File Nos. 33-1857 and 811-4503
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933[ X ]
Pre-Effective Amendment No. _______ [ ]
Post-Effective Amendment No. 13 [ X ]
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT
OF 1940 [ X ]
Amendment No. 14 [ X ]
TAX-FREE TRUST OF ARIZONA
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
380 Madison Avenue, Suite 2300
New York, New York 10017
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(212) 697-6666
(Registrant's Telephone Number)
EDWARD M.W. HINES
Hollyer Brady Smith Troxell
Barrett Rockett Hines & Mone LLP
551 Fifth Avenue, 27th Floor
New York, New York 10176
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check
appropriate box):
___
[___] immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
[_X_] on (April 1, 1996) pursuant to paragraph (b)
[___] 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(i)
[___] on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(i)
[___] 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(ii)
[___] on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(ii) of Rule 485.
[___] This post-effective amendment designates a new effec-
tive date for a previous post-effective amendment.
Registrant hereby declares, pursuant to Section (a)(1) of Rule
24f-2 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, that Registrant has
registered an indefinite number of its shares under the Securities
Act of 1933 pursuant to that Section and that the Rule 24f-2 Notice
for Registrant's fiscal year ended June 30, 1995 was filed in
August, 1995.
<PAGE>
TAX-FREE TRUST OF ARIZONA
CROSS REFERENCE SHEET
Part A of
Form N-1A
Item No. Prospectus Caption(s)
1..............Cover Page
2..............Table of Expenses
3..............Financial Highlights; General Information
4..............Introduction; Highlights; Investment of the
Trust's Assets; Investment Restrictions;
General Information
5..............Management Arrangements
5A.............**
6..............General Information; Alternative Purchase
Plans; Dividend and Tax Information
7..............Net Asset Value per Share; Alternative
Purchase Plans; How to Invest in
the Trust; Exchange Privilege
8..............How to Redeem Your Investment; Automatic
Withdrawal Plan; Exchange Privilege
9..............*
Part B of
Form N-1A Statement of Additional Information
Item No. or Prospectus Caption(s)
10.............Cover Page
11.............Cover Page
12.............*
13.............Investment of the Trust's Assets; Municipal
Bonds; Investment Restrictions
14.............Trustees and Officers
15.............General Information (Prospectus caption);
Trustees and Officers
16.............Additional Information as to Management
Arrangements; General Information
17.............Additional Information as to Management
Arrangements
18.............General Information
19.............Limitations of Redemptions in Kind; Computa-
tion of Net Asset Value; Automatic With-
drawal Plan; Distribution Plan
20.............Additional Tax Information
21.............How to Invest in the Trust (Prospectus cap-
tion); General Information
22.............Performance
* Not applicable or negative answer
** Contained in the annual report of the Registrant
<PAGE>
Tax-Free Trust of Arizona
380 Madison Avenue, Suite 2300
New York, New York 10017
800-437-1020
212-697-6666
Prospectus April 1, 1996
The Trust is a mutual fund whose objective is to seek to
provide as high a level of current income exempt from Arizona and
regular Federal income taxes as is consistent with preservation of
capital by investing in municipal obligations which pay interest
exempt from Arizona State and Federal income taxes. These municipal
obligations must, at the time of purchase, either be rated within
the four highest credit ratings (considered as investment grade)
assigned by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. or Standard & Poor's
Corporation, or, if unrated, be determined to be of comparable
quality by the Trust's Adviser, Bank One, Arizona, NA.
The Prospectus concisely states information about the Trust
that you should know before investing. A Statement of Additional
Information about the Trust dated April 1, 1996 (the "Additional
Statement") has been filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission and is available without charge upon written request to
Administrative Data Management Corp., the Trust's Shareholder
Servicing Agent, at the address given below, or by calling the
telephone number(s) given below. The Additional Statement contains
information about the Trust and its management not included in the
Prospectus. The Additional Statement is incorporated by reference
in its entirety in the Prospectus. Only when you have read both the
Prospectus and the Additional Statement are all material facts
about the Trust available to you.
Shares of the Trust are not deposits in, obligations of or
guaranteed or endorsed by Bank One Arizona, NA, Banc One
Corporation or its bank or non-bank affiliates or by any other
bank. Shares of the Trust are not insured or guaranteed by the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board or
any other governmental agency or government sponsored agency of the
Federal Government or any State.
An investment in the Trust involves investment risks,
including possible loss of the principal amount invested.
For Purchase, Redemption or Account inquiries contact
The Trust's Transfer Agent: Administrative Data Management Corp.
581 Main Street, Woodbridge, NJ 07095-1198
Call 800-437-1000 toll free or 908-855-5731
For General Inquiries & Yield Information,
Call 800-437-1020 toll free or 212-986-8826
The Prospectus Should Be Read and Retained For Future Reference
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES
COMMISSION, NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY
STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF
THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL
OFFENSE.
<PAGE>
HIGHLIGHTS
Tax-Free Trust of Arizona (the "Trust"), founded by Aquila
Management Corporation in 1986 and one of the Aquilasm Group of
Funds, is an open-end mutual fund which invests in tax-free
municipal bonds, the kind of obligations issued by the State of
Arizona, its counties and various other local authorities to
finance such long-term projects as schools, roads, hospitals, water
facilities and other vital public-purpose projects throughout
Arizona. (See "Introduction.")
Tax-Free Income - The municipal obligations in which the Trust
invests pay interest which is exempt from both regular Federal and
State of Arizona income taxes. Dividends paid by the Trust from
this income are likewise free of both such taxes. It is, however,
possible that in certain circumstances, a small portion of the
dividends paid by the Trust will be subject to income taxes. In
addition, the Federal alternative minimum tax ("AMT") may apply to
some investors, but its impact will be limited, since not more than
20% of the Trust's net assets can be invested in obligations paying
interest which is subject to this tax. The receipt of
exempt-interest dividends from the Trust may result in some portion
of social security payments or railroad retirement benefits being
included in taxable income. Capital gains distributions, if any,
are taxable. (See "Dividend and Tax Information.")
Investment Grade - The Trust will acquire only those municipal
obligations which, at the time of purchase, are within the four
highest credit ratings assigned by Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
or Standard and Poor's Corporation, or are determined by the
Adviser to be of comparable quality. In general there are nine
separate credit ratings, ranging from the highest to the lowest
credit ratings for municipal obligations. Obligations within the
top four ratings are considered "investment grade" but those in the
fourth rating may have speculative characteristics as well. (See
"Investment of the Trust's Assets.")
Initial Investment - You may open your account with any
purchase of $1,000 or more or by opening an Automatic Investment
Program which makes purchases of $100 or more each month. See the
Application, which is in the back of the Prospectus. (See "How to
Invest in the Trust," which includes applicable sales charge
information.)
Additional Investments - You may make additional
investments at any time and in any amount, directly, or if in an
amount of $50 or more, through the convenience of having your
investment electronically transferred from your financial
institution account into the Trust by Automatic Investment or
Telephone Investment. (See "How to Invest in the Trust.")
Alternative Purchase Plans - The Trust provides two
alternative ways for individuals to invest. (See "Alternative
Purchase Plans.") One way permits individual investors to pay
distribution and certain service charges principally at the time
they purchase shares; the other way permits investors to pay such
costs over a period of time, but without paying anything at time of
purchase, much as goods can be purchased on an installment plan.
For this purpose the Trust offers the following classes of shares,
which differ in their expense levels and sales charges:
* Front-Payment Class Shares ("Class A Shares")
are offered to anyone at net asset value plus
a sales charge, paid at the time of purchase,
at the maximum rate of 4.0% of the public
offering price, with lower rates for larger
purchases. (See "How to Purchase Class A
Shares.") Class A Shares are subject to an
asset retention service fee under the Trust's
Distribution Plan at the rate of 0.15 of 1% of
the average annual net assets represented by
the Class A Shares. (See "Distribution Plan.")
* Level-Payment Class Shares ("Class C Shares")
are offered to anyone at net asset value with
no sales charge payable at the time of
purchase but with a level charge for service
and distribution fees for six years after the
date of purchase at the aggregate annual rate
of 1% of the average annual net assets of the
Class C Shares. (See "Distribution Plan" and
"Service Plan.") Six years after the date of
purchase Class C Shares are automatically
converted to Class A Shares. In addition,
Class C Shares are subject to a contingent
deferred sales charge ("CDSC") if redeemed
before they have been held for 12 months from
the date of purchase; this charge is 1%,
calculated on the net asset value of the Class
C Shares at the time of purchase or at
redemption, whichever is less. There is no
CDSC after Class C Shares have been held
beyond the applicable period. (See
"Alternative Purchase Plans," "Computation of
the Holding Periods for Class C Shares" and
"How to Purchase Class C Shares.")
The Trust also issues Institutional Class Shares ("Class Y
Shares") that are sold only to certain institutional investors.
Class Y Shares are not offered by this Prospectus.
Monthly Income - Dividends are declared daily and paid
monthly. At your choice, dividends are paid by check mailed to you,
directly deposited into your financial institution account or
automatically reinvested without sales charge in additional shares
of the Trust at the then-current net asset value. Specific classes
of shares will have different dividend amounts due to their
particular expense levels. (See "Dividend and Tax
Information.")
Many Different Issues - You have the advantages of a portfolio
which consists of over 235 issues with different maturities. (See
"Investment of the Trust's Assets.")
Local Portfolio Management - The Trust provides you with
experienced, locally-based professional investment management by
Bank One, Arizona, NA, formerly The Valley National Bank of
Arizona, which serves as the Trust's Investment Adviser. The Trust
currently pays fees at a rate of up to 0.20 of 1% of average annual
net assets to each of its Adviser and Administrator. Total advisory
and administration fees are at a rate of 0.40 of 1% of average
annual net assets, although some or all of these fees may be
waived. (See "Table of Expenses" and "Management Arrangements.")
The Adviser is a subsidiary of BANC ONE CORPORATION ("Banc
One"), based in Columbus, Ohio. The Adviser serves Arizona through
257 offices located in communities throughout the state's 15
counties. The Trust Division of the Adviser had, as of June 30,
1995, approximately $8.0 billion of assets under administration,
not including any other registered investment companies but
including approximately $1.2 billion in municipal bonds. Banc One
is a multi-bank holding company, incorporated under the laws of the
State of Ohio. As of June 30, 1995, Banc One indirectly owned all
of the stock of 65 banks operating with more than 1,408 offices in
the states of Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio,
Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wisconsin. As of that
date, Banc One, its affiliated banks and its non-bank subsidiaries
had total assets of approximately $86.8 billion.
Redemptions - Liquidity - You may redeem any amount of your
account on any business day at the next determined net asset value
by telephone, FAX or mail request, with proceeds being sent to a
predesignated financial institution, if you have elected Expedited
Redemption. Proceeds will be wired or transferred through the
facilities of the Automated Clearing House, wherever possible, upon
request, if in an amount of $1,000 or more, or will be mailed. For
these and other redemption procedures see "How to Redeem Your
Investment." There are no penalties or redemption fees for
redemption of Class A Shares. However, there is a contingent
deferred sales charge with respect to certain Class A Shares which
have been purchased in amounts of $1 million or more (see
"Purchases of $1 Million or More"). If you redeem Class C Shares
before you have held them for 12 months from the date of purchase
you will pay a Contingent Deferred Sales Charge ("CDSC") at the
rate of 1%. (See "Alternative Purchase Plans" -- "Class C
Shares.")
Certain Stabilizing Measures - The Trust will employ such
traditional measures as varying maturities, upgrading credit
standards for portfolio purchases, broadening diversification and
increasing its position in cash, in an attempt to protect against
declines in the value of its investments and other market risks.
(See "Certain Stabilizing Measures.")
Exchanges - You may exchange Class A or Class C Shares of the
Trust into corresponding classes of shares of other Aquila-
sponsored tax-free municipal bond mutual funds or an equity fund.
You may also exchange them into shares of certain Aquila- sponsored
money market funds. The exchange prices will be the respective net
asset values of the shares. (See "Exchange Privilege.")
Risks and Special Considerations - The share price,
determined on each business day, varies with the market prices of
the Trust's portfolio securities, which fluctuate with market
conditions including prevailing interest rates. Accordingly the
proceeds may be more or less than original cost when shares are
redeemed. (See "Factors Which May Affect the Value of the Trust's
Investments and Their Yields.") The Trust's assets, being primarily
or entirely Arizona issues, are subject to economic and other
conditions affecting Arizona. (See "Risks and Special
Considerations Regarding Investment in Arizona Obligations.")
Moreover, the Trust is classified as a "non-diversified" investment
company, because it may choose to invest in the obligations of a
relatively limited number of issuers. (See "Investment of the
Trust's Assets.") The Trust may also, to a limited degree, buy and
sell futures contracts and options on futures contracts, although
since inception the Trust has not done so and has no present
intention to do so. There may be risks associated with these
practices. (See "Certain Stabilizing Measures.")
Statements and Reports - You will receive statements of your
account monthly as well as each time you add to your account or
take money out. Additionally, you will receive a Semi-Annual Report
and an audited Annual Report.
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TAX-FREE TRUST OF ARIZONA
TABLE OF EXPENSES
<S> <C> <C>
Class A Class C
Shareholder Transaction Expenses Shares Shares
Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Purchases 4.00% None
(as a percentage of the offering price)
Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Reinvested Dividends None None
Deferred Sales Charge None(1) 1.00%(2)
Redemption Fees None None
Exchange Fee None None
Annual Trust Operating Expenses (3)
(as a percentage of average net assets)
Investment Advisory Fee 0.20% 0.20%
12b-1 Fee 0.15% 0.75%
All Other Expenses 0.39% 0.64%
Administration Fee 0.20% 0.20%
Service Fee None 0.25%
Other Expenses 0.19% 0.19%
Total Trust Operating Expenses 0.74% 1.59%
Example (4)
You would pay the following expenses on a $1,000 investment, assuming a 5%
annual return and redemption at the end of each time period:
One Three Five Ten
Year Years Years Years
Class A Shares $47 $63 $80 $128
Class C Shares
With complete
redemption at
end of period $26 $50 $87 $145(5)
With no
redemption $16 $50 $87 $145(5)
<FN>
(1) Certain shares purchased in transactions of $1 million or more without a
sales charge may be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge of up to 1%
upon redemption during the first four years after purchase. See "Purchases
of $1 Million or More" on page 15.
</FN>
<FN>
(2) A contingent deferred sales charge of 1% is imposed on the redemption
proceeds of the shares (or on the original price, whichever is lower) if
redeemed during the first 12 months after purchase.
</FN>
<FN>
(3) Estimated based upon actual expenses incurred by the Trust during its
most recent fiscal year. During that period, only Class A shares were
outstanding.
</FN>
<FN>
(4) The expense example is based upon the above shareholder transaction
expenses (in the case of Class A shares, this includes a sales charge of $40
for a $1,000 investment) and annual Trust operating expenses. It is also
based upon amounts at the beginning of each year which includes the prior
year's assumed results. A year's results consist of an assumed 5% annual
return less total annual operating expenses; the expense ratio was applied to
an assumed average balance (the year's starting investment plus one-half the
year's results). Each figure represents the cumulative expenses so determined
for the period specified.
</FN>
<FN>
(5) Six years after the date of purchase, Class C Shares are automatically
converted to Class A Shares.
</FN>
</TABLE>
THE EXAMPLE ABOVE SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED A REPRESENTATION OF PAST OR
FUTURE EXPENSES; ACTUAL EXPENSES MAY BE GREATER OR LESS THAN THOSE SHOWN. THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION SPECIFIES THAT ALL MUTUAL FUNDS USE THE 5%
ANNUAL RATE OF RETURN FOR PURPOSES OF PREPARING THE ABOVE EXAMPLE. THE
EXAMPLE ALSO REFLECTS THE MAXIMUM SALES CHARGE. (SEE "HOW TO INVEST IN THE
TRUST").
The purpose of the above table is to assist the investor in
understanding the various costs that an investor in the Trust will bear
directly or indirectly. The assumed 5% annual return should not be
interpreted as a prediction of an actual return, which may be higher or
lower.
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
The following historical financial information applies only to shares of the
Trust which have been designated Class A Shares, upon adoption of the class
structure described in the Prospectus. Similar information does not exist
for Class C Shares.
TAX-FREE TRUST OF ARIZONA
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
FOR A SHARE OUTSTANDING THROUGHOUT EACH PERIOD
The following table of Financial Highlights as it relates to the
five years ended June 30, 1995 has been audited by KPMG Peat Marwick LLP,
independent auditors, whose report thereon is included in the Trust's
financial statements contained in its Annual Report, which are
incorporated by reference into the Additional Statement. The information
provided in the table should be read in conjunction with the financial
statements and related notes. On April 2, 1990, Aquila Management
Corporation, originally the Trust's Administrator and Supplemental
Adviser, became Administrator only.
Six Months
Ended Year Ended June 30,
12/31/95 1995 1994 1993 1992
(unaudited)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net Asset Value,
Beginning of Period $10.37 $10.16 $10.84 $10.36 $9.92
Income from Investment
Operations:
Net investment income 0.28 0.56 0.57 0.62 0.66
Net gain (loss) on
securities (both
realized and
unrealized) 0.35 0.21 (0.60) 0.54 0.43
Total from Investment
Operations 0.63 0.77 (0.03) 1.16 1.09
Less Distributions:
Dividends from net
investment income (0.28) (0.56) (0.57) (0.62) (0.65)
Distributions from
capital gains - - (0.08) (0.06) -
Total Distributions (0.28) (0.56) (0.65) (0.68) (0.65)
Net Asset Value, End
of Period $10.72 $10.37 $10.16 $10.84 $10.36
Total Return (not
reflecting sales load) 6.14%(1) 7.89% (0.38)% 11.45% 11.36%
Ratios/Supplemental Data
Net Assets, End of
Period (in thousands) $395,136 $380,745 $372,093 $349,920 $237,433
Ratio of Expenses to
Average Net Assets 0.72%(2) 0.74% 0.70% 0.65% 0.57%
Ratio of Net Investment
Income to Average
Net Assets 5.25%(2) 5.55% 5.36% 5.76% 6.37%
Portfolio Turnover
Rate 12.40%(1) 34.44% 31.20% 18.78% 23.53%
Net investment income per share and the ratios of income and expenses to
average net assets without the Adviser's and Administrator's voluntary
waiver of fees and the expense offset in custodian fees for uninvested
cash balances would have been:
Net Investment Income $0.28 $0.56 $0.57 $0.61 $0.65
Ratio of Expenses to
Average Net Assets 0.73%(2) 0.74% 0.71% 0.73% 0.70%
Ratio of Net Investment
Income to Average
Net Assets 5.24%(2) 5.55% 5.35% 5.67% 6.24%
Year Ended June 30,
1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986*
<C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
$9.77 $9.88 $9.47 $9.45 $9.46 $9.60
0.66 0.66 0.67 0.67 0.66 0.18
0.15 (0.11) 0.41 0.02 (0.01) (0.14)
0.81 0.55 1.08 0.69 0.65 0.04
(0.66) (0.66) (0.67) (0.67) (0.66) (0.18)
- - - - - -
(0.66) (0.66) (0.67) (0.67) (0.66) (0.18)
$9.92 $9.77 $9.88 $9.47 $9.45 $9.46
8.57% 5.84% 11.86% 7.68% 7.07% 1.20%(1)
$175,342 $121,026 $101,584 $83,437 $74,910 $13,012
0.58% 0.58% 0.53% 0.51% 0.34% 0.44%(2)
6.68% 6.66% 6.76% 6.95% 7.00% 6.00%(2)
26.83% 31.11% 24.87% 22.41% 17.19% -
$0.65 $0.64 $0.64 $0.64 $0.61 $0.16
0.74% 0.77% 0.78% 0.88% 0.88% 1.00%(2)
6.52% 6.47% 6.50% 6.58% 6.47% 5.54%(2)
<FN>
(1)Not annualized.
</FN>
<FN>
(2)Annualized.
</FN>
<FN>
*For the period from March 13, 1986 (commencement of operations) to June 30,
1986.
</FN>
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
INTRODUCTION
The Trust's shares are designed to be a suitable investment
for individuals, corporations, institutions and fiduciaries who
seek income exempt from Arizona State and regular Federal income
taxes.
You may invest in shares of the Trust as an alternative to
direct investments in Arizona Obligations, as defined below, which
may include obligations of certain non-Arizona issuers. The Trust
offers you the opportunity to keep assets fully invested in a
vehicle that provides a professionally managed portfolio of Arizona
Obligations which may, but not necessarily will, be more
diversified, higher yielding, more stable and more liquid than you
might be able to obtain on an individual basis by direct purchase
of Arizona Obligations. Through the convenience of a single
security consisting of shares of the Trust, you are also relieved
of the inconvenience associated with direct investments of fixed
denominations, including the selecting, purchasing, handling,
monitoring call provisions and safekeeping of Arizona Obligations.
Arizona Obligations are a type of municipal obligation.
Municipal obligations are issued by or on behalf of states,
territories and possessions of the United States and their
political subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities to obtain
funds for various public purposes. The two principal
classifications of municipal obligations are "notes" and "bonds."
Municipal notes are generally used to provide for short-term
capital needs and generally have maturities of one year or less
while municipal bonds have extended maturities. Municipal notes
include: project notes, which sometimes carry a U.S. Government
guarantee; tax anticipation notes; revenue anticipation notes; bond
anticipation notes; construction loan notes; and floating and
variable rate demand notes. Municipal obligations include municipal
lease/purchase agreements, which are similar to installment
purchase contracts for property or equipment. The purposes for
which municipal obligations such as bonds are issued include the
construction of a wide range of public facilities such as highways,
bridges, schools, hospitals, housing, mass transportation, streets,
and water and sewer works. Other public purposes for which
municipal obligations may be issued include the refunding of
outstanding obligations, the obtaining of funds for general
operating expenses and the obtaining of funds to lend to other
public institutions and facilities.
INVESTMENT OF THE TRUST'S ASSETS
In seeking its objective of providing as high a level of
current income which is exempt from both Arizona State and regular
Federal income taxes as is consistent with the preservation of
capital, the Trust will invest in Arizona Obligations (as defined
below). There is no assurance that the Trust will achieve its
objective, which is a fundamental policy of the Trust. (See
"Investment Restrictions.")
As used in the Prospectus and the Additional Statement, the
term "Arizona Obligations" means obligations, including those of
certain non-Arizona issuers, of any maturity which pay interest
which, in the opinion of bond counsel or other appropriate counsel,
is exempt from regular Federal income taxes and Arizona income
taxes. Although exempt from regular Federal income tax, interest
paid on certain types of Arizona Obligations, and dividends which
the Trust might pay from this interest, are preference items as to
the Federal alternative minimum tax; for further information, see
"Dividend and Tax Information." As a fundamental policy, at least
80% of the Trust's net assets will be invested in Arizona
Obligations the income paid upon which will not be subject to the
alternative minimum tax; accordingly, the Trust can invest up to
20% of its net assets in obligations which are subject to the
Federal alternative minimum tax. The Trust may refrain entirely
from purchasing these types of Arizona Obligations. See "Dividends
and Tax information."
The non-Arizona bonds or other obligations the interest on
which is exempt under present law from regular Federal and Arizona
income taxes are the bonds or other obligations issued by or under
the authority of Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico
and the Virgin Islands. The Trust will not purchase Arizona
Obligations of non-Arizona issuers unless Arizona Obligations of
Arizona issuers of the desired quality, maturity and interest rate
are not available. As an Arizona-oriented fund, at least 65% of the
Trust's total assets will be invested in Arizona Obligations of
Arizona issuers. The Trust invests only in Arizona Obligations and,
possibly, in Futures and options on Futures (see below) for
protective (hedging) purposes.
In general, there are nine separate credit ratings, ranging
from the highest to the lowest quality standards for municipal
obligations. So that the Trust will have a portfolio of
quality-oriented (investment grade) securities, the Arizona
Obligations which the Trust will purchase must, at the time of
purchase, either (i) be rated within the four highest credit
ratings assigned by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") or
Standard & Poor's Corporation ("S&P"); or (ii) if unrated, be
determined to be of comparable quality to municipal obligations so
rated, by Bank One, Arizona, NA (the "Adviser"), the Trust's
investment adviser (subject to the direction and control of the
Trust's Board of Trustees). Municipal obligations rated in the
fourth highest credit rating are considered by such rating agencies
to be of medium quality and thus may present investment risks not
present in more highly rated obligations. Such bonds lack
outstanding investment characteristics and may in fact have
speculative characteristics as well; changes in economic conditions
or other circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened
capacity to make principal and interest payments than is the case
for higher grade bonds. If after purchase the rating of any rated
Arizona Obligation is downgraded such that it could not then be
purchased by the Trust, or, in the case of an unrated Arizona
Obligation, if the Adviser determines that the unrated obligation
is no longer of comparable quality to those rated obligations which
the Trust may purchase, it is the current policy of the Trust to
cause any such obligation to be sold as promptly thereafter as the
Adviser in its discretion determines to be consistent with the
Trust's objectives; such obligation remains in the Trust's
portfolio until it is sold. In addition, because a downgrade often
results in a reduction in the market price of a downgraded
obligation, sale of such an obligation may result in a loss. See
Appendix A to the Additional Statement for further information as
to these ratings. The Trust can purchase industrial development
bonds only if they meet the definition of Arizona Obligations,
i.e., the interest on them is exempt from Arizona State and regular
Federal income taxes.
The Trust is classified as a "non-diversified" investment
company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act").
The Trust also intends to continue to qualify as a "regulated
investment company" under the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code").
One of the tests for such qualification under the Code is, in
general, that at the end of each fiscal quarter of the Trust, at
least 50% of its assets must consist of (i) cash; and (ii)
securities which, as to any one issuer, do not exceed 5% of the
value of the Trust's assets. If the Trust had elected to register
under the 1940 Act as a "diversified" investment company, it would
have to meet the same test as to 75% of its assets. The Trust may
therefore not have as much diversification among securities, and
thus diversification of risk, as if it had made this election under
the 1940 Act. In general, the more the Trust invests in the
securities of specific issuers, the more the Trust is exposed to
risks associated with investments in those issuers. The Trust's
assets, being primarily or entirely Arizona issues, are accordingly
subject to economic and other conditions affecting Arizona. (See
"Risk Factors and Special Considerations Regarding Investment in
Arizona Obligations.")
Certain Stabilizing Measures
The Trust will employ such traditional measures as varying
maturities, upgrading credit standards for portfolio purchases,
broadening diversification and increasing its position in cash and
cash equivalents in attempting to protect against declines in the
value of its investments and other market risks. There can,
however, be no assurance that these will be successful. Although
the Trust has no current intention of using futures and options, to
the limited degree described below, these may be used to attempt to
hedge against changes in the market price of the Trust's Arizona
Obligations caused by interest rate fluctuations. Futures and
options could also provide a hedge against increases in the cost of
securities the Trust intends to purchase.
Although it does not currently do so, and since inception has
not done so, the Trust may buy and sell futures contracts relating
to indices on municipal bonds ("Municipal Bond Index Futures") and
to U.S. government securities ("U.S. Government Securities
Futures"); both kinds of futures contracts are "Futures." The Trust
may also write and purchase put and call options on Futures. As a
matter of fundamental policy the Trust will not buy or sell a
Future or an option on a Future if thereafter more than 10% of its
net assets would be in initial or variation margin on such Futures
and options on them, and in premiums on such options. Under an
applicable regulatory rule, the Trust will not enter into Futures
or options for which the aggregate initial margins and premiums
paid for options exceed 5% of the fair market value of the Trust's
assets. (See the Additional Statement.) Under normal market
conditions, the Trust cannot purchase or sell Municipal Bond Index
Futures, U.S. Government Securities Futures, or options on Futures
if thereafter more than 20% of its total assets would consist of
cash, margin deposits on such Futures and margin deposits and
premiums on such options, except for temporary defensive purposes,
i.e., in anticipation of a decline or possible decline in the value
of Arizona Obligations.
The primary risks associated with the use of Futures and
options are: (i) imperfect correlation between the change in the
market value of the securities held in the Trust's portfolio and
the prices of Futures or options purchased or sold by the Trust;
(ii) incorrect forecasts by the Adviser concerning interest rates
which may result in the hedge being ineffective; and (iii) possible
lack of a liquid secondary market for a Future or option; the
resulting inability to close a Futures or options position could
adversely affect the Trust's hedging ability. For a hedge to be
completely effective, the price change of the hedging instrument
should equal the price change of the security being hedged. The
risk of imperfect correlation of these price changes is increased
as the composition of the Trust's portfolio is divergent from the
debt securities underlying the hedging instrument. To date, the
Adviser has had no experience in the use of Futures or options on
them.
The liquidity of a secondary market in a Future may be
adversely affected by "daily price fluctuation limits" established
by commodity exchanges which restrict the amount of change in the
contract price allowed during a single trading day. Thus, once a
daily limit is reached, no further trades may be entered into
beyond the limit, thereby preventing the liquidation of open
positions. Prices have in the past reached the daily limit on a
number of consecutive trading days. For further information about
Futures and options, see the Additional Statement.
When and if the Trust determines to use Futures or options,
the Prospectus will be supplemented.
Floating and Variable Rate Demand Notes
Floating and variable rate demand notes are tax-exempt
obligations which may have a stated maturity in excess of one year,
but permit the holder to demand payment of principal at any time,
or at specified intervals not exceeding one year, in each case upon
not more than 30 days' notice. The issuer of such notes normally
has a corresponding right, after a given period, to prepay in its
discretion the outstanding principal amount of the note plus
accrued interest upon a specified number of days' notice to the
noteholders. The interest rate on a floating rate demand note is
based on a known lending rate, such as a bank's prime rate, and is
adjusted automatically each time such rate is adjusted. The
interest rate on a variable rate demand note is adjusted
automatically at specified intervals.
Participation Interests
The Trust may purchase from financial institutions
participation interests in Arizona Obligations (such as industrial
development bonds and municipal lease/purchase agreements). A
participation interest gives the Trust an undivided interest in the
underlying Arizona Obligations in the proportion that the Trust's
participation interest bears to the total amount of the underlying
Arizona Obligations. All such participation interests must meet the
Trust's credit requirements. See "Limitation to 10% as to Certain
Investments."
When-Issued and Delayed Delivery Purchases
The Trust may buy Arizona Obligations on a when-issued or
delayed delivery basis when it has the intention of acquiring them.
The Arizona Obligations so purchased are subject to market
fluctuation and no interest accrues to the Trust until delivery and
payment take place; their value at the delivery date may be less
than the purchase price. The Trust cannot enter into when-issued
commitments exceeding in the aggregate 15% of the market value of
the Trust's total assets, less liabilities other than the
obligations created by when-issued commitments. If the Trust
chooses to dispose of the right to acquire a when-issued obligation
prior to its acquisition, it could, as with the disposition of any
other portfolio holding, incur a gain or loss due to market
fluctuation; any such gain would be a taxable short-term gain. The
Trust places an amount of assets equal in value to the amount due
on the settlement date for the when-issued or delayed delivery
securities being purchased in a segregated account with the
Custodian, which is marked to market every business day. See the
Additional Statement for further information.
Limitation to 10% as to Certain Investments
The Trust cannot purchase Arizona Obligations that are not
readily marketable if thereafter more than 10% of its net assets
would consist of such investments. However, this 10% limit does not
include any Arizona Obligations as to which the Trust can exercise
the right to demand payment in full within seven days and as to
which there is a secondary market. Floating and variable rate
demand notes and participation interests (including municipal
lease/purchase obligations) are considered illiquid unless
determined by the Board of Trustees to be readily marketable. See
the Additional Statement.
Current Policy as to Certain Obligations
The Trust will not invest more than 25% of its total assets in
(i) Arizona Obligations the interest on which is paid from
revenues of similar type projects or (ii) industrial development
bonds, unless the Prospectus and/or the Additional Statement are
supplemented to reflect the change and to give additional
information.
Factors Which May Affect the Value
of the Trust's Investments and Their Yields
The value of the Arizona Obligations in which the Trust
invests will fluctuate depending in large part on changes in
prevailing interest rates. If the prevailing interest rates go up
after the Trust buys Arizona Obligations, the value of these
obligations will normally go down; if these rates go down, the
value of these obligations will normally go up. Changes in value
and yield based on changes in prevailing interest rates may have
different effects on short-term Arizona Obligations than on
long-term obligations. Long-term obligations (which often have
higher yields) may fluctuate in value more than short-term ones.
For this reason, the Trust may, to achieve a defensive position,
shorten the average maturity of its portfolio.
Risk Factors and Special Considerations
Regarding Investment in Arizona Obligations
The following is a discussion of the general factors that
might influence the ability of Arizona issuers to repay principal
and interest when due on the Arizona Obligations contained in the
portfolio of the Trust. Such information is derived from sources
that are generally available to investors and is believed by the
Trust to be accurate, but has not been independently verified and
may not be complete.
The composition of the Arizona economy has changed
significantly in recent years. Arizona has shifted from a
resource-based economy to one based on high-tech manufacturing,
construction and services. The construction sector recently has
shown an upturn from the cyclical lows associated with several
factors. These factors included a slowing in the rate of growth of
population, over-built conditions in most sub-markets and less
favorable tax treatments. The problems associated with the
phenomenal growth experienced during the 1980's boom, i.e., air
quality, transportation and public infrastructure, are being
addressed by the Arizona legislature and other public bodies.
Most cities in Arizona derive a large portion of their
operating revenues from state-shared sales tax and state-shared
income taxes. As these revenues began to grow at slower rates, or
in some cases to decline, city management found their ability to
trim operating budgets restricted by the relative inflexibility of
fixed debt-service costs. As such, many Arizona municipalities took
advantage of the low interest rate environment during 1992 and 1993
by refinancing outstanding higher coupon bonds to reduce debt
service requirements. Bond funding for new capital improvements has
slowed due to slower economic growth, insufficient assessed
valuation growth and the slower growth of operating revenues.
Officials throughout the state have been challenged to
manage budgetary strain and set priorities with fewer available
resources. Whether municipalities can maintain fiscal stability
will become increasingly dependent on growth expectations and
municipalities' willingness to reduce spending and manage revenues.
The period of double-digit increases in the tax base and population
and the tax revenues generated by such growth appears to be over.
As such, Arizona municipalities will have to adapt to a changing
and more constricted fiscal environment.
One of the most significant issues facing Arizona
municipalities is the ability to provide water. The Central Arizona
Project is a three hundred thirty-five mile long water conveyance
system designed to take water from the Colorado River and deliver
it to the Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas, to Indian
reservations and to farms for irrigation. The project has been
completed to Tucson, but the start of Arizona's obligation to repay
the Federal government its $1.8 billion share of the project's
costs is still subject to negotiation among the parties. However,
demand for the water is currently only one-third of capacity. The
price of water could increase substantially for cities to cover the
cost of the project. Currently plans are being discussed to
maintain the project's finances and to boost the demand for the
water, thus spreading the projects costs to all its intended users.
In July, 1994, the Supreme Court of Arizona reversed a lower
court ruling and held that the State's statutory scheme for
financing public education is not in compliance with the State's
constitution. The case was remanded to the lower court to determine
whether, in a reasonable time, the Arizona legislature has taken
action to remedy the financing scheme to bring it into compliance.
The Supreme Court has also ruled that its ruling will be
prospective only and that bonded indebtedness incurred under
existing statutes as long as they are in effect are valid and
enforceable. In late 1995, the legislature failed to reach
agreement on a proposed solution. It is not possible to predict
what further court or legislative action will be taken or what
effect such action may have on Arizona Obligations in the Trust's
portfolio or the supply of new Arizona Obligations in the future.
In early 1996, a lower court held illegal the practice used
by some localities in Arizona pursuant to which so-called "Capital
Appreciation Bonds" ("CAB"s) are issued. CABs are zero-coupon bonds
that pay no current interest. The ruling affects only one school
district but similar obligations have been issued by other
localities. The Trust does not own any CABs but does own
conventional issues of localities that have issued CABs. The suit
challenged the further practice whereby a municipality includes in
its bonded indebtedness only the initial principal amount of its
CABs. Under this practice, because the entire principal amount of
the CABs is not included, the municipality can issue additional
conventional bonds without exceeding its legal debt limit. The
legality of the practice is also being considered before other
Arizona agencies and the legislature. It is expected that the
legislature will enact legislation validating all outstanding bonds
of this type. It is not possible to predict the outcome of these
actions. However, unless the CABs are validated, it might not be
possible to collect the principal of the CABs when due, and if CABs
were required to be added to bonded indebtedness of the
municipalities that have issued them, there might be an impact on
the overall financial condition of such municipalities. Any of
these matters could adversely affect the liquidity of the market
for Arizona bonds and the supply of new issues.
Inasmuch as the Arizona Obligations in which the Trust may
invest from time to time include general obligation bonds, revenue
bonds, industrial development bonds, and special tax assessment
bonds, and the sensitivity of each of these types of investments to
the general and economic factors discussed above may vary
significantly, no assurance can be given as to the effect, if any,
that these factors, individually or in the aggregate, may have on
any individual Arizona Obligation or on the Trust as a whole.
Obligations of non-Arizona issuers are subject to general
economic and other factors affecting those issuers.
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
The Trust has a number of policies about what it can and
cannot do. Certain of these policies, identified in the Prospectus
and Additional Statement as "fundamental policies," cannot be
changed unless the holders of a "majority," as defined in the 1940
Act, of the Trust's outstanding shares vote to change them. (See
the Additional Statement for a definition of such a majority.) All
other policies can be changed from time to time by the Board of
Trustees without shareholder approval. Some of the more important
of the Trust's fundamental policies, not otherwise identified in
the Prospectus, are set forth below; others are listed in the
Additional Statement.
1. The Trust invests only in certain limited securities.
The Trust cannot buy any securities other than the Arizona
Obligations meeting the standards stated under "Investment of the
Trust's Assets"; the Trust can also purchase and sell Futures and
options on them within the limits there discussed.
2. The Trust has industry investment requirements.
The Trust cannot buy the obligations of issuers in any one
industry if more than 25% of its total assets would then be
invested in securities of issuers of that industry; the Trust will
consider that a non-governmental user of facilities financed by
industrial development bonds is an issuer in an industry.
3. The Trust cannot make loans.
The Trust can buy those Arizona Obligations which it is
permitted to buy (see "Investment of the Trust's Assets"); this is
investing, not making a loan. The Trust cannot lend its portfolio
securities.
4. The Trust can borrow only in limited amounts for special
purposes.
The Trust can borrow from banks for temporary or emergency
purposes but only up to 10% of its total assets. It can mortgage or
pledge its assets only in connection with such borrowing and only
up to the lesser of the amounts borrowed or 5% of the value of its
total assets. However, this shall not prohibit margin arrangements
in connection with the purchase or sale of Municipal Bond Index
Futures, U.S. Government Securities Futures or options on them, or
the payment of premiums on those options. Interest on borrowings
would reduce the Trust's income. Except in connection with
borrowings, the Trust will not issue senior securities. The Trust
will not purchase any Arizona Obligations, Futures or options on
Futures while it has any outstanding borrowings which exceed 5% of
the value of its total assets.
NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE
The Trust's net asset value and offering price per share of
each class are determined as of 4:00 p.m. New York time on each day
that the New York Stock Exchange is open (a "business day"). The
net asset value per share is determined by dividing the value of
the net assets of the Trust (i.e., the value of the assets less
liabilities) by the total number of shares outstanding.
Determination of the value of the Trust's assets is subject to the
direction and control of the Trust's Board of Trustees. In general
it is based on market value, except that Arizona Obligations
maturing in 60 days or less are generally valued at amortized cost;
see the Additional Statement for further information.
ALTERNATIVE PURCHASE PLANS
In this Prospectus, the Trust provides individual investors
with the option of two alternative ways to purchase shares, through
two separate classes of shares. All classes represent interests in
the same portfolio of Arizona Obligations. The primary distinction
among the classes of shares offered to individuals lies in their
sales charge structures and ongoing expenses, as described below.
You should choose the class that best suits your own circumstances
and needs.
By purchasing Class A Shares you have the option of paying
the applicable sales charge at the time of your purchase. By
purchasing Class C Shares, you have the option of paying a sales
charge over a period of six years after purchase but without paying
anything at time of purchase, much as goods can be purchased on an
installment plan. You are subject to a conditional deferred sales
charge, described below, but only if you redeem your Class C Shares
before they have been held 12 months from your purchase. (See
"Computation of Holding Periods for Class C Shares.")
* Class A Shares, "Front-Payment Class Shares," are offered
to anyone at net asset value plus a sales charge, paid at
the time of purchase, at the maximum rate of 4.0% of the
public offering price, with lower rates for larger
purchases. Under the Trust's Distribution Plan, Class A
Shares are subject to a fee of 0.15 of 1% of the average
annual net assets of the Class A Shares. When you
purchase Class A Shares, the amount of your investment is
reduced by the applicable sales charge. Certain Class A
Shares purchased in transactions of $1 million or more
are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge. (See
"Purchases of $1 Million or More of Class A Shares.")
* Class C Shares, "Level-Payment Class Shares," are
offered to anyone at net asset value with no sales charge
payable at purchase but with a level charge for
distribution fees and service fees for six years after
the date of purchase at the aggregate annual rate of 1%
of the average annual net assets of the Class C Shares.
(See "Distribution Plan" and "Shareholder Services
Plan.") Six years after the date of purchase, Class C
Shares, including Class C Shares acquired in exchange for
other Class C Shares under the Exchange Privilege (see
"Exchange Privilege"), are automatically converted to
Class A Shares. In addition, if you redeem Class C Shares
before you have held them for 12 months from the date of
purchase you will pay a contingent deferred sales charge
("CDSC") at the rate of 1%, calculated on the net asset
value of the Class C Shares redeemed at the time of
purchase or of redemption, which ever is less. The amount
of any CDSC will be paid to the Distributor. The CDSC
does not apply to shares acquired through the
reinvestment of dividends on Class C Shares or to any
Class C Shares held for more than 12 months after
purchase. In the Prospectus, 12-month and six-year
holding periods are considered modified by up to one
month depending upon when during a month your purchase of
such shares is made. (See "Computation of Holding Periods
for Class C Shares" and "How to Purchase Class C
Shares.")
In determining whether a CDSC is payable on a redemption of
Class C Shares, it will be assumed that the redemption is made
first of any shares acquired as dividends or distributions, second
of any Class C Shares you have held for more than 12 months from
the date of purchase and finally of those Class C Shares as to
which the CDSC is payable which you have held the longest. This
will result in your paying the lowest possible CDSC.
Computation of Holding Periods for Class C Shares
For purposes of determining the holding period for Class C
Shares, all of your purchases made during a calendar month will be
deemed to have been made on the first business day of that month at
the average cost of all purchases made during that month. The 12-
month CDSC holding period will end on the first business day of the
12th calendar month after the date your purchase is deemed to have
been made. Accordingly, the CDSC holding period applicable to your
Class C Shares may be up to one month less than the full 12 months
depending upon when your actual purchase was made during a month.
Running of the 12-month CDSC holding period will be suspended for
one month for each period of thirty days during which you have held
shares of a money market fund you have received in exchange for
Class C Shares under the Exchange Privilege. (See "Exchange
Privilege.")
Your Class C Shares will automatically convert to Class A
Shares six years after the date of purchase, together with a pro-
rata portion of all Class C Shares representing dividends and other
distributions paid in additional Class C Shares. The Class C Shares
so converted will no longer be subject to the higher expenses borne
by the Class C Shares. The conversion will be effected at relative
net asset values on the first business day of the month following
that in which the sixth anniversary of your purchase of the Class
C Shares occurred, except as noted below. Accordingly, the holding
period applicable to your Class C Shares may be up to one month
more than the six years depending upon when your actual purchase
was made during a month. Because the per share value of Class A
Shares may be higher than that of Class C Shares at the time of
conversion, you may receive fewer Class A Shares than the number of
Class C Shares converted. If you have made one or more exchanges of
Class C Shares among the Aquila-sponsored tax-free municipal bond
funds or equity funds under the Exchange Privilege, the six-year
holding period is deemed to have begun on the date you purchased
your original Class C Shares of the Trust or of another of the
Aquila Bond or Equity funds. The six-year holding period will be
suspended by one month for each period of thirty days during which
you hold shares of a money market fund you have received in
exchange for Class C Shares under the Exchange Privilege. (See
"Exchange Privilege.")
The following chart summarizes the principal differences
between Class A Shares and Class C Shares.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C>
Class A Class C
Initial Sales Maximum of 4% None
Charge of the Public
Offering Price
Contingent None (except Maximum CDSC
Deferred for certain of 1% if shares
Sales Charge purchases over redeemed before
$1 Million) 12 months; 0%
after 12 months
Distribution and 0.15 of 1% Distribution fee
Service Fees of 0.75 of 1% and
a service fee of
0.25 of 1% for a
total of 1%,
payable for six
years
Other Information Initial Sales Shares convert
Charge waived to Class A Shares
or reduced in after six years
some cases
</TABLE>
Factors to Consider in Choosing Classes of Shares
This discussion relates to the major differences between Class
A Shares and Class C Shares. It is recommended that any investment
in the Trust be considered long-term in nature.
Over time, the cumulative total cost of the 1% annual service
and distribution fees on the Class C Shares will equal or exceed
the total cost of the initial 4% maximum initial sales charges and
0.15 of 1% annual fee payable for Class A Shares. For example, if
equal amounts were paid at the same time for Class A Shares (where
the amount invested is reduced by the amount of the sales charge)
and for Class C Shares (which carry no sales charge at the time of
purchase) and the net asset value per share remained constant over
time, the total of such costs for Class C Shares would equal the
total of such costs for Class A Shares after approximately four and
two-thirds years. This example assumes no redemptions and
disregards the time value of money. Purchasers of Class C Shares
have all of their investment dollars invested from the time of
purchase, without having their investment reduced at the outset by
the initial sales charge payable for Class A Shares. If you invest
in Class A Shares you will pay the entire sales charge at the time
of purchase. Accordingly, if you expect to redeem your shares
shortly after purchase, you should consider the total cost of such
an investment in Class A Shares compared with a similar investment
in Class C Shares. The example under "Table of Expenses" shows the
effect of Trust expenses for both Classes if a hypothetical
investment in each of the Classes is held for 1, 3, 5 and 10 years.
(See the Table of Expenses.)
Dividends and other distributions paid by the Trust with
respect to shares of each class are calculated in the same manner
and at the same time. The dividends actually paid with respect to
Class C Shares will be lower than those paid on Class A because
Class C Shares bear higher distribution and service fees and will
have a higher expense ratio. In addition, the dividends of each
class can vary because each class will bear certain class-specific
charges. For example, each class will bear the costs of printing
and mailing annual reports to its own shareholders.
HOW TO INVEST IN THE TRUST
The Trust's shares may be purchased through any investment
broker or dealer (a "selected dealer") which has a sales agreement
with Aquila Distributors, Inc. (the "Distributor") or through the
Distributor. There are two ways to make an initial investment: (i)
order the shares through your investment broker or dealer, if it is
a selected dealer; or (ii) mail the Application with payment to
Administrative Data Management Corp. (the "Agent") at the address
on the Application. The applicable sales charge will apply in
either instance. Subsequent investments are also subject to the
applicable sales charges. You are urged to complete an Application
and send it to the Agent so that expedited shareholder services can
be established at the time of your investment. Unless your initial
investment is specified to be made in Class C Shares, it will be
made in Class A Shares.
The minimum initial investment for Class A Shares and Class C
Shares is $1,000, except as otherwise stated in the Prospectus or
Additional Statement. You may also make an initial investment of at
least $100 by establishing an Automatic Investment Program for
Automatic investments of at least $100 per month and paying at
least $100. (See below and "Automatic Investment Program" in the
Application.) Such investment must be drawn in United States
dollars on a United States commercial or savings bank, credit union
or a United States branch of a foreign commercial bank (each of
which is a "Financial Institution"). You may make subsequent
investments in the same class of shares in any amount (unless you
have an Automatic Withdrawal Plan). Your subsequent investment may
be made through a selected dealer or by forwarding payment to the
Agent, with the name(s) of account owner(s), the account number,
the name of the Trust and the Class of Shares to be purchased. With
subsequent investments, please send the pre-printed stub attached
to the Trust's confirmations.
Subsequent investments of $50 or more in shares of the same
class as your initial investment can be made by electronic funds
transfer from your demand account at a Financial Institution. To
use electronic funds transfer for your purchases, your Financial
Institution must be a member of the Automated Clearing House and
the Agent must have received your completed Application designating
this feature, or, after your account has been opened, a Ready
Access Features form available from the Distributor or the Agent.
A pre-determined amount can be regularly transferred for investment
("Automatic Investment"), or single investments can be made upon
receipt by the Agent of telephone instructions from anyone
("Telephone Investment"). The maximum amount of each Telephone
Investment is $50,000. Upon 30 days' written notice to
shareholders, the Trust may modify or terminate these investment
methods at any time or charge a service fee, although no such fee
is currently contemplated.
The offering price is the net asset value per share for Class
C Shares and the net asset value per share plus the applicable
sales charge for Class A Shares. The offering price determined on
any day applies to all purchase orders received by the Agent from
selected dealers that day, except that orders received by it after
4:00 p.m. New York time will receive that day's offering price only
if such orders were received by selected dealers from customers
prior to such time and transmitted to the Distributor prior to its
close of business that day (normally 5:00 p.m. New York time); if
not so transmitted, such orders will be filled at the next
determined offering price. Selected dealers are required to
transmit orders promptly. Investments by mail are made at the
offering price next determined after receipt of the purchase order
by the Agent. Purchase orders received on other than a business day
will be executed on the next succeeding business day. Purchases by
Automatic Investment and Telephone Investment will be executed on
the first business day occurring on or after the date an order is
considered received by the Agent at the price determined on that
day. In the case of Automatic Investment your order will be
executed on the date you specified for investment at the price
determined on that day. If that day is not a business day your
order will be executed at the price determined on the next business
day. In the case of Telephone Investment your order will be filled
at the next determined offering price. If your order is placed
after the time for determining the net asset value of the Trust
shares for any day it will be executed at the price determined on
the following business day. The sale of shares will be suspended
during any period when the determination of net asset value is
suspended and may be suspended by the Distributor when the
Distributor judges it in the Trust's best interest to do so.
How to Purchase Class A Shares (Front-Payment Class Shares)
The following table shows the amount of the sales charge to a
"single purchaser" (defined below) together with the dealer
discounts paid to dealers and the agency commissions paid to
brokers (collectively called the "commissions") for purchases of
Class A Shares:
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Sales Sales Commis-
Charge Charge sions
as as as
Percentage Approximate Percentage
of Public Percentage of
Amount of Offering of Amount Offering
Purchase Price Invested Price
Less than $25,000...... 4.00% 4.17% 3.00%
$25,000 but less
than $50,000........ 3.75% 3.90% 3.00%
$50,000 but less
than $100,000....... 3.50% 3.63% 2.75%
$100,000 but less
than $250,000....... 3.25% 3.36% 2.75%
$250,000 but less
than $500,000....... 3.00% 3.09% 2.50%
$500,000 but less
than $1,000,000..... 2.50% 2.56% 2.25%
For purchases of $1 million or more see "Purchases of $1 Million
or More," below.
</TABLE>
The table of sales charges is applicable to purchases of Class
A Shares by a "single purchaser," i.e.: (a) an individual; (b) an
individual together with his or her spouse and their children under
the age of 21 purchasing shares for his or their own accounts; (c)
a trustee or other fiduciary purchasing shares for a single trust
estate or a single fiduciary account; and (d) a tax-exempt
organization enumerated in Section 501(c)(3) or (13) of the Code.
Upon notice to all selected dealers, the Distributor may
reallow up to the full amount of the applicable sales charge as
shown in the above schedule during periods specified in such
notice. During periods when all or substantially all of the entire
sales charge is reallowed, such selected dealers may be deemed to
be underwriters as that term is defined in the Securities Act of
1933.
Purchases of $1 Million or More of Class A Shares
Class A Shares issued in purchases of $1 million or more by a
single purchaser are called "CDSC Class A Shares." CDSC Class A
Shares also include certain Class A Shares issued in purchases of
$1 million or more under the program captioned "Certain Investment
Companies - Special Dealer Arrangements," below. (CDSC Class A
Shares do not include (i) Class A Shares purchased without sales
charge pursuant to the terms described under "General," below and
(ii) Class A Shares purchased in transactions of less than $1
million and when certain special dealer arrangements are not in
effect under "Certain Investment Companies" set forth under
"Reduced Sales Charges," below.)
When you purchase CDSC Class A Shares you will not pay a sales
charge at the time of purchase, and the Distributor will pay to any
dealer effecting such a purchase an amount equal to 1% of the sales
price of the shares purchased for purchases of $1 million but less
than $2.5 million, 0.50 of 1% for purchases of $2.5 million but
less than $5 million, and 0.25 of 1% for purchases of $5 million or
more, if the CDSC Class A Shares remain outstanding for a period of
at least one year. A pro-rata portion of this fee will be payable
for each day the CDSC Class A Shares are outstanding in the first
one-year period following issuance of such shares. The fee payable
for each calendar quarter will be made within fifteen days of the
end of that quarter.
If you redeem all or part of your CDSC Class A Shares during
the four years after your purchase of such shares, at the time of
redemption you will be required to pay to the Distributor a special
contingent deferred sales charge based on the lesser of (i) the net
asset value of your redeemed CDSC Class A Shares at the time of
purchase or (ii) the net asset value of your redeemed CDSC Class A
Shares at the time of redemption (the "Redemption Value"). The
special charge will be an amount equal to 1% of the Redemption
Value if the redemption occurs within the first two years after
purchase, and 0.50 of 1% of the Redemption Value if the redemption
occurs within the third or fourth year after purchase. The special
charge will apply to redemptions of CDSC Class A Shares purchased
without a sales charge pursuant to a Letter of Intent, as described
below under "Reduced Sales Charges." The special charge does not
apply to shares acquired through the reinvestment of dividends on
CDSC Class A Shares or to any CDSC Class A Shares held for more
than four years after purchase. In determining whether the special
charge is applicable, it will be assumed that the CDSC Class A
Shares you have held the longest are the first CDSC Class A Shares
to be redeemed, unless you instruct the Agent otherwise. It will
also be assumed that if you have both CDSC Class A Shares and non-
CDSC Class A Shares the non-CDSC Class A Shares will be redeemed
first.
For purposes of determining the holding period for CDSC Class
A Shares, all of your purchases made during a calendar month will
be deemed to have been made on the first business day of that month
at the average cost of all purchases made during that month. The
four-year holding period will end on the first business day of the
48th calendar month after the date your purchase is deemed to have
been made. Accordingly, the CDSC holding period applicable to your
CDSC Class A Shares may be up to one month less than the full 48
months depending upon when your actual purchase was made during a
month. Running of the 48-month CDSC holding period will be
suspended for one month for each period of thirty days during which
you have held shares of a money market fund you have received in
exchange for CDSC Class A Shares under the Exchange Privilege. (See
"Exchange Privilege.")
Reduced Sales Charges for Certain Purchases of Class A Shares
Right of Accumulation: If you are a "Single purchaser" you may
benefit from a reduction of the sales charge in accordance with the
above schedule for subsequent purchases of Class A Shares if the
cumulative value (at cost or current net asset value, whichever is
higher) of Class A Shares you have previously purchased with a
sales charge, together with Class A Shares of your subsequent
purchase with such a charge, amounts to $25,000 or more.
Letters of Intent: The foregoing schedule of reduced sales
charges will also be available to "single purchasers" who enter
into a written Letter of Intent (included in the Application)
providing for the purchase, within a thirteen-month period, of
Class A Shares of the Trust through a single selected dealer or
through the Distributor. Class A Shares of the Trust which you
previously purchased during a 90-day period prior to the date of
receipt by the Distributor of your Letter of Intent and which you
still own may also be included in determining the applicable
reduction. For further details, including escrow provisions, see
the Letter of Intent provisions of the Application.
General: Class A Shares may be purchased at the next
determined net asset value by the Trust's Trustees and officers, by
the directors, officers and certain employees, retired employees
and representatives of the Adviser and its parent and affiliates,
the Administrator and the Distributor, by selected dealers and
brokers and their officers and employees, by certain persons
connected with firms providing legal, advertising or public
relations assistance, by certain family members of, and plans for
the benefit of, the foregoing, and for the benefit of trust or
similar clients of banking institutions over which these
institutions have full investment authority if the Distributor has
entered into an agreement relating to such purchases. Except for
the last category, purchasers must give written assurance that the
purchase is for investment and that the Class A Shares will not be
resold except through redemption. There may be tax consequences of
these purchases. Such purchasers should consult their own tax
counsel. Class A Shares may also be issued at net asset value in a
merger, acquisition or exchange offer made pursuant to a plan of
reorganization to which the Trust is a party.
The Trust permits the sale of its Class A Shares at prices
that reflect the reduction or elimination of the sales charge to
investors who are members of certain qualified groups meeting the
following requirements. A qualified group (i) is a group or
association, or a category of purchasers who are represented by a
fiduciary, professional or other representative (other than a
registered broker-dealer), which (ii) satisfies uniform criteria
which enable the Distributor to realize economies of scale in its
costs of distributing shares; (iii) gives its endorsement or
authorization (if it is a group or association) to an investment
program to facilitate solicitation of its membership by a broker or
dealer; and (iv) complies with the conditions of purchase that are
set forth in any agreement entered into between the Trust and the
group, representative or broker or dealer. At the time of purchase
you must furnish the Distributor with information sufficient to
permit verification that the purchase qualifies for a reduced sales
charge, either directly or through a broker or dealer.
Certain Investment Companies: Class A Shares of the Trust may
be purchased at net asset value without sales charge (except as set
forth below under "Special Dealer Arrangements") to the extent that
the aggregate net asset value of such Class A Shares does not
exceed the proceeds from a redemption (a "Qualified Redemption"),
made within 120 days prior to such purchase, of shares of another
investment company on which a sales charge, including a contingent
deferred sales charge, has been paid. Additional information is
available from the Distributor.
To qualify, the following special procedures must be followed:
1. A completed Application (included in the Prospectus) and
payment for the shares to be purchased must be sent to the
Distributor, Aquila Distributors, Inc., 380 Madison Avenue,
Suite 2300, New York, NY 10017 and should not be sent to the
Shareholder Servicing Agent of the Trust, Administrative Data
Management Corp. (This instruction replaces the mailing
address contained on the Application.)
2. The Application must be accompanied by evidence
satisfactory to the Distributor that the prospective
shareholder has made a Qualified Redemption in an amount at
least equal to the net asset value of the Class A Shares to be
purchased. Satisfactory evidence includes a confirmation of
the date and the amount of the redemption from the investment
company, its transfer agent or the investor's broker or
dealer, or a copy of the investor's account statement with the
investment company reflecting the redemption transaction.
3. You must complete and return to the Distributor a Transfer
Request Form, which is available from the Distributor.
The Trust reserves the right to alter or terminate this
privilege at any time without notice. The Prospectus will be
supplemented to reflect such alteration or termination.
Special Dealer Arrangements: During certain periods determined
by the Distributor, the Distributor (not the Trust) will pay to any
dealer effecting a purchase of Class A Shares of the Trust of $1
million or more using the proceeds of a Qualified Redemption the
same amounts described under "Purchases of $1 Million or More,"
above on the same terms and conditions. Class A Shares of the Trust
issued in such a transaction will be CDSC Class A Shares and if you
thereafter redeem all or part of such shares during the four-year
period from the date of purchase you will be subject to the special
contingent deferred sales charge described under "Purchases of $1
Million or More," above, on the same terms and conditions. Whenever
the Special Dealer Arrangements are in effect the Prospectus will
be supplemented.
How to Purchase Class C Shares (Level-Payment Class Shares)
Level-Payment Class Shares (Class C Shares) are offered at
net asset value with no sales charge payable at purchase. A level
charge is imposed for service and distribution fees for the first
six years after the date of purchase at the aggregate annual rate
of 1% of the average annual net assets of the Trust represented by
the Class C Shares. In addition, Class C Shares are subject to a
contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC") if redeemed before you
have held them for 12 months from the date of purchase at the rate
of 1%, calculated on the net asset value of the Class C Shares at
the time of purchase or of redemption, whichever is less. There is
no CDSC after Class C Shares have been held beyond the applicable
period. The CDSC does not apply to shares acquired through the
reinvestment of dividends on Class C Shares.
The Distributor will pay to any dealer effecting a purchase of
Class C Shares an amount equal to 1% of the sales price of the
Class C Shares purchased.
Additional Compensation for Dealers
The Distributor, at its own expense, may also provide
additional compensation to dealers in connection with sales of any
class of shares of the Trust. Additional compensation may include
payment or partial payment for advertising of the Trust's shares,
payment of travel expenses, including lodging, incurred in
connection with attendance at sales seminars taken by qualifying
registered representatives to locations within or outside of the
United States, other prizes or financial assistance to securities
dealers in offering their own seminars or conferences. In some
instances, such compensation may be made available only to certain
dealers whose representatives have sold or are expected to sell
significant amounts of such shares. Dealers may not use sales of
the Trust's shares to qualify for the incentives to the extent such
may be prohibited by the laws of any state or any self-regulatory
agency, such as the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc. The cost to the Distributor of such promotional activities and
such payments to participating dealers will not exceed the amount
of the sales charges in respect of sales of shares of the Trust
effected through such participating dealers, whether retained by
the Distributor or reallowed to participating dealers. No such
additional compensation to dealers in connection with sales of
shares of the Trust will affect the price you pay for shares or the
amount that the Trust will receive from such sales. Any of the
foregoing payments to be made by the Distributor may be made
instead by the Administrator out of its own funds, directly or
through the Distributor.
Brokers and Dealers may receive different levels of
compensation for selling different classes of shares.
Systematic Payroll Investments
If your employer has established with the Trust a Systematic
Payroll Investment Plan ("Payroll Plan") you may arrange for
systematic investments into the Trust through a Payroll Plan.
Investments can be made in either Class A Shares or Class C Shares.
In order to participate in a Payroll Plan, you should make
arrangements with your own employer's payroll department, and you
must complete and sign any special application forms which may be
required by your employer. You must also complete the Application
included in the Prospectus. Once your application is received and
put into effect, under a Payroll Plan the employer will make a
deduction from payroll checks in an amount you determine, and will
remit the proceeds to the Trust. An investment in the Trust will be
made for you at the offering price, which includes applicable sales
charges determined as described above, when the Trust receives the
funds from your employer. The Trust will send a confirmation of
each transaction to you. To change the amount of or to terminate
your participation in the Payroll Plan (which could take up to ten
days), you must notify your employer.
Confirmations and Share Certificates
All purchases of shares will be confirmed and credited to you
in an account maintained for you at the Agent in full and
fractional shares of the Trust (rounded to the nearest 1/1000th of
a share).
No share certificates will be issued for Class C Shares. Share
certificates for Class A Shares will be issued only if you so
request in writing to the Agent. All share certificates previously
issued by the Trust represent Class A Shares. No certificates will
be issued for fractional Class A shares or if you have elected
Automatic Investment or Telephone Investment for Class A Shares
(see "How to Invest in the Trust" above) or Expedited Redemption
(see "How to Redeem Your Investment" below). If certificates for
Class A Shares are issued at your request, Expedited Redemption
Methods described below will not be available. In addition, you may
incur delay and expense if you lose the certificates.
The Trust and the Distributor reserve the right to reject any
order for the purchase of shares. In addition, the offering of
shares may be suspended at any time and resumed at any time
thereafter.
Distribution Plan
The Trust has adopted a Distribution Plan (the "Plan") under
Rule 12b-1 (the "Rule") under the 1940 Act. The Rule provides in
substance that an investment company may not engage directly or
indirectly in financing any activity which is primarily intended to
result in the sale of its shares except pursuant to a written plan
adopted under the Rule. The Plan has three parts.
Under the Plan, the Trust is authorized to make payments with
respect to Class A Shares ("Class A Permitted Payments") to
Qualified Recipients, which Permitted Payments shall be made
through the Distributor or shareholder servicing agent as
disbursing agent, which may not exceed, for any fiscal year of the
Trust (as adjusted for any part or parts of a fiscal year during
which payments under the Plan are not accruable or for any fiscal
year which is not a full fiscal year) 0.15 of 1% of the average
annual net assets represented by the Class A Shares of the Trust.
Such payments shall be made only out of the Trust assets allocable
to the Class A Shares. "Qualified Recipients" means broker-dealers
or others selected by the Distributor, including but not limited to
any principal underwriter of the Trust, with which the Distributor
has entered into written agreements and which have rendered
assistance (whether direct, administrative, or both) in the
distribution and/or retention of the Trust's Class A Shares or
servicing of accounts of shareholders owning Class A Shares.
Permitted Payments under the Plan commenced July 1, 1994.
Until April 1, 1996, all outstanding shares of the Trust were what
are currently designated Class A Shares. During the fiscal year
ended June 30, 1995, $554,324 was paid to Qualified Recipients
under the Plan as then in effect, of which $16,689 was retained by
the Distributor. (See the Additional Statement for a description of
the Distribution Plan.)
Whenever the Trust makes Class A Permitted Payments, the
aggregate annual rate of the advisory fee and administration fee
otherwise payable by the Trust will be reduced from 0.50 of 1% to
0.40 of 1% of the Trust's average annual net assets. (See
"Management Arrangements.")
Under another part of the Plan, the Trust is authorized to
make payments with respect to Class C Shares ("Class C Permitted
Payments"), to Qualified Recipients. Class C Permitted Payments
shall be made through the Distributor or shareholder servicing
agent as disbursing agent, and may not exceed, for any fiscal year
of the Trust (as adjusted for any part or parts of a fiscal year
during which payments under the Plan are not accruable or for any
fiscal year which is not a full fiscal year) 0.75 of 1% of the
average annual net assets represented by the Class C Shares of the
Trust. Such payments shall be made only out of the Trust assets
allocable to the Class C Shares. "Class C Qualified Recipients"
means broker-dealers or others selected by the Distributor,
including but not limited to any principal underwriter of the
Trust, with which the Distributor has entered into written
agreements and which have rendered assistance (whether direct,
administrative, or both) in the distribution and/or retention of
the Trust's Class C Shares or servicing of accounts of shareholders
owning Class C Shares. Payments with respect to Class C Shares
during the first year after purchase are paid to the Distributor
and thereafter to other Qualified Recipients.
Another part of the Plan is designed to protect against any
claim against or involving the Trust that some of the expenses
which might be considered to be sales-related which the Trust pays
or may pay come within the purview of the Rule. The Trust believes
that except for Permitted Payments it is not financing any such
activity and does not consider any payment enumerated in this part
of the Plan as so financing any such activity. However, it might be
claimed that some of the expenses the Trust pays come within the
purview of the Rule. If and to the extent that any payment as
specifically listed in the Plan (see the Additional Statement) is
considered to be primarily intended to result in or as indirect
financing of any activity which is primarily intended to result in
the sale of Trust shares, these payments are authorized under the
Plan. In addition, if the Administrator, out of its own funds,
makes payment for distribution expenses such payments are
authorized. See the Additional Statement.
Shareholder Services Plan for Class C Shares
Under a Shareholder Services Plan, the Trust is authorized to
make payments with respect to Class C Shares ("Service Fees") to
Qualified Recipients. Service Fees shall be paid through the
Distributor or shareholder servicing agent as disbursing agent, and
may not exceed, for any fiscal year of the Trust (as adjusted for
any part or parts of a fiscal year during which payments under the
Plan are not accruable or for any fiscal year which is not a full
fiscal year) 0.25 of 1% of the average annual net assets
represented by the Class C Shares of the Trust. Such payments shall
be made only out of the Trust assets represented by the Class C
Shares. "Service Fee Qualified Recipients" means broker-dealers or
others selected by the Distributor, including but not limited to
any principal underwriter of the Trust, with which the Distributor
has entered into written agreements and which have agreed to
provide personal services to holders of Class C Shares and/or
maintenance of Class C shareholder accounts. See the Additional
Statement. Service Fees with respect to Class C Shares will be paid
to the Distributor.
HOW TO REDEEM YOUR INVESTMENT
You may redeem all or any part of your shares at the net
asset value next determined after acceptance of your redemption
request at the Agent (subject to any applicable contingent deferred
sales charge for redemptions of Class C Shares and CDSC Class A
Shares). For redemptions of Class C Shares and CDSC
Class A Shares, at the time of redemption a sufficient number of
additional shares will be redeemed to pay for any applicable
contingent deferred sales charge.Redemptions can be made by the
various methods described below. There is no minimum period for
any investment in the Trust, except for shares recently purchased
by check, Automatic Investment or Telephone Investment as discussed
below. Except for CDCS Class A Shares (see "Purchases of $1 Million
or More") there are no redemption fees or withdrawal penalties for
Class A Shares. Class C Shares are subject to a contingent deferred
sales charge if redeemed before they have been held 12 months from
the date of purchase. (See "Alternative Purchase Plans.") A
redemption may result in a transaction taxable to you. If you own
both Class A Shares and Class C Shares and do not specify which you
wish to redeem, it will be assumed that you wish to redeem Class A
Shares.
For your convenience the Trust offers expedited redemption for
all classes of shares to provide you with a high level of liquidity
for your investment.
Expedited Redemption Methods
(Non-Certificate Shares)
You have the flexibility of two expedited methods of
initiating redemptions. They are available as to shares of any
class not represented by certificates.
1. By Telephone. The Agent will accept instructions by
telephone from anyone to redeem shares and make payments
a) to a Financial Institution account you have
predesignated or
b) by check in the amount of $50,000 or less, mailed to
you, if your shares are registered in your name and the
check is sent to your address of record, provided that
there has not been a change of your address of record
during the 30 days preceding your redemption request. You
can make only one request for telephone redemption by
check in any 7-day period.
See "Redemption Payments", below for payment methods. Your
name, account number and address of record must be supplied.
To redeem an investment by this method, telephone:
800-437-1000 toll free or 908-855-5731
Note: The Trust, the Agent, and the Distributor will not be
responsible for any losses resulting from unauthorized telephone
transactions if the Agent follows reasonable procedures designed to
verify the identity of the caller. The Agent will request some or
all of the following information: account name(s) and number, name
of the caller, the social security number registered to the account
and personal identification. The Agent may also record calls. You
should verify the accuracy of confirmation statements immediately
upon receipt.
2. By FAX or Mail. You may also request redemption payments to
a predesignated Financial Institution account by a letter of
instruction sent to: Administrative Data Management Corp.,
Attn: Aquilasm Group of Funds, by FAX at 908-855-5730 or by
mail at 581 Main Street, Woodbridge, NJ 07095-1198, indicating
account name(s), account number, amount to be redeemed, and
any payment directions, signed by the registered holder(s).
Signature guarantees are not required. See "Redemption
Payments", below for payment methods.
If you wish to use the above procedures you should so elect on
the Expedited Redemption section of the Application or the Ready
Access Features form and provide the required information
concerning your Financial Institution account number. The Financial
Institution account must be in the exclusive name(s) of the
shareholder(s) as registered with the Trust. You may change the
designated Financial Institution account at any time by completing
and returning a Ready Access Features form. For protection of your
assets, this form requires signature guarantees and possible
additional documentation.
Regular Redemption Method
(Certificate and Non-Certificate Shares)
1. Certificate Shares. Certificates representing Class A
Shares to be redeemed should be sent in blank (unsigned) to
the Trust's Shareholder Servicing Agent: Administrative Data
Management Corp., Attn: Aquilasm Group of Funds, 581 Main
Street, Woodbridge, NJ 07095-1198, with payment instructions.
A stock assignment form signed by the registered
shareholder(s) exactly as the account is registered must also
be sent to the Shareholder Servicing Agent.
For your own protection, it is essential that certificates be
mailed separately from signed redemption documentation. Because of
possible mail problems, it is also recommended that certificates be
sent by registered mail, return receipt requested.
For a redemption request to be in "proper form," the
signature or signatures must be the same as in the registration of
the account. In a joint account, the signatures of both
shareholders are necessary. Signature guarantees may be required if
sufficient documentation is not on file with the Agent. Additional
documentation may be required where shares are held by certain
types of shareholders such as corporations, partnerships, trustees
or executors, or if redemption is requested by other than the
shareholder of record. If redemption proceeds of $50,000 or less
are payable to the record holder and are to be sent to the record
address, no signature guarantee is required, except as noted above.
In all other cases, signatures must be guaranteed by a member of a
national securities exchange, a U.S. bank or trust company, a
state-chartered savings bank, a federally chartered savings and
loan association, a foreign bank having a U.S. correspondent bank,
a participant in the Securities Transfer Association Medallion
Program (STAMP), The Stock Exchanges Medallion Program (SEMP) or
The New York Stock Exchange, Inc. Medallion Signature Program
(MSP). A notary public is not an acceptable signature
guarantor.
2. Non-Certificate Shares. If you own non-certificate shares
registered on the books of the Trust, and you have not elected
Expedited Redemption to a predesignated Financial Institution
account, you must use the Regular Redemption Method. Under
this redemption method you should send a letter of instruction
to: Administrative Data Management Corp., Attn: Aquilasm Group
of Funds, 581 Main Street, Woodbridge, NJ 07095-1198,
containing:
Account Name(s);
Account Number;
Dollar amount or number of shares to be redeemed or a
statement that all shares held in the account are to be
redeemed;
Payment instructions (normally redemption proceeds will
be mailed to your address as registered with the Trust);
Signature(s) of the registered shareholder(s); and
Signature guarantee(s), if required, as indicated above.
Redemption Payments
Redemption payments will ordinarily be mailed to you at
your address of record. If you so request and the amount of your
redemption proceeds is $1,000 or more, the proceeds will, wherever
possible, be wired or transferred through the facilities of the
Automated Clearing House to the Financial Institution account
specified in the Expedited Redemption section of your Application
or Ready Access Features form. The Trust may impose a charge, not
exceeding $5.00 per wire redemption, after written notice to
shareholders who have elected this redemption procedure. The Trust
has no present intention of making this charge. Upon 30 days'
written notice to shareholders, the Trust may modify or terminate
the use of the Automated Clearing House to make redemption payments
at any time or charge a service fee, although no such fee is
presently contemplated. If any such changes are made, the
Prospectus will be supplemented to reflect them. If you use a
broker or dealer to arrange for a redemption, it may charge you a
fee for this service.
The Trust will normally make payment for all shares redeemed
on the next business day (see "Net Asset Value Per Share")
following acceptance of the redemption request made in compliance
with one of the redemption methods specified above. Except as set
forth below, in no event will payment be made more than seven days
after acceptance of such a redemption request. However, the right
of redemption may be suspended or the date of payment postponed (i)
during periods when the New York Stock Exchange is closed for other
than weekends and holidays or when trading on such Exchange is
restricted as determined by the Securities and Exchange Commission
by rule or regulation; (ii) during periods in which an emergency,
as determined by the Securities and Exchange Commission, exists
which causes disposal of, or valuation of the net asset value of,
the portfolio securities to be unreasonable or impracticable; or
(iii) for such other periods as the Securities and Exchange
Commission may permit. Payment for redemption of shares recently
purchased by check (irrespective of whether the check is a regular
check or a certified, cashier's or official bank check) or by
Automatic Investment or Telephone Investment may be delayed up to
15 days or until (i) the purchase check or Automatic Investment or
Telephone Investment has been honored or (ii) the Agent has
received assurances by telephone or in writing from the Financial
Institution on which the purchase check was drawn, or from which
the funds for Automatic Investment or Telephone Investment were
transferred, satisfactory to the Agent and the Trust, that the
purchase check or Automatic Investment or Telephone Investment will
be honored. Possible delays in payment of redemption proceeds can
be eliminated by using wire payments or Federal Reserve drafts to
pay for purchases.
If the Trustees determine that it would be detrimental to the
best interests of the remaining shareholders of the Trust to make
payment wholly or partly in cash, the Trust may pay the redemption
price in whole or in part by the distribution in kind of securities
from the portfolio of the Trust, in lieu of cash, in conformity
with applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
See the Additional Statement for details.
The Trust has the right to compel the redemption of shares
held in any account if the aggregate net asset value of such shares
is less than $500 as a result of shareholder redemptions or failure
to meet the minimum investment level under an Automatic Purchase
Program. If the Board elects to do this shareholders who are
affected will receive prior written notice and will be permitted 60
days to bring their accounts up to the minimum before this
redemption is processed.
Reinvestment Privilege
You may reinvest without payment of any additional sales
charge all or part of any redemption proceeds within 120 days of a
redemption of shares in shares of the Trust of the same Class as
the shares redeemed at the net asset value next determined after
the Agent receives your reinvestment order. In the case of Class C
Shares or CDSC Class A Shares on which a contingent deferred sales
charges was deducted at the time of redemption, the Distributor
will refund to you the amount of such sales charge, which will be
added to the amount of the reinvestment. The Class C Shares or CDSC
Class A Shares issued on reinvestment will be deemed to have been
outstanding from the date of your original purchase of the redeemed
shares, less the period from redemption to reinvestment. The
reinvestment privilege for any class may be exercised only once a
year, unless otherwise approved by the Distributor. If you have
realized a gain on the redemption of your shares, the redemption
transaction is taxable, and reinvestment will not alter any capital
gains tax payable. If there has been a loss on the redemption, some
or all of the loss may be tax deductible, depending on the amount
reinvested and the length of time between the redemption and the
reinvestment. You should consult your own tax advisor on this
matter.
AUTOMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN
You may establish an Automatic Withdrawal Plan if you own or
purchase shares Class A Shares of the Trust having a net asset
value of at least $5,000. The Automatic Withdrawal plan is not
available for Class C Shares.
Under an Automatic Withdrawal Plan you will receive a monthly
or quarterly check in a stated amount, not less than $50. If such
a plan is established, all dividends and distributions must be
reinvested in your shareholder account. Redemption of Class A
Shares to make payments under the Automatic Withdrawal Plan will
give rise to a gain or loss for tax purposes. See the Automatic
Withdrawal Plan provisions of the Application included in the
Prospectus, the Additional Statement under "Automatic Withdrawal
Plan," and "Dividend and Tax Information" below.
Purchase of additional Class A Shares concurrently with
withdrawals are undesirable because of sales charges when purchases
are made. Accordingly, a Planholder may not maintain an Automatic
Withdrawal Plan while simultaneously making regular purchases.
MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS
The Board of Trustees
The business and affairs of the Trust are managed under the
direction and control of its Board of Trustees. The Additional
Statement lists the Trust's Trustees and officers and provides
further information about them.
The Advisory Agreement
Bank One, Arizona, NA (the "Adviser"), formerly The Valley
National Bank of Arizona, supervises the investment program of the
Trust and the composition of its portfolio.
The services of the Adviser are rendered under an Investment
Advisory Agreement (the "Advisory Agreement") which provides,
subject to the control of the Board of Trustees, for investment
supervision and for either keeping the accounting records of the
Trust, including the computation of the net asset value per share
and the dividends, or, at the Adviser's expense and responsibility,
delegating these accounting duties in whole or in part to a company
satisfactory to the Trust. The Advisory Agreement states that the
Adviser shall, at its expense, provide to the Trust all office
space and facilities, equipment and clerical personnel necessary
for the carrying out of the Adviser's duties under the Advisory
Agreement.
Under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser pays all
compensation of those officers and employees of the Trust and of
those Trustees, if any, who are affiliated with the Adviser. Under
the Advisory Agreement, the Trust bears the cost of preparing and
setting in type its prospectuses, statements of additional
information, and reports to shareholders and the costs of printing
or otherwise producing and distributing those copies of such
prospectuses, statements of additional information and reports as
are sent to its shareholders. Under the Advisory Agreement, all
costs and expenses not expressly assumed by the Adviser or by the
Administrator under the Administration Agreement or by the Trust's
Distributor (principal underwriter) are paid by the Trust. The
Advisory Agreement lists examples of such expenses borne by the
Trust, the major categories of such expenses being: legal and audit
expenses, custodian and transfer agent, or shareholder servicing
agent fees and expenses, stock issuance and redemption costs,
certain printing costs, registration costs of the Trust and its
shares under Federal and State securities laws, interest, taxes and
brokerage commissions, and non-recurring expenses, including
litigation.
Under the Advisory Agreement, the Trust pays a fee payable
monthly and computed on the net asset value of the Trust as of the
close of business each business day at the annual rate of 0.25 of
1% of such net assets, provided, however, that for any day that the
Trust pays or accrues a fee under the Distribution Plan of the
Trust based upon the assets of the Trust, the annual investment
advisory fee shall be payable at the annual rate of 0.20 of 1% of
such net asset value. Since the Administrator also receives a fee
from the Trust under the Administration Agreement and the Trust
pays or accrues a fee under the Distribution Plan of the Trust
based upon the assets of the Trust, the total investment advisory
and administration fees which the Trust currently pays are at the
annual rate of 0.40 of 1% of such net assets, but for any day on
which the Trust does not pay or accrue a fee under the Distribution
Plan, these may be as much as 0.50 of 1%; see below. Payments under
the Distribution Plan with respect to assets of the Trust began
July 1, 1994 and as of that date the Advisory and Administration
fees were reduced as described above. The Adviser and the
Administrator may, in order to attempt to achieve a competitive
yield on the shares of the Trust, each waive all or part of any
such fees. In practice, the rate of these fee waivers tends to
decline as assets of the Trust increase.
The Adviser agrees that the above fee shall be reduced, but
not below zero, by an amount equal to one-half of the amount, if
any, by which the total expenses of the Trust in any fiscal year,
exclusive of taxes, interest and brokerage fees, shall exceed the
lesser of (i) 2.5% of the first $30 million of average annual net
assets of the Trust plus 2% of the next $70 million of such assets
and 1.5% of such assets in excess of $100 million, or (ii) 25% of
the Trust's total annual investment income.
The Advisory Agreement contains provisions as to the
allocation of the portfolio transactions of the Trust; see the
Additional Statement. Under these provisions, the Adviser is
authorized to consider sales of shares of the Trust or of any other
investment company or companies having the same investment adviser,
sub-adviser, administrator or principal underwriter as the Trust.
The Trust's Custodian is an affiliate of the Adviser. It is
expected that another banking subsidiary of the Adviser's parent,
Banc One Corporation will provide a credit facility to the Trust.
The Administration Agreement
Under an Administration Agreement (the "Administration
Agreement"), Aquila Management Corporation as Administrator, at its
own expense, provides office space, personnel, facilities and
equipment for the performance of its functions thereunder and as is
necessary in connection with the maintenance of the headquarters of
the Trust and pays all compensation of the Trust's Trustees,
officers and employees who are affiliated persons of the
Administrator.
Under the Administration Agreement, subject to the control of
the Trust's Board of Trustees, the Administrator provides all
administrative services to the Trust other than those relating to
its investment portfolio and the maintenance of its accounting
books and records. Such administrative services include but are not
limited to maintaining books and records (other than accounting
books and records) of the Trust, and overseeing all relationships
between the Trust and its transfer agent, custodian, legal counsel,
auditors and principal underwriter, including the negotiation of
agreements in relation thereto, the supervision and coordination of
the performance of such agreements, and the overseeing of all
administrative matters which are necessary or desirable for
effective operation of the Trust and for the sale, servicing, or
redemption of the Trust's shares. See the Additional Statement for
a further description of functions listed in the Administration
Agreement as part of such duties.
Under the Administration Agreement, the Trust pays a fee
payable monthly and computed on the net asset value of the Trust at
the end of each business day at the annual rate of 0.25 of 1% of
such net asset value, provided, however, that for any day that the
Trust pays or accrues a fee under the Distribution Plan of the
Trust based upon the assets of the Trust, the annual administration
fee will be payable at the annual rate of 0.20 of 1% of such net
asset value. The administration fee was so reduced as of July 1,
1994. See "Advisory Agreement," above. The Administrator has agreed
that the above fee shall be reduced, but not below zero, by an
amount equal to one-half of the amount, if any, by which the total
expenses of the Trust in any fiscal year, exclusive of taxes,
interest and brokerage fees, shall exceed the lesser of (i) 2.5% of
the first $30 million of average annual net assets of the Trust
plus 2% of the next $70 million of such assets and 1.5% of such
assets in excess of $100 million, or (ii) 25% of the Trust's total
annual investment income.
Information about the Adviser
The Adviser serves Arizona through 257 offices located in
communities throughout the state's 15 counties. Through the Adviser
and other subsidiaries, the Adviser's parent corporation, Banc One
Arizona Corporation, formerly known as Valley National Corporation,
provides a full range of financial services, including commercial
banking and trust services, to individuals, businesses and
governments, throughout Arizona and the Southwestern Region of the
United States. The Trust Division of the Adviser had, as of June
30, 1995, approximately $8.0 billion of assets under
administration, not including any other registered investment
companies but including approximately $1.2 billion in municipal
bonds.
The Adviser is a subsidiary of BANC ONE CORPORATION ("Banc
One"), based in Columbus, Ohio. Banc One is a multi-bank holding
company, incorporated under the laws of the State of Ohio. As of
June 30, 1995, Banc One indirectly owned all of the stock of 65
banks operating with more than 1,408 offices in the states of
Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Oklahoma,
Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wisconsin. As of that date, Banc
One, its affiliated banks and its non-bank subsidiaries had total
assets of approximately $86.8 billion.
Todd Curtis is the officer of the Adviser who manages the
Trust's portfolio. He has served as such since the inception of the
Trust in March, 1986. Mr. Curtis is Vice President and Senior
Portfolio Manager of Banc One Investment Advisors and held similar
positions with The Valley National Bank of Arizona, NA, the name of
the Adviser before it was acquired by BANC ONE CORPORATION. He is
a member of the Adviser's fixed income policy committee. He is a
graduate of Cornell College, has received an MBA degree from
Arizona State University and is a Chartered Financial Analyst.
When the acquisition was completed, the prior advisory
agreement between the Trust and the Adviser then in effect
terminated, as such completion was an "assignment" of that
agreement as that term is defined in the 1940 Act. To provide
continuity of management of the Trust's portfolio by the Adviser,
the Advisory Agreement was approved by the Trust's Board of
Trustees (including a majority of the Trustees who are not
"interested persons") at a meeting held on June 6, 1992, and by the
holders of the Trust's shares at a meeting held on October 26,
1992; it went into effect upon completion of the merger.
For the Trust's fiscal year ended June 30, 1995, fees of
$739,438 were payable to each of the Adviser and the Administrator.
Information about the Administrator and the Distributor
The Trust's Administrator is founder and administrator to the
Aquilasm Group of Funds, which consists of tax-free municipal bond
funds, money market funds and an equity fund. As of December 31,
1995, these funds had aggregate assets of approximately $2.7
billion, of which approximately $1.9 billion consisted of assets of
tax-free municipal bond funds. The Administrator, which was founded
in 1984, is controlled by Mr. Lacy B. Herrmann (directly, through
a trust and through share ownership by his wife). See the
Additional Statement for information on Mr. Herrmann.
The Distributor currently handles the distribution of the
shares of thirteen funds (seven tax-free municipal bond funds, five
money market funds and an equity fund) including the Trust. Under
the Distribution Agreement, the Distributor is responsible for the
payment of certain printing and distribution costs relating to
prospectuses and reports as well as the costs of supplemental sales
literature, advertising and other promotional activities.
At the date of the Prospectus, there is a proposed transaction
whereby all of the shares of the Distributor, which are currently
owned by Mr. Herrmann, will be owned by certain directors and/or
officers of the Administrator and/or the Distributor including Mr.
Herrmann.
DIVIDEND AND TAX INFORMATION
Dividends and Distributions
The Trust will declare all of its net income, as defined
below, as dividends on every day, including weekends and holidays,
on those shares outstanding for which payment was received by the
close of business on the preceding business day. Net income for
dividend purposes includes all interest income accrued by the Trust
since the previous dividend declaration, including accretion of any
original issue discount, less expenses paid or accrued. As such net
income will vary, the Trust's dividends will also vary. Dividends
and other distributions paid by the Trust with respect to Class A
Shares and Class C Shares are calculated at the same time and in
the same manner. The per-share dividends of Class C Shares will be
lower than the per share dividends on the Class A Shares as a
result of the higher service and distribution fees applicable to
those shares. In addition, the dividends of each class can vary
because each class will bear certain class-specific charges.
It is the Trust's present policy to pay dividends so that they
will be received or credited by approximately the first day of each
month. Shareholders may elect to have dividends deposited without
charge by electronic funds transfers into an account at a Financial
Institution which is a member of the Automated Clearing House by
completing a Ready Access Features form.
Redeemed shares continue to earn dividends through and
including the day which is the earlier of (i) the day before the
day on which the redemption proceeds are mailed, wired or
transferred by the facilities of the Automated Clearing House by
the Agent or paid by the Agent to a selected dealer; or (ii) the
day which is the third day on which the New York Stock Exchange is
open after the day on which the net asset value of the redeemed
shares has been determined (see "How To Redeem Your Investment").
Net investment income includes amounts of income from the
Arizona Obligations in the Trust's portfolio which are allocated as
"exempt-interest dividends" (see below) "Exempt-interest dividends"
are exempt from regular Federal income tax. The allocation of
"exempt-interest dividends" will be made by the use of one
designated percentage applied uniformly to all income dividends
declared during the Trust's tax year. Such designation will
normally be made in the first month after the end of each of the
Trust's fiscal years as to income dividends paid in the prior year.
It is possible that in certain circumstances, a small portion of
the dividends paid by the Trust will be subject to income taxes.
During the Trust's fiscal year ended June 30, 1995, 98.05% of the
Trust's dividends were "exempt-interest dividends." For the
calendar year 1995, 2.73% of the total dividends paid were taxable.
(These amounts relate to dividends on Class A shares; no Class C
Shares were outstanding during that period. The percentage of
income designated as tax-exempt for any particular dividend may be
different from the percentage of the Trust's income that was
tax-exempt during the period covered by the dividend.
Distributions ("short-term gains distributions") from net
realized short-term gains, if any, and distributions ("long-term
gains distributions"), if any, from the excess of net long-term
capital gains over net short-term capital losses realized through
October 31st of each year and not previously paid out will be paid
out after that date; the Trust may also pay supplemental
distributions after the end of its fiscal year. If net capital
losses are realized in any year, they are charged against capital
and not against net investment income which is distributed
regardless of gains or losses. The Trust may be required to impose
backup withholding at a rate of 31% upon payment of redemptions to
shareholders, and from short- and long-term gains distributions (if
any) and any other distributions that do not qualify as "exempt-
interest dividends," if shareholders do not comply with provisions
of the law relating to the furnishing of taxpayer identification
numbers and reporting of dividends.
Unless you request otherwise by letter addressed to the Agent
or by filing an appropriate application prior to a given
ex-dividend date, dividends and distributions will be automatically
reinvested in full and fractional shares of the Trust of the same
class at net asset value on the record date for the dividend or
distribution or other date fixed by the Board of Trustees. An
election to receive cash will continue in effect until written
notification of a change is received by the Agent. All
shareholders, whether their dividends are received in cash or are
being reinvested, will receive a monthly account summary indicating
the current status of their investment. There is no fixed dividend
rate. Corporate shareholders of the Trust are not entitled to any
deduction for dividends received from the Trust.
Tax Information
The Trust qualified during its last fiscal year as a
"regulated investment company" under the Code, and intends to
continue to so qualify. If it does so qualify, it will not be
liable for Federal income taxes on amounts paid by it as dividends
and distributions. However, the Code contains a number of complex
tests relating to such qualification and it is possible although
not likely that the Trust might not meet one or more of these tests
in any particular year. If it does not so qualify, it would be
treated for tax purposes as an ordinary corporation, would receive
no tax deduction for payments made to shareholders and would be
unable to pay dividends or distributions which would qualify as
"exempt-interest dividends" or "capital gains dividends," as
discussed below.
The Trust intends to qualify during each fiscal year under
the Code to pay exempt-interest dividends to its shareholders.
Exempt-interest dividends which are derived from net income earned
by the Trust on Arizona Obligations will be excludable from gross
income of the shareholders for regular Federal income tax purposes.
Capital gains dividends are not included in exempt-interest
dividends. Although "exempt-interest dividends" are not taxed, each
taxpayer must report the total amount of tax-exempt interest
(including exempt-interest dividends from the Trust) received or
acquired during the year.
The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 requires that
either gains realized by the Trust on the sale of municipal
obligations acquired after April 30, 1993 at a price which is less
than face or redemption value be included as ordinary income to the
extent such gains do not exceed such discount or that the discount
be amortized and included ratably in taxable income. There is an
exception to the foregoing treatment if the amount of the discount
is less than 0.25% of face or redemption value multiplied by the
number of years from acquisition to maturity. The Trust will
report such ordinary income in the years of sale or redemption
rather than amortize the discount and report it ratably. To the
extent the resultant ordinary taxable income is distributed to
shareholders, it will be taxable to them as ordinary income.
Capital gains dividends (net long-term gains over net
short-term losses which the Trust distributes and so designates)
are reportable by shareholders as long-term capital gains. This is
the case whether the shareholder takes the distribution in cash or
elects to have the distribution reinvested in Trust shares and
regardless of the length of time the shareholder has held his or
her shares. Capital gains are taxed at the same rates as ordinary
income, except that for individuals, trusts and estates the maximum
tax rate on capital gains distributions is 28% even if the
applicable rate on ordinary income for such taxpayers is higher
than 28%.
Short-term gains, when distributed, are taxed to
shareholders as ordinary income. Capital losses of the Trust are
not distributed but carried forward by the Trust to offset gains in
later years and thereby lessen the later-year capital gains
dividends and amounts taxed to shareholders.
The Trust's gains or losses on sales of Arizona Obligations
will be long-term or short-term depending upon the length of time
the Trust has held such obligations. Capital gains and losses of
the Trust will also include gains and losses on Futures and
options, if any, including gains and losses actually realized on
sales and exchanges and gains and losses deemed to be realized.
Those deemed to be realized are on Futures and options held by the
Trust at year-end, which are "marked to the market," that is,
deemed sold for fair market value. Net gains or losses realized and
deemed realized on Futures and options will be reportable by the
Trust as long-term to the extent of 60% of the gains or losses and
short-term to the extent of 40% regardless of the actual holding
period of such investments.
Information as to the tax status of the Trust's dividends and
distributions will be mailed to shareholders annually.
Under the Code, interest on loans incurred by shareholders
to enable them to purchase or carry shares of the Trust may not be
deducted for regular Federal tax purposes. In addition, under rules
used by the Internal Revenue Service for determining when borrowed
funds are deemed used for the purpose of purchasing or carrying
particular assets, the purchase of shares of the Trust may be
considered to have been made with borrowed funds even though the
borrowed funds are not directly traceable to the purchase of
shares. The receipt of exempt-interest dividends from the Trust by
an individual shareholder may result in some portion of any social
security payments or railroad retirement benefits received by the
shareholder or the shareholder's spouse being included in taxable
income.
Persons who are "substantial users" (or persons related
thereto) of facilities financed by industrial development bonds or
private activity bonds should consult their own tax advisers before
purchasing shares.
While interest from all Arizona Obligations is tax-exempt for
purposes of computing the shareholder's regular tax, interest from
so-called private activity bonds issued after August 7, 1986,
constitutes a tax preference for both individuals and corporations
and thus will enter into a computation of the alternative minimum
tax. Whether or not that computation will result in a tax will
depend on the entire content of the taxpayer's return. The Trust
will not invest in the types of Arizona Obligations which would
give rise to interest that would be subject to alternative minimum
taxation if more than 20% of its net assets would be so invested,
and may refrain from investing in that type of bond completely. The
20% limit is a fundamental policy of the Trust.
Corporate shareholders must add to or subtract from
alternative minimum taxable income, as calculated before taking
into consideration this adjustment, 75% of the difference between
what is called adjusted current earnings (essentially current
earnings and profits) and alternative minimum taxable income, as
previously calculated. Since tax-exempt bond interest is included
in earnings and profits and therefore in adjusted current earnings,
this adjustment will tend to make it more likely that corporate
shareholders will be subject to the alternative minimum tax.
As of the date of the Prospectus, Congress is considering a
number of changes affecting taxation. It is not possible to predict
which, if any, of such changes will become law.
Tax Effects of Redemptions
Normally, when you redeem shares of the Trust you will
recognize capital gain or loss measured by the difference between
the proceeds received in the redemption and the amount you paid for
the shares. If you are required to pay a conditional deferred sales
charge at the time of redemption, the amount of that charge will
reduce the amount of your gain or increase the amount of your loss
as the case may be. Your gain or loss will be long-term if you held
the redeemed shares for over a year, and short-term, if for a year
or less. However, if shares held for six months or less are
redeemed and you have a loss, two special rules apply: the loss is
reduced by the amount of exempt-interest dividends, if any, which
you received on the redeemed shares, and any loss over and above
the amount of such exempt-interest dividends is treated as a
long-term loss to the extent you have received capital gains
dividends on the redeemed shares.
Tax Effect of Conversion
Class C Shares will automatically convert to Class A Shares
approximately six years after purchase. No gain or loss will be
recognized by the Trust or its shareholders upon such conversions;
each shareholder's adjusted tax basis in the Class A Shares
received upon conversion will equal the shareholder's adjusted tax
basis in the Class C Shares held immediately before the conversion;
and each shareholder's holding period for the Class A Shares
received upon conversion will include the period for which the
shareholder held as capital assets the converted Class C Shares
immediately before conversion.
Arizona Tax Information
In the opinion of special Arizona counsel for the Trust, under
existing law, shareholders of the Trust will not be subject to
Arizona income tax on exempt-interest dividends received from the
Trust to the extent that such dividends are attributable to
interest on tax-exempt obligations of the State of Arizona and its
political subdivisions ("Local Obligations") or on obligations
issued by the Territories of Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto
Rico and the Virgin Islands ("Territorial Obligations"). Other
distributions from the Trust, including those related to long-term
and short-term capital gains, will be subject to Arizona income
tax.
In the event that interest paid on any Local Obligation is
determined to be includable in federal gross income, the Trust has
been advised by special Arizona counsel that, in its opinion,
exempt-interest dividends received by the shareholders of the Trust
attributable to interest on Local Obligations will, nevertheless,
not be subject to Arizona income taxes.
Although interest on Territorial Obligations is included in
Arizona gross income by Arizona law, applicable federal laws
specifically exempt such income from state and local taxation. The
Trust has been advised by special Arizona counsel that, in its
opinion, the applicable federal laws will preempt any contrary
result under Arizona law such that exempt-interest dividends
attributable to interest paid on Territorial Obligations will be
exempt from Arizona income taxes.
Arizona law does not permit a deduction for interest paid or
accrued on indebtedness incurred or continued to purchase or carry
obligations, the interest on which is exempt from Arizona income
tax.
Shareholders of the Trust should consult their tax advisers
about other state and local tax consequences of their investment in
the Trust.
EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE
There is an exchange privilege as set forth below among
this Trust and certain tax-free municipal bond funds and an equity
fund (the "Bond or Equity Funds") and certain money market funds
(the "Money-Market Funds"), all of which are sponsored by Aquila
Management Corporation and Aquila Distributors, Inc., and have the
same Administrator and Distributor as the Trust. All exchanges are
subject to certain conditions described below. As of the date of
the Prospectus, the Aquila-sponsored Bond or Equity Funds are this
Trust, Aquila Rocky Mountain Equity Fund, Hawaiian Tax-Free Trust,
Tax-Free Trust of Oregon, Tax-Free Fund of Colorado, Churchill
Tax-Free Fund of Kentucky, Tax-Free Fund For Utah and Narragansett
Insured Tax-Free Income Fund. At the date of this Prospectus, the
Aquila-sponsored Money-Market Funds are Capital Cash Management
Trust, Pacific Capital Cash Assets Trust (Original Shares), Pacific
Capital Tax-Free Cash Assets Trust (Original Shares), Pacific
Capital U.S. Treasuries Cash Assets Trust (Original Shares) and
Churchill Cash Reserves Trust.
Class A Shares of the Trust can be exchanged only into Class
A Shares of any Bond or Equity Fund or into shares of the Money-
Market Funds. Class C Shares can be exchanged only into Class C
Shares of any Bond or Equity Fund that offers Class C Shares or
into shares of the Money-Market Funds. At the date of the
Prospectus it is expected that all of the Bond and Equity Funds
will offer Class C Shares by April 30, 1996.
Class A Shares Exchange Privilege
Under the Class A Shares exchange privilege, once any
applicable sales charge has been paid on Class A Shares of any Bond
or Equity Fund, those shares (and any shares acquired as a result
of reinvestment of dividends and/or distributions) may be exchanged
any number of times between Money-Market Funds and Bond or Equity
Funds without the payment of any additional sales charge.
CDSC Class A Shares of the Trust (see "Purchases of $1 Million
or More" and Special Dealer Arrangements") can be exchanged for
CDSC Class A Shares of a Bond or Equity Fund or into a Money-Market
Fund. The CDSC Class A Shares will not be subject to a contingent
deferred sales charge at the time of exchange, but the contingent
deferred sales charge will be payable upon a redemption which
occurs before the expiration of the applicable holding period of
any CDSC Class A Shares or any shares of a Money-Market Fund
received on exchange for CDSC Class A Shares. (The contingent
deferred sales charge does not apply to any shares acquired as a
result of reinvestment of dividends and/or distributions.) For
purposes of computing the time period for the applicable contingent
deferred sales charge, the length of time of ownership of CDSC
Class A Shares will be determined by the time of original purchase
and not by the time of the exchange. Any period of 30 days or more
during which any Money-Market shares received on an exchange of
CDSC Class A Shares are held is not counted in computing the period
of ownership of CDSC Class A Shares. (See "Alternative Purchase
Plans.")
Class C Shares Exchange Privilege
Under the Class C exchange privilege, Class C Shares (and any
shares acquired as a result of reinvestment of dividends and/or
distributions) may be exchanged any number of times between
Money-Market Funds and for Class C Shares of Bond or Equity Funds.
Class C Shares will not be subject to a contingent deferred sales
charge at the time of exchange, but the contingent deferred sales
charge will be payable upon redemption which occurs before the
expiration of the applicable holding period of any Class C Shares
or any shares of a Money-Market Fund received on exchange for Class
C Shares. (The contingent deferred sales charge does not apply to
any shares acquired as a result of reinvestment of dividends and/or
distributions.) For purposes of computing the time period for the
applicable contingent deferred sales charge or for the conversion
of Class C Shares into Class A Shares, the length of time of
ownership of Class C shares will be determined by time of original
purchase and not by the time of the exchange. Any period of 30 days
or more during which any Money-Market shares received on an
exchange of Class C Shares are held is not counted in computing the
period of ownership of Class C Shares. (See "Alternative Purchase
Plans.")
Eligible Shares
The "Class A Eligible Shares" of any Bond or Equity Fund are
those Class A Shares which were (a) acquired by direct purchase
with payment of any applicable sales charge, or which were received
in exchange for shares of another Bond or Equity Fund on which any
applicable sales charge was paid; (b) acquired by exchange for
shares of a Money-Market Fund with payment of the applicable sales
charge; (c) acquired in one or more exchanges between shares of a
Money-Market Fund and a Bond or Equity Fund so long as the shares
of the Bond or Equity Fund were originally purchased as set forth
in (a) or (b); (d) acquired on conversion of Class C Shares or (e)
acquired as a result of reinvestment of dividends and/or
distributions on otherwise Class A Eligible Shares.
The "CDSC Class A Eligible Shares" of any Bond or Equity Fund
are those CDSC Class A Shares which were (a) acquired by direct
purchase in the amount of $1 million or more without a sales charge
or in certain purchases when Special Dealer Arrangements are in
effect or which were received in exchange for CDSC Class A Shares
of another Bond or Equity Fund acquired under the same conditions;
(b) acquired by exchange for shares of a Money-Market Fund under
the same conditions; (c) acquired in one or more exchanges between
shares of a Money-Market Fund and a Bond or Equity Fund so long as
the shares of the Bond or Equity Fund were originally purchased as
set forth in (a) or (b); or (d) acquired as a result of
reinvestment of dividends and/or distributions on otherwise CDSC
Class A Eligible Shares.
The "Class C Eligible Shares" of any Bond or Equity Fund are
those shares which were (a) acquired by direct purchase including
by exchange from a Money-Market Fund, or which were received in
exchange for shares of Class C Shares of another Bond or Equity
Fund; or (b) acquired as a result of reinvestment of dividends
and/or distributions on otherwise Class C Eligible Shares.
If you own Class A or Class C Eligible Shares of any Bond or
Equity Fund, you may exchange them for shares of any Money Market
Fund or the Class A or Class C Shares, respectively, of any other
Bond or Equity Fund without payment of any sales charge or CDSC.
The shares received will continue to be Class A or Class C Eligible
shares.
If you own shares of a Money-Market Fund which you have
acquired by exchange for Class A Eligible Shares of any Bond or
Equity Fund, you may exchange these shares, and any shares acquired
as a result of reinvestment of dividends and/or distributions on
these shares, for Class A Shares of any Bond or Equity Fund without
payment of any sales charge.
If you own shares of a Money-Market Fund which you have
acquired by exchange for CDSC Class A Eligible Shares of any Bond
or Equity Fund, you may exchange these shares, and any shares
acquired as a result of reinvestment of dividends and/or
distributions on these shares, for CDSC Class A shares of any Bond
or Equity Fund but you will be required to pay the applicable
contingent deferred sales charge if you redeem such shares before
you have held CDSC Class A Shares for four years. You will also be
required to pay the applicable contingent deferred sales charge if
you redeem such shares of a Money-Market fund before you have held
CDSC Class A Shares for four years. The running of the four-year
period is suspended during the period you hold shares of a Money-
Market Fund received in exchange for CDSC Class A Shares.
If you own shares of a Money-Market Fund which you have
acquired by exchange for Class C Eligible Shares of any Bond or
Equity Fund, you may exchange these shares, and any shares acquired
as a result of reinvestment of dividends and/or distributions on
these shares, for Class C Shares of any Bond or Equity Fund, but
you will be required to pay the applicable contingent deferred
sales charge if you redeem such Class C shares before you have held
Class C Shares for 12 months. You will also be required to pay the
applicable contingent deferred sales charge if you redeem such
shares of a Money-Market fund before you have held Class C Shares
for 12 months. The running of the 12-month CDSC period and the six-
year conversion period for Class C Shares is suspended during the
period you hold shares of a Money-Market Fund received in exchange
for Class C Shares.(See "Alternative Purchase Plans.")
Shares of a Money-Market Fund may be exchanged for shares of
another Money-Market Fund or for Class A Shares or Class C Shares
of a Bond or Equity Fund; however, if the shares of a Money-Market
Fund were not acquired by exchange of Eligible Shares of a Bond or
Equity Fund or of shares of a Money-Market Fund acquired in such an
exchange, they may be exchanged for Class A Shares of a Bond or
Equity Fund only upon payment of the applicable sales charge.
This Trust, as well as the Money-Market Funds and other Bond
or Equity Funds, reserves the right to reject any exchange into its
shares, if shares of the fund into which exchange is desired are
not available for sale in your state of residence. The Trust may
also modify or terminate this exchange privilege at any time. In
the case of termination, the Prospectus will be appropriately
supplemented. No such modification or termination shall take effect
on less than 60 days' written notice to shareholders.
All exercises of the exchange privilege are subject to the
conditions that (i) the shares being acquired are available for
sale in your state of residence; (ii) the aggregate net asset value
of the shares surrendered for exchange are at least equal to the
minimum investment requirements of the investment company whose
shares are being acquired and (iii) the ownership of the accounts
from which and to which the exchange is made are identical.
The Agent will accept telephone exchange instructions from
anyone. To make a telephone exchange telephone:
800-437-1000 toll free or 908-855-5731
Note: The Trust, the Agent, and the Distributor will not be
responsible for any losses resulting from unauthorized telephone
transactions if the Agent follows reasonable procedures designed to
verify the identity of the caller. The Agent will request some or
all of the following information: account name(s) and number, name
of the caller, the social security number registered to the account
and personal identification. The Agent may also record calls. You
should verify the accuracy of confirmation statements immediately
upon receipt.
Exchanges will be effected at the relative exchange prices of
the shares being exchanged next determined after receipt by the
Agent of your exchange request. The exchange prices will be the
respective net asset values of the shares, unless a sales charge is
to be deducted in connection with an exchange of shares, in which
case the exchange price of shares of a Bond or Equity Fund will be
their public offering price. Prices for exchanges are determined in
the same manner as for purchases of the Trust's shares. See "How to
Invest in the Trust".
An exchange is treated for Federal tax purposes as a
redemption and purchase of shares and may result in the realization
of a capital gain or loss, depending on the cost or other tax basis
of the shares exchanged and the holding period (see the Additional
Statement); no representation is made as to the deductibility of
any such loss should such occur.
Dividends paid by the Money-Market Funds are taxable, except
to the extent that a portion or all of the dividends paid by
Pacific Capital Tax-Free Cash Assets Trust (a tax-free Money-Market
Fund) are exempt from regular Federal income tax, and to the extent
that a portion or all of the dividends paid by Pacific Capital U.S.
Treasuries Cash Assets Trust (which invests in U.S. Treasury
obligations) are exempt from state income taxes. Dividends paid by
Aquila Rocky Mountain Equity Fund are taxable. If your state of
residence is not the same as that of the issuers of obligations in
which a tax-free municipal Bond Fund or a tax-free Money-Market
Fund invests, the dividends from that fund may be subject to income
tax of the state in which you reside. Accordingly, you should
consult your tax adviser before acquiring shares of such a Bond
Fund or a tax-free Money-Market Fund under the exchange privilege
arrangement.
If you are considering an exchange into one of the funds
listed above, you should send for and carefully read its
Prospectus.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Performance
Advertisements, sales literature and communications to
shareholders may contain various measures of the Trust's
performance including current yield, taxable equivalent yield,
various expressions of total return, current distribution rate and
taxable equivalent distribution rate.
Average annual total return figures, as prescribed by the
Securities and Exchange Commission, represent the average annual
percentage change in value of a hypothetical $1,000 purchase,
invested at the maximum public offering price (offering price
includes sales charge) for 1- and 5-year periods and for a period
since the inception of the Trust, to the extent applicable, through
the end of such periods, assuming reinvestment (without sales
charge) of all distributions. The Trust may also furnish total
return quotations for other periods or based on investments at
various sales charge levels or at net asset value. For such
purposes total return equals the total of all income and capital
gains paid to shareholders, assuming reinvestment of all
distributions, plus (or minus) the change in the value of the
original investment, expressed as a percentage of the purchase
price. See the Additional Statement.
Current yield reflects the income per share earned by each of
the Trust's portfolio investments; it is calculated by (i) dividing
the Trust's net investment income per share during a recent 30-day
period by (ii) the maximum public offering price on the last day of
that period and by (iii) annualizing the result. Taxable equivalent
yield shows the yield from a taxable investment that would be
required to produce an after-tax yield equivalent to that of the
Trust, which invests in tax-exempt obligations. It is computed by
dividing the tax-exempt portion of the Trust's yield (calculated as
indicated) by one minus a stated income tax rate and by adding the
product to the taxable portion (if any) of the Trust's yield. See
the Additional Statement.
Current yield and taxable equivalent yield, which are
calculated according to a formula prescribed by the Securities and
Exchange Commission (see the Additional Statement), are not
indicative of the dividends or distributions which were or will be
paid to the Trust's shareholders. Dividends or distributions paid
to shareholders are reflected in the current distribution rate or
taxable equivalent distribution rate which may be quoted to
shareholders. The current distribution rate is computed by (i)
dividing the total amount of dividends per share paid by the Trust
during a recent 30-day period by (ii) the current maximum offering
price and by (iii) annualizing the result. A taxable equivalent
distribution rate shows the taxable distribution rate that would be
required to produce an after-tax distribution rate equivalent to
the Trust's distribution rate (calculated as indicated above). The
current distribution rate, unlike yield figures, is not limited to
investment performance, but takes into account expenses as well; it
also differs from the current yield computation because it could
include distributions to shareholders from sources, if any, other
than dividends and interest, such as short-term capital gains or
return of capital. If distribution rates are quoted in advertising,
they will be accompanied by calculations of current yield in
accordance with the formula of the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
In each case performance figures are based upon past
performance, reflect as appropriate all recurring charges against
the Trust's income net of fee waivers and reimbursement of
expenses, if any, and will assume the payment of the maximum sales
charge on the purchase of shares, but not on reinvestment of income
dividends. The investment results of the Trust, like all other
investment companies, will fluctuate over time; thus, performance
figures should not be considered to represent what an investment
may earn in the future or what the Trust's yield, tax equivalent
yield, distribution rate, taxable equivalent distribution rate or
total return may be in any future period. The annual report of the
Trust contains additional performance information that will be made
available upon request and without charge.
Description of the Trust and its Shares
The Trust is an open-end, non-diversified management
investment company organized in 1985 as a Massachusetts business
trust. It commenced operations in June, 1986. (See "Investment of
the Trust's Assets" for further information about the Trust's
status as "non-diversified"). The Declaration of Trust permits the
Trustees to issue an unlimited number of full and fractional shares
and to divide or combine the shares into a greater or lesser number
of shares without thereby changing the proportionate beneficial
interests in the Trust. Each share represents an equal
proportionate interest in the Trust with each other share of its
class; shares of the respective classes represent proportionate
interests in the Trust in accordance with their respective net
asset values. Upon liquidation of the Trust, shareholders are
entitled to share pro-rata in the net assets of the Trust available
for distribution to shareholders, in accordance with the respective
net asset values of the shares of each of the Trust's classes at
that time. All shares are presently divided into three classes;
however, if they deem it advisable and in the best interests of
shareholders, the Board of Trustees of the Trust may create
additional classes of shares (subject to rules and regulations of
the Securities and Exchange Commission or by exemptive order) or
the Board of Trustees may, at its own discretion, create additional
series of shares, each of which may have separate assets and
liabilities (in which case any such series will have a designation
including the word "Series"). See the Additional Statement for
further information about possible additional series. Shares are
fully paid and non-assessable, except as set forth under the
caption "General Information" in the Additional Statement; the
holders of shares have no pre-emptive or conversion rights.
In addition to Class A and Class C Shares, which are
offered by this Prospectus, the Trust also has Institutional Class
Shares ("Class Y Shares"), which are offered only to institutions
acting for investors in a fiduciary, advisory, agency, custodial or
similar capacity and are not offered directly to retail customers.
Class Y Shares are offered by means of a separate prospectus, which
can be obtained by calling the Trust at 800-437-1020.
The primary distinction among the Trust's three classes of
shares lies in their different sales charge structures and ongoing
expenses, which are likely to be reflected in differing yields and
other measures of investment performance. All three classes
represent interests in the same portfolio of Arizona Obligations
and have the same rights, except that each class bears the separate
expenses, if any, of its Distribution Plan and has exclusive voting
rights with respect to its Plan.
Ownership of Shares of the Trust
Of the shares of the Trust outstanding on March 5, 1996,
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc., P.O. Box 30561, New
Brunswick, NJ, held of record 1,857,769 shares (5.0%), all of which
were Class A Shares. The Trust's management is not aware of any
person beneficially owning more than 5% of its outstanding shares
as of such date. On the basis of information received from the
holder the Trust's management believes that all of these shares are
held for the benefit of brokerage clients.
Voting Rights
At any meeting of shareholders, shareholders are entitled to
one vote for each dollar of net asset value (determined as of the
record date for the meeting) per share held (and proportionate
fractional votes for fractional dollar amounts). Shareholders will
vote on the election of Trustees and on other matters submitted to
the vote of shareholders. Shares vote by classes on any matter
specifically affecting one or more classes, such as an amendment of
an applicable part of the Distribution Plan. No amendment may be
made to the Declaration of Trust without the affirmative vote of
the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Trust,
except that the Trust's Board of Trustees may change the name of
the Trust. The Trust may be terminated (i) upon the sale of its
assets to another issuer, or (ii) upon liquidation and distribution
of the assets of the Trust, in either case if such action is
approved by the vote of the holders of a majority of the
outstanding shares of the Trust. If not so terminated, the Trust
will continue indefinitely.
<PAGE>
APPLICATION FOR TAX-FREE TRUST OF ARIZONA
FOR CLASS A OR CLASS C SHARES ONLY
PLEASE COMPLETE STEPS 1 THROUGH 4 AND MAIL TO:
ADM, ATTN: AQUILA SM GROUP OF FUNDS
581 MAIN STREET, WOODBRIDGE, NJ 07095-1198
1-800-437-1000
STEP 1
A. ACCOUNT REGISTRATION
___Individual Use line 1
___Joint Account* Use lines 1&2
___For a Minor Use line 3
___For Trust, Corporation, Partnership or other Entity Use line 4
* Joint Accounts will be Joint Tenants with rights of survivorship unless
otherwise specified.
** Uniformed Gifts/Transfers to Minors Act.
Please type or print name exactly as account is to be registered
1.________________________________________________________________
First Name Middle Initial Last Name Social Security Number
2.________________________________________________________________
First Name Middle Initial Last Name Social Security Number
3.________________________________________________________________
Custodians First Name Middle Initial Last Name
Custodian for ____________________________________________________
Minors First Name Middle Initial Last Name
Under the ___________UGTMA** _____________________________________
Name of State Minors Social Security Number
4. ____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
(Name of Corporation or Partnership. If a Trust, include the name(s) of
Trustees in which account will be registered and the name and date of the
Trust Instrument. Account for a Pension or Profit Sharing Plan or Trust may
be registered in the name of the Plan or Trust itself.)
___________________________________________________________________
Tax I.D. Number Authorized Individual Title
B. MAILING ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER
____________________________________________________
Street or PO Box City
_______________________________(______)______________
State Zip Daytime Phone Number
Occupation:________________________Employer:________________________
Employers Address:__________________________________________________
Street Address: City State Zip
Citizen or resident of: ___ U.S. ___ Other Check here ___ if you are a
non-U.S. Citizen or resident and not subject to back-up withholding (See
certification in Step 4, Section B, below.)
C. INVESTMENT DEALER OR BROKER:
(Important - to be completed by Dealer or Broker)
_______________________ _____________________________
Dealer Name Branch Number
_______________________ _____________________________
Street Address Rep. Number/Name
_______________________ (_______)_____________________
City State Zip Area Code Telephone
STEP 2 PURCHASES OF SHARES
A. INITIAL INVESTMENT
Indicate method of payment (For either method, make check payment to:
TAX-FREE TRUST OF ARIZONA)
Indicate class of shares:
__ Class A Shares (Front-Payment Class)
__ Class C Shares (Level-Payment Class)
IF NO SHARE CLASS IS MARKED, INVESTMENT WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE MADE IN CLASS A
SHARES.
__ Initial Investment $_________ (Minimum $1,000)
__ Automatic Investment $________ (Minimum $50)
For Automatic Investments of at least $50 per month, you must complete Step
3, Section A, Step 4, Sections A & B and ATTACH A PRE-PRINTED DEPOSIT SLIP OR
VOIDED CHECK.
B. DISTRIBUTIONS
All income dividends and capital gains distributions are automatically
reinvested in additional shares at Net Asset Value unless otherwise
indicated below.
Dividends are to be:___ Reinvested ___Paid in cash*
Capital Gains Distributions are to be: ___ Reinvested ___ Paid in cash*
* For cash dividends, please choose one of the following options:
___ Deposit directly into my/our Financial Institution account.
ATTACHED IS A PRE-PRINTED DEPOSIT SLIP OR VOIDED CHECK
showing the Financial Institution account where I/we would like you to
deposit the dividend.
(A Financial Institution is a commercial bank, savings bank or credit
union.)
___ Mail check to my/our address listed in Step 1.
STEP 3
SPECIAL FEATURES
A. AUTOMATIC INVESTMENT PROGRAM
(Check appropriate box)
___ Yes ___ No
This option provides you with a convenient way to have amounts
automatically drawn on your Financial Institution account and invested in
your Tax-Free Trust of Arizona Account. To establish this program, please
complete Step 4, Sections A & B of this Application.
I/We wish to make regular monthly investments of $ _________________
(minimum $50) on the ___ 1st day or ___ 16th day of the month (or
on the first business day after that date).
(YOU MUST ATTACH A PRE-PRINTED DEPOSIT SLIP OR VOIDED CHECK)
B. TELEPHONE INVESTMENT
(Check appropriate box)
___ Yes ___ No
This option provides you with a convenient way to add to your account
(minimum $50 and maximum $50,000) at any time you wish by simply calling the
Trust toll-free at 1-800-437-1000. To establish this program, please complete
Step 4, Sections A & B of this Application.
(YOU MUST ATTACH A PRE-PRINTED DEPOSIT SLIP OR VOIDED CHECK)
C. LETTER OF INTENT
APPLICABLE TO CLASS A SHARES ONLY.
See Terms of Letter of Intent and Escrow at the end of this application
___ Yes ___ No
I/We intend to invest in Class A Shares of the Trust during the 13-month period
from the date of my/our first purchase pursuant to this Letter (which purchase
cannot be more than 90 days prior to the date of this Letter), an aggregate
amount (excluding any reinvestment of dividends or distributions) of at least
$25,000 which, together with my/our present holdings of Trust
shares (at public offering price on date of this Letter), will equal or exceed
the minimum amount checked below:
___ $25,000 ___ $50,000 ___ $100,000 ___ $250,000
___ $500,000 ___ $1,000,000 ___ $2,500,000 ___ $5,000,000
D. AUTOMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN
(Minimum investment $5,000)
APPLICABLE TO CLASS A SHARES ONLY.
Application must be received in good order at least 2 weeks prior to 1st actual
liquidation date.
(Check appropriate box)
___ Yes ___ No
Please establish an Automatic Withdrawal Plan for this account, subject to
the terms of the Automatic Withdrawal Plan Provisions set forth below. To
realize the amount stated below, Administrative Data Management Corp. (the
Agent) is authorized to redeem sufficient shares from this account at the then
current Net Asset Value, in accordance with the terms below:
Dollar Amount of each withdrawal $ ______________beginning________________ .
Minimum: $50 Month/Year
Payments to be made: ___ Monthly or ___ Quarterly
Checks should be made payable as indicated below. If check is payable to a
Financial Institution for your account, indicate Financial Institution name,
address and your account number.
_______________________________ ______________________________________
First Name Middle Initial Last Name Financial Institution Name
_______________________________ ______________________________________
Street Financial Institution Street Address
_______________________________ ______________________________________
City State Zip City State Zip
____________________________________
Financial Institution Account Number
E. TELEPHONE EXCHANGE
(Check appropriate box)
___ Yes ___ No
This option allows you to effect exchanges among accounts in your name within
the Aquila SM Group of Funds by telephone.
The Agent is authorized to accept and act upon my/our or any other persons
telephone instructions to execute the exchange of shares of one Aquila-sponsored
fund for shares of another Aquila-sponsored fund with identical shareholder
registration in the manner described in the Prospectus. Except for gross
negligence in acting upon such telephone instructions to execute an exchange,
and subject to the conditions set forth herein, I/we understand and agree to
hold harmless the Agent, each of the Aquila Funds,
and their respective officers, directors, trustees, employees, agents and
affiliates against any liability, damage, expense, claim or loss, including
reasonable costs and attorneys fees, resulting from acceptance of, or acting or
failure to act upon, this Authorization.
F. EXPEDITED REDEMPTION
(Check appropriate box)
___ Yes ___ No
The proceeds will be deposited to your Financial Institution account listed.
Cash proceeds in any amount from the redemption of shares will be mailed or
wired, whenever possible, upon request, if in an amount of $1,000 or more to
my/our account at a Financial Institution. The Financial Institution account
must be in the same name(s) as this Trust account is registered.
(YOU MUST ATTACH A PRE-PRINTED DEPOSIT SLIP OR VOIDED CHECK).
_______________________________ ____________________________________
Account Registration Financial Institution Account Number
_______________________________ ____________________________________
Financial Institution Name Financial Institution Transit/Routing
Number
_______________________________ ____________________________________
Street City State Zip
STEP 4 Section A
DEPOSITORS AUTHORIZATION TO HONOR DEBITS
IF YOU SELECTED AUTOMATIC INVESTMENT OR TELEPHONE INVESTMENT
YOU MUST ALSO COMPLETE STEP 4, SECTIONS A & B.
I/We authorize the Financial Institution listed below to charge to my/our
account any drafts or debits drawn on my/our account initiated by the Agent,
Administrative Data Management Corp., and to pay such sums in accordance
therewith, provided my/our account has sufficient funds to cover such drafts
or debits. I/We further agree that your treatment of such orders will be the
same as if I/we personally signed or initiated the drafts or debits.
I/We understand that this authority will remain in effect until you receive
my/our written instructions to cancel this service. I/We also agree that if
any such drafts or debits are dishonored, for any reason, you shall have no
liabilities.
Financial Institution Account Number _______________________________________
Name and Address where my/our account is maintained
Name of Financial Institution______________________________________________
Street Address_____________________________________________________________
City___________________________________________State _________ Zip ________
Name(s) and Signature(s) of Depositor(s) as they appear where account is
registered
______________________________________________
(Please Print)
X_____________________________________________ __________________
(Signature) (Date)
______________________________________________
(Please Print)
X_____________________________________________ __________________
(Signature) (Date)
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
To: Financial Institution Named Above
So that you may comply with your depositor's request, Aquila Distributors,
Inc. (the "Distributor") agrees:
1 Electronic Funds Transfer debit and credit items transmitted
pursuant to the above authorization shall be subject to the
provisions of the Operating Rules of the National Automated
Clearing House Association.
2 To indemnify and hold you harmless from any loss you may suffer in
connection with the execution and issuance of any electronic
debit in the normal course of business initiated by the Agent
(except any loss due to your payment of any amount drawn against
insufficient or uncollected funds), provided that you promptly
notify us in writing of any claim against you with respect to
the same, and further provided that you will not settle or
pay or agree to settle or pay any such claim without the written
permission of the Distributor.
3 To indemnify you for any loss including your reasonable costs and expenses
in the event that you dishonor, with or without cause, any such electronic
debit.
STEP 4 Section B
SHAREHOLDER AUTHORIZATION/SIGNATURE(S) REQUIRED
- - The undersigned warrants that he/she has full authority and is of
legal age to purchase shares of the Trust and has received and
read a current Prospectus of the Trust and agrees to its terms.
- - I/We authorize the Trust and its agents to act upon these
instructions for the features that have been checked.
- - I/We acknowledge that in connection with an Automatic Investment or
Telephone Investment, if my/our account at the Financial Institution has
insufficient funds, the Trust and its agents may cancel the purchase
transaction and are authorized to liquidate other shares or fractions
thereof held in my/our Trust account to make up any deficiency resulting
from any decline in the net asset value of shares so purchased and any
dividends paid on those shares. I/We authorize the Trust and its agents to
correct any transfer error by a debit or credit to my/our Financial
Institution account and/or Trust account and to charge the account for any
related charges. I/We acknowledge that shares purchased either through
Automatic Investment or Telephone Investment are subject to applicable
sales charges.
- - The Trust, the Agent and the Distributor and their Trustees, directors,
employees and agents will not be liable for acting upon instructions
believed to be genuine, and will not be responsible for any losses
resulting from unauthorized telephone transactions if the Agent follows
reasonable procedures designed to verify the identity of the caller. The
Agent will request some or all of the following information: account name
and number; name(s) and social security number registered to the account
and personal identification; the Agent may also record calls. Shareholders
should verify the accuracy of confirmation statements immediately upon
receipt. Under penalties of perjury, the undersigned whose Social Security
(Tax I.D.) Number is shown above certifies (i) that Number is my correct
taxpayer identification number and (ii) currently I am not under IRS
notification that I am subject to backup withholding (line out (ii) if
under notification). If no such Number is shown, the undersigned further
certifies, under penalties of perjury, that either (a) no such Number has
been issued, and a Number has been or will soon be applied for; if a Number
is not provided to you within sixty days, the undersigned understands that
all payments (including liquidations) are subject to 31% withholding under
federal tax law, until a Number is provided and the undersigned may be
subject to a $50 I.R.S. penalty; or (b) that the undersigned is not a
citizen or resident of the U.S.; and either does not expect to be in the
U.S. for 183 days during each calendar year and does not conduct a
business in the U.S. which would receive any gain from the Trust, or is
exempt under an income tax treaty.
NOTE: ALL REGISTERED OWNERS OF THE ACCOUNT MUST SIGN BELOW. FOR A TRUST, ALL
TRUSTEES MUST SIGN.*
__________________________ ____________________________ _________
Individual (or Custodian) Joint Registrant, if any Date
__________________________ ____________________________ _________
Corporate Officer, Partner, Title Date
Trustee, etc.
* For Trust, Corporations or Associations, this form must be accompanied by
proof of authority to sign, such as a certified copy of the corporate
resolution or a certificate of incumbency under the trust instrument.
SPECIAL INFORMATION
- - Certain features (Automatic Investment, Telephone Investment,
Expedited Redemption and Direct Deposit of Dividends) are
effective 15 days after this form is received in good order
by the Trusts Agent.
- - You may cancel any feature at any time, effective 3 days after the Agent
receives written notice from you.
- - Either the Trust or the Agent may cancel any feature, without prior
notice, if in its judgment your use of any feature involves unusual
effort or difficulty in the administration of your account.
- - The Trust reserves the right to alter, amend or terminate any or all
features or to charge a service fee upon 30 days written notice to
shareholders except if additional notice is specifically required by the
terms of the Prospectus.
BANKING INFORMATION
- - If your Financial Institution account changes, you must complete a Ready
Access features form which may be obtained from Aquila Distributors at
1-800-437-1020 and send it to the Agent together with a "voided" check or
pre-printed deposit slip from the new account. The new Financial
Institution change is effective in 15 days after this form is received
in good order by the Trust's Agent.
TERMS OF LETTER OF INTENT AND ESCROW
By checking Box 2c and signing the Application, the investor
is entitled to make each purchase at the public offering price
applicable to a single transaction of the dollar amount checked
above, and agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions applicable to
Letters of Intent appearing below.
The investor is making no commitment to purchase shares, but if the
investor's purchases within thirteen months from the date of the investor's
first purchase do not aggregate $25,000, or, if such purchases added to the
investor's present holdings do not aggregate the minimum amount specified
above, the investor will pay the increased amount of sales charge prescribed
in the terms of escrow below.
The commission to the dealer or broker, if any, named herein shall be
at the rate applicable to the minimum amount of the investor's specified
intended purchases checked above. If the investor's actual purchases do not
reach this minimum amount, the commissions previously paid to the
dealer will be adjusted to the rate applicable to the investor's total
purchases. If the investor's purchases exceed the dollar amount of the
investor's intended purchases and pass the next commission break-point,
the investor shall receive the lower sales charge, provided that the
dealer returns to the Distributor the excess of commissions previously
allowed or paid to him over that which would be applicable to the
amount of the investor's total purchases.
The investor's dealer or broker shall refer to this Letter of
Intent in placing any future purchase orders for the investor
while this Letter is in effect.
The escrow shall operate as follows:
1. Out of the initial purchase (or subsequent purchases if necessary), 3% of
the dollar amount specified in the Letter of Intent (computed to the
nearest full share) shall be held in escrow in shares of the Trust by the
Agent. All dividends and any capital distributions on the escrowed shares
will be credited to the investor's account.
2. If the total minimum investment specified under the Letter is completed
within a thirteen-month period, the escrowed shares will be promptly
released to the investor. However, shares disposed of prior to completion
of the purchase requirement under the Letter will be deducted from the
amount required to complete the investment commitment.
3. If the total purchases pursuant to the Letter are less than the amount
specified in the Letter as the intended aggregate purchases, the investor
must remit to the Distributor an amount equal to the difference between
the dollar amount of sales charges actually paid and the amount of
sales charges which would have been paid if the total amount
purchased had been made at a single time. If such difference in sales
charges is not paid within twenty days after receipt of a request
from the Distributor or the dealer, the Distributor will, within sixty
days after the expiration of the Letter, redeem the number of escrowed
shares necessary to realize such difference in sales charges. Full
shares and any cash proceeds for a fractional share remaining after
such redemption will be released to the investor. The escrow of shares
will not be released until any additional sales charge due has been
paid as stated in this section.
4. By checking Box 2c and signing the Application, the investor irrevocably
constitutes and appoints the Agent or the Distributor as his attorney to
surrender for redemption any or all escrowed shares on the books of the
Trust.
AUTOMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN PROVISIONS
By requesting an Automatic Withdrawal Plan, the applicant agrees
to the terms and conditions applicable to such plans, as stated below.
1. The Agent will administer the Automatic Withdrawal Plan (the "Plan")
as agent for the person (the "Planholder") who executed the Plan
authorization.
2. Certificates will not be issued for shares of the Trust purchased for and
held under the Plan, but the Agent will credit all such shares to the
Planholder on the records of the Trust. Any share certificates now held by
the Planholder may be surrendered unendorsed to the Agent with the
application so that the shares represented by the certificate may be held
under the Plan.
3. Dividends and distributions will be reinvested in shares of the Trust at
Net Asset Value without a sales charge.
4. Redemptions of shares in connection with disbursement payments will be
made at the Net Asset Value per share in effect at the close of business
on the last business day of the month or quarter.
5. The amount and the interval of disbursement payments and the address to
which checks are to be mailed may be changed, at any time, by the
Planholder on written notification to the Agent. The Planholder should
allow at least two weeks time in mailing such notification before the
requested change can be put in effect.
6. The Planholder may, at any time, instruct the Agent by written notice (in
proper form in accordance with the requirements of the then current
Prospectus of the Trust) to redeem all, or any part of, the shares held
under the Plan. In such case the Agent will redeem the number of shares
requested at the Net Asset Value per share in effect in accordance with
the Trust's usual redemption procedures and will mail a check for the
proceeds of such redemption to the Planholder.
7. The Plan may, at any time, be terminated by the Planholder on written
notice to the Agent, or by the Agent upon receiving directions to that
effect from the Trust. The Agent will also terminate the Plan upon receipt
of evidence satisfactory to it of the death or legal incapacity of the
Planholder. Upon termination of the Plan by the Agent or the Trust, shares
remaining unredeemed will be held in an uncertificated account in the name
of the Planholder, and the account will continue as a dividend-
reinvestment, uncertificated account unless and until proper instructions
are received from the Planholder, his executor or guardian, or as
otherwise appropriate.
8. The Agent shall incur no liability to the Planholder for any action taken
or omitted by the Agent in good faith.
9. In the event that the Agent shall cease to act as transfer agent for the
Trust, the Planholder will be deemed to have appointed any successor
transfer agent to act as his agent in administering the Plan.
10.Purchases of additional shares concurrently with withdrawals are
undesirable because of sales charges when purchases are made.
Accordingly, a Planholder may not maintain this Plan while simultaneously
making regular purchases. While an occasional lump sum investment may be
made, such investment should normally be an amount equivalent to three
times the annual withdrawal or $5,000, whichever is less.
<PAGE>
INVESTMENT ADVISER
Bank One, Arizona, NA
Bank One Center
241 North Central Avenue
Phoenix, Arizona 85004
ADMINISTRATOR AND FOUNDER
Aquila Management Corporation
380 Madison Avenue, Suite 2300
New York, New York 10017
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Lacy B. Herrmann, Chairman
Philip E. Albrecht
Arthur K. Carlson
Thomas W. Courtney
William L. Ensign
Diana P. Herrmann
John C. Lucking
Anne J. Mills
William T. Quinsler
OFFICERS
Lacy B. Herrmann, President
William C. Wallace, Senior Vice President
Susan A. Cook, Vice President
Kristian P. Kjolberg, Vice President
Rose F. Marotta, Chief Financial Officer
Richard F. West, Treasurer
Edward M.W. Hines, Secretary
DISTRIBUTOR
Aquila Distributors, Inc.
380 Madison Avenue, Suite 2300
New York, New York 10017
TRANSFER AND SHAREHOLDER SERVICING AGENT
Administrative Data Management Corp.
581 Main Street
Woodbridge, New Jersey 07095-1198
CUSTODIAN
Bank One Trust Company, N.A.
100 East Broad Street
Columbus, Ohio 43271
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
345 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10154
COUNSEL
Hollyer Brady Smith Troxell
Barrett Rockett Hines & Mone LLP
551 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10176
Table of Contents
HIGHLIGHTS
TABLE OF EXPENSES
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
INTRODUCTION
INVESTMENT OF THE TRUST'S ASSETS
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE
HOW TO INVEST IN THE TRUST
HOW TO REDEEM YOUR INVESTMENT
AUTOMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN
MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS
DIVIDEND AND TAX INFORMATION
EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE
GENERAL INFORMATION
APPLICATION AND LETTER OF INTENT
LOGO
A TAX-FREE
INCOME INVESTMENT
PROSPECTUS
ONE OF THE
AQUILASM GROUP OF FUNDS
<PAGE>
Tax-Free Trust of Arizona
380 Madison Avenue, Suite 2300
New York, New York 10017
800-437-1020
212-697-6666
Prospectus April 1, 1996
Institutional Class Shares
Class Y Shares
The Trust is a mutual fund whose objective is to seek to
provide as high a level of current income exempt from Arizona and
regular Federal income taxes as is consistent with preservation of
capital by investing in municipal obligations which pay interest
exempt from Arizona State and Federal income taxes. These municipal
obligations must, at the time of purchase, either be rated within
the four highest credit ratings (considered as investment grade)
assigned by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. or Standard & Poor's
Corporation, or, if unrated, be determined to be of comparable
quality by the Trust's Adviser, Bank One, Arizona, NA.
There are three classes of shares of the Trust: Institutional
Class Shares ("Class Y Shares") are offered only to institutions
acting for investors in a fiduciary, advisory, agency custodial or
similar capacity, and are not offered directly to retail customers.
Class Y Shares are offered at net asset value with no sales charge,
no redemption fee, no contingent deferred sales charge and no
distribution fee. (See "How to Purchase Class Y Shares.") The other
classes, Front-Payment Class Shares ("Class A Shares") and Level-
Payment Class Shares ("Class C Shares") are not offered by this
prospectus. See "General Information - Description of Classes."
The Prospectus concisely states information about the Trust
that you should know before investing. A Statement of Additional
Information about the Trust dated April 1, 1996 (the "Additional
Statement") has been filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission and is available without charge upon written request to
Administrative Data Management Corp., the Trust's Shareholder
Servicing Agent, at the address given below, or by calling the
telephone number(s) given below. The Additional Statement contains
information about the Trust and its management not included in the
Prospectus. The Additional Statement is incorporated by reference
in its entirety in the Prospectus. Only when you have read both the
Prospectus and the Additional Statement are all material facts
about the Trust available to you.
SHARES OF THE TRUST ARE NOT DEPOSITS IN, OBLIGATIONS OF OR
GUARANTEED OR ENDORSED BY BANK ONE ARIZONA, NA, BANC ONE
CORPORATION OR ITS BANK OR NON-BANK AFFILIATES OR BY ANY OTHER
BANK. SHARES OF THE TRUST ARE NOT INSURED OR GUARANTEED BY THE
FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION, THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD OR
ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY OR GOVERNMENT SPONSORED AGENCY OF THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OR ANY STATE.
AN INVESTMENT IN THE TRUST INVOLVES INVESTMENT RISKS,
INCLUDING POSSIBLE LOSS OF THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT INVESTED.
FOR PURCHASE, REDEMPTION OR ACCOUNT INQUIRIES CONTACT
THE TRUST'S TRANSFER AGENT: ADMINISTRATIVE DATA MANAGEMENT CORP.
581 MAIN STREET, WOODBRIDGE, NJ 07095-1198
CALL 800-437-1000 TOLL FREE OR 908-855-5731
FOR GENERAL INQUIRIES & YIELD INFORMATION,
CALL 800-437-1020 TOLL FREE OR 212-986-8826
THE PROSPECTUS SHOULD BE READ AND RETAINED FOR FUTURE REFERENCE
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES
COMMISSION, NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY
STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF
THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL
OFFENSE.
<PAGE>
HIGHLIGHTS
Tax-Free Trust of Arizona (the "Trust"), founded by Aquila
Management Corporation in 1986 and one of the Aquilasm Group of
Funds, is an open-end mutual fund which invests in tax-free
municipal bonds, the kind of obligations issued by the State of
Arizona, its counties and various other local authorities to
finance such long-term projects as schools, roads, hospitals water
facilities and other vital public purpose projects throughout
Arizona. (See "Introduction.")
Tax-Free Income - The municipal obligations in which the Trust
invests pay interest which is exempt from both regular Federal and
State of Arizona income taxes. Dividends paid by the Trust from
this income are likewise free of both such taxes. It is, however,
possible that in certain circumstances, a small portion of the
dividends paid by the Trust will be subject to income taxes. In
addition, the Federal alternative minimum tax ("AMT") may apply to
some investors, but its impact will be limited, since not more than
20% of the Trust's net assets can be invested in obligations paying
interest which is subject to this tax. The receipt of
exempt-interest dividends from the Trust may result in some portion
of social security payments or railroad retirement benefits being
included in taxable income. Capital gains distributions, if any,
are taxable. (See "Dividend and Tax Information.")
Investment Grade - The Trust will acquire only those municipal
obligations which, at the time of purchase, are within the four
highest credit ratings assigned by Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
or Standard and Poor's Corporation, or are determined by the
Adviser to be of comparable quality. In general there are nine
separate credit ratings, ranging from the highest to the lowest
credit ratings for municipal obligations. Obligations within the
top four ratings are considered "investment grade" but those in the
fourth rating may have speculative characteristics as well. (See
"Investment of the Trust's Assets.")
Initial Investment - You may open your account with any
purchase of $1,000 or more or by opening an Automatic Investment
Program which makes purchases of $100 or more each month. See the
Application which is in the back of the Prospectus. (See "How to
Invest in the Trust," which includes applicable sales charge
information.)
Additional Investments - You may make additional
investments at any time and in any amount, directly, or if in an
amount of $50 or more, through the convenience of having your
investment electronically transferred from your financial
institution account into the Trust by Automatic Investment or
Telephone Investment. (See "How to Invest in the Trust.")
Alternative Purchase Plans - The Trust provides alternative
ways to invest. (See "Description of the Trust and its Shares.")
For this purpose the Trust offers classes of shares, which differ
in their expense levels and sales charges:
Institutional Class Shares ("Class Y Shares")
are offered by this Prospectus. Class Y Shares
are offered only to institutions acting for
investors in a fiduciary, advisory, agency
custodial or similar capacity, and are not
offered directly to retail customers. Class Y
Shares are offered at net asset value with no
sales charge no redemption fee, no contingent
deferred sales charge and no distribution fee.
(See "How to Purchase Class Y Shares.")
The other classes, Front-Payment Class Shares ("Class A
Shares") and Level-Payment Class Shares ("Class C Shares") are not
offered by this prospectus. See "General Information - Description
of Classes."
Monthly Income - Dividends are declared daily and paid
monthly. At your choice, dividends are paid by check mailed to you,
directly deposited into your financial institution account or
automatically reinvested without sales charge in additional shares
of the Trust at the then-current net asset value. Specific classes
of shares will have different dividend amounts due to their
particular expense levels. (See "Dividend and Tax Information.")
Many Different Issues - You have the advantages of a portfolio
which consists of over 235 issues with different maturities. (See
"Investment of the Trust's Assets.")
Local Portfolio Management - The Trust provides you with
experienced, locally-based professional investment management by
Bank One, Arizona, NA, formerly The Valley National Bank of
Arizona, which serves as the Trust's Investment Adviser. The Trust
currently pays fees at a rate of up to 0.20 of 1% of average annual
net assets to each of its Adviser and Administrator. Total advisory
and administration fees are at a rate of 0.40 of 1% of average
annual net assets, although some or all of these fees may be
waived. (See "Table of Expenses" and "Management Arrangements.")
The Adviser is a subsidiary of BANC ONE CORPORATION ("Banc
One"), based in Columbus, Ohio. The Adviser serves Arizona through
257 offices located in communities throughout the state's 15
counties. The Trust Division of the Adviser had, as of June 30,
1995, approximately $8.0 billion of assets under administration,
not including any other registered investment companies but
including approximately $1.2 billion in municipal bonds. Banc One
is a multi-bank holding company, incorporated under the laws of the
State of Ohio. As of June 30, 1995, Banc One indirectly owned all
of the stock of 65 banks operating with more than 1,408 offices in
the states of Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio,
Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wisconsin. As of that
date, Banc One, its affiliated banks and its non-bank subsidiaries
had total assets of approximately $86.8 billion.
Redemptions - Liquidity - You may redeem any amount of your
Class Y Shares account on any business day at the next determined
net asset value by telephone, FAX or mail request, with proceeds
being sent to a predesignated financial institution, if you have
elected Expedited Redemption. Proceeds will be wired or transferred
through the facilities of the Automated Clearing House, wherever
possible, upon request, if in an amount of $1,000 or more, or will
be mailed. For these and other redemption procedures see "How to
Redeem Your Investment." There are no redemption fees for
redemption of Class Y shares.
Certain Stabilizing Measures - The Trust will employ such
traditional measures as varying maturities, upgrading credit
standards for portfolio purchases, broadening diversification and
increasing its position in cash, in an attempt to protect against
declines in the value of its investments and other market risks.
(See "Certain Stabilizing Measures.")
Exchanges - You may exchange Class Y Shares of the Trust
into Class Y Shares of other Aquila-sponsored tax-free municipal
bond mutual funds, or an equity fund. You may also exchange them
into shares of the Aquila sponsored money market funds. The
exchange prices will be the respective net asset values of the
shares. (See "Exchange Privilege.")
Risks and Special Considerations - The share price,
determined on each business day, varies with the market prices of
the Trust's portfolio securities, which fluctuate with market
conditions including prevailing interest rates. Accordingly, the
proceeds of redemptions may be more or less than your original
cost. (See "Factors Which May Affect the Value of the Trust's
Investments and Their Yields.") The Trust's assets, being primarily
or entirely Arizona issues, are subject to economic and other
conditions affecting Arizona. (See "Risks and Special
Considerations Regarding Investment in Arizona Obligations.")
Moreover, the Trust is classified as a "non-diversified" investment
company, because it may choose to invest in the obligations of a
relatively limited number of issuers. (See "Investment of the
Trust's Assets.") The Trust may also, to a limited degree, buy and
sell futures contracts and options on futures contracts, although
since inception the Trust has not done so and has no present
intention to do so. There may be risks associated with these
practices. (See "Certain Stabilizing Measures.")
Statements and Reports - You will receive statements of your
account monthly as well as each time you add to your account or
take money out. Additionally, you will receive a Semi-Annual Report
and an audited Annual Report.
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TAX-FREE TRUST OF ARIZONA
TABLE OF EXPENSES
<S> <C>
Class Y
Shareholder Transaction Expenses Shares
Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Purchases None
(as a percentage of the offering price)
Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Reinvested Dividends None
Deferred Sales Charge None
Redemption Fees None
Exchange Fee None
Annual Trust Operating Expenses (1)
(as a percentage of average net assets)
Investment Advisory Fee 0.20%
All other expenses 0.39%
Administration Fee 0.20%
Other Expenses 0.19%
Total Trust Operating Expenses 0.59%
Example (2)
You would pay the following expenses on a $1,000 investment, assuming a 5%
annual return and redemption at the end of each time period:
1 Year $6
3 Years 19
5 Years 33
10 Years 74
<FN>
(1) Estimated based upon actual expenses incurred by the Trust during its
most recent fiscal year. During that period, only Class A shares were
outstanding.
</FN>
<FN>
(2) The expense example is based upon the above annual Trust operating
expenses. It is also based upon amounts at the beginning of each year which
includes the prior year's assumed results. A year's results consist of an
assumed 5% annual return less total annual operating expenses; the expense
ratio was applied to an assumed average balance (the year's starting
investment plus one-half the year's results). Each figure represents the
cumulative expenses so determined for the period specified.
</FN>
</TABLE>
THE EXAMPLE ABOVE SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED A REPRESENTATION OF PAST OR FUTURE
EXPENSES; ACTUAL EXPENSES MAY BE GREATER OR LESS THAN THOSE SHOWN. THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION SPECIFIES THAT ALL MUTUAL FUNDS USE THE 5%
ANNUAL RATE OF RETURN FOR PURPOSES OF PREPARING THE ABOVE EXAMPLE.
The purpose of the above table is to assist the investor in understanding the
various costs that an investor in the Trust will bear directly or indirectly.
The assumed 5% annual return should not be interpreted as a prediction of an
actual return, which may be higher or lower.
<PAGE>
The following historical financial information applies only to shares of
the Trust which have been designated Class A Shares, upon adoption of
the class structure described in the Prospectus. Class A Shares are not
offered by this Prospectus. Similar information does not exist for Class
Y Shares which are offered by this Prospectus.
TAX-FREE TRUST OF ARIZONA
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
FOR A SHARE OUTSTANDING THROUGHOUT EACH PERIOD
The following table of Financial Highlights as it relates to the
five years ended June 30, 1995 has been audited by KPMG Peat Marwick LLP,
independent auditors, whose report thereon is included in the Trust's
financial statements contained in its Annual Report, which are
incorporated by reference into the Additional Statement. The information
provided in the table should be read in conjunction with the financial
statements and related notes. On April 2, 1990, Aquila Management
Corporation, originally the Trust's Administrator and Supplemental
Adviser, became Administrator only.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Six Months
Ended Year Ended June 30,
12/31/95 1995 1994 1993 1992
(unaudited)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net Asset Value,
Beginning of Period $10.37 $10.16 $10.84 $10.36 $9.92
Income from Investment
Operations:
Net investment income 0.28 0.56 0.57 0.62 0.66
Net gain (loss) on
securities (both
realized and
unrealized) 0.35 0.21 (0.60) 0.54 0.43
Total from Investment
Operations 0.63 0.77 (0.03) 1.16 1.09
Less Distributions:
Dividends from net
investment income (0.28) (0.56) (0.57) (0.62) (0.65)
Distributions from
capital gains - - (0.08) (0.06) -
Total Distributions (0.28) (0.56) (0.65) (0.68) (0.65)
Net Asset Value, End
of Period $10.72 $10.37 $10.16 $10.84 $10.36
Total Return (not
reflecting sales load) 6.14%(1) 7.89% (0.38)% 11.45% 11.36%
Ratios/Supplemental Data
Net Assets, End of
Period (in thousands) $395,136 $380,745 $372,093 $349,920 $237,433
Ratio of Expenses to
Average Net Assets 0.72%(2) 0.74% 0.70% 0.65% 0.57%
Ratio of Net Investment
Income to Average
Net Assets 5.25%(2) 5.55% 5.36% 5.76% 6.37%
Portfolio Turnover
Rate 12.40%(1) 34.44% 31.20% 18.78% 23.53%
Net investment income per share and the ratios of income and expenses to
average net assets without the Adviser's and Administrator's voluntary
waiver of fees and the expense offset in custodian fees for uninvested
cash balances would have been:
Net Investment Income $0.28 $0.56 $0.57 $0.61 $0.65
Ratio of Expenses to
Average Net Assets 0.73%(2) 0.74% 0.71% 0.73% 0.70%
Ratio of Net Investment
Income to Average
Net Assets 5.24%(2) 5.55% 5.35% 5.67% 6.24%
<CAPTION>
Year Ended June 30,
1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986*
<C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
$9.77 $9.88 $9.47 $9.45 $9.46 $9.60
0.66 0.66 0.67 0.67 0.66 0.18
0.15 (0.11) 0.41 0.02 (0.01) (0.14)
0.81 0.55 1.08 0.69 0.65 0.04
(0.66) (0.66) (0.67) (0.67) (0.66) (0.18)
- - - - - -
(0.66) (0.66) (0.67) (0.67) (0.66) (0.18)
$9.92 $9.77 $9.88 $9.47 $9.45 $9.46
8.57% 5.84% 11.86% 7.68% 7.07% 1.20%(1)
$175,342 $121,026 $101,584 $83,437 $74,910 $13,012
0.58% 0.58% 0.53% 0.51% 0.34% 0.44%(2)
6.68% 6.66% 6.76% 6.95% 7.00% 6.00%(2)
26.83% 31.11% 24.87% 22.41% 17.19% -
$0.65 $0.64 $0.64 $0.64 $0.61 $0.16
0.74% 0.77% 0.78% 0.88% 0.88% 1.00%(2)
6.52% 6.47% 6.50% 6.58% 6.47% 5.54%(2)
<FN>
(1)Not annualized.
</FN>
<FN>
(2)Annualized.
</FN>
<FN>
*For the period from March 13, 1986 (commencement of operations) to June 30,
1986.
</FN>
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
INTRODUCTION
The Trust's shares are designed to be a suitable investment
for individuals, corporations, institutions and fiduciaries who
seek income exempt from Arizona State and regular Federal income
taxes.
You may invest in shares of the Trust as an alternative to
direct investments in Arizona Obligations, as defined below, which
may include obligations of certain non-Arizona issuers. The Trust
offers you the opportunity to keep assets fully invested in a
vehicle that provides a professionally managed portfolio of Arizona
Obligations which may, but not necessarily will, be more
diversified, higher yielding, more stable and more liquid than you
might be able to obtain on an individual basis by direct purchase
of Arizona Obligations. Through the convenience of a single
security consisting of shares of the Trust, you are also relieved
of the inconvenience associated with direct investments of fixed
denominations, including the selecting, purchasing, handling,
monitoring call provisions and safekeeping of Arizona Obligations.
Arizona Obligations are a type of municipal obligation.
Municipal obligations are issued by or on behalf of states,
territories and possessions of the United States and their
political subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities to obtain
funds for various public purposes. The two principal
classifications of municipal obligations are "notes" and "bonds."
Municipal notes are generally used to provide for short-term
capital needs and generally have maturities of one year or less
while municipal bonds have extended maturities. Municipal notes
include: project notes, which sometimes carry a U.S. Government
guarantee; tax anticipation notes; revenue anticipation notes; bond
anticipation notes; construction loan notes; and floating and
variable rate demand notes. Municipal obligations include municipal
lease/purchase agreements which are similar to installment purchase
contracts for property or equipment. The purposes for which
municipal obligations such as bonds are issued include the
construction of a wide range of public facilities such as highways,
bridges, schools, hospitals, housing, mass transportation, streets,
and water and sewer works. Other public purposes for which
municipal obligations may be issued include the refunding of
outstanding obligations, the obtaining of funds for general
operating expenses and the obtaining of funds to lend to other
public institutions and facilities.
INVESTMENT OF THE TRUST'S ASSETS
In seeking its objective of providing as high a level of
current income which is exempt from both Arizona State and regular
Federal income taxes as is consistent with the preservation of
capital, the Trust will invest in Arizona Obligations (as defined
below). There is no assurance that the Trust will achieve its
objective, which is a fundamental policy of the Trust. (See
"Investment Restrictions.")
As used in the Prospectus and the Additional Statement, the
term "Arizona Obligations" means obligations, including those of
certain non-Arizona issuers, of any maturity which pay interest
which, in the opinion of bond counsel or other appropriate counsel,
is exempt from regular Federal income taxes and Arizona income
taxes. Although exempt from regular Federal income tax, interest
paid on certain types of Arizona Obligations, and dividends which
the Trust might pay from this interest, are preference items as to
the Federal alternative minimum tax; for further information, see
"Dividend and Tax Information." As a fundamental policy, at least
80% of the Trust's net assets will be invested in Arizona
Obligations the income paid upon which will not be subject to the
alternative minimum tax; accordingly, the Trust can invest up to
20% of its net assets in obligations which are subject to the
Federal alternative minimum tax. The Trust may refrain entirely
from purchasing these types of Arizona Obligations. See "Dividends
and Tax information."
The non-Arizona bonds or other obligations the interest on
which is exempt under present law from regular Federal and Arizona
income taxes are the bonds or other obligations issued by or under
the authority of Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico
and the Virgin Islands. The Trust will not purchase Arizona
Obligations of non-Arizona issuers unless Arizona Obligations of
Arizona issuers of the desired quality, maturity and interest rate
are not available. As an Arizona-oriented fund, at least 65% of the
Trust's total assets will be invested in Arizona Obligations of
Arizona issuers. The Trust invests only in Arizona Obligations and,
possibly, in Futures and options on Futures (see below) for
protective (hedging) purposes.
In general, there are nine separate credit ratings, ranging
from the highest to the lowest quality standards for municipal
obligations. So that the Trust will have a portfolio of
quality-oriented (investment grade) securities, the Arizona
Obligations which the Trust will purchase must, at the time of
purchase, either (i) be rated within the four highest credit
ratings assigned by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") or
Standard & Poor's Corporation ("S&P"); or (ii) if unrated, be
determined to be of comparable quality to municipal obligations so
rated, by Bank One, Arizona, NA (the "Adviser"), the Trust's
investment adviser (subject to the direction and control of the
Trust's Board of Trustees). Municipal obligations rated in the
fourth highest credit rating are considered by such rating agencies
to be of medium quality and thus may present investment risks not
present in more highly rated obligations. Such bonds lack
outstanding investment characteristics and may in fact have
speculative characteristics as well; changes in economic conditions
or other circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened
capacity to make principal and interest payments than is the case
for higher grade bonds. If after purchase the rating of any rated
Arizona Obligation is downgraded such that it could not then be
purchased by the Trust, or, in the case of an unrated Arizona
Obligation, if the Adviser determines that the unrated obligation
is no longer of comparable quality to those rated obligations which
the Trust may purchase, it is the current policy of the Trust to
cause any such obligation to be sold as promptly thereafter as the
Adviser in its discretion determines to be consistent with the
Trust's objectives; such obligation remains in the Trust's
portfolio until it is sold. In addition, because a downgrade often
results in a reduction in the market price of a downgraded
obligation, sale of such an obligation may result in a loss. See
Appendix A to the Additional Statement for further information as
to these ratings. The Trust can purchase industrial development
bonds only if they meet the definition of Arizona Obligations,
i.e., the interest on them is exempt from Arizona State and regular
Federal income taxes.
The Trust is classified as a "non-diversified" investment
company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act").
The Trust also intends to continue to qualify as a "regulated
investment company" under the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code").
One of the tests for such qualification under the Code is, in
general, that at the end of each fiscal quarter of the Trust, at
least 50% of its assets must consist of (i) cash; and (ii)
securities which, as to any one issuer, do not exceed 5% of the
value of the Trust's assets. If the Trust had elected to register
under the 1940 Act as a "diversified" investment company, it would
have to meet the same test as to 75% of its assets. The Trust may
therefore not have as much diversification among securities, and
thus diversification of risk, as if it had made this election under
the 1940 Act. In general, the more the Trust invests in the
securities of specific issuers, the more the Trust is exposed to
risks associated with investments in those issuers. The Trust's
assets, being primarily or entirely Arizona issues, are accordingly
subject to economic and other conditions affecting Arizona. (See
"Risk Factors and Special Considerations Regarding Investment in
Arizona Obligations.")
Certain Stabilizing Measures
The Trust will employ such traditional measures as varying
maturities, upgrading credit standards for portfolio purchases,
broadening diversification and increasing its position in cash and
cash equivalents in attempting to protect against declines in the
value of its investments and other market risks. There can,
however, be no assurance that these will be successful. Although
the Trust has no current intention of using futures and options, to
the limited degree described below, these may be used to attempt to
hedge against changes in the market price of the Trust's Arizona
Obligations caused by interest rate fluctuations. Futures and
options could also provide a hedge against increases in the cost of
securities the Trust intends to purchase.
Although it does not currently do so, and since inception has
not done so, the Trust may buy and sell futures contracts relating
to indices on municipal bonds ("Municipal Bond Index Futures") and
to U.S. government securities ("U.S. Government Securities
Futures"); both kinds of futures contracts are "Futures." The Trust
may also write and purchase put and call options on Futures. As a
matter of fundamental policy the Trust will not buy or sell a
Future or an option on a Future if thereafter more than 10% of its
net assets would be in initial or variation margin on such Futures
and options on them, and in premiums on such options. Under an
applicable regulatory rule, the Trust will not enter into Futures
or options for which the aggregate initial margins and premiums
paid for options exceed 5% of the fair market value of the Trust's
assets. (See the Additional Statement.) Under normal market
conditions, the Trust cannot purchase or sell Municipal Bond Index
Futures, U.S. Government Securities Futures, or options on Futures
if thereafter more than 20% of its total assets would consist of
cash, margin deposits on such Futures and margin deposits and
premiums on such options, except for temporary defensive purposes,
i.e., in anticipation of a decline or possible decline in the value
of Arizona Obligations.
The primary risks associated with the use of Futures and
options are: (i) imperfect correlation between the change in the
market value of the securities held in the Trust's portfolio and
the prices of Futures or options purchased or sold by the Trust;
(ii) incorrect forecasts by the Adviser concerning interest rates
which may result in the hedge being ineffective; and (iii) possible
lack of a liquid secondary market for a Future or option; the
resulting inability to close a Futures or options position could
adversely affect the Trust's hedging ability. For a hedge to be
completely effective, the price change of the hedging instrument
should equal the price change of the security being hedged. The
risk of imperfect correlation of these price changes is increased
as the composition of the Trust's portfolio is divergent from the
debt securities underlying the hedging instrument. To date, the
Adviser has had no experience in the use of Futures or options on
them.
The liquidity of a secondary market in a Future may be
adversely affected by "daily price fluctuation limits" established
by commodity exchanges which restrict the amount of change in the
contract price allowed during a single trading day. Thus, once a
daily limit is reached, no further trades may be entered into
beyond the limit, thereby preventing the liquidation of open
positions. Prices have in the past reached the daily limit on a
number of consecutive trading days. For further information about
Futures and options, see the Additional Statement.
When and if the Trust determines to use Futures or options,
the Prospectus will be supplemented.
Floating and Variable Rate Demand Notes
Floating and variable rate demand notes are tax-exempt
obligations which may have a stated maturity in excess of one year,
but permit the holder to demand payment of principal at any time,
or at specified intervals not exceeding one year, in each case upon
not more than 30 days' notice. The issuer of such notes normally
has a corresponding right, after a given period, to prepay in its
discretion the outstanding principal amount of the note plus
accrued interest upon a specified number of days' notice to the
noteholders. The interest rate on a floating rate demand note is
based on a known lending rate, such as a bank's prime rate, and is
adjusted automatically each time such rate is adjusted. The
interest rate on a variable rate demand note is adjusted
automatically at specified intervals.
Participation Interests
The Trust may purchase from financial institutions
participation interests in Arizona Obligations (such as industrial
development bonds and municipal lease/purchase agreements). A
participation interest gives the Trust an undivided interest in the
underlying Arizona Obligations in the proportion that the Trust's
participation interest bears to the total amount of the underlying
Arizona Obligations. All such participation interests must meet the
Trust's credit requirements. See "Limitation to 10% as to Certain
Investments."
When-Issued and Delayed Delivery Purchases
The Trust may buy Arizona Obligations on a when-issued or
delayed delivery basis when it has the intention of acquiring them.
The Arizona Obligations so purchased are subject to market
fluctuation and no interest accrues to the Trust until delivery and
payment take place; their value at the delivery date may be less
than the purchase price. The Trust cannot enter into when-issued
commitments exceeding in the aggregate 15% of the market value of
the Trust's total assets, less liabilities other than the
obligations created by when-issued commitments. If the Trust
chooses to dispose of the right to acquire a when-issued obligation
prior to its acquisition, it could, as with the disposition of any
other portfolio holding, incur a gain or loss due to market
fluctuation; any such gain would be a taxable short-term gain. The
Trust places an amount of assets equal in value to the amount due
on the settlement date for the when-issued or delayed delivery
securities being purchased in a segregated account with the
Custodian, which is marked to market every business day. See the
Additional Statement for further information.
Limitation to 10% as to Certain Investments
The Trust cannot purchase Arizona Obligations that are not
readily marketable if thereafter more than 10% of its net assets
would consist of such investments. However, this 10% limit does not
include any Arizona Obligations as to which the Trust can exercise
the right to demand payment in full within seven days and as to
which there is a secondary market. Floating and variable rate
demand notes and participation interests (including municipal
lease/purchase obligations) are considered illiquid unless
determined by the Board of Trustees to be readily marketable. See
the Additional Statement.
Current Policy as to Certain Obligations
The Trust will not invest more than 25% of its total assets in
(i) Arizona Obligations the interest on which is paid from
revenues of similar type projects or (ii) industrial development
bonds, unless the Prospectus and/or the Additional Statement are
supplemented to reflect the change and to give additional
information.
Factors Which May Affect the Value
of the Trust's Investments and Their Yields
The value of the Arizona Obligations in which the Trust
invests will fluctuate depending in large part on changes in
prevailing interest rates. If the prevailing interest rates go up
after the Trust buys Arizona Obligations, the value of these
obligations will normally go down; if these rates go down, the
value of these obligations will normally go up. Changes in value
and yield based on changes in prevailing interest rates may have
different effects on short-term Arizona Obligations than on
long-term obligations. Long-term obligations (which often have
higher yields) may fluctuate in value more than short-term ones.
For this reason, the Trust may, to achieve a defensive position,
shorten the average maturity of its portfolio.
Risk Factors and Special Considerations
Regarding Investment in Arizona Obligations
The following is a discussion of the general factors that
might influence the ability of Arizona issuers to repay principal
and interest when due on the Arizona Obligations contained in the
portfolio of the Trust. Such information is derived from sources
that are generally available to investors and is believed by the
Trust to be accurate, but has not been independently verified and
may not be complete.
The composition of the Arizona economy has changed
significantly in recent years. Arizona has shifted from a
resource-based economy to one based on high-tech manufacturing,
construction and services. The construction sector recently has
shown an upturn from the cyclical lows associated with several
factors. These factors included a slowing in the rate of growth of
population, over-built conditions in most sub-markets and less
favorable tax treatments. The problems associated with the
phenomenal growth experienced during the 1980's boom, i.e., air
quality, transportation and public infrastructure, are being
addressed by the Arizona legislature and other public bodies.
Most cities in Arizona derive a large portion of their
operating revenues from state-shared sales tax and state-shared
income taxes. As these revenues began to grow at slower rates, or
in some cases to decline, city management found their ability to
trim operating budgets restricted by the relative inflexibility of
fixed debt-service costs. As such, many Arizona municipalities took
advantage of the low interest rate environment during 1992 and 1993
by refinancing outstanding higher coupon bonds to reduce debt
service requirements. Bond funding for new capital improvements has
slowed due to slower economic growth, insufficient assessed
valuation growth and the slower growth of operating revenues.
Officials throughout the state have been challenged to manage
budgetary strain and set priorities with fewer available resources.
Whether municipalities can maintain fiscal stability will become
increasingly dependent on growth expectations and municipalities'
willingness to reduce spending and manage revenues. The period of
double-digit increases in the tax base and population and the tax
revenues generated by such growth appears to be over. As such,
Arizona municipalities will have to adapt to a changing and more
constricted fiscal environment.
One of the most significant issues facing Arizona
municipalities is the ability to provide water. The Central Arizona
Project is a three hundred thirty-five mile long water conveyance
system designed to take water from the Colorado River and deliver
it to the Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas, to Indian
reservations and to farms for irrigation. The project has been
completed to Tucson, but the start of Arizona's obligation to repay
the Federal government its $1.8 billion share of the project's
costs is still subject to negotiation among the parties. However,
demand for the water is currently only one-third of capacity. The
price of water could increase substantially for cities to cover the
cost of the project. Currently plans are being discussed to
maintain the project's finances and to boost the demand for the
water, thus spreading the projects costs to all its intended users.
In July, 1994, the Supreme Court of Arizona reversed a lower
court ruling and held that the State's statutory scheme for
financing public education is not in compliance with the State's
constitution. The case was remanded to the lower court to determine
whether, in a reasonable time, the Arizona legislature has taken
action to remedy the financing scheme to bring it into compliance.
The Supreme Court has also ruled that its ruling will be
prospective only and that bonded indebtedness incurred under
existing statutes as long as they are in effect are valid and
enforceable. In late 1995, the legislature failed to reach
agreement on a proposed solution. It is not possible to predict
what further court or legislative action will be taken or what
effect such action may have on Arizona Obligations in the Trust's
portfolio or the supply of new Arizona Obligations in the future.
In early 1996, a lower court held illegal the practice used
by some localities in Arizona pursuant to which so-called "Capital
Appreciation Bonds" ("CAB"s) are issued. CABs are zero-coupon bonds
that pay no current interest. The ruling affects only one school
district but similar obligations have been issued by other
localities. The Trust does not own any CABs but does own
conventional issues of localities that have issued CABs. The suit
challenged the further practice whereby a municipality includes in
its bonded indebtedness only the initial principal amount of its
CABs. Under this practice, because the entire principal amount of
the CABs is not included, the municipality can issue additional
conventional bonds without exceeding its legal debt limit. The
legality of the practice is also being considered before other
Arizona agencies and the legislature. It is expected that the
legislature will enact legislation validating all outstanding bonds
of this type. It is not possible to predict the outcome of these
actions. However, unless the CABs are validated, it might not be
possible to collect the principal of the CABs when due, and if CABs
were required to be added to bonded indebtedness of the
municipalities that have issued them, there might be an impact on
the overall financial condition of such municipalities. Any of
these matters could adversely affect the liquidity of the market
for Arizona bonds and the supply of new issues.
Inasmuch as the Arizona Obligations in which the Trust may
invest from time to time include general obligation bonds, revenue
bonds, industrial development bonds, and special tax assessment
bonds, and the sensitivity of each of these types of investments to
the general and economic factors discussed above may vary
significantly, no assurance can be given as to the effect, if any,
that these factors, individually or in the aggregate, may have on
any individual Arizona Obligation or on the Trust as a whole.
Obligations of non-Arizona issuers are subject to general
economic and other factors affecting those issuers.
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
The Trust has a number of policies about what it can and
cannot do. Certain of these policies, identified in the Prospectus
and Additional Statement as "fundamental policies," cannot be
changed unless the holders of a "majority," as defined in the 1940
Act, of the Trust's outstanding shares vote to change them. (See
the Additional Statement for a definition of such a majority.) All
other policies can be changed from time to time by the Board of
Trustees without shareholder approval. Some of the more important
of the Trust's fundamental policies, not otherwise identified in
the Prospectus, are set forth below; others are listed in the
Additional Statement.
1. The Trust invests only in certain limited securities.
The Trust cannot buy any securities other than the Arizona
Obligations meeting the standards stated under "Investment of the
Trust's Assets"; the Trust can also purchase and sell Futures and
options on them within the limits there discussed.
2. The Trust has industry investment requirements.
The Trust cannot buy the obligations of issuers in any one
industry if more than 25% of its total assets would then be
invested in securities of issuers of that industry; the Trust will
consider that a non-governmental user of facilities financed by
industrial development bonds is an issuer in an industry.
3. The Trust cannot make loans.
The Trust can buy those Arizona Obligations which it is
permitted to buy (see "Investment of the Trust's Assets"); this is
investing, not making a loan. The Trust cannot lend its portfolio
securities.
4. The Trust can borrow only in limited amounts for special
purposes.
The Trust can borrow from banks for temporary or emergency
purposes but only up to 10% of its total assets. It can mortgage or
pledge its assets only in connection with such borrowing and only
up to the lesser of the amounts borrowed or 5% of the value of its
total assets. However, this shall not prohibit margin arrangements
in connection with the purchase or sale of Municipal Bond Index
Futures, U.S. Government Securities Futures or options on them, or
the payment of premiums on those options. Interest on borrowings
would reduce the Trust's income. Except in connection with
borrowings, the Trust will not issue senior securities. The Trust
will not purchase any Arizona Obligations, Futures or options on
Futures while it has any outstanding borrowings which exceed 5% of
the value of its total assets.
NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE
The Trust's net asset value and offering price per share of
each class are determined as of 4:00 p.m. New York time on each day
that the New York Stock Exchange is open (a "business day"). The
net asset value per share is determined by dividing the value of
the net assets of the Trust (i.e., the value of the assets less
liabilities) by the total number of shares outstanding.
Determination of the value of the Trust's assets is subject to the
direction and control of the Trust's Board of Trustees. In general
it is based on market value, except that Arizona Obligations
maturing in 60 days or less are generally valued at amortized cost;
see the Additional Statement for further information.
HOW TO INVEST IN THE TRUST
Institutional Class Shares (Class Y Shares) are offered only
to institutional investors for investments held in a fiduciary,
advisory, agency, custodial or similar capacity, or through them to
their clients, and are not offered to directly to retail customers.
Class Y Shares are offered at net asset value with no sales charge,
no redemption fee, no contingent deferred sales charge and no
distribution fee. (See "How to Purchase Class Y Shares" and
"Alternative Purchase Plans.")
Class Y Shares of the Trust may be purchased through any
investment broker or dealer (a "selected dealer") which has a sales
agreement with Aquila Distributors, Inc. (the "Distributor") or
through the Distributor. There are two ways to make an initial
investment: (i) order the shares through your investment broker or
dealer, if it is a selected dealer; or (ii) mail the Application
with payment to Administrative Data Management Corp. (the "Agent")
at the address on the Application. There is no sales charge on
initial or subsequent investments. You are urged to complete an
Application and send it to the Agent so that expedited shareholder
services can be established at the time of your investment.
The minimum initial investment for Class Y Shares is $1,000,
except as otherwise stated in the Prospectus or Additional
Statement. You may also make an initial investment of at least $100
by establishing an Automatic Investment Program for Automatic
investments of at least $100 per month and paying at least
$100.(See below and "Automatic Investment Program" in the
Application.) Such investment must be drawn in United States
dollars on a United States commercial or savings bank, credit union
or a United States branch of a foreign commercial bank (each of
which is a "Financial Institution"). You may make subsequent
investments in Class Y Shares any amount (unless you have an
Automatic Withdrawal Plan). Your subsequent investment may be made
through a selected dealer or by forwarding payment to the Agent,
with the name(s) of account owner(s), the account number and the
name of the Trust. With subsequent investments, please send the
pre-printed stub attached to the Trust's confirmations.
Subsequent investments of $50 or more in Class Y Shares can be
made by electronic funds transfer from your demand account at a
Financial Institution. To use electronic funds transfer for your
purchases, your Financial Institution must be a member of the
Automated Clearing House and the Agent must have received your
completed Application designating this feature, or, after your
account has been opened, a Ready Access Features form available
from the Distributor or the Agent. A pre-determined amount can be
regularly transferred for investment ("Automatic Investment"), or
single investments can be made upon receipt by the Agent of
telephone instructions from anyone ("Telephone Investment"). The
maximum amount of each Telephone Investment is $50,000. Upon 30
days' written notice to shareholders, the Trust may modify or
terminate these investment methods at any time or charge a service
fee, although no such fee is currently contemplated.
The offering price for Class Y Shares is the net asset value
per share. The offering price determined on any day applies to all
purchase orders received by the Agent from selected dealers that
day, except that orders received by it after 4:00 p.m. New York
time will receive that day's offering price only if such orders
were received by selected dealers from customers prior to such time
and transmitted to the Distributor prior to its close of business
that day (normally 5:00 p.m. New York time); if not so transmitted,
such orders will be filled at the next determined offering price.
Selected dealers are required to transmit orders promptly.
Investments by mail are made at the offering price next determined
after receipt of the purchase order by the Agent. Purchase orders
received on other than a business day will be executed on the next
succeeding business day. Purchases by Automatic Investment and
Telephone Investment will be executed on the first business day
occurring on or after the date an order is considered received by
the Agent at the price determined on that day. In the case of
Automatic Investment your order will be executed on the date you
specified for investment at the price determined on that day. If
that day is not a business day your order will be executed at the
price determined on the next business day. In the case of Telephone
Investment your order will be filled at the next determined
offering price. If your order is placed after the time for
determining the net asset value of the Trust shares for any day it
will be executed at the price determined on the following business
day. The sale of shares will be suspended during any period when
the determination of net asset value is suspended and may be
suspended by the Distributor when the Distributor judges it in the
Trust's best interest to do so.
Possible Compensation for Dealers
The Distributor, at its own expense, may also provide
additional compensation to dealers in connection with sales of any
class of shares of the Trust. Additional compensation may include
payment or partial payment for advertising of the Trust's shares,
payment of travel expenses, including lodging, incurred in
connection with attendance at sales seminars taken by qualifying
registered representatives to locations within or outside of the
United States, other prizes or financial assistance to securities
dealers in offering their own seminars or conferences. In some
instances, such compensation may be made available only to certain
dealers whose representatives have sold or are expected to sell
significant amounts of such shares. Dealers may not use sales of
the Trust's shares to qualify for the incentives to the extent such
may be prohibited by the laws of any state or any self-regulatory
agency, such as the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc. The cost to the Distributor of such promotional activities and
such payments to participating dealers will not exceed the amount
of the sales charges in respect of sales of all classes of shares
of the Trust effected through such participating dealers, whether
retained by the Distributor or reallowed to participating dealers.
No such additional compensation to dealers in connection with sales
of shares of the Trust will affect the price you pay for shares or
the amount that the Trust will receive from such sales. Any of the
foregoing payments to be made by the Distributor may be made
instead by the Administrator out of its own funds, directly or
through the Distributor.
Brokers and Dealers may receive different levels of
compensation for selling different classes of shares.
Confirmations and Share Certificates
All purchases of shares will be confirmed and credited to you
in an account maintained for you at the Agent in full and
fractional shares of the Trust (rounded to the nearest 1/1000th of
a share). No Share certificates will be issued for Class Y Shares.
The Trust and the Distributor reserve the right to reject any
order for the purchase of shares. In addition, the offering of
shares may be suspended at any time and resumed at any time
thereafter.
Distribution Plan
The Trust has adopted a Distribution Plan (the "Plan") under
Rule 12b-1 (the "Rule") under the 1940 Act. The Rule provides in
substance that an investment company may not engage directly or
indirectly in financing any activity which is primarily intended to
result in the sale of its shares except pursuant to a written plan
adopted under the Rule. No payments under the Plan from assets
represented by Class Y Shares are authorized.
The Plan contains provisions designed to protect against any
claim against or involving the Trust that some of the expenses
which might be considered to be sales-related which the Trust pays
or may pay come within the purview of the Rule. The Trust believes
that except for payments made with respect to Class A Shares and
Class C Shares it is not financing any such activity and does not
consider any payment enumerated in such provisions as so financing
any such activity. If and to the extent that any payment as
specifically listed in the Plan (see the Additional Statement) is
considered to be primarily intended to result in or as indirect
financing of any activity which is primarily intended to result in
the sale of Trust shares, these payments are authorized under the
Plan. In addition, if the Administrator, out of its own funds,
makes payment for distribution expenses such payments are
authorized. See the Additional Statement.
HOW TO REDEEM YOUR INVESTMENT
You may redeem all or any part of your Class Y Shares at the
net asset value next determined after acceptance of your redemption
request at the Agent. Redemptions can be made by the various
methods described below. There is no minimum period for any
investment in the Trust, except for shares recently purchased by
check, Automatic Investment or Telephone Investment as discussed
below. There are no redemption fees or penalties on redemption of
Class Y Shares. A redemption may result in a transaction taxable to
you.
For your convenience the Trust offers expedited redemption for
Class Y Shares to provide you with a high level of liquidity for
your investment.
Expedited Redemption Methods
(Non-Certificate Shares)
You have the flexibility of two expedited methods of
initiating redemptions. They are available as to shares of any
class not represented by certificates.
1. By Telephone. The Agent will accept instructions by
telephone from anyone to redeem shares and make payments
a) to a Financial Institution account you have
predesignated or
b) by check in the amount of $50,000 or less, mailed to
you, if your shares are registered in your name at the
Trust and the check is sent to your address of record,
provided that there has not been a change of your address
of record during the 30 days preceding your redemption
request. You can make only one request for telephone
redemptions by check in any 7-day period.
See "Redemption Payments", below for payment methods. Your
name, your account number and your address of record must be
supplied.
To redeem an investment by this method, telephone:
800-437-1000 toll free or 908-855-5731
Note: The Trust, the Agent, and the Distributor will not be
responsible for any losses resulting from unauthorized telephone
transactions if the Agent follows reasonable procedures designed to
verify the identity of the caller. The Agent will request some or
all of the following information: account name(s) and number, name
of the caller and the social security number registered to the
account and personal identification. The Agent may also record
calls. You should verify the accuracy of confirmation statements
immediately upon receipt.
2. By FAX or Mail. You may also request redemption payments to
a predesignated Financial Institution account by a letter of
instruction sent to: Administrative Data Management Corp.,
Attn: Aquilasm Group of Funds, by FAX at 908-855-5730 or by
mail at 581 Main Street, Woodbridge, NJ 07095-1198, indicating
account names(s), account number, amount to be redeemed, and
any payment directions, signed by the registered holder(s).
Signature guarantees are not required. See "Redemption
Payments", below for payment methods.
If you wish to use the above procedures you should so elect on
the Expedited Redemption section of the Application or the Ready
Access Features form and provide the required information
concerning your Financial Institution account number. The Financial
Institution account must be in the exclusive name(s) of the
shareholder(s) as registered with the Trust. You may change the
designated Financial Institution account at any time by completing
and returning a Ready Access Features form. For protection of your
assets, this form requires signature guarantees and possible
additional documentation.
Regular Redemption Method
If you own Class Y shares registered on the books of the
Trust, and you have not elected Expedited Redemption to a
predesignated Financial Institution account, you must use the
Regular Redemption Method. Under this redemption method you should
send a letter of instruction to: Administrative Data Management
Corp., Attn: Aquilasm Group of Funds, 581 Main Street, Woodbridge,
NJ 07095-1198, containing:
Account Name(s);
Account Number;
Dollar amount or number of shares to be redeemed or a
statement that all shares held in the account are to be
redeemed;
Payment instructions (normally redemption proceeds will
be mailed to your address as registered with the Trust);
Signature(s) of the registered shareholder(s); and
Signature guarantee(s), if required, as indicated below.
For your redemption request to be in "proper form," the
signature or signatures must be the same as in the registration of
the account. In a joint account, the signatures of both
shareholders are necessary. Signature guarantees may be required if
sufficient documentation is not on file with the Agent. Additional
documentation may be required where shares are held by certain
types of shareholders such as corporations, partnerships, trustees
or executors, or if redemption is requested by other than the
shareholder of record. If redemption proceeds of $50,000 or less
are payable to the record holder and are to be sent to the record
address, no signature guarantee is required, except as noted
above.In all other cases, signatures must be guaranteed by a member
of a national securities exchange, a U.S. bank or trust company, a
state-chartered savings bank, a federally chartered savings and
loan association, a foreign bank having a U.S. correspondent bank,
a participant in the Securities Transfer Association Medallion
Program (STAMP), The Stock Exchanges Medallion Program (SEMP) or
The New York Stock Exchange, Inc. Medallion Signature Program
(MSP). A notary public is not an acceptable signature
guarantor.
Redemption Payments
Redemption payments will ordinarily be mailed to you at
your address of record. If you so request and the amount of your
redemption proceeds is $1,000 or more, the proceeds will, wherever
possible, be wired or transferred through the facilities of the
Automated Clearing House to the Financial Institution account
specified in the Expedited Redemption section of your Application
or Ready Access Features form. The Trust may impose a charge, not
exceeding $5.00 per wire redemption, after written notice to
shareholders who have elected this redemption procedure. The Trust
has no present intention of making this charge. Upon 30 days'
written notice to shareholders, the Trust may modify or terminate
the use of the Automated Clearing House to make redemption payments
at any time or charge a service fee although no such fee is
presently contemplated. If any such changes are made, the
Prospectus will be supplemented to reflect them. If you use a
broker or dealer to arrange for a redemption, it may charge you a
fee for this service.
The Trust will normally make payment for all shares redeemed
on the next business day (see "Net Asset Value Per Share")
following acceptance of the redemption request made in compliance
with one of the redemption methods specified above. Except as set
forth below, in no event will payment be made more than seven days
after acceptance of such a redemption request. However, the right
of redemption may be suspended or the date of payment postponed (i)
during periods when the New York Stock Exchange is closed for other
than weekends and holidays or when trading on such Exchange is
restricted as determined by the Securities and Exchange Commission
by rule or regulation; (ii) during periods in which an emergency,
as determined by the Securities and Exchange Commission, exists
which causes disposal of, or valuation of the net asset value of,
the portfolio securities to be unreasonable or impracticable; or
(iii) for such other periods as the Securities and Exchange
Commission may permit. Payment for redemption of shares recently
purchased by check (irrespective of whether the check is a regular
check or a certified, cashier's or official bank check) or by
Automatic Investment or Telephone Investment may be delayed up to
15 days or until (i) the purchase check or Automatic Investment or
Telephone Investment has been honored or (ii) the Agent has
received assurances by telephone or in writing from the Financial
Institution on which the purchase check was drawn, or from which
the funds for Automatic Investment or Telephone Investment were
transferred, satisfactory to the Agent and the Trust, that the
purchase check or Automatic Investment or Telephone Investment will
be honored. Possible delays in payment of redemption proceeds can
be eliminated by using wire payments or Federal Reserve drafts to
pay for purchases.
If the Trustees determine that it would be detrimental to the
best interests of the remaining shareholders of the Trust to make
payment wholly or partly in cash, the Trust may pay the redemption
price in whole or in part by the distribution in kind of securities
from the portfolio of the Trust, in lieu of cash, in conformity
with applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
See the Additional Statement for details.
The Trust has the right to compel the redemption of shares
held in any account if the aggregate net asset value of such shares
is less than $500 as a result of shareholder redemptions or failure
to meet the minimum investment level under an Automatic Purchase
Program. If the Board elects to do this shareholders who are
affected will receive prior written notice and will be permitted 60
days to bring their accounts up to the minimum before this
redemption is processed.
AUTOMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN
You may establish an Automatic Withdrawal Plan if you own or
purchase shares Class Y Shares of the Trust having a net asset
value of at least $5,000. Under an Automatic Withdrawal Plan you
will receive a monthly or quarterly check in a stated amount, not
less than $50. If such a plan is established, all dividends and
distributions must be reinvested in your shareholder account.
Redemption of shares to make payments under the Automatic
Withdrawal Plan will give rise to a gain or loss for tax purposes.
See the Automatic Withdrawal Plan provisions of the Application
included in the Prospectus, the Additional Statement under
"Automatic Withdrawal Plan," and "Dividend and Tax Information"
below.
MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS
The Board of Trustees
The business and affairs of the Trust are managed under the
direction and control of its Board of Trustees. The Additional
Statement lists the Trust's Trustees and officers and provides
further information about them.
The Advisory Agreement
Bank One, Arizona, NA (the "Adviser"), formerly The Valley
National Bank of Arizona, supervises the investment program of the
Trust and the composition of its portfolio.
The services of the Adviser are rendered under an Investment
Advisory Agreement (the "Advisory Agreement") which provides,
subject to the control of the Board of Trustees, for investment
supervision and for either keeping the accounting records of the
Trust, including the computation of the net asset value per share
and the dividends, or, at the Adviser's expense and responsibility,
delegating these accounting duties in whole or in part to a company
satisfactory to the Trust. The Advisory Agreement states that the
Adviser shall, at its expense, provide to the Trust all office
space and facilities, equipment and clerical personnel necessary
for the carrying out of the Adviser's duties under the Advisory
Agreement.
Under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser pays all
compensation of those officers and employees of the Trust and of
those Trustees, if any, who are affiliated with the Adviser. Under
the Advisory Agreement, the Trust bears the cost of preparing and
setting in type its prospectuses, statements of additional
information, and reports to shareholders and the costs of printing
or otherwise producing and distributing those copies of such
prospectuses, statements of additional information and reports as
are sent to its shareholders. Under the Advisory Agreement, all
costs and expenses not expressly assumed by the Adviser or by the
Administrator under the Administration Agreement or by the Trust's
Distributor (principal underwriter) are paid by the Trust. The
Advisory Agreement lists examples of such expenses borne by the
Trust, the major categories of such expenses being: legal and audit
expenses, custodian and transfer agent, or shareholder servicing
agent fees and expenses, stock issuance and redemption costs,
certain printing costs, registration costs of the Trust and its
shares under Federal and State securities laws, interest, taxes and
brokerage commissions, and non-recurring expenses, including
litigation.
Under the Advisory Agreement, the Trust pays a fee payable
monthly and computed on the net asset value of the Trust as of the
close of business each business day at the annual rate of 0.25 of
1% of such net assets, provided, however, that for any day that the
Trust pays or accrues a fee under the Distribution Plan of the
Trust based upon the assets of the Trust, the annual investment
advisory fee shall be payable at the annual rate of 0.20 of 1% of
such net asset value. Since the Administrator also receives a fee
from the Trust under the Administration Agreement and the Trust
pays or accrues a fee under the Distribution Plan of the Trust
based upon the assets of the Trust, the total investment advisory
and administration fees which the Trust currently pays are at the
annual rate of 0.40 of 1% of such net assets, but for any day on
which the Trust does not pay or accrue a fee under the Distribution
Plan, these may be as much as 0.50 of 1%; see below. Payments under
the Distribution Plan with respect to assets of the Trust began
July 1, 1994 and as of that date the Advisory and Administration
fees were reduced as described above. The Adviser and the
Administrator may, in order to attempt to achieve a competitive
yield on the shares of the Trust, each waive all or part of any
such fees. In practice, the rate of these fee waivers tends to
decline as assets of the Trust increase.
The Adviser agrees that the above fee shall be reduced, but
not below zero, by an amount equal to one-half of the amount, if
any, by which the total expenses of the Trust in any fiscal year,
exclusive of taxes, interest and brokerage fees, shall exceed the
lesser of (i) 2.5% of the first $30 million of average annual net
assets of the Trust plus 2% of the next $70 million of such assets
and 1.5% of such assets in excess of $100 million, or (ii) 25% of
the Trust's total annual investment income.
The Advisory Agreement contains provisions as to the
allocation of the portfolio transactions of the Trust; see the
Additional Statement. Under these provisions, the Adviser is
authorized to consider sales of shares of the Trust or of any other
investment company or companies having the same investment adviser,
sub-adviser, administrator or principal underwriter as the Trust.
The Trust's Custodian is an affiliate of the Adviser. It is
expected that another banking subsidiary of the Adviser's parent,
Banc One Corporation will provide a credit facility to the Trust.
The Administration Agreement
Under an Administration Agreement (the "Administration
Agreement"), Aquila Management Corporation as Administrator, at its
own expense, provides office space, personnel, facilities and
equipment for the performance of its functions thereunder and as is
necessary in connection with the maintenance of the headquarters of
the Trust and pays all compensation of the Trust's Trustees,
officers and employees who are affiliated persons of the
Administrator.
Under the Administration Agreement, subject to the control of
the Trust's Board of Trustees, the Administrator provides all
administrative services to the Trust other than those relating to
its investment portfolio and the maintenance of its accounting
books and records. Such administrative services include but are not
limited to maintaining books and records (other than accounting
books and records) of the Trust, and overseeing all relationships
between the Trust and its transfer agent, custodian, legal counsel,
auditors and principal underwriter, including the negotiation of
agreements in relation thereto, the supervision and coordination of
the performance of such agreements, and the overseeing of all
administrative matters which are necessary or desirable for
effective operation of the Trust and for the sale, servicing, or
redemption of the Trust's shares. See the Additional Statement for
a further description of functions listed in the Administration
Agreement as part of such duties.
Under the Administration Agreement, the Trust pays a fee
payable monthly and computed on the net asset value of the Trust at
the end of each business day at the annual rate of 0.25 of 1% of
such net asset value, provided, however, that for any day that the
Trust pays or accrues a fee under the Distribution Plan of the
Trust based upon the assets of the Trust, the annual administration
fee will be payable at the annual rate of 0.20 of 1% of such net
asset value. The administration fee was so reduced as of July 1,
1994. See "Advisory Agreement," above. The Administrator has agreed
that the above fee shall be reduced, but not below zero, by an
amount equal to one-half of the amount, if any, by which the total
expenses of the Trust in any fiscal year, exclusive of taxes,
interest and brokerage fees, shall exceed the lesser of (i) 2.5% of
the first $30 million of average annual net assets of the Trust
plus 2% of the next $70 million of such assets and 1.5% of such
assets in excess of $100 million, or (ii) 25% of the Trust's total
annual investment income.
Information about the Adviser
The Adviser serves Arizona through 257 offices located in
communities throughout the state's 15 counties. Through the Adviser
and other subsidiaries, the Adviser's parent corporation, Banc One
Arizona Corporation, formerly known as Valley National Corporation,
provides a full range of financial services, including commercial
banking and trust services, to individuals, businesses and
governments, throughout Arizona and the Southwestern Region of the
United States. The Trust Division of the Adviser had, as of June
30, 1995, approximately $8.0 billion of assets under
administration, not including any other registered investment
companies but including approximately $1.2 billion in municipal
bonds.
The Adviser is a subsidiary of BANC ONE CORPORATION ("Banc
One"), based in Columbus, Ohio. Banc One is a multi-bank holding
company, incorporated under the laws of the State of Ohio. As of
June 30, 1995, Banc One indirectly owned all of the stock of 65
banks operating with more than 1,408 offices in the states of
Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Oklahoma,
Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wisconsin. As of that date, Banc
One, its affiliated banks and its non-bank subsidiaries had total
assets of approximately $86.8 billion.
Todd Curtis is the officer of the Adviser who manages the
Trust's portfolio. He has served as such since the inception of the
Trust in March, 1986. Mr. Curtis is Vice President and Senior
Portfolio Manager of Banc One Investment Advisors and held similar
positions with The Valley National Bank of Arizona, NA, the name of
the Adviser before it was acquired by BANC ONE CORPORATION. He is
a member of the Adviser's fixed income policy committee. He is a
graduate of Cornell College, has received an MBA degree from
Arizona State University and is a Chartered Financial Analyst.
When the acquisition was completed, the prior advisory
agreement between the Trust and the Adviser then in effect
terminated, as such completion was an "assignment" of that
agreement as that term is defined in the 1940 Act. To provide
continuity of management of the Trust's portfolio by the Adviser,
the Advisory Agreement was approved by the Trust's Board of
Trustees (including a majority of the Trustees who are not
"interested persons") at a meeting held on June 6, 1992, and by the
holders of the Trust's shares at a meeting held on October 26,
1992; it went into effect upon completion of the merger.
For the Trust's fiscal year ended June 30, 1995, fees of
$739,438 were payable to each of the Adviser and the Administrator.
Information about the Administrator and the Distributor.
The Trust's Administrator is founder and administrator to the
Aquilasm Group of Funds, which consists of tax-free municipal bond
funds, money market funds and an equity fund. As of December 31,
1995, these funds had aggregate assets of approximately $2.7
billion, of which approximately $1.9 billion consisted of assets of
tax-free municipal bond funds. The Administrator, which was founded
in 1984, is controlled by Mr. Lacy B. Herrmann (directly, through
a trust and through share ownership by his wife). See the
Additional Statement for information on Mr. Herrmann.
The Distributor currently handles the distribution of the
shares of thirteen funds (seven tax-free municipal bond funds, five
money market funds and an equity fund) including the Trust. Under
the Distribution Agreement, the Distributor is responsible for the
payment of certain printing and distribution costs relating to
prospectuses and reports as well as the costs of supplemental sales
literature, advertising and other promotional activities.
At the date of the Prospectus, there is a proposed transaction
whereby all of the shares of the Distributor, which are currently
owned by Mr. Herrmann, will be owned by certain directors and/or
officers of the Administrator and/or the Distributor including Mr.
Herrmann.
DIVIDEND AND TAX INFORMATION
Dividends and Distributions
The Trust will declare all of its net income, as defined
below, as dividends on every day, including weekends and holidays,
on those shares outstanding for which payment was received by the
close of business on the preceding business day. Net income for
dividend purposes includes all interest income accrued by the Trust
since the previous dividend declaration, including accretion of any
original issue discount, less expenses paid or accrued. As such net
income will vary, the Trust's dividends will also vary. Dividends
and other distributions paid by the Trust with respect to all
classes of the Trust's shares are calculated at the same time and
in the same manner. In addition, the dividends of each class can
vary because each class will bear certain class-specific
charges.
It is the Trust's present policy to pay dividends so that they
will be received or credited by approximately the first day of each
month. Shareholders may elect to have dividends deposited without
charge by electronic funds transfers into an account at a Financial
Institution which is a member of the Automated Clearing House by
completing a Ready Access Features form.
Redeemed shares continue to earn dividends through and
including the day which is the earlier of (i) the day before the
day on which the redemption proceeds are mailed, wired or
transferred by the facilities of the Automated Clearing House by
the Agent or paid by the Agent to a selected dealer; or (ii) the
day which is the third day on which the New York Stock Exchange is
open after the day on which the net asset value of the redeemed
shares has been determined (see "How To Redeem Your Investment").
Net investment income includes amounts of income from the
Arizona Obligations in the Trust's portfolio which are allocated as
"exempt-interest dividends" (see below) "Exempt-interest dividends"
are exempt from regular Federal income tax. The allocation of
"exempt-interest dividends" will be made by the use of one
designated percentage applied uniformly to all income dividends
declared during the Trust's tax year. Such designation will
normally be made in the first month after the end of each of the
Trust's fiscal years as to income dividends paid in the prior year.
It is possible that in certain circumstances, a small portion of
the dividends paid by the Trust will be subject to income taxes.
During the Trust's fiscal year ended June 30, 1995, 98.05% of the
Trust's dividends were "exempt-interest dividends." For the
calendar year 1995, 2.73% of the total dividends paid were taxable.
(These amounts relate to dividends on Class A shares; no Class C
Shares were outstanding during that period. The percentage of
income designated as tax-exempt for any particular dividend may be
different from the percentage of the Trust's income that was
tax-exempt during the period covered by the dividend.
Distributions ("short-term gains distributions") from net
realized short-term gains, if any, and distributions ("long-term
gains distributions"), if any, from the excess of net long-term
capital gains over net short-term capital losses realized through
October 31st of each year and not previously paid out will be paid
out after that date; the Trust may also pay supplemental
distributions after the end of its fiscal year. If net capital
losses are realized in any year, they are charged against capital
and not against net investment income which is distributed
regardless of gains or losses. The Trust may be required to impose
backup withholding at a rate of 31% upon payment of redemptions to
shareholders, and from short- and long-term gains distributions (if
any) and any other distributions that do not qualify as "exempt-
interest dividends," if shareholders do not comply with provisions
of the law relating to the furnishing of taxpayer identification
numbers and reporting of dividends.
Unless you request otherwise by letter addressed to the Agent
or by filing an appropriate application prior to a given
ex-dividend date, dividends and distributions will be automatically
reinvested. in full and fractional shares of the Trust of the same
class at net asset value on the record date for the dividend or
distribution or other date fixed by the Board of Trustees. An
election to receive cash will continue in effect until written
notification of a change is received by the Agent. All
shareholders, whether their dividends are received in cash or are
being reinvested, will receive a monthly account summary indicating
the current status of their investment. There is no fixed dividend
rate. Corporate shareholders of the Trust are not entitled to any
deduction for dividends received from the Trust.
Tax Information
The Trust qualified during its last fiscal year as a
"regulated investment company" under the Code, and intends to
continue to so qualify. If it does so qualify, it will not be
liable for Federal income taxes on amounts paid by it as dividends
and distributions. However, the Code contains a number of complex
tests relating to such qualification and it is possible although
not likely that the Trust might not meet one or more of these tests
in any particular year. If it does not so qualify, it would be
treated for tax purposes as an ordinary corporation, would receive
no tax deduction for payments made to shareholders and would be
unable to pay dividends or distributions which would qualify as
"exempt-interest dividends" or "capital gains dividends," as
discussed below.
The Trust intends to qualify during each fiscal year under
the Code to pay exempt-interest dividends to its shareholders.
Exempt-interest dividends which are derived from net income earned
by the Trust on Arizona Obligations will be excludable from gross
income of the shareholders for regular Federal income tax purposes.
Capital gains dividends are not included in exempt-interest
dividends. Although "exempt-interest dividends" are not taxed, each
taxpayer must report the total amount of tax-exempt interest
(including exempt-interest dividends from the Trust) received or
acquired during the year.
The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 requires that
either gains realized by the Trust on the sale of municipal
obligations acquired after April 30, 1993 at a price which is less
than face or redemption value be included as ordinary income to the
extent such gains do not exceed such discount or that the discount
be amortized and included ratably in taxable income. There is an
exception to the foregoing treatment if the amount of the discount
is less than 0.25% of face or redemption value multiplied by the
number of years from acquisition to maturity. The Trust will
report such ordinary income in the years of sale or redemption
rather than amortize the discount and report it ratably. To the
extent the resultant ordinary taxable income is distributed to
shareholders, it will be taxable to them as ordinary income.
Capital gains dividends (net long-term gains over net
short-term losses which the Trust distributes and so designates)
are reportable by shareholders as long-term capital gains. This is
the case whether the shareholder takes the distribution in cash or
elects to have the distribution reinvested in Trust shares and
regardless of the length of time the shareholder has held his or
her shares. Capital gains are taxed at the same rates as ordinary
income, except that for individuals, trusts and estates the maximum
tax rate on capital gains distributions is 28% even if the
applicable rate on ordinary income for such taxpayers is higher
than 28%.
Short-term gains, when distributed, are taxed to
shareholders as ordinary income. Capital losses of the Trust are
not distributed but carried forward by the Trust to offset gains in
later years and thereby lessen the later-year capital gains
dividends and amounts taxed to shareholders.
The Trust's gains or losses on sales of Arizona Obligations
will be long-term or short-term depending upon the length of time
the Trust has held such obligations. Capital gains and losses of
the Trust will also include gains and losses on Futures and
options, if any, including gains and losses actually realized on
sales and exchanges and gains and losses deemed to be realized.
Those deemed to be realized are on Futures and options held by the
Trust at year-end, which are "marked to the market," that is,
deemed sold for fair market value. Net gains or losses realized and
deemed realized on Futures and options will be reportable by the
Trust as long-term to the extent of 60% of the gains or losses and
short-term to the extent of 40% regardless of the actual holding
period of such investments.
Information as to the tax status of the Trust's dividends and
distributions will be mailed to shareholders annually.
Under the Code, interest on loans incurred by shareholders
to enable them to purchase or carry shares of the Trust may not be
deducted for regular Federal tax purposes. In addition, under rules
used by the Internal Revenue Service for determining when borrowed
funds are deemed used for the purpose of purchasing or carrying
particular assets, the purchase of shares of the Trust may be
considered to have been made with borrowed funds even though the
borrowed funds are not directly traceable to the purchase of
shares. The receipt of exempt-interest dividends from the Trust by
an individual shareholder may result in some portion of any social
security payments or railroad retirement benefits received by the
shareholder or the shareholder's spouse being included in taxable
income.
Persons who are "substantial users" (or persons related
thereto) of facilities financed by industrial development bonds or
private activity bonds should consult their own tax advisers before
purchasing shares.
While interest from all Arizona Obligations is tax-exempt for
purposes of computing the shareholder's regular tax, interest from
so-called private activity bonds issued after August 7, 1986,
constitutes a tax preference for both individuals and corporations
and thus will enter into a computation of the alternative minimum
tax. Whether or not that computation will result in a tax will
depend on the entire content of the taxpayer's return. The Trust
will not invest in the types of Arizona Obligations which would
give rise to interest that would be subject to alternative minimum
taxation if more than 20% of its net assets would be so invested,
and may refrain from investing in that type of bond completely. The
20% limit is a fundamental policy of the Trust.
Corporate shareholders must add to or subtract from
alternative minimum taxable income, as calculated before taking
into consideration this adjustment, 75% of the difference between
what is called adjusted current earnings (essentially current
earnings and profits) and alternative minimum taxable income, as
previously calculated. Since tax-exempt bond interest is included
in earnings and profits and therefore in adjusted current earnings,
this adjustment will tend to make it more likely that corporate
shareholders will be subject to the alternative minimum tax.
As of the date of the Prospectus, Congress is considering a
number of changes affecting taxation. It is not possible to predict
which, if any, of such changes will become law.
Tax Effects of Redemptions
Normally, when you redeem shares of the Trust you will
recognize capital gain or loss measured by the difference between
the proceeds received in the redemption and the amount you paid for
the shares. The gain or loss will be long-term if you held the
redeemed shares for over a year, and short-term, if for a year or
less. However, if shares held for six months or less are redeemed
and you have a loss, two special rules apply: the loss is reduced
by the amount of exempt-interest dividends, if any, which you
received on the redeemed shares, and any loss over and above the
amount of such exempt-interest dividends is treated as a long-term
loss to the extent you have received capital gains dividends on the
redeemed shares.
Arizona Tax Information
In the opinion of special Arizona counsel for the Trust, under
existing law, shareholders of the Trust will not be subject to
Arizona income tax on exempt-interest dividends received from the
Trust to the extent that such dividends are attributable to
interest on tax-exempt obligations of the State of Arizona and its
political subdivisions ("Local Obligations") or on obligations
issued by the Territories of Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto
Rico and the Virgin Islands ("Territorial Obligations"). Other
distributions from the Trust, including those related to long-term
and short-term capital gains, will be subject to Arizona income
tax.
In the event that interest paid on any Local Obligation is
determined to be includable in federal gross income, the Trust has
been advised by special Arizona counsel that, in its opinion,
exempt-interest dividends received by the shareholders of the Trust
attributable to interest on Local Obligations will, nevertheless,
not be subject to Arizona income taxes.
Although interest on Territorial Obligations is included in
Arizona gross income by Arizona law, applicable federal laws
specifically exempt such income from state and local taxation. The
Trust has been advised by special Arizona counsel that, in its
opinion, the applicable federal laws will preempt any contrary
result under Arizona law such that exempt-interest dividends
attributable to interest paid on Territorial Obligations will be
exempt from Arizona income taxes.
Arizona law does not permit a deduction for interest paid or
accrued on indebtedness incurred or continued to purchase or carry
obligations, the interest on which is exempt from Arizona income
tax.
Shareholders of the Trust should consult their tax advisers
about other state and local tax consequences of their investment in
the Trust.
EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE
There is an exchange privilege as set forth below among
this Trust and certain tax-free municipal bond funds and an equity
fund (the "Bond or Equity Funds") and certain money market funds
(the "Money-Market Funds"), all of which are sponsored by Aquila
Management Corporation and Aquila Distributors, Inc., and have the
same Administrator and Distributor as the Trust. All exchanges are
subject to certain conditions described below. As of the date of
the Prospectus, the Aquila-sponsored Bond or Equity Funds are this
Trust, Aquila Rocky Mountain Equity Fund, Hawaiian Tax-Free Trust,
Tax-Free Trust of Oregon, Tax-Free Fund of Colorado, Churchill
Tax-Free Fund of Kentucky, Tax-Free Fund For Utah and Narragansett
Insured Tax-Free Income Fund. At the date of this Prospectus, the
Aquila-sponsored Money-Market Funds are Capital Cash Management
Trust, Pacific Capital Cash Assets Trust (Original Shares), Pacific
Capital Tax-Free Cash Assets Trust (Original Shares), Pacific
Capital U.S. Treasuries Cash Assets Trust (Original Shares) and
Churchill Cash Reserves Trust.
Class Y Shares of the Trust may be exchanged only for Class Y
Shares of the Bond or Equity Funds or for shares of a Money-Market
Fund.
Under the Class Y exchange privilege, once Class Y Shares of
any Bond or Equity Fund have been purchased, those shares (and any
shares acquired as a result of reinvestment of dividends and/or
distributions) may be exchanged any number of times between
Money-Market Funds and Class Y Shares of the Bond or Equity Funds
without the payment of any sales charge.
The "Class Y Eligible Shares" of any Bond or Equity Fund are
those shares which were (a) acquired by direct purchase including
by exchange by an institutional investor from a Money-Market Fund,
or which were received in exchange for shares of Class Y Shares
another Bond or Equity Fund; or (b) acquired as a result of
reinvestment of dividends and/or distributions on otherwise Class
Y Eligible Shares. Shares of a Money-Market Fund not acquired in
exchange of Class Y Eligible Shares of a Bond or Equity Fund can be
exchanged for Class Y Shares of a Bond or Equity Fund only by
persons eligible to make an initial purchase of Class Y Shares.
This Trust, as well as the other Money-Market Funds and Bond
or Equity Funds, reserves the right to reject any exchange into its
shares, if shares of the fund into which exchange is desired are
not available for sale in your state of residence. The Trust may
also modify or terminate this exchange privilege at any time. In
the case of termination, the Prospectus will be appropriately
supplemented. No such modification or termination shall take effect
on less than 60 days' written notice to shareholders.
All exercises of the exchange privilege are subject to the
conditions that (i) the shares being acquired are available for
sale in your state of residence; (ii) the aggregate net asset value
of the shares surrendered for exchange are at least equal to the
minimum investment requirements of the investment company whose
shares are being acquired and (iii) the ownership of the accounts
from which and to which the exchange is made are identical.
The Agent will accept telephone exchange instructions from
anyone. To make a telephone exchange telephone:
800-437-1000 toll free or 908-855-5731
Note: The Trust, the Agent, and the Distributor will not be
responsible for any losses resulting from unauthorized telephone
transactions if the Agent follows reasonable procedures designed to
verify the identity of the caller. The Agent will request some or
all of the following information: account name(s) and number, name
of the caller, the social security number registered to the account
and personal identification. The Agent may also record calls. You
should verify the accuracy of confirmation statements immediately
upon receipt.
Exchanges of Class Y Shares will be effected at the relative
net asset values of the Class Y Shares being exchanged next
determined after receipt by the Agent of your exchange request.
Prices for exchanges are determined in the same manner as for
purchases of the Trust's shares. See "How to Invest in the Trust".
An exchange is treated for Federal tax purposes as a
redemption and purchase of shares and may result in the realization
of a capital gain or loss, depending on the cost or other tax basis
of the shares exchanged and the holding period (see the Additional
Statement); no representation is made as to the deductibility of
any such loss should such occur.
Dividends paid by the Money-Market Funds are taxable, except
to the extent that a portion or all of the dividends paid by
Pacific Capital Tax-Free Cash Assets Trust (a tax-free Money-Market
Fund) are exempt from regular Federal income tax, and to the extent
that a portion or all of the dividends paid by Pacific Capital U.S.
Treasuries Cash Assets Trust (which invests in U.S. Treasury
obligations) are exempt from state income taxes. Dividends paid by
Aquila Rocky Mountain Equity Fund are taxable. If your state of
residence is not the same as that of the issuers of obligations in
which a tax-free municipal Bond Fund or a tax-free Money-Market
Fund invests, the dividends from that fund may be subject to income
tax of the state in which you reside. Accordingly, you should
consult your tax adviser before acquiring shares of such a Bond
Fund or a tax-free Money-Market Fund under the exchange privilege
arrangement.
If you are considering an exchange into one of the funds
listed above, you should send for and carefully read its
Prospectus.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Performance
Advertisements, sales literature and communications to
shareholders may contain various measures of the Trust's
performance including current yield, taxable equivalent yield,
various expressions of total return, current distribution rate and
taxable equivalent distribution rate.
Average annual total return figures, as prescribed by the
Securities and Exchange Commission, represent the average annual
percentage change in value of a hypothetical $1,000 purchase,
invested at the maximum public offering price (offering price
includes sales charge) for 1- and 5-year periods and for a period
since the inception of the Trust, to the extent applicable, through
the end of such periods, assuming reinvestment (without sales
charge) of all distributions. The Trust may also furnish total
return quotations for other periods or based on investments at
various sales charge levels or at net asset value. For such
purposes total return equals the total of all income and capital
gains paid to shareholders, assuming reinvestment of all
distributions, plus (or minus) the change in the value of the
original investment, expressed as a percentage of the purchase
price. See the Additional Statement.
Current yield reflects the income per share earned by each of
the Trust's portfolio investments; it is calculated by (i) dividing
the Trust's net investment income per share during a recent 30-day
period by (ii) the maximum public offering price on the last day of
that period and by (iii) annualizing the result. Taxable equivalent
yield shows the yield from a taxable investment that would be
required to produce an after-tax yield equivalent to that of the
Trust, which invests in tax-exempt obligations. It is computed by
dividing the tax-exempt portion of the Trust's yield (calculated as
indicated) by one minus a stated income tax rate and by adding the
product to the taxable portion (if any) of the Trust's yield. See
the Additional Statement.
Current yield and taxable equivalent yield, which are
calculated according to a formula prescribed by the Securities and
Exchange Commission (see the Additional Statement), are not
indicative of the dividends or distributions which were or will be
paid to the Trust's shareholders. Dividends or distributions paid
to shareholders are reflected in the current distribution rate or
taxable equivalent distribution rate which may be quoted to
shareholders. The current distribution rate is computed by (i)
dividing the total amount of dividends per share paid by the Trust
during a recent 30-day period by (ii) the current maximum offering
price and by (iii) annualizing the result. A taxable equivalent
distribution rate shows the taxable distribution rate that would be
required to produce an after-tax distribution rate equivalent to
the Trust's distribution rate (calculated as indicated above). The
current distribution rate, unlike yield figures, is not limited to
investment performance, but takes into account expenses as well; it
also differs from the current yield computation because it could
include distributions to shareholders from sources, if any, other
than dividends and interest, such as short-term capital gains or
return of capital. If distribution rates are quoted in advertising,
they will be accompanied by calculations of current yield in
accordance with the formula of the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
In each case performance figures are based upon past
performance, reflect as appropriate all recurring charges against
the Trust's income net of fee waivers and reimbursement of
expenses, if any, and will assume the payment of the maximum sales
charge on the purchase of shares, but not on reinvestment of income
dividends. The investment results of the Trust, like all other
investment companies, will fluctuate over time; thus, performance
figures should not be considered to represent what an investment
may earn in the future or what the Trust's yield, tax equivalent
yield, distribution rate, taxable equivalent distribution rate or
total return may be in any future period. The annual report of the
Trust contains additional performance information that will be made
available upon request and without charge.
Description of the Trust and its Shares
The Trust is an open-end, non-diversified management
investment company organized in 1985 as a Massachusetts business
trust. It commenced operations in June, 1986. (See "Investment of
the Trust's Assets" for further information about the Trust's
status as "non-diversified"). The Declaration of Trust permits the
Trustees to issue an unlimited number of full and fractional shares
and to divide or combine the shares into a greater or lesser number
of shares without thereby changing the proportionate beneficial
interests in the Trust. Each share represents an equal
proportionate interest in the Trust with each other share of its
class; shares of the respective classes represent proportionate
interests in the Trust in accordance with their respective net
asset values. Upon liquidation of the Trust, shareholders are
entitled to share pro-rata in the net assets of the Trust available
for distribution to shareholders, in accordance with the respective
net asset values of the shares of each of the Trust's classes at
that time. All shares are presently divided into three classes;
however, if they deem it advisable and in the best interests of
shareholders, the Board of Trustees of the Trust may create
additional classes of shares (subject to rules and regulations of
the Securities and Exchange Commission or by exemptive order) or
the Board of Trustees may, at its own discretion, create additional
series of shares, each of which may have separate assets and
liabilities (in which case any such series will have a designation
including the word "Series"). See the Additional Statement for
further information about possible additional series. Shares are
fully paid and non-assessable, except as set forth under the
caption "General Information" in the Additional Statement; the
holders of shares have no pre-emptive or conversion rights.
The other two classes of shares of the Trust are Front-
Payment Class Shares ("Class A Shares") and Level-Payment Class
Shares ("Class C Shares"), which are fully described in a separate
prospectus that can be obtained by calling the Trust at 800-437-
1020.
The primary distinction among the Trust's three classes of
shares lies in their different sales charge structures and ongoing
expenses, which are likely to be reflected in differing yields and
other measures of investment performance. All three classes
represent interests in the same portfolio of Arizona Obligations
and have the same rights, except that each class bears the separate
expenses, if any, of its Distribution Plan and has exclusive voting
rights with respect to its Plan. There are no Distribution fees
with respect to Class Y Shares.
Dividends and other distributions paid by the Trust with
respect to shares of each Class are calculated in the same manner
and at the same time, but may differ depending upon the
distribution and service fees, if any, and other class-specific
expenses borne by each Class.
The Trust's Distribution Plan has three parts. In addition
to the defensive provisions described above, Parts I and II of the
Plan authorize payments, to certain "Qualified Recipients," out of
the Trust assets allocable to the Class A Shares and Class C
Shares, respectively. See the Additional Statement. The Trust has
also adopted a Shareholder Services Plan under which the Trust is
authorized to make certain payments out of the Trust assets
allocable to the Class C Shares. See the Additional Statement.
Ownership of Shares of the Trust
Of the shares of the Trust outstanding on March 5, 1996,
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc., P.O. Box 30561, New
Brunswick, NJ, held of record 1,857,769 shares (5.0%), all of which
were Class A Shares. The Trust's management is not aware of any
person beneficially owning more than 5% of its outstanding shares
as of such date. On the basis of information received from the
holder the Trust's management believes that all of these shares are
held for the benefit of brokerage clients.
Voting Rights
At any meeting of shareholders, shareholders are entitled to
one vote for each dollar of net asset value (determined as of the
record date for the meeting) per share held (and proportionate
fractional votes for fractional dollar amounts). Shareholders will
vote on the election of Trustees and on other matters submitted to
the vote of shareholders. Shares vote by classes on any matter
specifically affecting one or more classes, such as an amendment of
an applicable part of the Distribution Plan. No amendment may be
made to the Declaration of Trust without the affirmative vote of
the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Trust,
except that the Trust's Board of Trustees may change the name of
the Trust. The Trust may be terminated (i) upon the sale of its
assets to another issuer, or (ii) upon liquidation and distribution
of the assets of the Trust, in either case if such action is
approved by the vote of the holders of a majority of the
outstanding shares of the Trust. If not so terminated, the Trust
will continue indefinitely.
<PAGE>
APPLICATION FOR TAX-FREE TRUST OF ARIZONA
FOR CLASS Y SHARES ONLY
PLEASE COMPLETE STEPS 1 THROUGH 4 AND MAIL TO:
ADM, ATTN: AQUILA SM GROUP OF FUNDS
581 MAIN STREET, WOODBRIDGE, NJ 07095-1198
1-800-437-1000
STEP 1
A. ACCOUNT REGISTRATION
___Individual Use line 1
___Joint Account* Use lines 1&2
___For a Minor Use line 3
___For Trust, Corporation, Partnership or other Entity Use line 4
* Joint Accounts will be Joint Tenants with rights of survivorship unless
otherwise specified.
** Uniformed Gifts/Transfers to Minors Act.
Please type or print name exactly as account is to be registered
1.________________________________________________________________
First Name Middle Initial Last Name Social Security Number
2.________________________________________________________________
First Name Middle Initial Last Name Social Security Number
3.________________________________________________________________
Custodians First Name Middle Initial Last Name
Custodian for ____________________________________________________
Minors First Name Middle Initial Last Name
Under the ___________UGTMA** _____________________________________
Name of State Minors Social Security Number
4. ____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
(Name of Corporation or Partnership. If a Trust, include the name(s) of
Trustees in which account will be registered and the name and date of the
Trust Instrument. Account for a Pension or Profit Sharing Plan or Trust may
be registered in the name of the Plan or Trust itself.)
___________________________________________________________________
Tax I.D. Number Authorized Individual Title
B. MAILING ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER
____________________________________________________
Street or PO Box City
_______________________________(______)______________
State Zip Daytime Phone Number
Occupation:________________________Employer:________________________
Employers Address:__________________________________________________
Street Address: City State Zip
Citizen or resident of: ___ U.S. ___ Other Check here ___ if you are a
non-U.S. Citizen or resident and not subject to back-up withholding (See
certification in Step 4, Section B, below.)
C. INVESTMENT DEALER OR BROKER:
(Important - to be completed by Dealer or Broker)
_______________________ _____________________________
Dealer Name Branch Number
_______________________ _____________________________
Street Address Rep. Number/Name
_______________________ (_______)_____________________
City State Zip Area Code Telephone
STEP 2 PURCHASES OF SHARES
A. INITIAL INVESTMENT
Indicate Method of Payment (For either method, make check payable to:
TAX-FREE TRUST OF ARIZONA)
___Initial Investment $ ______________ (Minimum investment $1,000)
___Automatic Investment $______________ (Minimum $50)
For Automatic Investment of at least $50 per month, you must complete Step
3, Section A, Step 4, Sections A & B and ATTACH A PRE-PRINTED DEPOSIT SLIP
OR VOIDED CHECK.
B. DISTRIBUTIONS
All income dividends and capital gains distributions are automatically
reinvested in additional shares at Net Asset Value unless otherwise
indicated below.
Dividends are to be:___ Reinvested ___Paid in cash*
Capital Gains Distributions are to be: ___ Reinvested ___ Paid in cash*
* For cash dividends, please choose one of the following options:
___ Deposit directly into my/our Financial Institution account.
ATTACHED IS A PRE-PRINTED DEPOSIT SLIP OR VOIDED CHECK
showing the Financial Institution account where I/we would like you to
deposit the dividend.
(A Financial Institution is a commercial bank, savings bank or credit
union.)
___ Mail check to my/our address listed in Step 1.
STEP 3
SPECIAL FEATURES
A. AUTOMATIC INVESTMENT PROGRAM
(Check appropriate box)
___ Yes ___ No
This option provides you with a convenient way to have amounts
automatically drawn on your Financial Institution account and invested in
your Tax-Free Trust of Arizona Account. To establish this program, please
complete Step 4, Sections A & B of this Application.
I/We wish to make regular monthly investments of $ _________________
(minimum $50) on the ___ 1st day or ___ 16th day of the month (or on
the first business day after that date).
(YOU MUST ATTACH A PRE-PRINTED DEPOSIT SLIP OR VOIDED CHECK)
B. TELEPHONE INVESTMENT
(Check appropriate box)
___ Yes ___ No
This option provides you with a convenient way to add to your account
(minimum $50 and maximum $50,000) at any time you wish by simply calling the
Trust toll-free at 1-800-437-1000. To establish this program, please
complete Step 4, Sections A & B of this Application.
(YOU MUST ATTACH A PRE-PRINTED DEPOSIT SLIP OR VOIDED CHECK)
C. AUTOMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN
(Minimum investment $5,000)
Application must be received in good order at least 2 weeks prior to 1st
actual liquidation date.
(Check appropriate box)
___ Yes ___ No
Please establish an Automatic Withdrawal Plan for this account, subject
to the terms of the Automatic Withdrawal Plan Provisions set forth below. To
realize the amount stated below, Administrative Data Management Corp. (the
Agent) is authorized to redeem sufficient shares from this account at the
then current Net Asset Value, in accordance with the terms below:
Dollar Amount of each withdrawal $ ______________beginning________________ .
Minimum: $50 Month/Year
Payments to be made: ___ Monthly or ___ Quarterly
Checks should be made payable as indicated below. If check is payable to
a Financial Institution for your account, indicate Financial Institution
name, address and your account number.
_______________________________ ______________________________________
First Name Middle Initial Last Name Financial Institution Name
_______________________________ ______________________________________
Street Financial Institution Street Address
_______________________________ ______________________________________
City State Zip City State Zip
____________________________________
Financial Institution Account Number
D. TELEPHONE EXCHANGE
(Check appropriate box)
___ Yes ___ No
This option allows you to effect exchanges among accounts in your
name within the Aquila SM Group of Funds by telephone.
The Agent is authorized to accept and act upon my/our or any other
persons telephone instructions to execute the exchange of shares of one
Aquila-sponsored fund for shares of another Aquila-sponsored fund with
identical shareholder registration in the manner described in the
Prospectus. Except for gross negligence in acting upon such telephone
instructions to execute an exchange, and subject to the conditions set
forth herein, I/we understand and agree to hold harmless the Agent, each
of the Aquila Funds, and their respective officers, directors, trustees,
employees, agents and affiliates against any liability, damage, expense,
claim or loss, including reasonable costs and attorneys fees, resulting
from acceptance of, or acting or failure to act upon, this Authorization.
E. EXPEDITED REDEMPTION
(Check appropriate box)
___ Yes ___ No
The proceeds will be deposited to your Financial Institution account listed.
Cash proceeds in any amount from the redemption of shares will be mailed
or wired, whenever possible, upon request, if in an amount of $1,000 or more
to my/our account at a Financial Institution. The Financial Institution
account must be in the same name(s) as this Trust account is registered.
(YOU MUST ATTACH A PRE-PRINTED DEPOSIT SLIP OR VOIDED CHECK).
_______________________________ ____________________________________
Account Registration Financial Institution Account Number
_______________________________ ____________________________________
Financial Institution Name Financial Institution Transit/Routing
Number
_______________________________ ____________________________________
Street City State Zip
STEP 4 Section A
DEPOSITORS AUTHORIZATION TO HONOR DEBITS
IF YOU SELECTED AUTOMATIC INVESTMENT OR TELEPHONE INVESTMENT
YOU MUST ALSO COMPLETE STEP 4, SECTIONS A & B.
I/We authorize the Financial Institution listed below to charge to my/our
account any drafts or debits drawn on my/our account initiated by the Agent,
Administrative Data Management Corp., and to pay such sums in accordance
therewith, provided my/our account has sufficient funds to cover such drafts
or debits. I/We further agree that your treatment of such orders will be the
same as if I/we personally signed or initiated the drafts or debits.
I/We understand that this authority will remain in effect until you receive
my/our written instructions to cancel this service. I/We also agree that if
any such drafts or debits are dishonored, for any reason, you shall have no
liabilities.
Financial Institution Account Number _______________________________________
Name and Address where my/our account is maintained
Name of Financial Institution______________________________________________
Street Address_____________________________________________________________
City___________________________________________State _________ Zip ________
Name(s) and Signature(s) of Depositor(s) as they appear where account is
registered
______________________________________________
(Please Print)
X_____________________________________________ __________________
(Signature) (Date)
______________________________________________
(Please Print)
X_____________________________________________ __________________
(Signature) (Date)
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
To: Financial Institution Named Above
So that you may comply with your depositor's request, Aquila Distributors,
Inc. (the "Distributor") agrees:
1 Electronic Funds Transfer debit and credit items transmitted pursuant to
the above authorization shall be subject to the provisions of the
Operating Rules of the National Automated Clearing House Association.
2 To indemnify and hold you harmless from any loss you may suffer in
connection with the execution and issuance of any electronic debit
in the normal course of business initiated by the Agent (except
any loss due to your payment of any amount drawn against insufficient
or uncollected funds), provided that you promptly notify us in
writing of any claim against you with respect to the same, and further
provided that you will not settle or pay or agree to settle or pay any
such claim without the written permission of the Distributor.
3 To indemnify you for any loss including your reasonable costs and expenses
in the event that you dishonor, with or without cause, any such electronic
debit.
STEP 4 Section B
SHAREHOLDER AUTHORIZATION/SIGNATURE(S) REQUIRED
- - The undersigned warrants that he/she has full authority and is of
legal age to purchase shares of the Trust and has received and
read a current Prospectus of the Trust and agrees to its terms.
- - I/We authorize the Trust and its agents to act upon these instructions
for the features that have been checked.
- - I/We acknowledge that in connection with an Automatic Investment or
Telephone Investment, if my/our account at the Financial Institution has
insufficient funds, the Trust and its agents may cancel the purchase
transaction and are authorized to liquidate other shares or fractions
thereof held in my/our Trust account to make up any deficiency resulting
from any decline in the net asset value of shares so purchased and any
dividends paid on those shares. I/We authorize the Trust and its agents to
correct any transfer error by a debit or credit to my/our Financial
Institution account and/or Trust account and to charge the account for any
related charges. I/We acknowledge that shares purchased either through
Automatic Investment or Telephone Investment are subject to applicable
sales charges.
- - The Trust, the Agent and the Distributor and their Trustees, directors,
employees and agents will not be liable for acting upon instructions
believed to be genuine, and will not be responsible for any losses
resulting from unauthorized telephone transactions if the Agent follows
reasonable procedures designed to verify the identity of the caller. The
Agent will request some or all of the following information: account name
and number; name(s) and social security number registered to the account
and personal identification; the Agent may also record calls. Shareholders
should verify the accuracy of confirmation statements immediately upon
receipt. Under penalties of perjury, the undersigned whose Social Security
(Tax I.D.) Number is shown above certifies (i) that Number is my correct
taxpayer identification number and (ii) currently I am not under IRS
notification that I am subject to backup withholding (line out (ii) if
under notification). If no such Number is shown, the undersigned further
certifies, under penalties of perjury, that either (a) no such Number has
been issued, and a Number has been or will soon be applied for; if a Number
is not provided to you within sixty days, the undersigned understands that
all payments (including liquidations) are subject to 31% withholding under
federal tax law, until a Number is provided and the undersigned may be
subject to a $50 I.R.S. penalty; or (b) that the undersigned is not a
citizen or resident of the U.S.; and either does not expect to be in the
U.S. for 183 days during each calendar year and does not conduct a
business in the U.S. which would receive any gain from the Trust, or is
exempt under an income tax treaty.
NOTE: ALL REGISTERED OWNERS OF THE ACCOUNT MUST SIGN BELOW. FOR A TRUST, ALL
TRUSTEES MUST SIGN.*
__________________________ ____________________________ _________
Individual (or Custodian) Joint Registrant, if any Date
__________________________ ____________________________ _________
Corporate Officer, Partner, Title Date
Trustee, etc.
* For Trust, Corporations or Associations, this form must be accompanied by
proof of authority to sign, such as a certified copy of the corporate
resolution or a certificate of incumbency under the trust instrument.
SPECIAL INFORMATION
- - Certain features (Automatic Investment, Telephone Investment,
Expedited Redemption and Direct Deposit of Dividends) are effective
15 days after this form is received in good order by the Trusts Agent.
- - You may cancel any feature at any time, effective 3 days after the Agent
receives written notice from you.
- - Either the Trust or the Agent may cancel any feature, without prior
notice, if in its judgment your use of any feature involves unusual
effort or difficulty in the administration of your account.
- - The Trust reserves the right to alter, amend or terminate any or all
features or to charge a service fee upon 30 days written notice to
shareholders except if additional notice is specifically required by the
terms of the Prospectus.
BANKING INFORMATION
- - If your Financial Institution account changes, you must complete a Ready
Access features form which may be obtained from Aquila Distributors at
1-800-437-1020 and send it to the Agent together with a "voided" check or
pre-printed deposit slip from the new account. The new Financial
Institution change is effective in 15 days after this form is received
in good order by the Trust's Agent.
AUTOMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN PROVISIONS
By requesting an Automatic Withdrawal Plan, the applicant agrees to
the terms and conditions applicable to such plans, as stated below.
1. The Agent will administer the Automatic Withdrawal Plan
(the "Plan") as agent for the person (the "Planholder") who
executed the Plan authorization.
2. Certificates will not be issued for shares of the Trust purchased
for and held under the Plan, but the Agent will credit all such
shares to the Planholder on the records of the Trust. Any share
certificates now held by the Planholder may be surrendered
unendorsed to the Agent with the application so that the shares
represented by the certificate may be held under the Plan.
3. Dividends and distributions will be reinvested in shares of the Trust at
Net Asset Value without a sales charge.
4. Redemptions of shares in connection with disbursement payments will be
made at the Net Asset Value per share in effect at the close of business
on the last business day of the month or quarter.
5. The amount and the interval of disbursement payments and the address to
which checks are to be mailed may be changed, at any time, by the
Planholder on written notification to the Agent. The Planholder should
allow at least two weeks time in mailing such notification before the
requested change can be put in effect.
6. The Planholder may, at any time, instruct the Agent by written notice (in
proper form in accordance with the requirements of the then current
Prospectus of the Trust) to redeem all, or any part of, the shares held
under the Plan. In such case the Agent will redeem the number of shares
requested at the Net Asset Value per share in effect in accordance with
the Trust's usual redemption procedures and will mail a check for the
proceeds of such redemption to the Planholder.
7. The Plan may, at any time, be terminated by the Planholder on written
notice to the Agent, or by the Agent upon receiving directions to that
effect from the Trust. The Agent will also terminate the Plan upon receipt
of evidence satisfactory to it of the death or legal incapacity of the
Planholder. Upon termination of the Plan by the Agent or the Trust, shares
remaining unredeemed will be held in an uncertificated account in the name
of the Planholder, and the account will continue as a dividend-
reinvestment, uncertificated account unless and until proper instructions
are received from the Planholder, his executor or guardian, or as
otherwise appropriate.
8. The Agent shall incur no liability to the Planholder for any action taken
or omitted by the Agent in good faith.
9. In the event that the Agent shall cease to act as transfer agent for the
Trust, the Planholder will be deemed to have appointed any successor
transfer agent to act as his agent in administering the Plan.
10.Purchases of additional shares concurrently with withdrawals are
undesirable because of sales charges when purchases are made.
Accordingly, a Planholder may not maintain this Plan while
simultaneously making regular purchases. While an occasional lump sum
investment may be made, such investment should normally be an amount
equivalent to three times the annual withdrawal or $5,000, whichever
is less.
<PAGE>
INVESTMENT ADVISER
Bank One, Arizona, NA
Bank One Center
241 North Central Avenue
Phoenix, Arizona 85004
ADMINISTRATOR AND FOUNDER
Aquila Management Corporation
380 Madison Avenue, Suite 2300
New York, New York 10017
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Lacy B. Herrmann, Chairman
Philip E. Albrecht
Arthur K. Carlson
Thomas W. Courtney
William L. Ensign
Diana P. Herrmann
John C. Lucking
Anne J. Mills
William T. Quinsler
OFFICERS
Lacy B. Herrmann, President
William C. Wallace, Senior Vice President
Susan A. Cook, Vice President
Kristian P. Kjolberg, Vice President
Rose F. Marotta, Chief Financial Officer
Richard F. West, Treasurer
Edward M.W. Hines, Secretary
DISTRIBUTOR
Aquila Distributors, Inc.
380 Madison Avenue, Suite 2300
New York, New York 10017
TRANSFER AND SHAREHOLDER SERVICING AGENT
Administrative Data Management Corp.
581 Main Street
Woodbridge, New Jersey 07095-1198
CUSTODIAN
Bank One Trust Company, N.A.
100 East Broad Street
Columbus, Ohio 43271
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
345 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10154
COUNSEL
Hollyer Brady Smith Troxell
Barrett Rockett Hines & Mone LLP
551 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10176
Table of Contents
HIGHLIGHTS
TABLE OF EXPENSES
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
INTRODUCTION
INVESTMENT OF THE TRUST'S ASSETS
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE
HOW TO INVEST IN THE TRUST
HOW TO REDEEM YOUR INVESTMENT
AUTOMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN
MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS
DIVIDEND AND TAX INFORMATION
EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE
GENERAL INFORMATION
APPLICATION
LOGO
A TAX-FREE
INCOME INVESTMENT
PROSPECTUS
ONE OF THE
AQUILASM GROUP OF FUNDS
<PAGE>
Tax-Free Trust of Arizona
380 Madison Avenue, Suite 2300
New York, New York 10017
800-437-1020
212-697-6666
Statement
of Additional Information April 1, 1996
This Statement of Additional Information (the "Additional
Statement") is not a Prospectus. The Additional Statement should be
read in conjunction with the Prospectus (the "Prospectus") dated
April 1, 1996 of Tax-Free Trust of Arizona (the "Trust"), which may
be obtained from the Trust's transfer and shareholder servicing
agent, Administrative Data Management Corp., by writing to: 581
Main Street, Woodbridge, New Jersey 07095-1198 or by calling the
following numbers:
800-437-1000 toll free or 908-855-5731
or from Aquila Distributors, Inc., the Trust's Distributor, by
writing to 380 Madison Avenue, Suite 2300, New York, New York
10017; or by calling: 800-437-1020 toll free or 212-986-8826
The Annual Report of the Trust for the fiscal year ended June
30, 1995 and the Semi-Annual report of the Trust for the six months
ended December 31, 1995 will be delivered with the Additional
Statement.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Investment of the Trust's Assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Municipal Bonds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Performance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Investment Restrictions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Distribution Plan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Shareholder Services Plan
Limitation of Redemptions in Kind. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Trustees and Officers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Additional Information as to Management Arrangements . . . . . 21
Computation of Net Asset Value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Automatic Withdrawal Plan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Additional Tax Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
General Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Conversion of Class C Shares
Appendix A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
<PAGE>
INVESTMENT OF THE TRUST'S ASSETS
The investment objective and policies of the Trust are
described in the Prospectus, which refers to the matters
described below. See the Prospectus for the definition of
"Arizona Obligations."
Ratings
The ratings assigned by Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
("Moody's") or Standard & Poor's Corporation ("S&P") represent
their respective opinions of the quality of the municipal bonds
and notes which they undertake to rate. It should be emphasized,
however, that ratings are general and not absolute standards of
quality. Consequently, obligations with the same maturity, stated
interest rate and rating may have different yields, while
obligations of the same maturity and stated interest rate with
different ratings may have the same yield. See Appendix A to this
Additional Statement for further information about the ratings of
Moody's and S&P as to the various rated Arizona Obligations which
the Trust may purchase.
The table below gives information as to the percentage of
Trust assets invested, as of June 30, 1995, in Arizona
Obligations in the various rating categories.
Highest rating (1). . . . . . . . . . . . .48.3%
Second highest rating (2) . . . . . . . . .28.2%
Third highest rating (3). . . . . . . . . .11.7%
Fourth highest rating and below (4) . . . . 9.8%
Unrated Obligations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.0%
100.0%
(1) Aaa of Moody's or AAA of S&P.
(2) Aa of Moody's or AA of S&P.
(3) A of Moody's or A of S&P.
(4) Baa of Moody's or BBB of S&P.
When-Issued and Delayed Delivery Obligations
The Trust may purchase Arizona Obligations on a when-issued
or delayed delivery basis. The purchase price and the interest
rate payable on the Arizona Obligations are fixed on the
transaction date. At the time the Trust makes the commitment to
purchase Arizona Obligations on a when-issued or delayed delivery
basis, it will record the transaction and thereafter reflect the
value each day of such Arizona Obligations in determining its net
asset value. The Trust will make commitments for such when-issued
transactions only when it has the intention of actually acquiring
the Arizona Obligations. To facilitate such acquisitions, the
Trust will maintain with the Custodian a separate account with
portfolio Arizona Obligations in an amount at least equal to such
commitments, which will be marked to market every day. On
delivery dates for such transactions, the Trust will meet its
commitments by selling the Arizona Obligations held in the
separate account and/or from cash flow.
Futures Contracts and Options
Although it does not currently use such instruments, the
Trust is permitted to purchase and sell futures contracts
relating to municipal bond indices ("Municipal Bond Index
Futures") and to U.S. Government securities ("U.S. Government
Securities Futures," together referred to as "Futures"), and
exchange-traded options based on Futures as a possible means to
protect the asset value of the Trust during periods of changing
interest rates, although in fact the Trust may never do so. The
following discussion is intended to explain briefly the workings
of Futures and options on them which would be applicable if the
Trust were to use them.
Unlike when the Trust purchases or sells an Arizona
Obligation, no price is paid or received by the Trust upon the
purchase or sale of a Future. Initially, however, when such
transactions are entered into, the Trust will be required to
deposit with the futures commission merchant ("broker") an amount
of cash or Arizona Obligations equal to a varying specified
percentage of the contract amount. This amount is known as
initial margin. Subsequent payments, called variation margin, to
and from the broker, will be made on a daily basis as the price
of the underlying index or security fluctuates making the Future
more or less valuable, a process known as marking to market.
Insolvency of the broker may make it more difficult to recover
initial or variation margin. Changes in variation margin are
recorded by the Trust as unrealized gains or losses. Margin
deposits do not involve borrowing by the Trust and may not be
used to support any other transactions. At any time prior to
expiration of the Future, the Trust may elect to close the
position by taking an opposite position which will operate to
terminate the Trust's position in the Future. A final
determination of variation margin is then made. Additional cash
is required to be paid by or released to the Trust and it
realizes a gain or a loss. Although Futures by their terms call
for the actual delivery or acceptance of cash, in most cases the
contractual obligation is fulfilled without having to make or
take delivery. All transactions in the futures markets are
subject to commissions payable by the Trust and are made, offset
or fulfilled through a clearing house associated with the
exchange on which the contracts are traded. Although the Trust
intends to buy and sell Futures only on an exchange where there
appears to be an active secondary market, there is no assurance
that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular
Future at any particular time. In such event, or in the event of
an equipment failure at a clearing house, it may not be possible
to close a futures position.
Municipal Bond Index Futures currently are based on a
long-term municipal bond index developed by the Chicago Board of
Trade ("CBT") and The Bond Buyer (the "Municipal Bond Index").
Financial futures contracts based on the Municipal Bond Index
began trading on June 11, 1985. The Municipal Bond Index is
comprised of 40 tax-exempt municipal revenue and general
obligation bonds. Each bond included in the Municipal Bond Index
must be rated A or higher by Moody's or Standard & Poor's and
must have a remaining maturity of 19 years or more. Twice a month
new issues satisfying the eligibility requirements are added to,
and an equal number of old issues are deleted from, the Municipal
Bond Index. The value of the Municipal Bond Index is computed
daily according to a formula based on the price of each bond in
the Municipal Bond Index, as evaluated by six dealer-to-dealer
brokers.
The Municipal Bond Index futures contract is traded only on
the CBT. Like other contract markets, the CBT assures performance
under futures contracts through a clearing corporation, a
nonprofit organization managed by the exchange membership which
is also responsible for handling daily accounting of deposits or
withdrawals of margin.
There are at present U.S. Government financial futures
contracts based on long-term Treasury bonds, Treasury notes, GNMA
Certificates and three-month Treasury bills. U.S. Government
Securities Futures have traded longer than Municipal Bond Index
Futures, and the depth and liquidity available in the trading
markets for them are in general greater.
Call Options on Futures Contracts. The Trust may also
purchase and sell exchange related call and put options on
Futures. The purchase of a call option on a Future is analogous
to the purchase of a call option on an individual security.
Depending on the pricing of the option compared to either the
Future upon which it is based, or upon the price of the
underlying debt securities, it may or may not be less risky than
ownership of the Futures contract or underlying debt securities.
Like the purchase of a futures contract, the Trust may purchase a
call option on a Future to hedge against a market advance when
the Trust is not fully invested.
The writing of a call option on a Future constitutes a
partial hedge against declining prices of the securities which
are deliverable upon exercise of the Future. If the price at
expiration of the Future is below the exercise price, the Trust
will retain the full amount of the option premium which provides
a partial hedge against any decline that may have occurred in the
Trust's portfolio holdings.
Put Options on Futures Contracts. The purchase of put
options on a Future is analogous to the purchase of protective
put options on portfolio securities. The Trust may purchase a put
option on a Future to hedge the Trust's portfolio against the
risk of rising interest rates.
The writing of a put option on a Future constitutes a
partial hedge against increasing prices of the securities which
are deliverable upon exercise of the Future. If the Future price
at expiration is higher than the exercise price, the Trust will
retain the full amount of the option premium which provides a
partial hedge against any increase in the price of securities
which the Trust intends to purchase.
The writer of an option on a Future is required to deposit
initial and variation margin pursuant to requirements similar to
those applicable to Futures. Premiums received from the writing
of an option will be included in initial margin. The writing of
an option on a Future involves risks similar to those relating to
Futures.
Risk Factors in Futures Transactions and Options
One risk in employing Futures or options on Futures to
attempt to protect against the price volatility of the Trust's
Arizona Obligations is that the Adviser could be incorrect in its
expectations as to the extent of various interest rate movements
or the time span within which the movements take place. For
example, if the Trust sold a Future in anticipation of an
increase in interest rates, and then interest rates went down
instead, the Trust would lose money on the sale.
Another risk as to Futures or options on them arises because
of the imperfect correlation between movement in the price of the
Future and movements in the prices of the Arizona Obligations
which are the subject of the hedge. The risk of imperfect
correlation increases as the composition of the Trust's portfolio
diverges from the municipal bonds included in the applicable
index or from the security underlying the U.S. Government
Securities Futures. The price of the Future or option may move
more than or less than the price of the Arizona Obligations being
hedged. If the price of the Future or option moves less than the
price of the Arizona Obligations which are the subject of the
hedge, the hedge will not be fully effective but, if the price of
the Arizona Obligations being hedged has moved in an unfavorable
direction, the Trust would be in a better position than if it had
not hedged at all. If the price of the Arizona Obligations being
hedged has moved in a favorable direction, this advantage will be
partially offset by the Future or option. If the price of the
Future or option moved more than the price of the Arizona
Obligations, the Trust will experience either a loss or gain on
the Future or option which will not be completely offset by
movements in the price of the Arizona Obligations which are the
subject of the hedge. To compensate for the imperfect correlation
of movements in the price of the Arizona Obligations being hedged
and movements in the price of the Futures or options, the Trust
may buy or sell Futures or options in a greater dollar amount
than the dollar amount of the Arizona Obligations being hedged if
the historical volatility of the prices of the Arizona
Obligations being hedged is less than the historical volatility
of the debt securities underlying the hedge. It is also possible
that, where the Trust has sold Futures or options to hedge its
portfolio against decline in the market, the market may advance
and the value of the Arizona Obligations held in the Trust's
portfolio may decline. If this occurred the Trust would lose
money on the Future or option and also experience a decline in
value of its portfolio securities.
Where Futures or options are purchased to hedge against a
possible increase in the price of Arizona Obligations before the
Trust is able to invest in them in an orderly fashion, it is
possible that the market may decline instead; if the Trust then
concludes not to invest in them at that time because of concern
as to possible further market decline or for other reasons, the
Trust will realize a loss on the Futures or options that is not
offset by a reduction in the price of the Arizona Obligations
which it had anticipated purchasing.
The particular municipal bonds comprising the index
underlying Municipal Bond Index Futures will vary from the bonds
held by the Trust. The correlation of the hedge with such bonds
may be affected by disparities in the average maturity, ratings,
geographical mix or structure of the Trust's investments as
compared to those comprising the Index, and general economic or
political factors. In addition, the correlation between movements
in the value of the Municipal Bond Index may be subject to change
over time, as additions to and deletions from the Municipal Bond
Index alter its structure. The correlation between U.S.
Government Securities Futures and the municipal bonds held by the
Trust may be adversely affected by similar factors and the risk
of imperfect correlation between movements in the prices of such
Futures and the prices of Municipal Bonds held by the Trust may
be greater.
Trading in Municipal Bond Index Futures may be less liquid
than that in other Futures. The trading of Futures and options
also is subject to certain market risks, such as inadequate
trading activity or limits on upward or downward price movements,
which could at times make it difficult or impossible to liquidate
existing positions.
Regulatory Aspects of Futures and Options
The Trust will, due to requirements under the Investment
Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act"), deposit in a segregated
account with its custodian bank Arizona Obligations maturing in
one year or less or cash, in an amount equal to the fluctuating
market value of long Futures or options it has purchased, less
any margin deposited on long positions.
The Trust must operate within certain restrictions as to its
long and short positions in Futures under a rule (the "CFTC
Rule") adopted by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission
("CFTC") under the Commodity Exchange Act (the "CEA") to be
eligible for the exclusion provided by the CFTC Rule as a
"commodity pool operator" (as defined under the CEA), and must
represent to the CFTC that the Trust will operate within such
restrictions. Under these restrictions the Trust will not, as to
any positions, whether long, short or a combination thereof,
enter into Futures or options for which the aggregate initial
margins and premiums paid for options exceed 5% of the fair
market value of its assets. Under the restrictions, the Trust
also must, as to its short positions, use Futures and options
solely for bona-fide hedging purposes within the meaning and
intent of the applicable provisions under the CEA. As to the
Trust's long positions which are used as part of its portfolio
strategy and are incidental to its activities in the underlying
cash market, the "underlying commodity value" (see below) of its
Futures must not exceed the sum of (i) cash set aside in an
identifiable manner, or short-term U.S. debt obligations or other
U.S. dollar-denominated high quality short-term money market
instruments so set aside, plus any funds deposited as margin;
(ii) cash proceeds from existing investments due in 30 days and
(iii) accrued profits held at the futures commission merchant.
(There is described above the segregated account which the Trust
must maintain with its custodian bank as to its Futures and
options activities due to requirements other than those of the
CFTC Rule; the Trust will, as to long positions, be required to
abide by the more restrictive of this other requirement or the
above requirements of the CFTC Rule.) The "underlying commodity
value" of a Future or option is computed by multiplying the size
of the Future by the daily settlement price of the Future or
option.
Portfolio Turnover
A portfolio turnover rate is, in general, the percentage
computed by taking the lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio
securities for a year and dividing it by the monthly average
value of such securities during the year, excluding certain
short-term securities. Since the turnover rate of the Trust will
be affected by a number of factors (see below), the Trust is
unable to predict what rate the Trust will have in any particular
period or periods, although the rate is not expected to exceed
100%. The factors which may affect the rate include (i) assuming
or moving away from a defensive position; a defensive position
could be assumed by shortening the average maturity of the
portfolio; (ii) the possible necessary sales of Arizona
Obligations to meet redemptions; and (iii) the possibility of
purchasing or selling Arizona Obligations without regard to the
length of time these obligations have been held to attempt to
take advantage of short-term differentials in yields on these
obligations with the objective of seeking exempt-interest income
while conserving capital. Short-term trading increases portfolio
turnover and transaction costs. However, the rate could be
substantially higher or lower in any particular period.
MUNICIPAL BONDS
The two principal classifications of municipal bonds are
"general obligation" bonds and "revenue" bonds. General
obligation bonds are secured by the issuer's pledge of its full
faith, credit and unlimited taxing power for the payment of
principal and interest. Revenue or special tax bonds are payable
only from the revenues derived from a particular facility or
class of facilities or projects or, in a few cases, from the
proceeds of a special excise or other tax, but are not supported
by the issuer's power to levy unlimited general taxes. There are,
of course, variations in the security of municipal bonds, both
within a particular classification and between classifications,
depending on numerous factors. The yields of municipal bonds
depend on, among other things, general financial conditions,
general conditions of the municipal bond market, size of a
particular offering, the maturity of the obligation and rating of
the issue.
Since the Trust may invest in industrial development bonds
or private activity bonds, the Trust may not be an appropriate
investment for entities which are "substantial users" of
facilities financed by those bonds or for investors who are
"related persons" of such users. Generally, an individual will
not be a "related person" under the Internal Revenue Code unless
such investor or his or her immediate family (spouse, brothers,
sisters and lineal descendants) own directly or indirectly in the
aggregate more than 50 percent of the equity of a corporation or
is a partner of a partnership which is a "substantial user" of a
facility financed from the proceeds of those bonds. A
"substantial user" of such facilities is defined generally as a
"non-exempt person who regularly uses a part of [a] facility"
financed from the proceeds of industrial development or private
activity bonds.
As indicated in the Prospectus, there are certain Arizona
Obligations the interest on which is subject to the Federal
alternative minimum tax on individuals. While the Trust may
purchase these obligations, it may, on the other hand, refrain
from purchasing particular Arizona Obligations due to this tax
consequence. Also, as indicated in the Prospectus, the Trust will
not purchase obligations of Arizona issuers the interest on which
is subject to regular Federal income tax. The foregoing may
reduce the number of issuers of obligations which are available
to the Trust.
As stated in the Prospectus, floating and variable rate
demand notes and participation interests (including municipal
lease/purchase obligations) are considered illiquid unless
determined by the Board of Trustees to be readily marketable. In
determining marketability of any such securities, the Board of
Trustees will consider the following factors, not all of which
may be applicable to any particular issue: the quality, maturity
and coupon rate of the issue, ratings received from the
nationally recognized statistical rating organizations and any
changes or prospective changes in such ratings, the likelihood
that the issuer will continue to appropriate the required
payments for the issue, recent purchases and sales of the same or
similar issues, the general market for municipal securities of
the same or similar quality, the Adviser's opinion as to
marketability of the issue and other factors that may be
applicable to any particular issue.
PERFORMANCE
As noted in the Prospectus, the Trust may from time to time
quote various performance figures to illustrate its past
performance.
Performance quotations by investment companies are
subject to rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission
("SEC"). These rules require the use of standardized performance
quotations or, alternatively, that every non-standardized
performance quotation furnished by the Trust be accompanied by
certain standardized performance information computed as required
by the SEC. Current yield and average annual compounded total
return quotations used by the Trust are based on these
standardized methods and are computed separately for each of the
Trust's three classes. Prior to April 1, 1996, the Trust had
outstanding only one class of shares which are currently
designated Class A Shares, Front Payment Class Shares." On that
date the trust began to offer shares of two other classes, Class
C Shares, "Level Payment Class Shares" and Class Y Shares,
"Institutional Class Shares." During the historical periods
listed below, there were no Class C Shares or Class Y Shares
outstanding and the information below relates solely to Class A
Shares. Each of these and other methods that may be used by the
Trust are described in the following material.
Total Return
Average annual total return is determined by finding the
average annual compounded rates of return over 1- and 5-year
periods and a period since the inception of the Trust (on March
13, 1986) that would equate an initial hypothetical $1,000
investment to the value such an investment would have if it were
completely redeemed at the end of each such period. The
calculation assumes the maximum sales charge is deducted from the
hypothetical initial $1,000 purchase, that on each reinvestment
date during each such period any capital gains are reinvested at
net asset value, and all income dividends are reinvested at net
asset value, without sales charge (because the Trust does not
impose any sales charge on reinvestment of dividends). The
computation further assumes that the entire hypothetical account
was completely redeemed at the end of each such period.
Investors should note that the maximum sales charge (4%)
reflected in the following quotations is a one time charge, paid
at the time of initial investment. The greatest impact of this
charge is during the early stages of an investment in the Trust.
Actual performance will be affected less by this one time charge
the longer an investment remains in the Trust.
The average annual compounded rates of return for the Trust
for the 1- and 5-year periods ended June 30, 1995, were 3.61% and
6.81%, respectively. The average annual compounded rate of return
for the Trust from inception to June 30, 1995, was 7.27%. These
figures were calculated according to the following SEC formula:
n
P(1+T) = ERV
where:
P = a hypothetical initial payment of $1,000
T = average annual total return
n = number of years
ERV = ending redeemable value of a hypothetical $1,000
payment made at the beginning of the 1- and 5-year
period or the period since inception, at the end
of each such period.
As discussed in the Prospectus, the Trust may quote total
rates of return in addition to its average annual total return.
Such quotations are computed in the same manner as the Trust's
average annual compounded rate, except that such quotations will
be based on the Trust's actual return for a specified period as
opposed to its average return over the periods described above.
The total returns for the Trust for the 1- and 5-year periods
ended June 30, 1995, were 3.61% and 39.0%, respectively. The
total return for the Trust from inception to June 30, 1995, was
92.06%. In general, actual total rate of return will be lower
than average annual rate of return because the average annual
rate of return reflects the effect of compounding. See discussion
of the impact of the sales charge on quotations of rates of
return, above.
Yield
Current yield reflects the income per share earned by the
Trust's portfolio investments. Current yield is determined by
dividing the net investment income per share earned during a
30-day base period by the maximum offering price per share on the
last day of the period and annualizing the result. Expenses
accrued for the period include any fees charged to all
shareholders during the base period net of fee waivers and
reimbursements of expenses, if any. The yield for the Trust for
the 30-day period ended on June 30, 1995 (the date of the Trust's
most recent audited financial statements) was 4.62%.
These figures were obtained using the Securities and
Exchange Commission formula:
6
Yield = 2 [(a-b + 1) -1]
----
cd
where:
a = interest earned during the period
b = expenses accrued for the period (net of waivers
and reimbursements)
c = the average daily number of shares outstanding
during the period that were entitled to receive
dividends
d = the maximum offering price per share on the last
day of the period
Taxable Equivalent Yield
The Trust may also quote a taxable equivalent yield which
shows the taxable yield that would be required to produce an
after-tax yield equivalent to that of a fund which invests in
tax-exempt obligations. Such yield is computed by dividing that
portion of the yield of the Trust (computed as indicated above)
which is tax-exempt by one minus the highest applicable combined
federal and Arizona income tax rate (and adding the result to
that portion of the yield of the Trust that is not tax-exempt, if
any). The taxable equivalent yield for the Trust for the 30-day
period ended on June 30, 1995 (the date of the Trust's most
recent audited financial statements, which are included in the
Trust's annual report for the year ended June 30, 1995) was
8.20%.
The Arizona and the combined Arizona and the Federal income
tax rates upon which the Trust's tax equivalent yield quotations
are based are 6.9% and 44.11%, respectively; the latter rate
reflects currently-enacted Federal income tax law. From time to
time, as any changes to such rates become effective, tax
equivalent yield quotations advertised by the Trust will be
updated to reflect such changes. Any tax rate increases will tend
to make a tax-free investment, such as the Trust, relatively more
attractive than taxable investments. Therefore, the details of
specific tax increases may be used in Trust sales material.
Current Distribution Rate
Current yield and tax equivalent yield, which are calculated
according to a formula prescribed by the SEC, are not indicative
of the amounts which were or will be paid to the Trust's
shareholders. Amounts paid to shareholders are reflected in the
quoted current distribution rate or taxable equivalent
distribution rate. The current distribution rate is computed by
(i) dividing the total amount of dividends per share paid by the
Trust during a recent 30-day period by (ii) the current maximum
offering price and by (iii) annualizing the result. A taxable
equivalent distribution rate shows the taxable distribution rate
that would be required to produce an after-tax distribution rate
equivalent to the Trust's current distribution rate (calculated
as indicated above). The current distribution rate can differ
from the current yield computation because it could include
distributions to shareholders from additional sources (i.e.,
sources other than dividends and interest), such as short-term
capital gains.
Other Performance Quotations
With respect to those categories of investors who are
permitted to purchase shares of the Trust at net asset value, the
Trust may quote a "Current Distribution for Net Asset Value
Investments." This rate is computed by (i) dividing the total
amount of dividends per share paid by the Trust during a recent
30-day period by (ii) the current net asset value of the Trust
and by (iii) annualizing the result. Figures for yield, total
return and other measures of performance for Net Asset Value
Investments may also be quoted. These will be derived as
described above with the substitution of net asset value for
public offering price.
Regardless of the method used, past performance is not
necessarily indicative of future results, but is an indication of
the return to shareholders only for the limited historical period
used. If distribution rates are quoted in advertising, they will
be accompanied by calculations of current yield in accordance
with the formula of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
The Trust has a number of policies concerning what it can
and cannot do. Those that are called fundamental policies cannot
be changed unless the holders of a "majority" (as defined in the
1940 Act) of the Trust's outstanding shares vote to change them.
Under that Act, the vote of the holders of a "majority" of the
Trust's outstanding shares means the vote of the holders of the
lesser of (a) 67% or more of the Trust's shares present at a
meeting or represented by proxy if the holders of more than 50%
of its shares are so present or represented; or (b) more than 50%
of the Trust's outstanding shares. Those fundamental policies not
set forth in the Prospectus are set forth below:
1. The Trust invests only in certain limited securities.
The Trust cannot buy any securities other than Arizona
Obligations (discussed under "Investment of the Trust's Assets"
in the Prospectus), Municipal Bond Index Futures, U.S. Government
Securities Futures and options on such Futures; therefore the
Trust cannot buy any voting securities, any commodities or
commodity contracts other than Municipal Bond Index Futures and
U.S. Government Securities Futures, any mineral related programs
or leases, any shares of other investment companies or any
warrants, puts, calls or combinations thereof other than on
Futures.
The Trust cannot purchase or hold the securities of any
issuer if, to its knowledge, Trustees, Directors or officers of
the Trust or its Adviser individually owning beneficially more
than 0.5 of 1% of the securities of that issuer together own in
the aggregate more than 5% of such securities.
The Trust cannot buy real estate or any non-liquid interests
in real estate investment trusts; however, it can buy any
securities which it can otherwise buy even though the issuer
invests in real estate or has interests in real estate.
2. The Trust does not buy for control.
The Trust cannot invest for the purpose of exercising
control or management of other companies.
3. The Trust does not sell securities it does not own or borrow
from brokers to buy securities.
Thus, it cannot sell short or buy on margin; however, the
Trust can make margin deposits in connection with the purchase or
sale of Municipal Bond Index Futures, U.S. Government Securities
Futures and options on them, and can pay premiums on these
options.
4. The Trust is not an underwriter.
The Trust cannot engage in the underwriting of securities,
that is, the selling of securities for others. Also, it cannot
invest in restricted securities. Restricted securities are
securities which cannot freely be sold for legal reasons.
DISTRIBUTION PLAN
The Trust's Distribution Plan has three parts, relating
respectively to distribution payments with respect to Class A
Shares (Part I), to distribution payments relating to Class C
Shares (Part II) and to certain defensive provisions (Part III).
Provisions Relating to Class A Shares (Part I)
At the date of the Additional Statement, most of the
outstanding shares of the Trust would be considered Qualified
Holdings of various broker-dealers unaffiliated with the Adviser
or the Distributor. The Distributor will consider shares which
are not Qualified Holdings of such unrelated broker-dealers to be
Qualified Holdings of the Distributor and will authorize
Permitted Payments to the Distributor with respect to such shares
whenever Permitted Payments are being made under the Plan.
Part I of the Plan applies only to the Front Payment Shares
class ("Class A") of shares of the Trust (regardless of whether
such class is so designated or is redesignated by some other
name).
As used in Part I of the Plan, "Qualified Recipients" shall
mean broker-dealers or others selected by Aquila Distributors,
Inc. (the "Distributor"), including but not limited to any
principal underwriter of the Trust, with which the Trust or the
Distributor has entered into written agreements in connection
with Part I ("Class A Plan Agreements") and which have rendered
assistance (whether direct, administrative, or both) in the
distribution and/or retention of the Trust's Front Payment Shares
or servicing of shareholder accounts with respect to such shares.
"Qualified Holdings" shall mean, as to any Qualified Recipient,
all Front Payment shares beneficially owned by such Qualified
Recipient, or beneficially owned by its brokerage customers,
other customers, other contacts, investment advisory clients, or
other clients, if the Qualified Recipient was, in the sole
judgment of the Distributor, instrumental in the purchase and/or
retention of such shares and/or in providing administrative
assistance or other services in relation thereto.
Subject to the direction and control of the Board of
Trustees of the Trust, the Trust may make payments ("Class A
Permitted Payments") to Qualified Recipients, which Class A
Permitted Payments may be made directly, or through the
Distributor or shareholder servicing agent as disbursing agent,
which may not exceed, for any fiscal year of the Trust (as
adjusted for any part or parts of a fiscal year during which
payments under the Plan are not accruable or for any fiscal year
which is not a full fiscal year) 0.15 of 1% of the average annual
net assets of the Trust represented by the Front Payment Shares
class of shares. Such payments shall be made only out of the
Trust assets allocable to the Front Payment Shares. The
Distributor shall have sole authority (i) as to the selection of
any Qualified Recipient or Recipients; (ii) not to select any
Qualified Recipient; and (iii) the amount of Class A Permitted
Payments, if any, to each Qualified Recipient provided that the
total Class A Permitted Payments to all Qualified Recipients do
not exceed the amount set forth above. The Distributor is
authorized, but not directed, to take into account, in addition
to any other factors deemed relevant by it, the following: (a)
the amount of the Qualified Holdings of the Qualified Recipient;
(b) the extent to which the Qualified Recipient has, at its
expense, taken steps in the shareholder servicing area with
respect to holders of Front Payment Shares, including without
limitation, any or all of the following activities: answering
customer inquiries regarding account status and history, and the
manner in which purchases and redemptions of shares of the Trust
may be effected; assisting shareholders in designating and
changing dividend options, account designations and addresses;
providing necessary personnel and facilities to establish and
maintain shareholder accounts and records; assisting in
processing purchase and redemption transactions; arranging for
the wiring of funds; transmitting and receiving funds in
connection with customer orders to purchase or redeem shares;
verifying and guaranteeing shareholder signatures in connection
with redemption orders and transfers and changes in shareholder
designated accounts; furnishing (either alone or together with
other reports sent to a shareholder by such person) monthly and
year end statements and confirmations of purchases and
redemptions; transmitting, on behalf of the Trust, proxy
statements, annual reports, updating prospectuses and other
communications from the Trust to its shareholders; receiving
tabulating and transmitting to the Trust proxies executed by
shareholders with respect to meetings of shareholders of the
Trust; and providing such other related services as the
Distributor or a shareholder may request from time to time; and
(c) the possibility that the Qualified Holdings of the Qualified
Recipient would be redeemed in the absence of its selection or
continuance as a Qualified Recipient. Notwithstanding the
foregoing two sentences, a majority of the Independent Trustees
(as defined below) may remove any person as a Qualified
Recipient. Amounts within the above limits accrued to a
Qualified Recipient but not paid during a fiscal year may be paid
thereafter; if less than the full amount is accrued to all
Qualified Recipients, the difference will not be carried over to
subsequent years.
While Part I is in effect, the Trust's Distributor shall
report at least quarterly to the Trust's Trustees in writing for
their review on the following matters: (i) all Class A Permitted
Payments made under Section 9 of the Plan, the identity of the
Qualified Recipient of each payment, and the purposes for which
the amounts were expended; and (ii) all fees of the Trust to the
Distributor, sub-adviser or Administrator paid or accrued during
such quarter. In addition, if any such Qualified Recipient is an
affiliated person, as that term is defined in the Act, of the
Trust, the Adviser, the Administrator or the Distributor, such
person shall agree to furnish to the Distributor for transmission
to the Board of Trustees of the Trust an accounting, in form and
detail satisfactory to the Board of Trustees, to enable the Board
of Trustees to make the determinations of the fairness of the
compensation paid to such affiliated person, not less often than
annually.
Part I originally went into effect when it was approved (i)
by a vote of the Trustees, including the Independent Trustees,
with votes cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of
voting on Part I of the Plan; and (ii) by a vote of holders of at
least a "majority" (as so defined) of the outstanding voting
securities of the Front Payment Shares class (or of any
predecessor class or category of shares, whether or not
designated as a class) and a vote of holders of at least a
"majority" (as so defined) of the outstanding voting securities
of the Level Payment Class and/or of any other class whose shares
are convertible into Front Payment Shares. Part I has continued,
and will, unless terminated as hereinafter provided, continue in
effect, until the April 30 next succeeding such effectiveness,
and from year to year thereafter only so long as such continuance
is specifically approved at least annually by the Trust's
Trustees and its Independent Trustees with votes cast in person
at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such
continuance. Part I may be terminated at any time by the vote of
a majority of the Independent Trustees or by the vote of the
holders of a "majority" (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the
outstanding voting securities of the Trust to which Part I
applies. Part I may not be amended to increase materially the
amount of payments to be made without shareholder approval of the
class or classes of shares affected by Part I as set forth in
(ii) above, and all amendments must be approved in the manner set
forth in (i) above.
In the case of a Qualified Recipient which is a principal
underwriter of the Trust, the Class A Plan Agreement shall be the
agreement contemplated by Section 15(b) of the 1940 Act since
each such agreement must be approved in accordance with, and
contain the provisions required by, the Rule. In the case of
Qualified Recipients which are not principal underwriters of the
Trust, the Class A Plan Agreements with them shall be their
agreements with the Distributor with respect to payments under
Part II.
Provisions relating to Class C Shares (Part II)
Part II of the Plan applies only to the Level Payment Shares
Class ("Class C Shares") of the Trust (regardless of whether such
class is so designated or is redesignated by some other name).
As used in Part II of the Plan, "Qualified Recipients" shall
mean broker-dealers or others selected by Aquila Distributors,
Inc. (the "Distributor"), including but not limited to any
principal underwriter of the Trust, with which the Trust or the
Distributor has entered into written agreements in connection
with Part II ("Class C Plan Agreements") and which have rendered
assistance (whether direct, administrative, or both) in the
distribution and/or retention of the Trust's Level Payment Shares
or servicing of shareholder accounts with respect to such shares.
"Qualified Holdings" shall mean, as to any Qualified Recipient,
all Level Payment shares beneficially owned by such Qualified
Recipient, or beneficially owned by its brokerage customers,
other customers, other contacts, investment advisory clients, or
other clients, if the Qualified Recipient was, in the sole
judgment of the Distributor, instrumental in the purchase and/or
retention of such shares and/or in providing administrative
assistance or other services in relation thereto.
Subject to the direction and control of the Board of
Trustees of the Trust, the Trust may make payments ("Class C
Permitted Payments") to Qualified Recipients, which Class C
Permitted Payments may be made directly, or through the
Distributor or shareholder servicing agent as disbursing agent,
which may not exceed, for any fiscal year of the Trust (as
adjusted for any part or parts of a fiscal year during which
payments under the Plan are not accruable or for any fiscal year
which is not a full fiscal year) 0.75 of 1% of the average annual
net assets of the Trust represented by the Level Payment Shares
class of shares. Such payments shall be made only out of the
Trust assets allocable to the Level Payment Shares. The
Distributor shall have sole authority (i) as to the selection of
any Qualified Recipient or Recipients; (ii) not to select any
Qualified Recipient; and (iii) the amount of Class C Permitted
Payments, if any, to each Qualified Recipient provided that the
total Class C Permitted Payments to all Qualified Recipients do
not exceed the amount set forth above. The Distributor is
authorized, but not directed, to take into account, in addition
to any other factors deemed relevant by it, the following: (a)
the amount of the Qualified Holdings of the Qualified Recipient;
(b) the extent to which the Qualified Recipient has, at its
expense, taken steps in the shareholder servicing area with
respect to holders of Level Payment Shares, including without
limitation, any or all of the following activities: answering
customer inquiries regarding account status and history, and the
manner in which purchases and redemptions of shares of the Trust
may be effected; assisting shareholders in designating and
changing dividend options, account designations and addresses;
providing necessary personnel and facilities to establish and
maintain shareholder accounts and records; assisting in
processing purchase and redemption transactions; arranging for
the wiring of funds; transmitting and receiving funds in
connection with customer orders to purchase or redeem shares;
verifying and guaranteeing shareholder signatures in connection
with redemption orders and transfers and changes in shareholder
designated accounts; furnishing (either alone or together with
other reports sent to a shareholder by such person) monthly and
year end statements and confirmations of purchases and
redemptions; transmitting, on behalf of the Trust, proxy
statements, annual reports, updating prospectuses and other
communications from the Trust to its shareholders; receiving
tabulating and transmitting to the Trust proxies executed by
shareholders with respect to meetings of shareholders of the
Trust; and providing such other related services as the
Distributor or a shareholder may request from time to time; and
(c) the possibility that the Qualified Holdings of the Qualified
Recipient would be redeemed in the absence of its selection or
continuance as a Qualified Recipient. Notwithstanding the
foregoing two sentences, a majority of the Independent Trustees
(as defined below) may remove any person as a Qualified
Recipient. Amounts within the above limits accrued to a
Qualified Recipient but not paid during a fiscal year may be paid
thereafter; if less than the full amount is accrued to all
Qualified Recipients, the difference will not be carried over to
subsequent years.
While Part II is in effect, the Trust's Distributor shall
report at least quarterly to the Trust's Trustees in writing for
their review on the following matters: (i) all Class C Permitted
Payments made under Section 15 of the Plan, the identity of the
Qualified Recipient of each payment, and the purposes for which
the amounts were expended; and (ii) all fees of the Trust to the
Distributor, sub-adviser or Administrator paid or accrued during
such quarter. In addition, if any such Qualified Recipient is an
affiliated person, as that term is defined in the Act, of the
Trust, the Adviser, the Administrator or the Distributor, such
person shall agree to furnish to the Distributor for transmission
to the Board of Trustees of the Trust an accounting, in form and
detail satisfactory to the Board of Trustees, to enable the Board
of Trustees to make the determinations of the fairness of the
compensation paid to such affiliated person, not less often than
annually.
Part II originally went into effect when it was approved (i)
by a vote of the Trustees, including the Independent Trustees,
with votes cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of
voting on Part II of the Plan; and (ii) by a vote of holders of
at least a "majority" (as so defined) of the outstanding voting
securities of the Level Payment Shares class. Part II has
continued, and will, unless terminated as hereinafter provided,
continue in effect, until the April 30 next succeeding such
effectiveness, and from year to year thereafter only so long as
such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by
the Trust's Trustees and its Independent Trustees with votes cast
in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such
continuance. Part II may be terminated at any time by the vote
of a majority of the Independent Trustees or by the vote of the
holders of a "majority" (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the
outstanding voting securities of the Trust to which Part II
applies. Part II may not be amended to increase materially the
amount of payments to be made without shareholder approval of the
class or classes of shares affected by Part II as set forth in
(ii) above, and all amendments must be approved in the manner set
forth in (i) above.
In the case of a Qualified Recipient which is a principal
underwriter of the Trust, the Class C Plan Agreement shall be the
agreement contemplated by Section 15(b) of the 1940 Act since
each such agreement must be approved in accordance with, and
contain the provisions required by, the Rule. In the case of
Qualified Recipients which are not principal underwriters of the
Trust, the Class C Plan Agreements with them shall be their
agreements with the Distributor with respect to payments under
Part II.
Defensive Provisions (Part III)
Another part of the Plan (Part III) states that if and to
the extent that any of the payments listed below are considered
to be "primarily intended to result in the sale of" shares issued
by the Trust within the meaning of Rule 12b-1, such payments are
authorized under the Plan: (i) the costs of the preparation of
all reports and notices to shareholders and the costs of printing
and mailing such reports and notices to existing shareholders,
irrespective of whether such reports or notices contain or are
accompanied by material intended to result in the sale of shares
of the Trust or other funds or other investments; (ii) the costs
of the preparation and setting in type of all prospectuses and
statements of additional information and the costs of printing
and mailing all prospectuses and statements of additional
information to existing shareholders; (iii) the costs of
preparation, printing and mailing of any proxy statements and
proxies, irrespective of whether any such proxy statement
includes any item relating to, or directed toward, the sale of
the Trust's shares; (iv) all legal and accounting fees relating
to the preparation of any such reports, prospectuses, statements
of additional information, proxies and proxy statements; (v) all
fees and expenses relating to the registration or qualification
of the Trust and/or its shares under the securities or "Blue-Sky"
laws of any jurisdiction; (vi) all fees under the Securities Act
of 1933 and the 1940 Act, including fees in connection with any
application for exemption relating to or directed toward the sale
of the Trust's shares; (vii) all fees and assessments of the
Investment Company Institute or any successor organization,
irrespective of whether some of its activities are designed to
provide sales assistance; (viii) all costs of the preparation and
mailing of confirmations of shares sold or redeemed or share
certificates, and reports of share balances; and (ix) all costs
of responding to telephone or mail inquiries of investors or
prospective investors.
The Plan states that while it is in effect, the selection
and nomination of those Trustees of the Trust who are not
"interested persons" of the Trust shall be committed to the
discretion of such disinterested Trustees but that nothing in the
Plan shall prevent the involvement of others in such selection
and nomination if the final decision on any such selection and
nomination is approved by a majority of such disinterested
Trustees.
The Plan states that while it is in effect, the Trust's
Administrator and Distributor shall report at least quarterly to
the Trust's Board of Trustees in writing for their review on the
following matters: (i) all Permitted Payments made under this
Plan, the identity of the Qualified Recipient of each Payment,
and the purposes for which the amounts were expended; (ii) all
costs of each item of cost specified in the Plan (making
estimates of such costs where necessary or desirable) during the
preceding calendar or fiscal quarter; and (iii) all fees of the
Fund to the distributor, sub-adviser or administrator paid or
accrued during such quarter. In addition if any such Qualified
Recipient is an affiliate, as that term is defined in the Act, of
the Trust, the Adviser, the Administrator or the Distributor,
such person shall agree to furnish to the Distributor for
transmission to the Board of Trustees of the Trust an accounting,
in form and detail satisfactory to the Board of Trustees, to
enable the Board of Trustees to make the determinations of the
fairness of the compensation paid to such affiliated person, not
less often than annually.
The Plan defines as the Trust's Independent Trustees those
Trustees who are not "interested persons" of the Trust as defined
in the 1940 Act and who have no direct or indirect financial
interest in the operation of the Plan or in any agreements
related to the Plan. The Plan, unless terminated as hereinafter
provided, continues in effect from year to year only so long as
such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by
the Trust's Board of Trustees and its Independent Trustees with
votes cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of
voting on such continuance. In voting on the implementation or
continuance of the Plan, those Trustees who vote to approve such
implementation or continuance must conclude that there is a
reasonable likelihood that the Plan will benefit the Trust and
its shareholders. The Plan may be terminated at any time by vote
of a majority of the Independent Trustees or by the vote of the
holders of a "majority" (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the
outstanding voting securities of the Trust. The Plan may not be
amended to increase materially the amount of payments to be made
without shareholder approval and all amendments must be approved
in the manner set forth above as to continuance of the Plan.
The Plan and each Part of it shall also be subject to all
applicable terms and conditions of Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act
as now in force or hereafter amended. Specifically, but without
limitation, the provisions of Part III shall be deemed to be
severable, within the meaning of and to the extent required by
Rule 18f-3, with respect to each outstanding class of shares of
the Trust.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES PLAN
The Trust has adopted a Shareholder Services Plan (the
"Services Plan") to provide for the payment with respect to Class
C Shares of the Trust of "Service Fees" within the meaning of
Article III, Section 26(b)(9) of the Rules of Fair Practice of
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. The
Services Plan applies only to the Class C Shares of shares of the
Trust (regardless of whether such class is so designated or is
redesignated by some other name).
As used in the Services Plan, "Qualified Recipients" shall
mean broker-dealers or others selected by Aquila Distributors,
Inc. (the "Distributor"), including but not limited to the
Distributor and any other principal underwriter of the Trust, who
have, pursuant to written agreements with the Trust or the
Distributor, agreed to provide personal services to Level-Payment
shareholders and/or maintenance of Level-Payment shareholder
accounts. "Qualified Holdings" shall mean, as to any Qualified
Recipient, all Level-Payment Shares beneficially owned by such
Qualified Recipient's customers, clients or other contacts.
"Administrator" shall mean Aquila Management Corporation or any
successor serving as sub-adviser or administrator of the Trust.
Subject to the direction and control of the Board of
Trustees of the Trust, the Trust may make payments ("Service
Fees") to Qualified Recipients, which Service Fees (i) may be
paid directly or through the Distributor or shareholder servicing
agent as disbursing agent and (ii) may not exceed, for any fiscal
year of the Trust (as adjusted for any part or parts of a fiscal
year during which payments under the Services Plan are not
accruable or for any fiscal year which is not a full fiscal year)
0.25 of 1% of the average annual net assets of the Trust
represented by the Level-Payment Class of shares. Such payments
shall be made only out of the Trust assets allocable to the
Level-Payment Shares. The Distributor shall have sole authority
with respect to the selection of any Qualified Recipient or
Recipients and the amount of Service Fees, if any, paid to each
Qualified Recipient, provided that the total Service Fees paid to
all Qualified Recipients may not exceed the amount set forth
above and provided, further, that no Qualified Recipient may
receive more than 0.25 of 1% of the average annual net asset
value of shares sold by such Recipient. The Distributor is
authorized, but not directed, to take into account, in addition
to any other factors deemed relevant by it, the following: (a)
the amount of the Qualified Holdings of the Qualified Recipient
and (b) the extent to which the Qualified Recipient has, at its
expense, taken steps in the shareholder servicing area with
respect to holders of Level-Payment Shares, including without
limitation, any or all of the following activities: answering
customer inquiries regarding account status and history, and the
manner in which purchases and redemptions of shares of the Trust
may be effected; assisting shareholders in designating and
changing dividend options, account designations and addresses;
providing necessary personnel and facilities to establish and
maintain shareholder accounts and records; assisting in
processing purchase and redemption transactions; arranging for
the wiring of funds; transmitting and receiving funds in
connection with customer orders to purchase or redeem shares;
verifying and guaranteeing shareholder signatures in connection
with redemption orders and transfers and changes in shareholder
designated accounts; and providing such other related services as
the Distributor or a shareholder may request from time to time.
Notwithstanding the foregoing two sentences, a majority of the
Independent Trustees (as defined below) may remove any person as
a Qualified Recipient. Amounts within the above limits accrued to
a Qualified Recipient but not paid during a fiscal year may be
paid thereafter; if less than the full amount is accrued to all
Qualified Recipients, the difference will not be carried over to
subsequent years.
While the Services Plan is in effect, the Trust's
Distributor shall report at least quarterly to the Trust's
Trustees in writing for their review on the following matters:
(i) all Service Fees paid under the Services Plan, the identity
of the Qualified Recipient of each payment, and the purposes for
which the amounts were expended; and (ii) all fees of the Trust
to the Distributor paid or accrued during such quarter. In
addition, if any Qualified Recipient is an "affiliated person,"
as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended (the "1940 Act"), of the Trust, the Adviser, the
Administrator or the Distributor, such person shall agree to
furnish to the Distributor for transmission to the Board of
Trustees of the Trust an accounting, in form and detail
satisfactory to the Board of Trustees, to enable the Board of
Trustees to make the determinations of the fairness of the
compensation paid to such affiliated person, not less often than
annually.
The Services Plan has been approved by a vote of the
Trustees, including those Trustees who, at the time of such vote,
were not "interested persons" (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the
Trust and had no direct or indirect financial interest in the
operation of the Service Plan or in any agreements related to the
Service Plan (the "Independent Trustees"), with votes cast in
person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the
Service Plan. It is effective as of the date first above written
and will continue in effect for a period of more than one year
from such date only so long as such continuance is specifically
approved at least annually as set forth in the preceding
sentence. It may be amended in like manner and may be terminated
at any time by vote of the Independent Trustees.
The Services Plan shall also be subject to all applicable
terms and conditions of Rule 18f-3 under the Act as now in force
or hereafter amended.
While the Service Plan is in effect, the selection and
nomination of those Trustees of the Trust who are not "interested
persons" of the Trust, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act,
shall be committed to the discretion of such disinterested
Trustees. Nothing herein shall prevent the involvement of others
in such selection and nomination if the final decision on any
such selection and nomination is approved by a majority of such
disinterested Trustees.
LIMITATION OF REDEMPTIONS IN KIND
The Trust has elected to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the
1940 Act pursuant to which the Trust is obligated to redeem
shares solely in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1 percent
of the net asset value of the Trust during any 90-day period for
any one shareholder. Should redemptions by any shareholder exceed
such limitation, the Trust will have the option of redeeming the
excess in cash or in kind. If shares are redeemed in kind, the
redeeming shareholder might incur brokerage costs in converting
the assets into cash. The method of valuing securities used to
make redemptions in kind will be the same as the method of
valuing portfolio securities described under "Net Asset Value Per
Share" in the Prospectus, and such valuation will be made as of
the same time the redemption price is determined.
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS
The Trustees and officers of the Trust, their affiliations,
if any, with the Administrator or the Distributor, and the
principal occupations of such persons during at least the past
five years are set forth below. As of the date of the Additional
Statement, the Trustees and officers of the Trust as a group
owned less than 1% of its outstanding shares. Mr. Herrmann is an
interested person, as that term is defined in the Investment
Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act"), of the Trust as an officer
of the Trust and as a Director, officer and shareholder of the
Trust's Distributor. Ms. Herrmann is an interested person of the
Trust as a member of his immediate family. Mr. Carlson and Mr.
Lucking are interested persons of the Trust as security holders
of the Adviser's parent, BANC ONE CORPORATION. Interested persons
are so designated by an asterisk.
Lacy B. Herrmann*, President and Chairman of the Board of
Trustees, 380 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10017
Founder, President and Chairman of the Board of Aquila
Management Corporation since 1984, the sponsoring organization
and Administrator and/or Sub-Adviser to the following open-end
investment companies, and Founder, Chairman of the Board of
Trustees, and President of each: Prime Cash Fund, 1982-1996;
Pacific Capital Cash Assets Trust since 1984; Short Term Asset
Reserves since 1984; Churchill Cash Reserves Trust since 1985;
Pacific Capital U.S. Treasuries Cash Assets Trust since 1988;
Pacific Capital Tax-Free Cash Assets Trust since 1988; each of
which is a money market fund, and together with Capital Cash
Management Trust ("CCMT") are called the Aquila Money-Market
Funds; and Hawaiian Tax-Free Trust since 1984; Tax-Free Trust of
Oregon since 1986; Tax-Free Fund of Colorado since 1987;
Churchill Tax-Free Fund of Kentucky since 1987; Tax-Free Fund For
Utah since 1992; and Narragansett Insured Tax-Free Income Fund
since 1992; each of which is a tax-free municipal bond fund, and
an equity fund, Aquila Rocky Mountain Equity Fund since 1993,
together with this Trust are called the Aquila Bond and Equity
Funds; Vice President, Director, Secretary and formerly Treasurer
of Aquila Distributors, Inc. since 1981, distributor of the above
funds; President and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of CCMT, a
money market fund since 1981, and an Officer and Trustee/Director
of its predecessors since 1974; President and a Director of STCM
Management Company, Inc., sponsor and sub-adviser to CCMT;
Chairman, President, and a Director since 1984, of InCap
Management Corporation, formerly sub-adviser and administrator of
Prime Cash Fund and Short Term Asset Reserves, and Founder and
Chairman of several other money market funds; Director or Trustee
of OCC Cash Reserves, Inc., Oppenheimer Quest Global Value Fund,
Inc., Oppenheimer Quest Value Fund, Inc., and Trustee of Quest
For Value Accumulation Trust, The Saratoga Advantage Trust, and
of the Rochester Group of Funds, each of which is an open-end
investment company; Trustee of Brown University since 1990;
actively involved for many years in leadership roles with
university, school and charitable organizations.
Philip E. Albrecht, C.F.A., Trustee, 1485 Gulf of Mexico Drive,
Longboat Key, Florida, 34228
Retired; Senior Vice President, Investments of National
Securities & Research Corporation, 1973-1984; Vice President of
Research of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, 1949-1973;
past President of The New York Society of Security Analysts;
former officer and Director of The Financial Analysts Federation;
former officer and Trustee of the Institute of Chartered
Financial Analysts; active in a similar capacity with various
other professional organizations; Trustee of Tax-Free Fund For
Utah since 1992.
Arthur K. Carlson*, Trustee, 8702 North Via La Serena, Paradise
Valley, Arizona 85253
Retired; Senior Vice President and Manager of the Trust Division
of The Valley National Bank of Arizona, 1977-1987; Trustee of
Tax-Free Fund of Colorado, Hawaiian Tax-Free Trust and Pacific
Capital Cash Assets Trust since 1987, of Pacific Capital Tax-Free
Cash Assets Trust and Pacific Capital U.S. Treasuries Cash Assets
Trust since 1988 and of Aquila Rocky Mountain Equity Fund since
1993; previously Vice President of Investment Research at
Citibank, New York City, and prior to that Vice President and
Director of Investment Research of Irving Trust Company, New York
City; past President of The New York Society of Security Analysts
and currently a member of the Phoenix Society of Financial
Analysts; formerly Director of the Financial Analysts Federation;
past Chairman of the Board and, currently, Director of Mercy
Healthcare of Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona since 1990; Director of
Northern Arizona University Foundation since 1990; present or
formerly an officer and/or director of various other community
and professional organizations.
Thomas W. Courtney, C.F.A., Trustee, P.O. Box 580, Sewickley,
Pennsylvania 15143
President of Courtney Associates, Inc., a venture capital
firm, since 1988; General Partner of Trivest Venture Fund, 1983-
1988; President of Investment Counseling, Federated Investors,
Inc., 1975-1982; President of Boston Company Institutional
Investors, Inc., 1970-1975; Director of several privately owned
corporations; formerly a Director of the Financial Analysts
Federation; Trustee of Hawaiian Tax-Free Trust and Pacific
Capital Cash Assets Trust since 1984 and of Pacific Capital Tax-
Free Cash Assets Trust and Pacific Capital U.S. Treasuries Cash
Assets Trust since 1988; Director or Trustee of OCC Cash
Reserves, Inc., Oppenheimer Quest Global Value Fund, Inc.,
Oppenheimer Quest Value Fund, Inc., and Trustee of Quest For
Value Accumulation Trust and of the Rochester Group of Funds,
each of which is an open-end investment company.
William L. Ensign, Trustee, 2928 Cortland Place N.W., Washington,
D.C. 20008
Assistant Architect of the United States Capital, Washington,
D.C. since 1980; formerly President and Chief Executive Officer
of McLeod Ferrara Ensign, a planning, architectural, and interior
design firm, in Washington D.C. and Maryland; a Fellow and former
member of the Board of Directors of the American Institute of
Architects and past President of the Washington-Metropolitan
Chapter of the A.I.A.; active in the National Trust for Historic
Preservation; designee to the Advisory Council on Historic
Preservation; designee to the Zoning Commission of the District
of Columbia since 1989; Trustee of Tax-Free Fund For Utah since
1991; Trustee of Oxford Cash Management Fund, 1983-1989.
Diana P. Herrmann*, Senior Vice President, 380 Madison Avenue,
New York, New York 10017
Senior Vice President and Secretary and formerly Vice
President of the Administrator since 1986 and Director since
1984; Trustee of Tax-Free Trust of Oregon since 1994 and of
Churchill Tax-Free Fund of Kentucky and Churchill Cash Reserves
Trust since 1995; Vice President of InCap Management Corporation
since 1986 and Director since 1983; Vice President and formerly
Assistant Vice President of the Money Funds since 1986; Assistant
Vice President of Oxford Cash Management Fund, 1986-1988;
Assistant Vice President and formerly Loan Officer of European
American Bank, 1981-1986; daughter of the Trust's President;
Trustee of the Leopold Schepp Foundation (academic scholarships)
since 1995; actively involved in mutual fund and trade
associations and in college and other volunteer
organizations.
John C. Lucking*, Trustee, 7537 North Central Avenue, Phoenix,
Arizona 85020
Consulting Economist of Bank One Arizona (formerly Valley
National bank of Arizona) since 1994; Chief Economist of that
bank, 1987-1994; Municipal bond analyst and Government Securities
salesman, 1984-1987; Financial Analyst of Phelps Dodge
Corporation (a mining company) 1980-1984; Director of New Mexico
and Arizona Land Company since 1993.
Anne J. Mills, Trustee, 7030 East Shooting Star Way, Scottsdale,
Arizona 85262
Vice President for Business Affairs of Ottawa University since
1992; Director of Customer Fulfillment, U.S. Marketing and
Services Group, IBM Corporation, 1990-1991; Director of Business
Requirements of that Group, 1988-1990; Director of Phase
Management of that Group, 1985-1988; Budget Review Officer of the
American Baptist Churches/USA since 1994; Director of the
American Baptist Foundation since 1985; Trustee of Brown
University; Trustee of Churchill Cash Reserves Trust since 1985,
of Churchill Tax-Free Fund of Kentucky, Tax-Free Fund of Colorado
and Capital Cash Management Trust since 1987 and of Tax-Free Fund
For Utah since 1994.
William T. Quinsler, Trustee, 5428 East Calle del Medio, Phoenix,
Arizona 85018
Secretary, Assistant Treasurer and Secretary to the Board of
Directors of the Arizona Public Service Company with liaison
responsibilities for pension and other fund management, 1969-
1983; registered professional engineer; Director and/or member of
various business and charitable organizations, including the
Phoenix Society of Financial Analysts (past President), the
American Society of Corporate Secretaries, the National Society
of Professional Engineers, the Financial Analysts Federation and
the Arizona Cattle Growers Association; Director of Utility
Services Insurance Company, Ltd., 1970-1984, Vice President,
1972-1982 and President and Chief Operating Officer, 1982-1984;
Chairman of the Audit Committee for this Trust since 1987.
William C. Wallace, Senior Vice President, 380 Madison Avenue,
New York, New York 10017
Vice President of Capital Cash Management Trust and Pacific
Capital Cash Assets Trust since 1984; Senior Vice President of
Hawaiian Tax-Free Trust since 1985 and Vice President, 1984-1985;
Vice President, 1986-1988; Vice President of Tax-Free Trust of
Oregon since 1986, of Churchill Tax-Free Fund of Kentucky and
Tax-Free Fund of Colorado since 1987, of Pacific Capital Tax-Free
Cash Assets Trust and Pacific Capital U.S. Treasuries Cash Assets
Trust since 1988 and of Narragansett Insured Tax-Free Income Fund
since 1992; Secretary and Director of STCM Management Company,
Inc. since 1974; President of the Distributor since 1995 and
formerly Vice President of the Distributor, 1986-1992; Member of
the Panel of Arbitrators, American Arbitration Association, since
1978; Assistant Vice President, American Stock Exchange, Market
Development Division, and Director of Marketing, American Gold
Coin Exchange, a subsidiary of the American Stock Exchange, 1976-
1984.
Susan A. Cook, Vice President, 8712 E. Via de Commercio #9,
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Registered Representative of Aquila Distributors, Inc. since
1993; Vice President of Cowen & Company, Members of the New York
Stock Exchange, 1988-1991.
Kristian P. Kjolberg, Vice President, 8712 E. Via de Commercio
#9, Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Registered Representative of Aquila Distributors, Inc. since
1995; Financial Adviser and Registered Representative of Sentra
Securities Corporation, 1992-1995; Financial Adviser of
Prudential Insurance Company, 1990-1992.
Rose F. Marotta, Chief Financial Officer, 380 Madison Avenue, New
York, New York 10017
Chief Financial Officer of the Aquila Money-Market Funds and
the Aquila Bond and Equity Funds since 1991; and Treasurer, 1981-
1991; formerly Treasurer of the predecessor of CCMT; Treasurer
and Director of STCM Management Company, Inc., since 1974;
Treasurer of Trinity Liquid Assets Trust, 1982-1986 and of Oxford
Cash Management Fund, 1982-1988; Treasurer of InCap Management
Corporation since 1982, of the Administrator since 1984 and of
the Distributor since 1985.
Richard F. West, Treasurer, 380 Madison Avenue, New York, New
York 10017
Treasurer of the Aquila Money-Market Funds and the Aquila Bond
and Equity Funds and of Aquila Distributors, Inc. since 1992;
Associate Director of Furman Selz Incorporated, 1991-1992; Vice
President of Scudder, Stevens & Clark, Inc. and Treasurer of
Scudder Institutional Funds, 1989-1991; Vice President of Lazard
Freres Institutional Funds Group, Treasurer of Lazard Freres
Group of Investment Companies and HT Insight Funds, Inc., 1986-
1988; Vice President of Lehman Management Co., Inc. and Assistant
Treasurer of Lehman Money Market Funds, 1981-1985; Controller of
Seligman Group of Investment Companies, 1960-1980.
Edward M. W. Hines, Secretary, 551 Fifth Avenue, New York, New
York 10176
Partner of Hollyer Brady Smith Troxell Barrett Rockett Hines &
Mone LLP, attorneys, since 1989 and counsel, 1987-1989; Secretary
of the Aquila Money-Market Funds and the Aquila Bond and Equity
Funds since 1982; Secretary of Trinity Liquid Assets Trust, 1982-
1985 and Trustee of that Trust, 1985-1986; Secretary of Oxford
Cash Management Fund, 1982-1988.
John M. Herndon, Assistant Secretary, 380 Madison Avenue, New
York, New York 10017
Assistant Secretary of the Aquila Money-Market Funds and the
Aquila Bond and Equity Funds since 1995 and Vice President of the
Aquila Money-Market Funds since 1990; Vice President of the
Administrator since 1990; Investment Services Consultant and Bank
Services Executive of Wright Investors' Service, a registered
investment adviser, 1983-1989; Member of the American Finance
Association, the Western Finance Association and the Society of
Quantitative Analysts.
Patricia A. Craven, Assistant Secretary & Compliance Officer, 380
Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10017
Assistant Secretary of the Aquila Money-Market Funds and the
Aquila Bond and Equity Funds since 1995; Counsel to the
Administrator and the Distributor since 1995; formerly a Legal
Associate for Oppenheimer Management Corporation, 1993-1995.
Compensation of Trustees
The Trust does not pay fees to Trustees affiliated with the
Administrator or to any of the Trust's officers. During the
fiscal year ended June 30, 1995, the Trust paid $63,284 in fees
and reimbursement of expenses to its other Trustees. The Trust is
one of the 14 funds in the Aquilasm Group of Funds, which consist
of tax-free municipal bond funds, money market funds and an
equity fund. The following table lists the compensation of all
Trustees who received compensation from the Trust and the
compensation they received during the Trust's fiscal year from
other funds in the Aquilasm Group of Funds. None of such Trustees
has any pension or retirement benefits from the Trust or any of
the other funds in the Aquila group.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Compensation Number of
from all boards on
Compensation funds in the which the
from the Aquilasm Trustee now
Name Trust Group serves
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Philip E.
Albrecht $5,450 $6,900 2
Arthur K.
Carlson $6,250 $31,843 7
Thomas W.
Courtney $6,282 $26,587 5
William L.
Ensign $0 $0 2
John C.
Lucking $3,600 $3,600 1
Anne J.
Mills $6,364 $28,524 6
William T.
Quinsler $6,400 $6,400 1
</TABLE>
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AS TO MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS
Additional Information as to the Advisory Agreement
The Investment Advisory Agreement (the "Advisory Agreement")
between the Trust and Bank One, Arizona, NA (the "Adviser")
contains the provisions described below, in addition to those
described in the Prospectus.
The Advisory Agreement may be terminated by the Adviser at
any time without penalty upon giving the Trust sixty days'
written notice, and may be terminated by the Trust at any time
without penalty upon giving the Adviser sixty days' written
notice, provided that such termination by the Trust shall be
directed or approved by the vote of a majority of all its
Trustees in office at the time or by the vote of the holders of a
majority (as defined in the 1940 Act) of its voting securities at
the time outstanding and entitled to vote; it automatically
terminates in the event of its assignment (as so defined).
The expense limitation referred to in the Prospectus, if in
effect, is implemented monthly so that at no time is there any
unpaid liability under the limitation, subject to readjustment
during the year.
The Advisory Agreement provides that in the absence of
willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless
disregard of its obligations thereunder, the Adviser is not
liable for any loss sustained by the adoption of any investment
policy or the purchase, sale or retention of any security and
permits the Adviser to act as investment adviser for any other
person, firm or corporation. The Trust agrees to indemnify the
Adviser to the full extent permitted under the Trust's
Declaration of Trust.
The Advisory Agreement states that it is agreed that the
Adviser shall have no responsibility or liability for the
accuracy or completeness of the Trust's Registration Statement
under the Securities Act of 1933 and the 1940 Act, except for the
information supplied by the Adviser for inclusion therein.
The Advisory Agreement contains the following provisions as
to the Trust's portfolio transactions. In connection with its
duties to arrange for the purchase and sale of the Trust's
portfolio securities, the Adviser shall select such
broker-dealers ("dealers") as shall, in the Adviser's judgment,
implement the policy of the Trust to achieve "best execution,"
i.e., prompt, efficient and reliable execution of orders at the
most favorable net price. The Adviser shall cause the Trust to
deal directly with the selling or purchasing principal or market
maker without incurring brokerage commissions unless the Adviser
determines that better price or execution may be obtained by
paying such commissions; the Trust expects that most transactions
will be principal transactions at net prices and that the Trust
will incur little or no brokerage costs. The Trust understands
that purchases from underwriters include a commission or
concession paid by the issuer to the underwriter and that
principal transactions placed through dealers include a spread
between the bid and asked price. In allocating transactions to
dealers, the Adviser is authorized to consider, in determining
whether a particular dealer will provide best execution, the
dealer's reliability, integrity, financial condition and risk in
positioning the securities involved, as well as the difficulty of
the transaction in question, and thus need not pay the lowest
spread or commission available if the Adviser determines in good
faith that the amount of commission is reasonable in relation to
the value of the brokerage and research services provided by the
dealer, viewed either in terms of the particular transaction or
the Adviser's overall responsibilities as to the accounts as to
which it exercises investment discretion. If, on the foregoing
basis, the transaction in question could be allocated to two or
more dealers, the Adviser is authorized, in making such
allocation, to consider (i) whether a dealer has provided
research services, as further discussed below; and (ii) whether a
dealer has sold shares of the Trust or any other investment
company or companies having the Adviser as its investment adviser
or having the same sub-adviser, Administrator or principal
underwriter as the Trust. Such research may be in written form or
through direct contact with individuals and may include
quotations on portfolio securities and information on particular
issuers and industries, as well as on market, economic or
institutional activities. The Trust recognizes that no dollar
value can be placed on such research services or on execution
services, that such research services may or may not be useful to
the Trust and/or other accounts of the Adviser and that research
received by such other accounts may or may not be useful to the
Trust.
During the fiscal year ended June 30, 1995, all of the
Trust's transactions were principal transactions and no brokerage
commissions were paid.
For the fiscal years ended June 30, 1995 and 1994, the fees
payable to the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement and to the
Administrator under the Administration Agreement were each
$739,438 and $939,765, respectively. For the fiscal year ended
June 30, 1993 fees of $715,199 were paid or accrued to the
Adviser, of which $115,020 was voluntarily waived. For the fiscal
year ended June 30, 1993 fees of $715,199 were paid or accrued to
the Administrator of which $115,020 was voluntarily waived.
Additional Information as to the Administration Agreement
The Administration Agreement (the "Administration
Agreement") between Aquila Management Corporation, as
Administrator, and the Trust contains the provisions described
below in addition to those described in the Prospectus.
Subject to the control of the Trust's Board of Trustees, the
Administrator provides all administrative services to the Trust
other than those relating to its investment portfolio and the
maintenance of its accounting books and records; as part of such
duties, the Administrator (i) provides office space, personnel,
facilities and equipment for the performance of the following
functions and for the maintenance of the Trust's headquarters;
(ii) oversees all relationships between the Trust and its
transfer agent, custodian, legal counsel, auditors and principal
underwriter, including the negotiation, subject to the approval
of the Trust's Board of Trustees, of agreements in relation
thereto, the supervision and coordination of the performance of
such agreements, and the overseeing of all administrative matters
which are necessary or desirable for effective operation and for
the sale, servicing, or redemption of the Trust's shares; (iii)
provides to the Adviser and to the Trust statistical and other
factual information and advice regarding economic factors and
trends, but does not generally furnish advice or make
recommendations regarding the purchase or sale of securities;
(iv) maintains the Trust's books and records (other than
accounting books and records), and prepares (or assists counsel
and auditors in the preparation of) all required proxy
statements, reports to shareholders and Trustees, reports to and
other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and any
other governmental agencies, and tax returns, and oversees the
Trust's insurance relationships; (v) prepares, on the Trust's
behalf and at its expense, such applications and reports as may
be necessary to register or maintain the Trust's registration or
that of its shares under the securities or "Blue-Sky" laws of all
such jurisdictions as may be required from time to time; and (vi)
responds to any inquiries or other communications from
shareholders and broker-dealers, or if any such inquiry or
communication is more properly to be responded to by the Trust's
shareholder servicing and transfer agent or distributor, oversees
such shareholder servicing and transfer agent's or distributor's
response thereto. Since the Trust pays its own legal and audit
expenses, to the extent that the Trust's counsel and accountants
prepare or assist in the preparation of prospectuses, proxy
statements and reports to shareholders, the costs of such
preparation or assistance are paid by the Trust.
The Administration Agreement may be terminated at any time
without penalty by the Administrator upon sixty days' written
notice to the Trust and the Adviser; it may be terminated by the
Trust at any time without penalty upon giving the Administrator
sixty days' written notice, provided that such termination by the
Trust shall be directed or approved by a vote of a majority of
the Trustees in office at the time, including a majority of the
Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust. In either
case the notice provision may be waived.
The expense limitation referred to in the Prospectus, if in
effect, is implemented monthly so that at no time is there any
unpaid liability under the limitation, subject to readjustment
during the year.
The Administration Agreement provides that the Administrator
shall not be liable for any error in judgement or for any loss
suffered by the Trust in connection with the matters to which the
Administration Agreement relates, except a loss resulting from
willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence of the
Administrator in the performance of its duties, or from reckless
disregard by it of its obligations and duties under the
Administration Agreement. The Trust agrees to indemnify the
Administrator to the full extent permitted by the Declaration of
Trust.
Glass-Steagall Act and Certain Other Banking Laws
The Adviser is subject to the Glass-Steagall Act. The
Glass-Steagall Act, among other things, prohibits, with certain
exceptions, banks and bank holding companies from engaging in the
business of issuing, underwriting, selling or distributing
securities and from affiliating with companies engaged in those
activities. In April 1971, the United States Supreme Court held,
in Investment Company Institute v. Camp, that certain provisions
of the Glass-Steagall Act applicable to both national and Federal
Reserve member banks prohibit any such bank from operating a
collective investment fund. The fund which was the subject of
litigation was registered as an open-end investment company, and
participations in the fund were offered on a continuous basis
directly by the bank. Subsequent to that decision, the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System amended its Regulation Y
to forbid a bank holding company or subsidiary thereof from
organizing, sponsoring or controlling a registered open-end
investment company continuously engaged in distributing its
shares but to permit a non-banking subsidiary of a bank holding
company to serve as investment adviser to a registered investment
company, subject to a number of terms and conditions. The
validity of this amendment to Regulation Y, as it relates to
closed-end investment companies, was upheld by the Supreme Court
in February, 1981 in Board of Governors v. Investment Company
Institute. In addition, the Comptroller of the Currency has taken
the position that a national bank having fiduciary powers may act
as investment advisor to an open-end investment company. In the
view of the Adviser, it is permitted under current Federal
banking laws to perform the services for the Trust required by
the Advisory Agreement; however, future changes in federal or
state statutes and regulations relating to the permissible
activities of banks and bank holding companies, including their
bank and non-bank subsidiaries, as well as future judicial or
administrative decisions and interpretations of present and
future statutes and regulations, might at some future time
prevent it from continuing to serve as the investment adviser to
the Trust.
In the event the Adviser is prohibited from acting as the
Trust's investment adviser, it is probable that the Trust's
Trustees would recommend to the shareholders the selection of
another qualified adviser.
The Adviser believes that it must comply with the position
of the Comptroller of the Currency referred to above and, because
not legally applicable to a national bank acting as an investment
adviser, need not comply with the provisions of Regulation Y (and
the interpretations thereof) of the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System that specify the terms on which a
non-banking subsidiary of a bank holding company may serve as
investment adviser to an open-end investment company.
Among the restrictions imposed by the Comptroller of the
Currency are that the Adviser may not be involved in the
promotion or distribution of shares of the Trust and that Trust
accounts administered by the Adviser may not purchase shares of
the Trust unless lawfully authorized by the instrument creating
the relationship or by court order or by local law. Under Arizona
law, if the portfolios of that investment company or investment
trust consist of investments permitted by the applicable
fiduciary instrument, the Adviser in its capacity as a fiduciary,
may purchase shares of the Trust. Collective investment funds
operated by the Adviser may not purchase shares of the Trust.
COMPUTATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
The net asset value of the Trust's shares is determined as
of 4:00 p.m. New York time on each day that the New York Stock
Exchange is open by dividing the value of the Trust's net assets
by the total number of its shares then outstanding. However,
Futures and options on them are valued at the last sales price on
the principal commodities exchange on which the Future or option
is traded or, if there are no sales, at the mean between the bid
and asked prices as of the close of that exchange; such close may
be later than 4:00 p.m. New York time. Securities having a
remaining maturity of less than sixty days when purchased and
securities originally purchased with maturities in excess of
sixty days but which currently have maturities of sixty days or
less are valued at cost adjusted for amortization of premiums and
accretion of discounts. All other portfolio securities are valued
at the mean between bid and asked quotations which, for Arizona
Obligations, may be obtained from a reputable pricing service or
from one or more broker-dealers dealing in Arizona Obligations,
either of which may, in turn, obtain quotations from
broker-dealers or banks which deal in specific issues. However,
since Arizona Obligations are ordinarily purchased and sold on a
"yield" basis by banks or dealers which act for their own account
and do not ordinarily make continuous offerings, quotations
obtained from such sources may be subject to greater fluctuations
than is warranted by prevailing market conditions. Accordingly,
some or all of the Arizona Obligations in the Trust's portfolio
may be priced, with the approval of the Trust's Board of
Trustees, by differential comparisons to the market in other
municipal bonds under methods which include consideration of the
current market value of tax-free debt instruments having varying
characteristics of quality, yield and maturity. Any securities or
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 and
responsibility of the Trust's Board of Trustees. In the case of
Arizona Obligations, such procedures may include "matrix"
comparisons to the prices for other tax-free debt instruments on
the basis of the comparability of their quality, yield, maturity
and other special factors, if any, involved. With the approval of
the Trust's Board of Trustees, the Adviser may at its own expense
and without reimbursement from the Trust employ a pricing
service, bank or broker-dealer experienced in such matters to
perform any of the above described functions.
As indicated above, the net asset value per share of the
Trust's shares will be determined on each day that the New York
Stock Exchange is open. That Exchange annually announces the days
on which it will not be open. The most recent announcement
indicates that it will not be open on the following days: New
Year's Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day,
Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
However, that Exchange may close on days not included in that
announcement.
Reasons for Differences in Public Offering Price
As described herein and in the Prospectus, there are a
number of instances in which the Trust's shares are sold or
issued on a basis other than the maximum public offering price,
that is, the net asset value plus the highest sales charge. Some
of these relate to lower or eliminated sales charges for larger
purchases, whether made at one time or over a period of time as
under a Letter of Intent or right of accumulation. (See the table
of sales charges in the Prospectus.) The reasons for these
quantity discounts are, in general, that (i) they are traditional
and have long been permitted in the industry and are therefore
necessary to meet competition as to sales of shares of other
funds having such discounts; (ii) certain quantity discounts are
required by rules of the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. (as are elimination of sales charges on the
reinvestment of dividends and distributions); and (iii) they are
designed to avoid an unduly large dollar amount of sales charge
on substantial purchases in view of reduced selling expenses.
Quantity discounts are made available to certain related persons
("single purchasers") for reasons of family unity and to provide
a benefit to tax-exempt plans and organizations.
The reasons for the other instances in which there are
reduced or eliminated sales charges are as follows. Exchanges at
net asset value are permitted because a sales charge has already
been paid on the shares exchanged. Sales without sales charge are
permitted to Trustees, officers and certain others due to reduced
or eliminated selling expenses and/or since such sales may
encourage incentive, responsibility and interest and an
identification with the aims and policies of the Trust. Limited
reinvestments of redemptions at no sales charge are permitted to
attempt to protect against mistaken or incompletely informed
redemption decisions. Shares may be issued at no sales charge in
plans of reorganization due to reduced or eliminated sales
expenses and since, in some cases, such issuance is exempted in
the 1940 Act from the otherwise applicable restrictions as to
what sales charge must be imposed. In no case in which there is a
reduced or eliminated sales charge are the interests of existing
shareholders adversely affected since, in each case, the Trust
receives the net asset value per share of all shares sold or
issued.
AUTOMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN
Any shareholder who owns or purchases shares of the Trust
having a net asset value of at least $5,000 may establish an
Automatic Withdrawal Plan under which he will receive a monthly
or quarterly check in a stated amount, not less than $50. Stock
certificates will not be issued for shares held under an
Automatic Withdrawal Plan. All dividends and distributions must
be reinvested. Shares will be redeemed on the last business day
of the month or quarter as may be necessary to meet withdrawal
payments.
Redemption of shares for withdrawal purposes may reduce or
even liquidate the account. Monthly or quarterly payments paid to
shareholders may not be considered as a yield or income on
investment.
ADDITIONAL TAX INFORMATION
Any investor who incurs a sales commission when he buys
shares of one mutual fund (the original fund) and who then sells
such shares or exchanges them for shares of a different mutual
fund without having held them at least 91 days must reduce his
tax basis for the shares sold or exchanged to the extent that the
standard sales commission charged for acquiring shares in the
exchange or later acquiring shares of the original fund or
another fund is reduced because of the shareholder's having owned
the original fund shares. The effect of the rule is to increase
the investor's gain or reduce his or her loss on the original
fund shares. The amount of the basis reduction on the original
fund shares, however, is added on the investor's basis for the
fund shares acquired in the exchange or later acquired. The
provision applies to commissions charged after October 3, 1989.
CONVERSION OF CLASS C SHARES
Level Payment Class ("Class C Shares") of the Trust,
which you hold will automatically convert to Front Payment
("Class A Shares") of the Trust based on the relative net asset
values per share of the two classes as of the close of business
on the first business day of the month in which the sixth
anniversary of the your initial purchase of such Class C Shares
occurs. For these purposes, the date of your initial purchase
shall mean (1) the first business day of the month in which such
Class C Shares were issued to you, or (2) for Class C Shares of
the Trust you have obtained through an exchange or series of
exchanges under the Exchange Privilege (see "Exchange Privilege"
in the Prospectus.), the first business day of the month in
which you made the original purchase of Class C Shares so
exchanged. For conversion purposes, Class C Shares purchased
through reinvestment of dividends or other distributions paid in
respect of Class C Shares will be held in a separate sub-
account. Each time any Class C Shares in your regular account
(other than those in the sub-account) covert to Class A Shares, a
pro-rata portion of the Class C Shares in the sub-account will
also convert to Class A Shares. The portion will be determined by
the ratio that your Class B Shares then converting to Class A
Shares bears to the total of your Class C Shares not acquired
through reinvestment of dividends and distributions.
The availability of the conversion feature is subject to the
continuing applicability of a ruling of the Internal Revenue
Service ("IRS"), or an opinion of counsel, that: (1) the
dividends and other distributions paid on Class A and Class C
Shares will not result in "preferential dividends" under the
Code; and (2) the conversion of shares does not constitute a
taxable event. If the conversion feature ceased to be available,
the Class C Shares of the Trust would not be converted and would
continue to be subject to the higher ongoing expenses of the
Class C Shares beyond six years from the date of purchase. The
Trust has no reason to believe that these conditions for the
availability of the conversion feature will not continue to be
met.
If the Trust implements any amendments to its Distribution
Plan that would increase materially the costs that may be borne
under such Distribution Plan by Class A shareholders, Class C
Shares will stop converting into Class A Shares unless a majority
of Class C shareholders, voting separately as a class, approve
the proposal.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Possible Additional Series
If an additional Series were created by the Board of
Trustees, shares of each such Series would be entitled to vote as
a Series only to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act (see below)
or as permitted by the Board of Trustees. Income and operating
expenses would be allocated among the Trust and the additional
series in a manner acceptable to the Board of Trustees.
Under Rule 18f-2 under the 1940 Act, any matter required to
be submitted to shareholder vote is not deemed to have been
effectively acted upon unless approved by the holders of a
"majority" (as defined in that Rule) of the voting securities of
each Series affected by the matter. Such separate voting
requirements do not apply to the election of trustees or the
ratification of the selection of accountants. Rule 18f-2 contains
special provisions for cases in which an advisory contract is
approved by one or more, but not all, Series. A change in
investment policy may go into effect as to one or more Series
whose holders so approve the change, even though the required
vote is not obtained as to the holders of other affected Series.
Indemnification of Shareholders and Trustees
Under Massachusetts law, shareholders of a trust such as the
Trust may, under certain circumstances, be held personally liable
as partners for the obligations of the trust. For shareholder
protection, however, an express disclaimer of shareholder
liability for acts or obligations of the Trust is contained in
the Declaration of Trust which requires that notice of such
disclaimer be given in each agreement, obligation or instrument
entered into or executed by the Trust or the Trustees. The
Declaration of Trust provides for indemnification out of the
Trust's property of any shareholder held personally liable for
the obligations of the Trust. The Declaration of Trust also
provides that the Trust shall, upon request, assume the defense
of any claim made against any shareholder for any act or
obligation of the Trust and satisfy any judgment thereon. Thus,
the risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss on account of
shareholder liability is limited to the relatively remote
circumstances in which the Trust itself would be unable to meet
its obligations. In the event the Trust had two or more Series,
and if any such Series were to be unable to meet the obligations
attributable to it (which, as is the case with the Trust, is
relatively remote), the other Series would be subject to such
obligations, with a corresponding increase in the risk of the
shareholder liability mentioned in the prior sentence.
The Declaration of Trust further indemnifies the Trustees of
the Trust out of the property of the Trust and provides that they
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.
Custodian and Auditors
The Trust's Custodian, Bank One Trust Company, N.A. is
responsible for holding the Trust's assets. The Trust's Custodian
is an affiliate of the Adviser.
The Trust's auditors, KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, perform an
annual audit of the Trust's financial statements.
Underwriting Commissions
During the Trust's fiscal year ended June 30, 1995 the
aggregate dollar amount of sales charges on sales of shares of
the Trust was $944,440 and the amount retained by the Distributor
was $91,923.
Financial Statements
The financial statements of the Trust for the fiscal year
ended June 30, 1995, which are contained in the Annual Report for
that fiscal year, and the financial statements of the Trust for
the six months ended December 31, 1995, which are contained in
the Semi-Annual Report for that period, are hereby incorporated
by reference into the Additional Statement. The financial
statements as of the end of the Trust's fiscal year have been
audited by KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, independent auditors, whose
report thereon is incorporated herein by reference. The financial
statements of the Trust for the six months ended December 31,
1995 are unaudited.
<PAGE>
APPENDIX A
DESCRIPTION OF MUNICIPAL BOND AND COMMERCIAL PAPER RATINGS
Municipal Bond Ratings
Standard & Poor's. A Standard & Poor's municipal obligation
rating is a current assessment of the creditworthiness of an
obligor with respect to a specific obligation. This assessment
may take into consideration obligors such as guarantors, insurers
or lessees.
The debt rating is not a recommendation to purchase, sell or
hold a security, inasmuch as it does not comment as to market
price or suitability for a particular investor.
The ratings are based on current information furnished by
the issuer or obtained by Standard & Poor's from other sources it
considers reliable. Standard & Poor's does not perform an audit
in connection with any rating and may, on occasion, rely on
unaudited financial information. The ratings may be changed,
suspended or withdrawn as a result of changes in, or
unavailability of, such information, or for other circumstances.
The ratings are based, in varying degrees, on the following
considerations:
I. Likelihood of default - capacity and willingness of the
obligor as to the timely payment of interest and
repayment of principal in accordance with the terms of
the obligation;
II. Nature of and provisions of the obligation;
III. Protection afforded by, and relative position of, the
obligation in the event of bankruptcy, reorganization
or other arrangement under the laws of bankruptcy and
other laws affecting creditors rights.
AAA Debt rated "AAA" has the highest rating assigned by
Standard & Poor's. Capacity to pay interest and repay
principal is extremely strong.
AA Debt rated "AA" has a very strong capacity to pay
interest and repay principal and differs from the
highest rated issues only in small degree.
A Debt rated "A" has a strong capacity to pay interest
and repay principal although it is somewhat more
susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in
circumstances and economic conditions than debt in
higher rated categories.
BBB Debt rated "BBB" is regarded as having an adequate
capacity to pay interest and repay principal. Whereas
it normally exhibits 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 debt in this category
than in higher rated categories.
Plus (+) or Minus (:): The ratings from "AA" to "B" may be
modified by the addition of a plus or minus sign to show relative
standing within the major rating categories.
Provisional Ratings: The letter "p" indicates that the
rating is provisional. A provisional rating assumes the
successful completion of the project being financed by the debt
being rated and indicates that payment of debt service
requirements is largely or entirely dependent upon the successful
and timely completion of the project. This rating, however, while
addressing credit quality subsequent to completion of the
project, makes no comment on the likelihood of, or the risk of
default upon failure of, such completion. The investor should
exercise his own judgment with respect to such likelihood and
risk.
Standard and Poor's ratings for municipal note issues are
designated SP in order to help investors distinguish more clearly
the credit quality of notes as compared to bonds. Notes bearing
the designation SP-1 are deemed very strong or to have strong
capacity to pay principal and interest. Those issues determined
to possess overwhelming safety characteristics will be given a
plus (+) designation. Notes bearing the designation SP-2 are
deemed to have a satisfactory capacity to pay principal and
interest.
Moody's Investors Service. A brief description of the
applicable Moody's Investors Service rating symbols and their
meanings follows:
Aaa Bonds which are rated Aaa are judged to be of the best
quality. They carry the smallest degree of investment
risk and are generally referred to as "gilt edge".
Interest payments are protected by a large or 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
larger 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 some time 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.
Bonds in the Aa, A, Baa, Ba and B groups which Moody's
believes possess the strongest investment attributes are
designated by the symbols Aa1, A1, Baa1, Ba1 and B1.
Moody's Short Term Loan Ratings - There are four rating
categories for short-term obligations, all of which define an
investment grade situation. These are designated Moody's
Investment Grade as MIG 1 through MIG 4. In the case of variable
rate demand obligations (VRDOs), two ratings are assigned; one
representing an evaluation of the degree of risk associated with
scheduled principal and interest payments, and the other
representing an evaluation of the degree of risk associated with
the demand feature. The short-term rating assigned to the demand
feature of VRDOs is designated as VMIG. When no rating is applied
to the long or short-term aspect of a VRDO, it will be designated
NR. Issues or the features associated with MIG or VMIG ratings
are identified by date of issue, date of maturity or maturities
or rating expiration date and description to distinguish each
rating from other ratings. Each rating designation is unique with
no implication as to any other similar issue of the same obligor.
MIG ratings terminate at the retirement of the obligation while
VMIG rating expiration will be a function of each issuer's
specific structural or credit features.
MIG1/VMIG1 This designation denotes best quality. There
is present strong protection by established
cash flows, superior liquidity support or
demonstrated broad-based access to the market
for refinancing.
MIG2/VMIG2 This designation denotes high quality.
Margins of protection are ample although not
so large as in the preceding group.
MIG3/VMIG3 This designation denotes favorable quality.
All security elements are accounted for but
there is lacking the undeniable strength of
the preceding grades. Liquidity and cash flow
protection may be narrow and market access
for refinancing is likely to be less well
established.
MIG4/VMIG4 This designation denotes adequate quality.
Protection commonly regarded as required of
an investment security is present and
although not distinctly or predominantly
speculative, there is specific risk.
<PAGE>
Investment Adviser
Bank One, Arizona, NA
Bank One Center
241 North Central Avenue
Phoenix, Arizona 85004
Administrator and Founder
Aquila Management Corporation
380 Madison Avenue, Suite 2300
New York, New York 10017
Board of Trustees
Lacy B. Herrmann, Chairman
Philip E. Albrecht
Arthur K. Carlson
Thomas W. Courtney
William L. Ensign
Diana P. Herrmann
John C. Lucking
Anne J. Mills
William T. Quinsler
Officers
Lacy B. Herrmann, President
William C. Wallace, Senior Vice President
Susan A. Cook, Vice President
Kristian P. Kjolberg, Vice President
Rose F. Marotta, Chief Financial Officer
Richard F. West, Treasurer
Edward M.W. Hines, Secretary
Distributor
Aquila Distributors, Inc.
380 Madison Avenue, Suite 2300
New York, New York 10017
Transfer and Shareholder Servicing Agent
Administrative Data Management Corp.
581 Main Street
Woodbridge, New Jersey 07095-1198
Custodian
Bank One Trust Company, N.A.
100 East Broad Street
Columbia, Ohio 43271
Independent Auditors
KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
345 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10154
Counsel
Hollyer Brady Smith Troxell
Barrett Rockett Hines & Mone LLP
551 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10176
TAX-FREE TRUST OF ARIZONA
A tax-free
income investment
[LOGO OF EAGLE]
STATEMENT OF
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
[LOGO OF EAGLE HEAD]
One Of The
Aquilasm
Group Of Funds
<PAGE>
TAX-FREE TRUST OF ARIZONA
PART C: OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 24. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(a) Financial Statements:
Included in Part A:
Financial Highlights
Incorporated by reference into Part B:
Report of Independent Auditors
Statement of Investments as of June 30, 1995
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of
June 30, 1995
Statement of Operations for the year ended
June 30, 1995
Statement of Changes in Net Assets for the
years ended June 30, 1995 and 1994
Notes to Financial Statements
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of
December 31, 1995 (unaudited)
Statement of Operations for the six months
ended December 31, 1995 (unaudited)
Statement of Changes in Net Assets for the
six months ended December 31, 1995 and for the year
ended June 30, 1995 (unaudited)
Statement of Investments as of
December 31, 1995 (unaudited)
Notes to Financial Statements
Included in Part C:
Consent of Independent Auditors
(b) Exhibits:
(1) Amended and Restated
Declaration of Trust (viii)
(2) By-laws (ix)
(3) Not applicable
(4) Specimen share certificate (ii)
(5) Investment Advisory Agreement (v)
(6) (a) Distribution Agreement (iv)
(6) (b) Sales Agreement for Brokerage Firms (iv)
(6) (c) Sales Agreement for Financial
Institutions (iv)
(6) (d) Sales Agreement for Investment Advisers (v)
(6) (e) Services Agreement (viii)
(7) Not applicable
(8) Custody Agreement (vii)
(9) (a) Transfer Agency Agreement (iii)
(9) (b) Administration Agreement (v)
(10) Opinion & consent of Trust's counsel (viii)
(11) (a) Opinion & consent of Adviser's counsel (ii)
(11) (b) Opinion & consent of Adviser's counsel
regarding state taxes (iii)
(12) Not applicable
(13) Agreement with initial shareholder (ii)
(14) Not applicable
(15) Distribution Plan (ix)
(15) (a) Services Plan (viii)
(16) Schedule for computation of performance
quotations (vii)
(17) Financial Data Schedule (ix)
(18) Plan pursuant to Rule 18f-3
under the 1940 Act (viii)
(i) Filed as an exhibit to Registrant's Initial Regis-
tration Statement dated November 27, 1985 and incor-
porated herein by reference.
(ii) Filed as an exhibit to Registrant's Pre-Effective
Amendment No. 1 dated February 28, 1986 and
incorporated herein by reference.
(iii) Filed as an exhibit to Registrant's Post-Effective
Amendment No. 4 dated October 30, 1989 and incorpo-
rated herein by reference.
(iv) Filed as an exhibit to Registrant's Post-Effective
Amendment No. 5 dated August 30, 1990 and incorpora-
ted herein by reference.
(v) Filed as an exhibit to Registrant's Post-Effective
Amendment No. 8 dated September 3, 1993 and incorpora-
ted herein by reference.
(vi) Filed as an exhibit to Registrant's Post-Effective
Amendment No. 9 dated October 26, 1994 and incorpora-
ted herein by reference.
(vii) Filed as an exhibit to Registrant's Post-Effective
Amendment No. 10 dated October 26, 1995 and incorpora-
ted herein by reference.
(viii) Filed as an exhibit to Registrant's Post-Effective
Amendment No. 11 dated January 12, 1996, and
incorporated herein by reference.
(ix) Filed herewith.
ITEM 25. Persons Controlled By Or Under Common Control With
Registrant
None
ITEM 26. Number of Holders of Securities
As of September 30, 1995, Registrant had 9,056
holders of record of its shares.
ITEM 27. Indemnification
Subdivision (c) of Section 12 of Article SEVENTH of
Registrant's Amended and Restated Declaration of
Trust, filed as Exhibit 1 herewith
is incorporated herein by reference.
Insofar as indemnification for 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, unenforce-
able. In the event that a claim for indemnifica-
tion against such liabilities (other than the pay-
ment by Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by
a Trustee, officer, or controlling person of Regis-
trant 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 pub-
lic policy as expressed in the Act and will be go-
verned by the final adjudication of such issue.
ITEM 28. Business and Other Connections of Investment
Adviser
Bank One, Arizona, N.A., Registrant's investment
adviser, is a bank. It is a subsidiary of Banc One
Corporation, a bank holding company.
ITEM 29. Principal Underwriters
(a) Aquila Distributors, Inc. serves as principal un-
derwriter to Aquila Rocky Mountain Equity Fund,
Capital Cash Management Trust, Churchill Cash Re-
serves Trust, Churchill Tax-Free Fund of Kentucky,
Hawaiian Tax-Free Trust, Narragansett Insured Tax-
Free Income Fund, Pacific Capital Cash Assets
Trust, Pacific Capital Tax-Free Cash Assets Trust,
Pacific Capital U.S. Treasuries Cash Assets Trust,
Prime Cash Fund, Short Term Asset Reserves, Tax-
Free Fund for Utah, Tax-Free Fund of Colorado, and
Tax-Free Trust of Oregon, in addition to serving as
Registrant's principal underwriter.
(b) For information about the Directors and officers of
Aquila Distributors, Inc., reference is made to the
Form BD filed by it under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934.
(c) Not applicable.
ITEM 30. Location of Accounts and Records
All such accounts, books, and other documents are
maintained by the adviser, the administrator, the
custodian, and the transfer agent, whose addresses
appear on the back cover pages of the Prospectus
and Statement of Additional Information.
ITEM 31. Management Services
Not applicable.
ITEM 32. Undertakings
(a) Not applicable.
(b) Not applicable.
(c) If the information called for by Item 5A is contained in
the latest annual report to shareholders, the Registrant
undertakes to furnish each person to whom a prospectus is
delivered with a copy of the Registrant's latest Annual
Report to Shareholders, upon request and without charge.
<PAGE>
KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
345 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10154
Independent Auditors' Consent
To the Trustees and Shareholders of
Tax-Free Trust of Arizona:
We consent to the use of our report dated July 31, 1995
incorporated herein by reference and to the reference to our firm
under the heading "Financial Highlights" in the Prospectus.
KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
/s/KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
New York, New York
March 12, 1996
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933
and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant certifies
that it meets all the requirements for effectiveness of this
Amendment to its Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 485(b)
under the Securities Act of 1933, and has caused this Amendment
to its Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York
and State of New York, on the 22nd day of March, 1996.
TAX-FREE TRUST OF ARIZONA
(Registrant)
By /s/ Lacy B. Herrmann
-----------------------------
Lacy B. Herrmann, President
and Chairman of the Board
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,
this Registration Statement or Amendment has been signed below by
the following persons in the capacities and on the date
indicated.
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
/s/Lacy B. Herrmann 3/22/96
_____________________ President, Chairman of ___________
Lacy B. Herrmann the Board and Trustee
(Principal Executive
Officer)
/s/Philip E. Albrecht 3/22/96
_____________________ Trustee ___________
Philip E. Albrecht
/s/Arthur K. Carlson 3/22/96
_____________________ Trustee ___________
Arthur K. Carlson
/s/Thomas W. Courtney 3/22/96
_____________________ Trustee ___________
Thomas W. Courtney
/s/William L. Ensign 3/22/96
_____________________ Trustee ___________
William L. Ensign
/s/Diana P. Herrmann 3/22/96
_____________________ Trustee ___________
Diana P. Herrmann
/s/John C. Lucking 3/22/96
_____________________ Trustee ___________
John C. Lucking
/s/Anne J. Mills 3/22/96
_____________________ Trustee ___________
Anne J. Mills
/s/William T. Quinsler 3/22/96
______________________ Trustee ___________
William T. Quinsler
/s/Rose F. Marotta 3/22/96
______________________ Chief Financial Officer ___________
Rose F. Marotta (Principal Financial and
Accounting Officer)
<PAGE>
TAX-FREE TRUST OF ARIZONA
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit Exhibit Page
Number Name Number
2 Bylaws
15 Distribution Plan
17 Financial Data Schedule
Cover letter
Dated: March 6, 1996
TAX-FREE TRUST OF ARIZONA
BY-LAWS
ARTICLE I
SHAREHOLDERS
Section 1. Place of Meeting. All meetings of the
Shareholders (which term as used herein shall, together with all
other terms defined in the Declaration of Trust, have the same
meaning as in the Declaration of Trust) shall be held at the
principal office of the Trust or at such other place as may from
time to time be designated by the Board of Trustees and stated in
the notice of meeting.
Section 1A. Shareholder Voting. At any meeting of Share-
holders, Shareholders are entitled to one (1) vote for each dollar
of net asset value (determined as of the record date for the
meeting) per Share held (and fractional votes for fractional dollar
amounts.)
Section 2. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the
Shareholders of the Trust shall be held on such date and at such
time as may be determined by the Board of Trustees and as shall be
designated in the notice of meeting for the purpose of electing
Trustees until the next annual meeting and for the transaction of
such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting.
Section 3. Special or Extraordinary Meetings.. Special or
extraordinary meetings of Shareholders for any purpose or purposes
may be called by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, if any, or
by the President or by the Board of Trustees and shall be called by
the Secretary upon receipt of the request in writing signed by
holders of Shares representing not less than ten percent (10%) of
the votes eligible to be cast thereat. Such request shall state
the purpose or purposes of the proposed meeting.
Section 4. Notice of Meetings of Shareholders. Not less
than ten days' and not more than ninety days' written or printed
notice of every meeting of Shareholders, stating the time and place
thereof (and the general nature of the business proposed to be
transacted at any special or extraordinary meeting), shall be given
to each Shareholder entitled to vote thereat by leaving the same
with him or at his residence or usual place of business or by
mailing it, postage prepaid and addressed to him at his address as
it appears upon the books of the Trust.
No notice of the time, place or purpose of any meeting of
Shareholders need be given to any Shareholder who attends in person
or by proxy or to any Shareholder who, in writing executed and
filed with the records of the meeting, either before or after the
holding thereof, waives such notice.
Section 5. Record Dates. The Board of Trustees may fix,
in advance, a date, not exceeding ninety days and not less than ten
days preceding the date of any meeting of Shareholders, and not
exceeding ninety days preceding any dividend payment date or any
date for the allotment of rights, as a record date for the
determination of the Shareholders entitled to receive such
dividends or rights, as the case may be; and only Shareholders of
record on such date shall be entitled to notice of and to vote at
such meeting or to receive such dividends or rights, as the case
may be.
Section 6. Quorum, Adjournment of Meetings. The presence
in person or by proxy of the holders of record of outstanding
Shares of the Trust representing at least one-third of the votes
eligible to be cast thereat shall constitute a quorum at all
meetings of Shareholders. If at any meeting of the Shareholders
there shall be less than a quorum present, the Shareholders present
at such meeting may, without further notice, adjourn the same from
time to time until a quorum shall attend, but no business shall be
transacted at any such adjourned meeting except such as might have
been lawfully transacted had the meeting not been adjourned.
Section 7. Voting and Inspectors. At all meetings of
Shareholders every Shareholder of record entitled to vote thereat
shall be entitled to vote at such meeting either in person or by
proxy appointed by instrument in writing subscribed by such
Shareholder or his duly authorized attorney-in-fact.
All elections of Trustees shall be had by a plurality of
the votes cast and all questions shall be decided by a majority of
the votes cast, in each case at a duly constituted meeting, except
as otherwise provided in the Declaration of Trust or in these By-
Laws or by specific statutory provision superseding the
restrictions and limitations contained in the Declaration of Trust
or in these By-Laws.
At any election of Trustees, the Board of Trustees prior
thereto may, or, if they have not so acted, the Chairman of the
meeting may, and upon the request of the holders of the outstanding
Shares of the Trust representing 10% of its net asset value
entitled to vote at such election shall appoint two inspectors of
election who shall first subscribe an oath or affirmation to
execute faithfully the duties of inspectors at such election with
strict impartiality and according to the best of their ability, and
shall after the election make a certificate of the result of the
vote taken. No candidate for the office of Trustee shall be
appointed such Inspector.
The Chairman of the meeting may cause a vote by ballot to
be taken upon any election or matter, and such vote shall be taken
upon the request of the holders of the outstanding Shares of the
Trust representing 10% of its net asset value entitled to vote on
such election or matter.
Section 8. Conduct of Shareholders' Meetings. The
meetings of the Shareholders shall be presided over by the Chairman
of the Board of Trustees, if any, or if he shall not be present, by
the President, or if he shall not be present, by a Vice-President,
or if neither the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, the President
nor any Vice-President is present, by a chairman to be elected at
the meeting. The Secretary of the Trust, if present, shall act as
Secretary of such meetings, or if he is not present, an Assistant
Secretary shall so act; if neither the Secretary nor an Assistant
Secretary is present, then the meeting shall elect its secretary.
Section 9. Concerning Validity of Proxies, Ballots, Etc.
At every meeting of the Shareholders, all proxies shall be received
and taken in charge of and all ballots shall be received and
canvassed by the secretary of the meeting, who shall decide all
questions touching the qualification of voters, the validity of the
proxies, and the acceptance or rejection of votes, unless
inspectors of election shall have been appointed as provided in
Section 7, in which event such inspectors of election shall decide
all such questions.
ARTICLE II
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Section 1. Number and Tenure of Office. The business and
property of the Trust shall be conducted and managed by a Board of
Trustees consisting of the number of initial Trustees, which number
may be increased or decreased as provided in Section 2 of this
Article. Each Trustee shall, except as otherwise provided herein,
hold office until the annual meeting of Shareholders of the Trust
next succeeding his election or until his successor is duly elected
and qualifies. Trustees need not be Shareholders.
Section 2. Increase or Decrease in Number of Trustees;
Removal. The Board of Trustees, by the vote of a majority of the
entire Board, may increase the number of Trustees to a number not
exceeding fifteen, and may elect Trustees to fill the vacancies
created by any such increase in the number of Trustees until the
next annual meeting or until their successors are duly elected and
qualify; the Board of Trustees, by the vote of a majority of the
entire Board, may likewise decrease the number of Trustees to a
number not less than two but the tenure of office of any Trustee
shall not be affected by any such decrease. Vacancies occurring
other than by reason of any such increase shall be filled as
provided for a Massachusetts business corporation. In the event
that after proxy material has been printed for a meeting of
Shareholders at which Trustees are to be elected any one or more
management nominees dies or becomes incapacitated, the authorized
number of Trustees shall be automatically reduced by the number of
such nominees, unless the Board of Trustees prior to the meeting
shall otherwise determine. Any Trustee at any time may be removed
either with or without cause by resolution duly adopted by the
affirmative votes of the holders of the majority of the Shares of
the Trust present in person or by proxy at any meeting of
Shareholders at which such vote may be taken, provided that a
quorum is present, or by such larger vote as may be required by
Massachusetts law. Any Trustee at any time may be removed for
cause by resolution duly adopted at any meeting of the Board of
Trustees provided that notice thereof is contained in the notice of
such meeting and that such resolution is adopted by the vote of at
least two thirds of the Trustees whose removal is not proposed. As
used herein, "for cause" shall mean any cause which under
Massachusetts law would permit the removal of a Trustee of a
business trust.
Section 3. Place of Meeting. The Trustees may hold their
meetings, have one or more offices, and keep the books of the Trust
outside Massachusetts, at any office or offices of the Trust or at
any other place as they may from time to time by resolution
determine, or, in the case of meetings, as they may from time to
time by resolution determine or as shall be specified or fixed in
the respective notices or waivers of notice thereof.
Section 4. Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the
Board of Trustees shall be held at such time and on such notice, if
any, as the Trustees may from time to time determine.
The annual meeting of the Board of Trustees shall be held
as soon as practicable after the annual meeting of the Shareholders
for the election of Trustees.
Section 5. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the
Board of Trustees may be held from time to time upon call of the
Chairman of the Board of Trustees, if any, the President or two or
more of the Trustees, by oral or telegraphic or written notice duly
served on or sent or mailed to each Trustee not less than one day
before such meeting. No notice need be given to any Trustee who
attends in person or to any Trustee who, in writing executed and
filed with the records of the meeting either before or after the
holding thereof, waives such notice. Such notice or waiver of
notice need not state the purpose or purposes of such meeting.
Section 6. Quorum. One-third of the Trustees then in
office shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business,
provided that a quorum shall in no case be less than two Trustees.
If at any meeting of the Board there shall be less than a quorum
present (in person or by open telephone line, to the extent
permitted by the 1940 Act), a majority of those present may adjourn
the meeting from time to time until a quorum shall have been
obtained. The act of the majority of the Trustees present at any
meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board,
except as may be otherwise specifically provided by statute, by the
Declaration of Trust or by these By-Laws.
Section 7. Executive Committee. The Board of Trustees
may, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire Board,
elect from the Trustees an Executive Committee to consist of such
number of Trustees as the Board may from time to time determine.
The Board of Trustees by such affirmative vote shall have power at
any time to change the members of such Committee and may fill
vacancies in the Committee by election from the Trustees. When the
Board of Trustees is not in session, the Executive Committee shall
have and may exercise any or all of the powers of the Board of
Trustees in the management of the business and affairs of the Trust
(including the power to authorize the seal of the Trust to be
affixed to all papers which may require it) except as provided by
law and except the power to increase or decrease the size of, or
fill vacancies on the Board. The Executive Committee may fix its
own rules of procedure, and may meet, when and as provided by such
rules or by resolution of the Board of Trustees, but in every case
the presence of a majority shall be necessary to constitute a
quorum. In the absence of any member of the Executive Committee
the members thereof present at any meeting, whether or not they
constitute a quorum, may appoint a member of the Board of Trustees
to act in the place of such absent member.
Section 8. Other Committees. The Board of Trustees, by
the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire Board, may appoint
other committees which shall in each case consist of such number of
members (not less than two) and shall have and may exercise such
powers as the Board may determine in the resolution appointing
them. A majority of all members of any such committee may
determine its action, and fix the time and place of its meetings,
unless the Board of Trustees shall otherwise provide. The Board of
Trustees shall have power at any time to change the members and
powers of any such committee, to fill vacancies, and to discharge
any such committee.
Section 9. Informal Action by and Telephone Meetings of
Trustees and Committees. Any action required or permitted to be
taken at any meeting of the Board of Trustees or any committee
thereof may be taken without a meeting, if a written consent to
such action is signed by all members of the Board, or of such
committee, as the case may be. Trustees or members of a committee
of the Board of Trustees may participate in a meeting by means of
a conference telephone or similar communications equipment; such
participation shall, except as otherwise required by the 1940 Act,
have the same effect as presence in person.
Section 10. Compensation of Trustees. Trustees shall be
entitled to receive such compensation from the Trust for their
services as may from time to time be voted by the Board of
Trustees.
Section 11. Dividends. Dividends or distributions
payable on the Shares may, but need not be, declared by specific
resolution of the Board as to each dividend or distribution; in
lieu of such specific resolutions, the Board may, by general
resolution, determine the method of computation thereof, the method
of determining the Shareholders to which they are payable and the
methods of determining whether and to which Shareholders they are
to be paid in cash or in additional Shares.
ARTICLE III
OFFICERS
Section 1. Executive Officers. The executive officers of
the Trust shall be chosen by the Board of Trustees as soon as may
be practicable after the annual meeting of the Shareholders. These
may include a Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and shall include
a President, one or more Vice-Presidents (the number thereof to be
determined by the Board of Trustees), a Secretary and a Treasurer.
The Chairman of the Board of Trustees, if any, and the President
may, but need not be, selected from among the Trustees. The Board
of Trustees may also in its discretion appoint Assistant
Secretaries, Assistant Treasurers, and other officers, agents and
employees, who shall have such authority and perform such duties as
the Board or the Executive Committee may determine. The Board of
Trustees may fill any vacancy which may occur in any office. Any
two offices, except those of President and Vice-President, may be
held by the same person, but no officer shall execute, acknowledge
or verify any instrument in more than one capacity, if such
instrument is required by law or these By-Laws to be executed,
acknowledged or verified by two or more officers.
Section 2. Term of Office. The term of office of all
officers shall be one year and until their respective successors
are chosen and qualify; however, any officer may be removed from
office at any time with or without cause by the vote of a majority
of the entire Board of Trustees.
Section 3. Powers and Duties. The officers of the Trust
shall have such powers and duties as generally pertain to their
respective offices, as well as such powers and duties as may from
time to time be conferred by the Board of Trustees or the Executive
Committee.
ARTICLE IV
SHARES
Section 1. Certificates of Shares. Each Shareholder of
the Trust may be issued a certificate or certificates for his
Shares in such form as the Board of Trustees may from time to time
prescribe, but only if and to the extent and on the conditions
prescribed by the Board.
Section 2. Transfer of Shares. Shares shall be trans-
ferable on the books of the Trust by the holder thereof in person
or by his duly authorized attorney or legal representative, upon
surrender and cancellation of certificates, if any, for the same
number of Shares, duly endorsed or accompanied by proper instru-
ments of assignment and transfer, with such proof of the authen-
ticity of the signature as the Trust or its agent may reasonably
require; in the case of Shares not represented by certificates, the
same or similar requirements may be imposed by the Board of
Trustees.
Section 3. Stock Ledgers. The stock ledgers of the
Trust, containing the name and address of the Shareholders and the
number of Shares held by them respectively, shall be kept at the
principal offices of the Trust or, if the Trust employs a transfer
agent, at the offices of the transfer agent of the Trust.
Section 4. Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. The
Board of Trustees may determine the conditions upon which a new
certificate may be issued in place of a certificate which is
alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed; and may, in their
discretion, require the owner of such certificate or his legal
representative to give bond, with sufficient surety to the Trust
and the transfer agent, if any, to indemnify it and such transfer
agent against any and all loss or claims which may arise by reason
of the issue of a new certificate in the place of the one so lost,
stolen or destroyed.
ARTICLE V
SEAL
The Board of Trustees shall provide a suitable seal of
the Trust, in such form and bearing such inscriptions as it may
determine.
ARTICLE VI
FISCAL YEAR
The fiscal year of the Trust shall be fixed by the Board
of Trustees.
ARTICLE VII
AMENDMENT OF BY-LAWS
The By-Laws of the Trust may be altered, amended, added
to or repealed by the Shareholders or by majority vote of the
entire Board of Trustees, but any such alteration, amendment,
addition or repeal of the By-Laws by action of the Board of
Trustees may be altered or repealed by the Shareholders.
Dated: , 1996
TAX-FREE TRUST OF ARIZONA
DISTRIBUTION PLAN
1. The Plan. This amended and restated Plan (the "Plan") is
the written plan, contemplated by Rule 12b-1 (the "Rule") under
the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act"), of Tax-Free
Trust of Arizona (the "Trust"). Part I of the Plan applies
solely to the Front-Payment Class ("Class A") of shares of the
Trust, Part II solely to the Level-Payment Class ("Class C") and
Part III to all classes.
2. Disinterested Trustees. While any Part of this Plan is in
effect, the selection and nomination of those Trustees of the
Trust who are not "interested persons" of the Trust shall be
committed to the discretion of such disinterested Trustees.
Nothing herein shall prevent the involvement of others in such
selection and nomination if the final decision on any such
selection and nomination is approved by a majority of such
disinterested Trustees.
Part I
Payments Involving Trust Assets Allocated to Front-Payment Shares
3. Applicability. This Part I of the Plan applies only to the
Front-Payment Class ("Class A") of shares of the Trust
(regardless of whether such class is so designated or is
redesignated by some other name).
4. Definitions for Part I. As used in this Part I of the Plan,
"Qualified Recipients" shall mean broker-dealers or others
selected by Aquila Distributors, Inc. (the "Distributor"),
including but not limited to any principal underwriter of the
Trust, with which the Trust or the Distributor has entered into
written agreements in connection with this Part I ("Class A Plan
Agreements") and which have rendered assistance (whether direct,
administrative, or both) in the distribution and/or retention of
the Trust's Front-Payment Shares or servicing of shareholder
accounts with respect to such shares. "Qualified Holdings" shall
mean, as to any Qualified Recipient, all Front-Payment Shares
beneficially owned by such Qualified Recipient, or beneficially
owned by its brokerage customers, other customers, other
contacts, investment advisory clients, or other clients, if the
Qualified Recipient was, in the sole judgment of the Distributor,
instrumental in the purchase and/or retention of such shares
and/or in providing administrative assistance or other services
in relation thereto. "Administrator" shall mean Aquila
Management Corporation or any successor serving as sub-adviser or
administrator of the Fund.
5. Certain Payments Permitted. Subject to the direction and
control of the Board of Trustees of the Trust, the Trust may make
payments ("Class A Permitted Payments") to Qualified Recipients,
which Class A Permitted Payments may be made directly, or through
the Distributor or shareholder servicing agent as disbursing
agent, which may not exceed, for any fiscal year of the Trust (as
adjusted for any part or parts of a fiscal year during which
payments under the Plan are not accruable or for any fiscal year
which is not a full fiscal year) 0.15 of 1% of the average annual
net assets of the Trust represented by the Front-Payment Class of
shares. Such payments shall be made only out of the Trust assets
allocable to the Front-Payment Shares. The Distributor shall
have sole authority (i) as to the selection of any Qualified
Recipient or Recipients; (ii) not to select any Qualified
Recipient; and (iii) the amount of Class A Permitted Payments, if
any, to each Qualified Recipient provided that the total Class A
Permitted Payments to all Qualified Recipients do not exceed the
amount set forth above. The Distributor is authorized, but not
directed, to take into account, in addition to any other factors
deemed relevant by it, the following: (a) the amount of the
Qualified Holdings of the Qualified Recipient; (b) the extent to
which the Qualified Recipient has, at its expense, taken steps in
the shareholder servicing area with respect to holders of Front-
Payment Shares, including without limitation, any or all of the
following activities: answering customer inquiries regarding
account status and history, and the manner in which purchases and
redemptions of shares of the Trust may be effected; assisting
shareholders in designating and changing dividend options,
account designations and addresses; providing necessary personnel
and facilities to establish and maintain shareholder accounts and
records; assisting in processing purchase and redemption
transactions; arranging for the wiring of funds; transmitting and
receiving funds in connection with customer orders to purchase or
redeem shares; verifying and guaranteeing shareholder signatures
in connection with redemption orders and transfers and changes in
shareholder designated accounts; furnishing (either alone or
together with other reports sent to a shareholder by such person)
monthly and year end statements and confirmations of purchases
and redemptions; transmitting, on behalf of the Trust, proxy
statements, annual reports, updating prospectuses and other
communications from the Trust to its shareholders; receiving
tabulating and transmitting to the Trust proxies executed by
shareholders with respect to meetings of shareholders of the
Trust; and providing such other related services as the
Distributor or a shareholder may request from time to time; and
(c) the possibility that the Qualified Holdings of the Qualified
Recipient would be redeemed in the absence of its selection or
continuance as a Qualified Recipient. Notwithstanding the
foregoing two sentences, a majority of the Independent Trustees
(as defined below) may remove any person as a Qualified
Recipient. Amounts within the above limits accrued to a
Qualified Recipient but not paid during a fiscal year may be paid
thereafter; if less than the full amount is accrued to all
Qualified Recipients, the difference will not be carried over to
subsequent years.
6. Reports. While this Part I is in effect, the Trust's
Distributor shall report at least quarterly to the Trust's
Trustees in writing for their review on the following matters:
(i) all Class A Permitted Payments made under Section 5 of the
Plan, the identity of the Qualified Recipient of each payment,
and the purposes for which the amounts were expended; and (ii)
all fees of the Trust to the Distributor paid or accrued during
such quarter. In addition, if any such Qualified Recipient is an
affiliated person, as that term is defined in the Act, of the
Trust, the Adviser, the Administrator or the Distributor, such
person shall agree to furnish to the Distributor for transmission
to the Board of Trustees of the Trust an accounting, in form and
detail satisfactory to the Board of Trustees, to enable the Board
of Trustees to make the determinations of the fairness of the
compensation paid to such affiliated person, not less often than
annually.
7. Effectiveness, Continuation, Termination and Amendment. To
the extent required by the 1940 Act, this Part I of the Plan has
been approved (i) by a vote of the Trustees, including those
Trustees (the "Independent Trustees") who, at the time of such
vote, were not "interested persons" (as defined in the 1940 Act)
of the Trust and had no direct or indirect financial interest in
the operation of this Plan or in any agreements related to this
Plan, with votes cast in person at a meeting called for the
purpose of voting on Part I of the Plan; and (ii) by a vote of
holders of at least a "majority" (as defined in the 1940 Act) of
the outstanding voting securities of the Front-Payment Class (or
of any predecessor class or category of shares, whether or not
designated as a class) and a vote of holders of at least a
"majority" (as so defined) of the outstanding voting securities
of the Level-Payment Class and/or of any other class whose shares
are convertible into Front-Payment Shares. This Part I is
effective as of the date first above written and will, unless
terminated as hereinafter provided, continue in effect until
April 30 of each year only so long as such continuance is
specifically approved at least annually by the Trust's Trustees
and its Independent Trustees with votes cast in person at a
meeting called for the purpose of voting on such continuance.
This Part I may be terminated at any time by the vote of a
majority of the Independent Trustees or by shareholder approval
of the class or classes of shares affected by this Part I as set
forth in (ii) above. This Part I may not be amended to increase
materially the amount of payments to be made without shareholder
approval of the class or classes of shares affected by this Part
I as set forth in (ii) above, and all amendments must be approved
in the manner set forth in (i) above.
8. Class A Plan Agreements. In the case of a Qualified
Recipient which is a principal underwriter of the Trust, the
Class A Plan Agreement shall be the agreement contemplated by
Section 15(b) of the 1940 Act since each such agreement must be
approved in accordance with, and contain the provisions required
by, the Rule. In the case of Qualified Recipients which are not
principal underwriters of the Trust, the Class A Plan Agreements
with them shall be their agreements with the Distributor with
respect to payments under this Part I, provided, however, that
"Related Agreements" entered into under the distribution plan of
the Trust in effect prior to the effective date of this Part I
and not terminated at or prior to such effective date are deemed
to be "Class A Plan Agreements" for purposes of this Part I and
that, as and to the extent necessary to give effect to this
proviso, defined terms used in such agreements shall be deemed to
have the meanings assigned to their appropriate counterparts in
this Part I and the provisions of such agreements, which shall
otherwise remain in full force and effect, are deemed to be
appropriately modified.
Part II
Payments Involving Trust Assets Allocated to Level-Payment Shares
9. Applicability. This Part II of the Plan applies only to the
Level Payment Class ("Class C") of shares of the Trust
(regardless of whether such class is so designated or is
redesignated by some other name).
10. Definitions for Part II. As used in this Part II of the
Plan, "Qualified Recipients" shall mean broker-dealers or others
selected by Aquila Distributors, Inc. (the "Distributor"),
including but not limited to any principal underwriter of the
Trust, with which the Trust or the Distributor has entered into
written agreements in connection with this Part II ("Class C Plan
Agreements") and which have rendered assistance (whether direct,
administrative, or both) in the distribution and/or retention of
the Trust's Level-Payment Shares or servicing of shareholder
accounts with respect to such shares. "Qualified Holdings" shall
mean, as to any Qualified Recipient, all Level-Payment Shares
beneficially owned by such Qualified Recipient, or beneficially
owned by its brokerage customers, other customers, other
contacts, investment advisory clients, or other clients, if the
Qualified Recipient was, in the sole judgment of the Distributor,
instrumental in the purchase and/or retention of such shares
and/or in providing administrative assistance or other services
in relation thereto. "Administrator" shall mean Aquila
Management Corporation or any successor serving as sub-adviser or
administrator of the Fund.
11. Certain Payments Permitted. Subject to the direction and
control of the Board of Trustees of the Trust, the Trust may make
payments ("Class C Permitted Payments") to Qualified Recipients,
which Class C Permitted Payments may be made directly, or through
the Distributor or shareholder servicing agent as disbursing
agent, which may not exceed, for any fiscal year of the Trust (as
adjusted for any part or parts of a fiscal year during which
payments under the Plan are not accruable or for any fiscal year
which is not a full fiscal year) 0.75 of 1% of the average annual
net assets of the Trust represented by the Level-Payment Class of
shares. Such payments shall be made only out of the Trust assets
allocable to the Level-Payment Shares. The Distributor shall
have sole authority (i) as to the selection of any Qualified
Recipient or Recipients; (ii) not to select any Qualified
Recipient; and (iii) the amount of Class C Permitted Payments, if
any, to each Qualified Recipient provided that the total Class C
Permitted Payments to all Qualified Recipients do not exceed the
amount set forth above. The Distributor is authorized, but not
directed, to take into account, in addition to any other factors
deemed relevant by it, the following: (a) the amount of the
Qualified Holdings of the Qualified Recipient; (b) the extent to
which the Qualified Recipient has, at its expense, taken steps in
the shareholder servicing area with respect to holders of Level-
Payment Shares, including without limitation, any or all of the
following activities: answering customer inquiries regarding
account status and history, and the manner in which purchases and
redemptions of shares of the Trust may be effected; assisting
shareholders in designating and changing dividend options,
account designations and addresses; providing necessary personnel
and facilities to establish and maintain shareholder accounts and
records; assisting in processing purchase and redemption
transactions; arranging for the wiring of funds; transmitting and
receiving funds in connection with customer orders to purchase or
redeem shares; verifying and guaranteeing shareholder signatures
in connection with redemption orders and transfers and changes in
shareholder designated accounts; furnishing (either alone or
together with other reports sent to a shareholder by such person)
monthly and year end statements and confirmations of purchases
and redemptions; transmitting, on behalf of the Trust, proxy
statements, annual reports, updating prospectuses and other
communications from the Trust to its shareholders; receiving
tabulating and transmitting to the Trust proxies executed by
shareholders with respect to meetings of shareholders of the
Trust; and providing such other related services as the
Distributor or a shareholder may request from time to time; and
(c) the possibility that the Qualified Holdings of the Qualified
Recipient would be redeemed in the absence of its selection or
continuance as a Qualified Recipient. Notwithstanding the
foregoing two sentences, a majority of the Independent Trustees
(as defined below) may remove any person as a Qualified
Recipient. Amounts within the above limits accrued to a
Qualified Recipient but not paid during a fiscal year may be paid
thereafter; if less than the full amount is accrued to all
Qualified Recipients, the difference will not be carried over to
subsequent years.
12. Reports. While this Part II is in effect, the Trust's
Distributor shall report at least quarterly to the Trust's
Trustees in writing for their review on the following matters:
(i) all Class C Permitted Payments made under Section 11 of the
Plan, the identity of the Qualified Recipient of each payment,
and the purposes for which the amounts were expended; and (ii)
all fees of the Trust to the Distributor paid or accrued during
such quarter. In addition, if any such Qualified Recipient is an
affiliated person, as that term is defined in the Act, of the
Trust, the Adviser, the Administrator or the Distributor, such
person shall agree to furnish to the Distributor for transmission
to the Board of Trustees of the Trust an accounting, in form and
detail satisfactory to the Board of Trustees, to enable the Board
of Trustees to make the determinations of the fairness of the
compensation paid to such affiliated person, not less often than
annually.
13. Effectiveness, Continuation, Termination and Amendment.
This Part II has been approved (i) by a vote of the Trustees,
including the Independent Trustees, with votes cast in person at
a meeting called for the purpose of voting on Part II of the
Plan; and (ii) by a vote of holders of at least a "majority" (as
defined in the 1940 Act) of the outstanding voting securities of
the Level-Payment Class. This Part II is effective as of the
date first above written and will, unless terminated as
hereinafter provided, continue in effect until April 30 of each
year only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at
least annually by the Trust's Trustees and its Independent
Trustees with votes cast in person at a meeting called for the
purpose of voting on such continuance. This Part II may be
terminated at any time by the vote of a majority of the
Independent Trustees or by the vote of the holders of a
"majority" (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the outstanding voting
securities of the Level-Payment Class. This Part II may not be
amended to increase materially the amount of payments to be made
without shareholder approval of the class or classes of shares
affected by this Part II as set forth in (ii) above, and all
amendments must be approved in the manner set forth in (i) above.
14. Class C Plan Agreements. In the case of a Qualified
Recipient which is a principal underwriter of the Trust, the
Class C Plan Agreement shall be the agreement contemplated by
Section 15(b) of the 1940 Act since each such agreement must be
approved in accordance with, and contain the provisions required
by, the Rule. In the case of Qualified Recipients which are not
principal underwriters of the Trust, the Class C Plan Agreements
with them shall be their agreements with the Distributor with
respect to payments under this Part II, provided, however, that
"Related Agreements" entered into under the distribution plan of
the Trust in effect prior to the effective date of this Part II
and not terminated at or prior to such effective date are deemed
to be "Class C Plan Agreements" for purposes of this Part II and
that, as and to the extent necessary to give effect to this
proviso, defined terms used in such agreements shall be deemed to
have the meanings assigned to their appropriate counterparts in
this Part II and the provisions of such agreements, which shall
otherwise remain in full force and effect, are deemed to be
appropriately modified.
Part III
Defensive Provisions
15. Certain Payments Permitted. Whenever the Administrator of
the Trust (i) makes any payment directly or through the Trust's
Distributor for additional compensation to dealers in connection
with sales of shares of the Trust, which additional compensation
may include payment or partial payment for advertising of the
Trust's shares, payment of travel expenses, including lodging,
incurred in connection with trips taken by qualifying registered
representatives and members of their families to locations within
or outside of the United States, other prizes or financial
assistance to securities dealers in offering their own seminars
or conferences, or other items described in the Trust's
prospectus, in amounts that will not exceed the amount of the
sales charges in respect of sales of shares of the Trust effected
through such participating dealers whether retained by the
Distributor or reallowed to participating dealers, or (ii) bears
the costs, not borne by the Distributor, of printing and
distributing all copies of the Trust's prospectuses, statements
of additional information and reports to shareholders which are
not sent to the Trust's shareholders, or the costs of
supplemental sales literature and advertising, such payments are
authorized.
It is recognized that, in view of the bearing by the
Administrator of certain distribution expenses, the profits, if
any, of the Administrator are dependent primarily on the
administration fees paid by the Trust to the Administrator and
that its profits, if any, would be less, or losses, if any, would
be increased due to the bearing by it of such expenses. If and to
the extent that any such administration fees paid by the Trust
might, in view of the foregoing, be considered as indirectly
financing any activity which is primarily intended to result in
the sale of shares issued by the Trust, the payment of such fees
is authorized by the Plan.
16. Certain Trust Payments Authorized. If and to the extent
that any of the payments listed below are considered to be
"primarily intended to result in the sale of" shares issued by
the Trust within the meaning of the Rule, such payments are
authorized under this Plan: (i) the costs of the preparation of
all reports and notices to shareholders and the costs of printing
and mailing such reports and notices to existing shareholders,
irrespective of whether such reports or notices contain or are
accompanied by material intended to result in the sale of shares
of the Trust or other funds or other investments; (ii) the costs
of the preparation and setting in type of all prospectuses and
statements of additional information, and the costs of printing
and mailing of all prospectuses and statements of additional
information to existing shareholders; (iii) the costs of the
preparation, printing and mailing of all proxy statements and
proxies, irrespective of whether any such proxy statement
includes any item relating to, or directed toward, the sale of
the Trust's shares; (iv) all legal and accounting fees relating
to the preparation of any such reports, prospectuses, statements
of additional information, proxies and proxy statements; (v) all
fees and expenses relating to the registration or qualification
of the Trust and/or its shares under the securities or "Blue-Sky"
laws of any jurisdiction; (vi) all fees under the Securities Act
of 1933 and the 1940 Act, including fees in connection with any
application for exemption relating to or directed toward the sale
of the Trust's shares; (vii) all fees and assessments of the
Investment Company Institute or any successor organization,
irrespective of whether some of its activities are designed to
provide sales assistance; (viii) all costs of the preparation and
mailing of confirmations of shares sold or redeemed or share
certificates, and reports of share balances; and (ix) all costs
of responding to telephone or mail inquiries of investors.
17. Reports. While Part III of this Plan is in effect, the
Trust's sub-adviser, Administrator or Distributor shall report at
least quarterly to the Trust's Trustees in writing for their
review on the following matters: (i) all payments made under
Section 15 of this Plan; (ii) all costs of each item specified in
Section 16 of this Plan (making estimates of such costs where
necessary or desirable) during the preceding calendar or fiscal
quarter; and (iii) all fees of the Trust to the Distributor,
sub-adviser or Administrator paid or accrued during such quarter.
18. Effectiveness, Continuation, Termination and Amendment. To
the extent required by the 1940 Act, this Part III of the Plan
has, with respect to each class of shares outstanding, been
approved (i) by a vote of the Trustees of the Trust and of the
Independent Trustees, with votes cast in person at a meeting
called for the purpose of voting on this Plan; and (ii) by a vote
of holders of at least a "majority" (as defined in the 1940 Act)
of the outstanding voting securities of such class and a vote of
holders of at least a "majority" (as so defined) of the
outstanding voting securities of any class whose shares are
convertible into shares of such class. This Part III is
effective with respect to each class of shares outstanding as of
the date first above written and will, unless terminated as
hereinafter provided, continue in effect with respect to each
class of shares to which it applies until April 30 of each year
only so long as such continuance is specifically approved with
respect to that class at least annually by the Trust's Trustees
and its Independent Trustees with votes cast in person at a
meeting called for the purpose of voting on such continuance.
This Part III of the Plan may be terminated at any time with
respect to a given class by the vote of a majority of the
Independent Trustees or by the vote of the holders of a
"majority" (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the outstanding voting
securities of that class. This Part III may not be amended to
increase materially the amount of payments to be made without
shareholder approval as set forth in (ii) above, and all
amendments must be approved in the manner set forth in (i) above.
--------------------------
19. Additional Terms and Conditions. This Plan and each Part of
it shall also be subject to all applicable terms and conditions
of Rule 18f-3 under the Act as now in force or hereafter amended.
Specifically, but without limitation, the provisions of Part III
shall be deemed to be severable, within the meaning of and to the
extent required by Rule 18f-3, with respect to each outstanding
class of shares of the Trust.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
REGISTRANT'S SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT DATED DECEMBER 31, 1995 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000784056
<NAME> TAX-FREE TRUST OF ARIZONA
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUN-30-1996
<PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1995
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 370,831,745
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 393,433,900
<RECEIVABLES> 9,334,571
<ASSETS-OTHER> 1,073,975
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 5,890
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 403,848,336
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 8,074,107
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 638,145
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 8,712,252
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 374,673,144
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 36,867,080
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 36,707,862
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (2,139,215)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 22,602,155
<NET-ASSETS> 395,136,084
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 11,665,020
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 1,412,025
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 10,252,995
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 2,248,847
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 10,482,841
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 22,984,683
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 10,252,995
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 1,629,912
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 1,973,850
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 503,156
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 159,218
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 390,509
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 1,433,425
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 387,361,226
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 10.37
<PER-SHARE-NII> .28
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> .35
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> .28
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 10.72
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .72
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
