------
 
<TABLE>
<C>   <S>                                     <C>
   *  For Federal tax purposes:
      Aggregate cost........................  $848,880,921
                                              ============
      Gross unrealized appreciation.........  $776,378,475
      Gross unrealized depreciation.........   (28,190,573)
                                              ------------
      Net unrealized appreciation...........  $748,187,902
                                              ============
</TABLE>
 
- - ---------------
 
 (a)  Security fair valued as determined by the Board of
      Trustees.
 (b)  Principal amount denoted in Hong Kong Dollars.
   +  Non-income producing security.
  ++  Represents annualized yield at date of purchase.
ADR-- American Depositary Receipt.
GDR-- Global Depositary Receipt.
USD-- U.S. Dollars.
 
                See accompanying notes to financial statements.
                                       17
<PAGE>
 
                             THE GABELLI ASSET FUND
 
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
DECEMBER 31, 1998
- - ----------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                        <C>
ASSETS:
 Investments, at value (Cost $847,398,996)..............   $1,597,068,823
 Cash and foreign currency, at value (Cost $3,471,091)..        3,491,372
 Dividends and interest receivable......................        1,307,771
 Receivable for investments sold........................          771,071
 Receivable for Fund shares sold........................        1,385,883
 Other assets...........................................            3,327
                                                           --------------
   TOTAL ASSETS.........................................    1,604,028,247
                                                           --------------
LIABILITIES:
 Payable for investments purchased......................        7,455,631
 Payable for Fund shares redeemed.......................       18,571,777
 Payable for investment advisory fees...................        1,290,786
 Payable for distribution fees..........................          322,696
 Unrealized depreciation of foreign forward exchange
   contracts............................................           52,861
 Payable for shareholder services fees..................          152,000
 Payable to custodian...................................           45,000
 Payable to Trustees....................................            2,989
 Other accrued expenses.................................          158,602
                                                           --------------
   TOTAL LIABILITIES....................................       28,052,342
                                                           --------------
   NET ASSETS applicable to 44,429,209 shares
    outstanding.........................................   $1,575,975,905
                                                           ==============
NET ASSETS CONSIST OF:
 Shares of beneficial interest, at par value............   $      444,292
 Additional paid-in capital.............................      826,832,314
 Accumulated distributions in excess of net realized
   gain on investments and foreign currency
   transactions.........................................         (938,014)
 Net unrealized appreciation on investments
   and foreign currency transactions....................      749,637,313
                                                           --------------
   TOTAL NET ASSETS.....................................   $1,575,975,905
                                                           ==============
   NET ASSET VALUE, offering and redemption price per share
    ($1,575,975,905 / 44,429,209 shares outstanding; unlimited
     number of shares authorized of $0.01 par value) . . . .       $35.47
                                                                   ======
</TABLE>
 
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998
- - ----------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                         <C>
INVESTMENT INCOME:
 Dividends (net of foreign withholding taxes of
   $62,408)..............................................   $ 15,387,284
 Interest................................................      5,747,659
                                                            ------------
   TOTAL INVESTMENT INCOME...............................     21,134,943
                                                            ------------
EXPENSES:
 Investment advisory fees................................     14,882,733
 Distribution fees.......................................      3,708,303
 Shareholder services fees...............................        890,284
 Custodian fees..........................................        267,005
 Legal and audit fees....................................        100,600
 Shareholder communications expenses.....................         83,521
 Trustees' fees..........................................         73,000
 Miscellaneous expenses..................................        246,949
                                                            ------------
   TOTAL EXPENSES........................................     20,252,395
                                                            ------------
   NET INVESTMENT INCOME.................................        882,548
                                                            ------------
NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN/(LOSS) ON INVESTMENTS
 AND FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS:
 Net realized gain on investments and foreign currency
   transactions..........................................     59,477,782
 Net change in unrealized appreciation on investments and
   foreign currency transactions.........................    164,961,752
                                                            ------------
 NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN ON INVESTMENTS AND
   FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS.........................    224,439,534
                                                            ------------
NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS.....   $225,322,082
                                                            ============
</TABLE>
 
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
- - ------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 YEAR ENDED           YEAR ENDED
                                                              DECEMBER 31, 1998    DECEMBER 31, 1997
                                                              -----------------    -----------------
<S>                                                           <C>                  <C>
OPERATIONS:
   Net investment income....................................   $      882,548       $    2,547,863
   Net realized gain on investments and foreign currency
    transactions............................................       59,477,782          166,963,760
   Net change in unrealized appreciation on investments and
    foreign currency transactions...........................      164,961,752          207,587,959
                                                               --------------       --------------
      Net increase in net assets resulting from
       operations...........................................      225,322,082          377,099,582
                                                               --------------       --------------
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS:
   Net investment income....................................         (689,228)          (2,481,578)
   In excess of net investment income.......................               --              (93,147)
   Net realized gain on investments.........................      (59,477,782)        (166,963,945)
   In excess of net realized gain on investments............          (92,619)             (40,227)
                                                               --------------       --------------
      Total distributions to shareholders...................      (60,259,629)        (169,578,897)
                                                               --------------       --------------
SHARE TRANSACTIONS:
   Net increase in net assets from shares of beneficial
    interest transactions...................................       75,861,674           46,891,821
                                                               --------------       --------------
      Net increase in net assets............................      240,924,127          254,412,506
NET ASSETS:
   Beginning of period......................................    1,335,051,778        1,080,639,272
                                                               --------------       --------------
   End of period............................................   $1,575,975,905       $1,335,051,778
                                                               ==============       ==============
</TABLE>
 
                See accompanying notes to financial statements.
 
                                       18
<PAGE>
 
THE GABELLI ASSET FUND
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
- - -----------------------------------------------------------------
1. ORGANIZATION.  The Gabelli Asset Fund (the "Fund") was organized on November
25, 1985 as a Massachusetts business trust. The Fund is a diversified, open-end
management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"). The Fund's primary objective is growth of
capital. The Fund commenced investment operations on March 3, 1986.
 
2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES.  The preparation of financial statements in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to
make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures
in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the
Fund in the preparation of its financial statements.
 
SECURITY VALUATION.  Portfolio securities listed or traded on a nationally
recognized securities exchange, quoted by the National Association of Securities
Dealers Automated Quotations, Inc. ("Nasdaq") or traded on foreign exchanges are
valued at the last sale price on that exchange as of the close of business on
the day the securities are being valued (if there were no sales that day, the
security is valued at the average of the closing bid and asked prices or, if
there were no asked prices quoted on that day, then the security is valued at
the closing bid price on that day). All other portfolio securities for which
over-the-counter market quotations are readily available are valued at the
latest average of the bid and asked prices. Portfolio securities traded on more
than one national securities exchange or market are valued according to the
broadest and most representative market, as determined by Gabelli Funds, Inc.
(the "Adviser"). Securities and assets for which market quotations are not
readily available are valued at their fair value as determined in good faith
under procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Board
of Trustees. Short term debt securities with remaining maturities of 60 days or
less are valued at amortized cost, unless the Trustees determine such does not
reflect the securities' fair value, in which case these securities will be
valued at their fair value as determined by the Trustees. Short term debt
instruments having a greater maturity are valued at the highest bid price
obtained from a dealer maintaining an active market in those securities.
 
FORWARD FOREIGN EXCHANGE CONTRACTS.  The Fund may engage in forward foreign
exchange contracts for hedging a specific transaction with respect to either the
currency in which the transaction is denominated or another currency as deemed
appropriate by the Adviser. Forward foreign exchange contracts are valued at the
forward rate and are marked-to-market daily. The change in market value is
included in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments. When the
contract is closed, the Fund records a realized gain or loss equal to the
difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the
value at the time it was closed.
 
The use of forward foreign exchange contracts does not eliminate fluctuations in
the underlying prices of the Fund's portfolio securities, but it does establish
a rate of exchange that can be achieved in the future. Although forward foreign
exchange contracts limit the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the
hedged currency, they also limit any potential gain that might result should the
value of the currency increase. In addition, the Fund could be exposed to risks
if the counterparties to the contracts are unable to meet the terms of their
contracts.
 
                                       19
<PAGE>
THE GABELLI ASSET FUND
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
- - ----------------------------------------------------------------
 
FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION.  The books and records of the Fund are maintained
in United States (U.S.) dollars. Foreign currencies, investments and other
assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates
prevailing at the end of the period, and purchases and sales of investment
securities, income and expenses are translated at the exchange rate prevailing
on the respective dates of such transactions. Unrealized gains and losses, which
result from changes in foreign exchange rates and/or changes in market prices of
securities, have been included in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on
investments and foreign currency transactions. Net realized foreign currency
gains and losses resulting from changes in exchange rates include foreign
currency gains and losses between trade date and settlement date on investment
securities transactions, foreign currency transactions and the difference
between the amounts of interest and dividends recorded on the books of the Fund
and the amounts actually received. The portion of foreign currency gains and
losses related to fluctuation in exchange rates between the initial trade date
and subsequent sale trade date is included in realized gain/(loss) on
investments.
 
SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS AND INVESTMENT INCOME.  Securities transactions are
accounted for on the trade date with realized gain or loss on investments
determined by using the identified cost method. Interest income (including
amortization of premium and accretion of discount) is recorded as earned.
Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date.
 
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS.  Dividends 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 generally accepted accounting principles.
These differences are primarily due to differing treatments of income and gains
on various investment securities held by the Fund, timing differences and
differing characterization of distributions made by the Fund.
 
Permanent differences incurred during the year ended December 31, 1998 resulting
from different book and tax accounting policies for currency gains and losses
and certain distributions received by the Fund are reclassified between net
investment income (loss) and net realized gain (loss) on investments at year
end. For the year ended December 31, 1998, reclassifications were made to
decrease undistributed net investment income for $193,320 and increase
accumulated net realized gain on investments and foreign currency transactions
for $193,320.
 
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES.  The Fund has qualified and intends to continue to
qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. As a result, a Federal income tax provision is
not required.
 
Dividends and interest from non-U.S. sources received by the Fund are generally
subject to non-U.S. withholding taxes at rates ranging up to 30%. Such
withholding taxes may be reduced or eliminated under the terms of applicable
U.S. income tax treaties, and the Fund intends to undertake any procedural steps
required to claim the benefits of such treaties.
 
3. INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT.  The Fund has entered into an investment
advisory agreement (the "Advisory Agreement") with the Adviser which provides
that the Fund will pay the Adviser a fee, computed daily and paid monthly, at
the annual rate of 1.00% of the value of the Fund's average daily net assets. In
accordance with the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser provides a continuous
investment program for the
 
                                       20
<PAGE>
THE GABELLI ASSET FUND
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
- - --------------------------------------------------------------
 
Fund's portfolio, oversees the administration of all aspects of the Fund's
business and affairs and pays the compensation of all Officers and Trustees of
the Fund who are its affiliates.
 
4. DISTRIBUTION PLAN.  The Fund's Board of Trustees has adopted a distribution
plan (the "Plan") pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. For the year ended
December 31, 1998, the Fund incurred distribution costs payable to Gabelli &
Company, Inc., an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser, of $3,708,303
or 0.25% of average daily net assets, the annual limitation under the Plan. Such
payments are accrued daily and paid monthly.
 
5. PORTFOLIO SECURITIES.  Purchases and sales of securities for the year ended
December 31, 1998, other than short term securities, aggregated $357,444,974 and
$290,283,477, respectively.
 
6. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES.  During the year ended December 31, 1998, the
Fund paid brokerage commissions of $335,068 to Gabelli & Company, Inc. and its
affiliates.
 
7. LINE OF CREDIT.  The Fund has access to an unsecured line of credit up to
$25,000,000 from the custodian for temporary borrowing purposes. Borrowings
under this arrangement bear interest at 0.75% above the Federal Funds rate on
outstanding balances. There were no borrowings against the line of credit during
the year ended December 31, 1998.
 
8. SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST.  Transactions in shares of beneficial interest
were as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     YEAR ENDED                         YEAR ENDED
                                                                 DECEMBER 31, 1998                  DECEMBER 31, 1997
                                                          --------------------------------    ------------------------------
                                                             SHARES            AMOUNT            SHARES           AMOUNT
                                                          ------------    ----------------    ------------    --------------
<S>                                                       <C>             <C>                 <C>             <C>
Shares sold.............................................   50,493,058     $ 1,716,293,181      13,039,709     $ 421,881,081
Shares issued upon reinvestment of dividends............    1,648,815          57,057,140       4,869,910       154,702,133
Shares redeemed.........................................  (49,630,901)     (1,697,488,647)    (16,898,747)     (529,691,393)
                                                          -----------     ---------------     -----------     -------------
    Net increase........................................    2,510,972     $    75,861,674       1,010,872     $  46,891,821
                                                          ===========     ===============     ===========     =============
</TABLE>
 
9. SUBSEQUENT EVENT.  On February 9, 1999, the Adviser reorganized its
operations and corporate structure by transferring a portion of its assets and
liabilities to a successor adviser, Gabelli Funds, LLC, which is wholly owned by
Gabelli Asset Management Inc., a newly formed publicly traded company that is
80% owned by the former Adviser. Counsel to the former Adviser has concluded
that the ownership change does not constitute an assignment as defined by the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
 
                                       21
<PAGE>
 
THE GABELLI ASSET FUND
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
- - ------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Selected data for a share of beneficial interest outstanding throughout each
period:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                 YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                        -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           1998          1997              1996          1995             1994
                                                           ----          ----              ----          ----             ----
<S>                                                     <C>           <C>               <C>           <C>               <C>
OPERATING PERFORMANCE:
  Net asset value, beginning of period................  $     31.85   $     26.42       $    25.75    $    22.21        $   23.30
                                                        -----------   -----------       ----------    ----------        ---------
  Net investment income...............................         0.02          0.07             0.15          0.26             0.26
  Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on
    investments.......................................         5.02          9.97             3.29          5.28            (0.30)
                                                        -----------   -----------       ----------    ----------        ---------
  Total from investment operations....................         5.04         10.04             3.44          5.54            (0.04)
                                                        -----------   -----------       ----------    ----------        ---------
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS:
  Net investment income...............................        (0.02)        (0.07)           (0.15)        (0.25)           (0.25)
  In excess of net investment income..................           --         (0.00)(a)           --            --            (0.01)
  Net realized gain on investments....................        (1.40)        (4.54)           (2.61)        (1.75)           (0.76)
  In excess of net realized gain on investments.......        (0.00)(a)     (0.00)(a)        (0.01)        (0.00)(a)        (0.03)
                                                        -----------   -----------       ----------    ----------        ---------
  Total distributions.................................        (1.42)        (4.61)           (2.77)        (2.00)           (1.05)
                                                        -----------   -----------       ----------    ----------        ---------
  NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD......................  $     35.47   $     31.85       $    26.42    $    25.75        $   22.21
                                                        ===========   ===========       ==========    ==========        =========
  Total return+.......................................        15.9%         38.1%            13.4%         24.9%           (0.1)%
                                                        ===========   ===========       ==========    ==========        =========
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
  Net assets, end of period (in 000's)................  $ 1,575,976   $ 1,335,052       $1,080,639    $1,091,539        $ 982,250
  Ratio of net investment income to average net
    assets............................................        0.06%         0.22%            0.52%         0.95%            1.10%
  Ratio of operating expenses to average net assets...        1.36%         1.38%            1.34%         1.33%            1.28%
  Portfolio turnover rate.............................          21%           22%              15%           26%              19%
</TABLE>
 
- - ---------------
 
+   Total return represents aggregate total return of a hypothetical $1,000
    investment at the beginning of the period and sold at the end of the period
    including reinvestment of dividends.
(a) Amount represents less than $0.005 per share.
 
                See accompanying notes to financial statements.
                                       22
<PAGE>
 
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
- - ------------------------------------------------------------------
 
TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND SHAREHOLDERS OF
THE GABELLI ASSET FUND
In our opinion, the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including
the portfolio of 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 Gabelli Asset Fund (the "Fund")
at December 31, 1998, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the
changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended and
the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, 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, provide a reasonable basis for the opinion
expressed above.
 
PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP
 
1177 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York
February 25, 1999

- - ------------------------------------------------------------------
                  1998 TAX NOTICE TO SHAREHOLDERS (UNAUDITED)
 
For the year ended December 31, 1998, the Fund paid to shareholders, on December
28, 1998, an ordinary income dividend (comprised of net investment income and
short term capital gains) totaling $0.185 per share and long term capital gains
totaling $1.234 per share. For the year ended December 31, 1998, 84.98% of the
ordinary income dividend qualifies for the dividend received deduction available
to corporations.
 
U.S. GOVERNMENT INCOME:
The percentage of the ordinary income dividend paid by the Fund during fiscal
year 1998 which was derived from U.S. Treasury securities was 1.50%. Such income
may be exempt from state and local tax in all states. However, many states,
including New York and California, allow a tax exemption for a portion of the
income earned only if a mutual fund has invested at least 50% of its assets at
the end of each quarter of the Fund's fiscal year in U.S. Government securities.
The Gabelli Asset Fund did not meet this strict requirement in 1998. Due to the
diversity in state and local tax law, it is recommended that you consult your
personal tax advisor for the applicability of the information provided as to
your specific situation.
- - 



<PAGE>


The  Gabelli Asset Fund
April 30, 1999
Page 1

                                   APPENDIX A

                      DESCRIPTION OF CORPORATE DEBT RATINGS

MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE, INC.

Aaa:          Bonds which are rated Aaa are judged to be the best quality.  They
              carry the smallest  degree of  investment  risk and are  generally
              referred to as "gilt edge."  Interest  payments are protected by a
              large  or by an  exceptionally  stable  margin  and  principal  is
              secure.  While  the  various  protective  elements  are  likely to
              change,  such changes as can be  visualized  are most  unlikely to
              impair the fundamentally strong position of such issues.
Aa:           Bonds  which are rated Aa are judged to be of high  quality by all
              standards.  Together  with the Aaa group  they  comprise  what are
              generally known as high grade bonds. They are rated lower than the
              best bonds because margins of protection may not be as large as in
              Aaa  securities or  fluctuation  of protective  elements may be of
              greater  amplitude or there may be other  elements  present  which
              make  the  long-term  risks  appear  somewhat  large  than  in Aaa
              securities.
A:            Bonds  which  are  rated  A  possess  many  favorable   investment
              attributes  and  are  to  be  considered  as  upper  medium  grade
              obligations. Factors giving security to principal and interest are
              considered  adequate,  but elements may be present which suggest a
              susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future.
Baa:          Bonds  which  are  rated  Baa  are   considered  as  medium  grade
              obligations,  i.e.,  they are neither highly  protected nor poorly
              secured.  Interest payments and principal security appear adequate
              for the present but certain protective  elements may be lacking or
              may be  characteristically  unreliable  over any  great  length of
              time. Such bonds lack outstanding  investment  characteristics and
              in fact have speculative characteristics as well.
Ba:           Bonds which are rated Ba are judged to have speculative  elements;
              their  future  cannot be  considered  as well  assured.  Often the
              protection of interest and principal payments may be very moderate
              and  thereby not well  safeguarded  during both good and bad times
              over the future.
              Uncertainty of position characterizes bonds in this class.
B             Bonds  which  are  rated B  generally  lack  characteristics  of a
              desirable investment. Assurance of interest and principal payments
              or of  maintenance  of other terms of the  contract  over any long
              period of time may be small.
Caa:          Bonds  which are rated Caa are of poor  standing.  Such  issues  
              may be in  default or there may be present elements of danger 
              with respect to principal or interest.
Ca:           Bonds which are rated Ca represent obligations which are 
              speculative in high degree.  Such issues are often in default or 
              have other marked shortcomings.
C:            Bonds which are rated C are the lowest  rated class of bonds,  and
              issues so rated can be regarded as having extremely poor prospects
              of ever attaining any real investment standing.



<PAGE>


          Unrated:  Where no rating has been assigned or where a rating has been
     suspended or withdrawn,  it may be for reasons  unrelated to the quality of
     the issue.

Should no rating be assigned, the reason may be one of the following:

1.      An application for rating was not received or accepted.
2.      The issue or issuer belongs to a group of securities that are not rated 
        as a matter of policy.
3.      There is a lack of essential data pertaining to the issue or issuer.
4.      The issue was privately placed, in which case the rating is not 
        published in Moody's Investors Services, Inc.'s publications.

Suspension or withdrawal may occur if new and material  circumstances arise, the
effects of which preclude satisfactory analysis; if there is no longer available
reasonable  up-to-date  data to permit a  judgment  to be  formed;  if a bond is
called for redemption; or for other reasons.

Note:    Those  bonds in the Aa A, Baa Ba and B groups  which  Moody's  believes
         possess the  strongest  investment  attributes  are  designated  by the
         symbols Aa-1, A-1, Baa-1 and B-1.


STANDARD & POOR'S RATINGS SERVICE

AAA:             Bonds rated AAA have the highest rating assigned by Standard & 
                 Poor's Ratings Service, a division of McGraw Hill Companies, 
                 Inc. Capacity to pay interest and repay principal is extremely 
                 strong.
AA:              Bonds rated AA have a very strong  capacity to pay  interest 
                 and repay  principal  and differ from
                 the higher rated issues only in small degree.
A:               Bonds rated A have a strong  capacity to pay interest and repay
                 principal  although they are somewhat more  susceptible  to the
                 adverse  effects  of  changes  in  circumstances  and  economic
                 conditions than bonds in the highest rated categories.
BBB:             Bonds rated BBB are regarded as having an adequate  capacity to
                 pay interest and repay principal. Whereas they normally exhibit
                 adequate protection parameters,  adverse economic conditions or
                 changing  circumstances  are more  likely to lead to a weakened
                 capacity to pay interest and repay  principal for bonds in this
                 category than in higher rated categories.
BB,  B  Bonds  rated  BB,  B,  CCC,  CC  and  C are  regarded,  on  balance,  as
predominantly  speculative  with CCC,  respect to capacity to pay  interest  and
repay  principal  in  accordance  with the terms of this CC, C:  obligation.  BB
indicates the lowest degree of speculation and C the highest degree of
                 speculation. While such bonds will likely have some quality and
                 protective  characteristics,   they  are  outweighed  by  large
                 uncertainties of major risk exposures to adverse conditions.
C1:              The rating C1 is reserved for income bonds on which no interest
                 is being paid.
D:               Bonds rated D are in default, and payment of interest and/or 
                 repayment of principal is in arrears.
Plus (+)         The  ratings  from AA to CCC may be  modified  by the addition 
                 of a plus or  minus  sign to show
Or               relative standing within the major rating categories.
Minus (-)
NR:              Indicates that no rating has been requested, that there is 
                 insufficient information on which to base a rating, or that 
                 S&P does not rate a particular type of obligation as a matter 
                 of policy.




<PAGE>


                            PART C: OTHER INFORMATION


Item 23.

         Exhibits

         All references are to the Registrant's  registration  statement on Form
         N-1A as filed with the  Securities and Exchange  Commission  ("SEC") on
         November 21, 1985,  File Nos.  33-1719 and 811-4494 (the  "Registration
         Statement").

         (a)      Declaration of Trust will be filed by Amendment.


         (b)      Registrant's   By-laws  are   incorporated   by  reference  to
                  Post-Effective  Amendment No. 14 to the Registration Statement
                  as filed with the SEC on April 30, 1997 (Accession No.
                  0000927405-97-000146) ("Post-Effective Amendment No. 14").

         (c)      Not applicable.

         (d)      Amended and Restated  Investment Advisory Agreement with 
                  Gabelli Funds, Inc. dated May 12, 1992 is incorporated by 
                  reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 14.

   
    

         (e)      Amended and Restated  Distribution  Agreement dated May 11, 
                  1992 is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment 
                  No. 14.

   
                  Amended and Restated Distribution Agreement dated February 17,
1999 is filed herewith.
    

         (f)      Not applicable.

         (g)      Custody  Agreement  dated  January  11, 1986 is  incorporated 
                  by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 14.

                  Amendment to Custody Agreement dated December 7, 1989 is 
                  incorporated by reference  to Post-Effective Amendment No. 14.

                  Amendment  to  Custody  Agreement  dated  May 13, 1991 is  
                  incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 14.

         (h)      Transfer Agency Agreement is incorporated by reference to 
                  Post-Effective Amendment No. 14.

                  Sub-Administration  Agreement with The Shareholder Services 
                  Group, Inc. (now known as First Data Investor Services Group, 
                  Inc.) dated May 1, 1995 is incorporated by reference to 
                  Post-Effective Amendment No. 14.

   
         (i)      Opinion of Counsel is filed herewith.
    

   
         (j)      Consent of Independent Accountants is filed herewith.
    

          Powers of Attorney for Mario J. Gabelli, Felix J. Christiana,  Anthony
     J. Colavita, James P. Conn, Karl Otto Pohl, Anthony R. Pustorino,  Anthonie
     C. van Ekris and  Salvatore  J.  Zizza are  incorporated  by  reference  to
     Post-Effective Amendment No. 14.
   
                  Power of Attorney for John D. Gabelli is filed herewith.
    
          Assistant  Secretary  Certificate  is  incorporated  by  reference  to
     Post-Effective Amendment No. 15.

         (k)      Not applicable.

         (l)      Agreement  with  initial   shareholder  is   incorporated   by
                  reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 14.

   
          (m) Amended and Restated Plan of  Distribution  pursuant to Rule 12b-1
     is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 14.

                  Amended and  Restated  Plan of  Distribution  pursuant to Rule
                  12b-1 relating to Class AAA Series Shares is  incorporated  by
                  reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 16.

                  Plan of Distribution  pursuant to Rule 12b-1 relating to Class
                  A Series Shares is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective
                  Amendment No. 16.

                  Plan of Distribution  pursuant to Rule 12b-1 relating to Class
                  B Series Shares is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective
                  Amendment No. 16.

                  Plan of Distribution  pursuant to Rule 12b-1 relating to Class
                  C Series Shares is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective
                  Amendment No. 16.
    

         (n)      Financial Data Schedule is filed herewith.

   
          (o) Rule  18f-3  Multi-Class  Plan is  incorporated  by  reference  to
     Post-Effective Amendment No. 16.
    

Item 24.          Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with Registrant

                  None

Item 25.          Indemnification

                  Reference is made to Subdivision  (c) of Section 12 of Article
                  Seventh of Registrant's Declaration of Trust.

                  Insofar as  indemnification  of liabilities  arising under the
                  Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to trustees,  officers
                  and  controlling   persons  of  Registrant   pursuant  to  the
                  foregoing  provisions,  or  otherwise,   Registrant  has  been
                  advised  that in the opinion of the  Securities  and  Exchange
                  Commission  such  indemnification  is against public policy as
                  expressed in that Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the
                  event   that  a  claim  for   indemnification   against   such
                  liabilities  (other than the payment by Registrant of expenses
                  incurred or paid by a trustee,  officer or controlling  person
                  of Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
                  proceeding)   is   asserted  by  such   trustee,   officer  or
                  controlling  person in connection  with the  securities  being
                  registered,  Registrant  will,  unless in the  opinion  of its
                  counsel the matter has been settled by controlling  precedent,
                  submit to a court of appropriate  jurisdiction the question of
                  whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as
                  expressed  in the  Act  and  will  be  governed  by the  final
                  adjudication of such issue.



<PAGE>


                  The  Registrant  hereby  undertakes  that  it will  apply  the
                  indemnification  provisions of its  Declaration of Trust,  its
                  By-laws, the Management Agreement, the Sub-Advisory Agreement,
                  the Administration Agreement and the Distribution Agreement in
                  a manner  consistent  with Release No. 11330 of the Securities
                  and Exchange Commission under the 1940 Act.

Item 26.          Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser

                  Gabelli Funds, LLC (the "Adviser") is a registered  investment
                  adviser  providing  investment  management and  administrative
                  services to the Registrant.  The Adviser also provides similar
                  services to other mutual funds.

                  The  information  required  by  this  Item  26  of  directors,
                  officers or partners of the Adviser, together with information
                  as to any other business,  profession,  vocation or employment
                  of a  substantial  nature  engaged  in by the  Adviser or such
                  directors,  officers or partners during the past two years, is
                  incorporated  by  reference  to Form ADV filed by the  Adviser
                  under 1940 Act (SEC File No. 801-37706).

Item 27.          Principal Underwriter

   
          (a) Gabelli & Company,  Inc.  ("Gabelli & Company")  currently acts as
     distributor  for The Gabelli ABC Fund,  The Gabelli Asset Fund, The Gabelli
     Capital Asset Fund,  The Gabelli  Convertible  Securities  Fund,  Inc., The
     Gabelli  Equity  Income Fund,  The Gabelli  Equity Trust Inc.,  The Gabelli
     Global  Convertible  Securities Fund, The Gabelli Global  Interactive Couch
     Potato(R)Fund, The Gabelli Global Multimedia Trust Inc., The Gabelli Global
     Telecommunications  Fund,  Gabelli Gold Fund,  The Gabelli Growth Fund, The
     Gabelli  International  Growth Fund,  Inc., The Gabelli Global  Opportunity
     Fund,  The Gabelli Small Cap Growth Fund,  The Gabelli U.S.  Treasury Money
     Market Fund, The Gabelli Value Fund,  Inc., The Treasurer's  Fund, Inc. and
     the Gabelli Westwood Funds.
    

         (b)      The information  required by this Item 27 with respect to each
                  director,   officer   or  partner  of  Gabelli  &  Company  is
                  incorporated  by  reference  to Schedule A of Form BD filed by
                  Gabelli & Company under the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
                  as amended (SEC File No. 8-21373).

         (c)      Not applicable.

   
Item 28.          Location of Accounts and Records

                  All such  accounts,  books and  other  documents  required  by
                  Section  31(a) of the 1940 Act and Rules 31a-1  through  31a-3
                  thereunder  are  maintained  at the  offices  of the  Adviser,
                  Gabelli  Funds,  Inc.,  One  Corporate  Center,  Rye, New York
                  10580-1434,  First Data Investor  Services  Group,  Inc.,  101
                  Federal Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110, State Street Bank
                  and Trust Company, 225 Franklin Street, Boston, Massachusetts,
                  02110 and Boston  Financial Data Services,  Inc., Two Heritage
                  Drive, North Quincy, Massachusetts, 02171.
    

Item 29.          Management Services

                  Not applicable.

Item 30.          Undertakings

                  Not applicable.



<PAGE>


                                                SIGNATURES

   
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  and the
Investment  Company Act of 1940, as amended,  the Registrant,  THE GABELLI ASSET
FUND,  certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this
Post-Effective  Amendment to its Registration  Statement pursuant to Rule 485(b)
under  the  Securities  Act of  1933,  as  amended,  and has  duly  caused  this
Post-Effective  Amendment No. 17 to its  Registration  Statement to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned,  thereto duly authorized,  in the City of Rye and
State of New York, on the 30th day of April, 1999.

                                                          THE GABELLI ASSET FUND


                                                   By: /s/ Bruce N. Alpert
                                                       Bruce N. Alpert
                                                        President and Treasurer

Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Act of 1933, as amended,  this
Post-Effective  Amendment No. 17 to its  Registration  Statement has been signed
below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                  <C>                                <C>

Signature                                            Title                              Date

/s/ John D. Gabelli                                  Trustee                            April 30, 1999
- ---------------------------
John D. Gabelli

/s/ Mario J. Gabelli*                                Chairman and Trustee               April 30, 1999
- -----------------------------
Mario J. Gabelli

/s/ Bruce N. Alpert                                  President and Treasurer            April 30, 1999
- -----------------------------
Bruce N. Alpert

/s/ Felix J. Christiana*                             Trustee                            April 30, 1999
- -----------------------------
Felix J Christiana

/s/ Anthony J. Colavita*                             Trustee                            April 30, 1999
- -----------------------------
Anthony J. Colavita

/s/ James P. Conn*                                   Trustee                            April 30, 1999
- -----------------------------
James P. Conn

/s/ Karl Otto Pohl*                                  Trustee                            April 30, 1999
- -----------------------------
Karl Otto Pohl

/s/ Anthony R. Pustorino*                            Trustee                            April 30, 1999
- -----------------------------
Anthony R. Pustorino

/s/ Anthonie C. van Ekris*                           Trustee                            April 30, 1999
- -----------------------------
Anthonie C. van Ekris

/s/ Salvatore J. Zizza*                              Trustee                            April 30, 1999
- -----------------------------
Salvatore J. Zizza


*By: /s/ Bruce N. Alpert
         Bruce N. Alpert
         Attorney-in-fact
</TABLE>

    




   

                              SCHEDULE OF EXHIBITS

     EXHIBIT

        (i)                Opinion of Counsel.

      (j)(1)               Consent of Independent Accountants.

      (j)(2)               Power of Attorney

        (n)                Financial Data Schedule.


    




                                                                   Exhibit (i)
                    SKADDEN, ARPS, SLATE, MEAGHER & FLOM LLP
                                ONE BEACON STREET
                        BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02108-3194
                                            ---------------------------
                                                  (617) 573-4800



                                            April 30, 1999


The Gabelli Asset Fund
One Corporate Center
Rye, NY  10580

                           Re:      The Gabelli Asset Fund
                                    Registration on Form N-1A

Ladies and Gentlemen:

                  We have acted as special  counsel  to The  Gabelli  Asset Fund
(the "Fund"),  a voluntary  association with  transferable  shares organized and
existing under and by virtue of the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (a
"Massachusetts  business trust"), in connection with the issuance and sale of an
indefinite number of shares of beneficial interest (the "Shares") of the Fund.

                  This  opinion  is  being  furnished  in  accordance  with  the
requirements of Item 23(i) of Form N-1A.



                  In connection with this opinion, we have examined originals or
copies (including facsimile transmission),  certified or otherwise identified to
our  satisfaction,  of (i) the  Registration  Statement of the Fund on Form N-1A
(File No.  33-1719),  as  amended  effective  April 30,  1999 by  Post-Effective
Amendment No. 17 under the  Securities  Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act")
(the "Registration  Statement");  (ii) a specimen  certificate  representing the
Shares; (iii) the Declaration of Trust of the Fund, as currently in effect; (iv)
the By-Laws of the Fund, as currently in effect; (v) the Distribution  Agreement
between  the Fund and  Gabelli & Company,  Inc.,  as  currently  in effect  (the
"Distribution Agreement"); and (vi) certain resolutions of the Board of Trustees
of the Fund relating to the issuance of the Shares and related matters.  We have
also  examined  originals or copies,  certified or otherwise  identified  to our
satisfaction,  of such records of the Fund and such agreements,  certificates of
public officials,  certificates of officers or other representatives of the Fund
and others, and such other documents, certificates and records as we have deemed
necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions set forth herein.

                  In our examination,  we have assumed the legal capacity of all
natural  persons,  the  genuineness of all signatures,  the  authenticity of all
documents submitted to us as originals,  the conformity to original documents of
all documents submitted to us as certified,  conformed, facsimile or photostatic
copies and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents. In making
our  examination  of documents  executed or to be executed by parties other than
the  Fund,  we have  assumed  that  such  parties  had or will  have the  power,
corporate or other,  to enter into and perform all  obligations  thereunder  and
have also assumed the due  authorization by all requisite  action,  corporate or
other,  and  execution  and delivery by such parties of such  documents  and the
validity and binding  effect  thereof.  As to any facts material to the opinions
expressed  herein which we have not  independently  established or verified,  we
have  relied  upon  statements  and   representations   of  officers  and  other
representatives of the Fund and others.

                  We express no opinion as to the laws of any jurisdiction other
than the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

                  Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion
that when Post-Effective  Amendment No. 17 to the Registration Statement becomes
effective,  the issuance and sale of the Shares by the Fund thereunder will have
been validly  authorized and when issued and delivered  against payment therefor
as provided in the Distribution  Agreement,  such Shares will be validly issued,
fully  paid and,  subject  to the  statements  set  forth  below  regarding  the
liability of a shareholder of a Massachusetts business trust, nonassessable.

                  Pursuant to certain decisions of the Supreme Judicial Court of
Massachusetts, shareholders of a Massachusetts business trust may, under certain
circumstances,  be held personally liable as partners for the obligations of the
trust. Even if the Fund were held to be a partnership,  however, the possibility
of the holders of Shares incurring personal liability for financial loss appears
remote  because (i) Article  EIGHTH,  Paragraph  2 of the  Declaration  of Trust
contains  an  express  disclaimer  of  liability  for  holders of Shares for the
obligations  of the Fund and Article  SEVENTH,  Paragraph  6(a) requires that in
every note, bond,  contract or other  undertaking  issued by or on behalf of the
Fund include a recitation  limiting the  obligation  represented  thereby to the
Fund and its assets and (ii) Article EIGHTH,  Paragraph 1 provides that the Fund
shall indemnify and hold each  shareholder of the Fund harmless from and against
all loss and expense  arising from  liabilities  to which such holder may become
subject by reason of being or having been a holder of Shares.

                  We  hereby  consent  to the  filing of this  opinion  with the
Commission as an exhibit to the Registration  Statement.  We also consent to the
reference to our firm under the caption "Counsel" in the Registration Statement.
In giving  this  consent,  we do not hereby  admit that we are  included  in the
category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the 1933 Act or
the rules and regulation of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

                                        Very truly yours,

                                       /s/ Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom 
                                       LLP
                                       Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP






                                                               Exhibit (j)(1)




                       Consent of Independent Accountants



We  hereby  consent  to the  use  in the  Statement  of  Additional  Information
constituting  part of this  Post-Effective  Amendment No. 17 to the registration
statement  on Form N-1A  (the  "Registration  Statement")  of our  report  dated
February 25, 1999, relating to the financial statements and financial highlights
of The  Gabelli  Asset  Fund,  which  appears in such  Statement  of  Additional
Information,  and to the  incorporation  by  reference  of our  report  into the
Prospectus  which  constitutes  part of  this  Registration  Statement.  We also
consent to the reference to us under heading  "Independent  Accountants" in such
Statement of Additional Information and to the reference to us under the heading
"Financial Highlights" in such Prospectus.




/s/  PricewaterhouseCoopers  LLP  PricewaterhouseCoopers  LLP 1177 Avenue of the
Americas New York, New York 10036 April 28, 1999






                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE  PRESENTS,  that the person  whose  name  appears
below nominates, constitutes and appoints Mario J. Gabelli, Bruce N. Alpert, and
James E.  McKee  (with  full  power to each of them to act  alone)  his true and
lawful  attorney-in-fact  and agent,  for him and on his behalf and in his place
and stead in any and all capacities, to make execute and sign all amendments and
supplements to the Registration  Statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act
of 1933 and the  Investment  Company Act of 1940 of THE GABELLI  ASSET FUND (the
"Fund"), and to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission,  and any other
regulatory  authority having  jurisdiction  over the offer and sale of shares of
beneficial  interest,  par value $.001 per share,  of the Fund,  and any and all
amendments  and  supplements  to such  Registration  Statement,  and any and all
exhibits and other documents  requisite in connection  therewith,  granting unto
said attorneys and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each
and every  act and thing  requisite  and  necessary  to be done in and about the
premises as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned Trustee himself
might or could do.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the undersigned Trustee has hereunto set his hands
this 28th day of April, 1999.
                                                             /s/John D. Gabelli
                                                              ----------------
                                                              John D. Gabelli
                                                              Trustee




<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000783898
<NAME> K:\WDATA\ADMIN\EDGAR\GABELLI\ASSET.FDS
<MULTIPLIER> 1
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                              JAN-1-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                        847398996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                      1597068823
<RECEIVABLES>                                  3464725
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                    3327
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                           3491372
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              1604028247
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                       7455631
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                     20596711
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                           28052342
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                     827276606
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                         44429209
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                         41918237
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                              0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                        938014
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                     749637313
<NET-ASSETS>                                1575975905
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                             15387284
<INTEREST-INCOME>                              5747659
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                20252395
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                         882548
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                      59477782
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                    164961752
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                        225322082
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                       689228
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                      59570401
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                       50493058
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                   49630901
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                            1648815
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                       240924127
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                     1038715
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                         14822733
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                               20252395
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                        1486738202
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            31.85
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                    .02
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           5.02
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                               .02
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                         1.40
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              35.47
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.36
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        


</TABLE>


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