Alpha Fund Prospectus
THIS PROSPECTUS HAS INFORMATION YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE YOU INVEST. PLEASE READ
IT CAREFULLY AND KEEP IT WITH YOUR INVESTMENT RECORDS.
AS WITH ALL MUTUAL FUNDS, THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION HAS NOT
APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THESE SECURITIES OR DETERMINED IF THIS PROSPECTUS IS
TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
THIS PROSPECTUS WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE IN SPANISH AND CHINESE IN DECEMBER BY
CALLING THE STATE STREET RESEARCH SERVICE CENTER AT 1-888-638-3193
[GRAPHIC OF CLOCK]
STATE STREET RESEARCH
ALPHA FUND
A STOCK FUND WITH A VALUE APPROACH TO MID-CAP INVESTING.
PROSPECTUS
NOVEMBER 1, 2000
<PAGE>
CONTENTS
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1 THE FUND
---------------
1 Goal and Strategies
2 Principal Risks
4 Volatility and Performance
6 Investor Expenses
8 Investment Management
9 YOUR INVESTMENT
----------------------
9 Opening an Account
9 Choosing a Share Class
10 Sales Charges
13 Dealer Compensation
14 Buying and Selling Shares
18 Account Policies
20 Distributions and Taxes
21 Investor Services
22 OTHER INFORMATION
-------------------------
22 Other Securities and Risks
24 Financial Highlights
27 Board of Trustees
BACK COVER For Additional Information
<PAGE>
THE FUND 1
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[CHESS PIECE] GOAL AND STRATEGIES
FUNDAMENTAL GOAL The fund seeks to provide long-term growth of capital.
PRINCIPAL STRATEGIES Under normal market conditions, the fund invests at least
65% of total assets in mid-cap value stocks, which may include common and
preferred stocks, convertible securities and warrants.
The fund considers issuers of mid-cap value stocks to be companies that are
comparable in size to the companies in the Russell Midcap(TM) Value Index or a
similar index. The fund may continue to hold or buy additional shares of a
company that no longer is of comparable size if the investment manager continues
to believe that those shares are an attractive investment.
In choosing among mid-cap stocks, the fund takes a value approach, searching for
those companies that appear to be trading below their true worth. The fund uses
research to identify potential investments, examining such features as a
company's financial condition, business prospects, competitive position and
business strategy. The fund looks for companies that appear likely to come back
in favor with investors, for reasons that may range from good prospective
earnings and strong management teams to the introduction of new products and
services.
The fund reserves the right to invest up to 35% of total assets in other
securities. These may include other types of stocks, such as large-cap stocks
and growth stocks. The fund may also invest in junk bonds that, at the time of
purchase, may be rated as low as securities in the Standard & Poor's or Moody's
D major rating category, or their unrated equivalents.
[sidebar]
[MAGNIFYING GLASS] WHO MAY WANT TO INVEST
State Street Research Alpha Fund is designed for investors who seek one or more
of the following:
- a moderately aggressive stock fund for a long-term goal
- a fund to complement a portfolio of more conservative investments
- a mid-cap fund that emphasizes value stocks over growth stocks
The fund is NOT appropriate for investors who:
- want to avoid even moderate volatility and possible losses
- are seeking either income or aggressive growth
- are making short-term investments
- are investing emergency reserve money
[end sidebar]
<PAGE>
2
The fund may adjust the composition of its portfolio as market conditions and
economic outlooks change.
For more information about the fund's investments and practices, see page 22.
[STOP SIGN] PRINCIPAL RISKS
Because the fund invests primarily in stocks, its major risks are those of stock
investing, including sudden and unpredictable drops in value and the potential
for periods of lackluster performance.
There also are particular risks associated with investing in mid-cap value
stocks. Generally, mid-cap companies have more limited product lines or access
to financial resources than larger companies, and may not be as well positioned
as many larger companies if there is a significant or prolonged economic
decline. Moreover, value investing requires the portfolio manager to identify
companies that may be experiencing market or financial weakness but are expected
to achieve aggressive goals. If the fund acquires shares of companies that
cannot achieve their goals or if the markets do not recognize any improvement in
the value of those shares, the fund may lose money. The success of the fund's
investment strategies depends largely on the portfolio manager's skill in
assessing the potential of the stocks the fund buys.
To the extent that the fund invests in bonds, it takes on certain risks:
- A bond's issuer could default on principal or interest payments.
- Most types of bonds tend to fall in value when interest rates rise.
- Junk bonds are more risky than investment-grade bonds. Their issuers are less
secure financially, and are more likely to be hurt by interest rate increases
and declines in the health of the issuer or the economy. Junk bonds have a
higher risk of default and their market prices can be volatile.
- Convertible securities often follow the issuer's common stock price.
Because the fund may invest in U.S. companies with some international business,
and also may invest in foreign companies, it is subject to the risks associated
with international investing.
The fund's shares will rise and fall in value and there is a risk that you could
lose money by investing in the fund. Also, the fund cannot be certain that it
will achieve its goal. Finally, fund shares are not bank deposits and are not
guaranteed, endorsed or insured by a financial institution, government entity or
the FDIC.
INFORMATION ON OTHER SECURITIES AND RISKS APPEARS ON PAGE 22.
A "SNAPSHOT" OF THE FUND'S INVESTMENTS MAY BE FOUND IN THE CURRENT ANNUAL OR
SEMIANNUAL REPORT (SEE BACK COVER).
<PAGE>
3
[sidebar]
[MAGNIFYING GLASS] WHY MID-CAP VALUE INVESTING?
Mid-cap stocks tend to have the potential for greater capital appreciation than
stocks of larger companies while generally not having the volatility of stocks
of smaller companies.
Unlike large-cap companies, mid-cap companies usually compete in less mature
product and service markets. As a result, they tend to be better able to respond
to changes in technology and consumer tastes. These companies also tend to have
more resources to support their growth than smaller companies have.
Unlike small-cap companies, mid-cap companies tend to offer one or more
established products or services, to enable them to grow revenues and profits.
As a result, stock prices of mid-cap companies do not tend to be as volatile as
stock prices of smaller companies.
Investments in value stocks also help mitigate volatility in a fund's portfolio.
Prices of stocks that are undervalued generally are affected by investor
perceptions of the issuing company itself. Those perceptions usually do not vary
significantly over the short term. In contrast, prices of growth stocks tend to
be more sensitive to market movements, and thus, tend to be more susceptible to
short-term market volatility.
[end sidebar]
<PAGE>
4 VOLATILITY AND PERFORMANCE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR-BY-YEAR TOTAL RETURN (Class A)
[bar chart]
Years ended December 31
<S> <C>
1990 (10.82)
1991 18.16
1992 12.77
1993 22.42
1994 (4.88)
1995 28.73
1996 25.26
1997 27.54
1998 5.41
1999 (3.08)
</TABLE>
[UP ARROW] BEST QUARTER: third quarter 1997, up 12.53%
[DOWN ARROW] WORST QUARTER: third quarter 1998, down 15.29%
RETURN FROM 1/1/00 - 9/30/00 (not annualized): up 10.37%
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
As of December 31, 1999
-----------------------
AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN (AT MAXIMUM APPLICABLE SALES CHARGE) 1 YEAR 5 YEARS 10 YEARS
=============================================================================================================================
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Class A (%) (8.65) 14.64 10.63
Class B(1) (%) (a) (8.53) 14.89 10.77
Class B (%) (8.47) 14.91 10.78
Class C (%) (4.68) 15.16 10.78
Class S (%) (2.77) 16.31 11.52
S&P 500 Index (%) 21.03 28.54 18.19
Lipper Mid-Cap Value Funds Index (%) 11.94 14.88 11.79
</TABLE>
[footnote]
(a) PERFORMANCE FOR CLASS B(1) REFLECTS CLASS B PERFORMANCE THROUGH DECEMBER
31, 1998. CLASS B(1) WAS INTRODUCED ON JANUARY 1, 1999.
[end footnote]
<PAGE>
5
[sidebar]
[MAGNIFYING GLASS] UNDERSTANDING VOLATILITY AND PERFORMANCE
The chart and table on the opposite page are designed to show two aspects of the
fund's track record:
- YEAR-BY-YEAR TOTAL RETURN shows how volatile the fund has been: how much
the difference has been, historically, between its best years and worst
years. In general, funds with higher average annual total returns will also
have higher volatility. The graph includes the effects of fund expenses,
but not sales charges. If sales charges had been included, returns would
have been less than shown.
- AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN is a measure of the fund's performance over
time. It is determined by taking the fund's performance over a given period
and expressing it as an average annual rate.
Average annual total return includes the effects of fund expenses and maximum
sales charges for each class, and assumes that you sold your shares at the end
of the period.
Also included with the fund's average annual returns are two independent
measures of performance. The S&P 500 (officially, the "Standard & Poor's 500
Index") is an unmanaged index of 500 domestic stocks. The Lipper Mid-Cap Value
Funds Index shows the performance of a category of mutual funds with similar
goals. The Lipper index shows you how well the fund has done compared to
competing funds.
While the fund does not seek to match the returns or the volatility of the
S&P 500, this index is a good indicator of general stock market performance
and can be used as a rough guide when gauging the return of this and other
investments. When making comparisons, keep in mind that neither the S&P 500
nor the Lipper index includes the effects of sales charges. Also, even if
your portfolio were identical to the S&P 500, your returns would always be
lower, because the S&P 500 does not include brokerage and administrative
expenses.
Also, the returns in both the chart and the table would have been lower if the
distributor and its affiliates had not voluntarily reduced a portion of the
fund's expenses.
Keep in mind that past performance is no guarantee of future results.
[end sidebar]
<PAGE>
6 INVESTOR EXPENSES
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Class descriptions begin on page 9
-----------------------------------------------------------
SHAREHOLDER FEES (% of offering price) CLASS A CLASS B(1) CLASS B CLASS C CLASS S
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Maximum front-end sales charge (load) 5.75(a) 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
----
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) 0.00(a) 5.00 5.00 1.00 0.00
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES (% of average net assets) CLASS A CLASS B(1) CLASS B CLASS C CLASS S
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Management fee 0.65 0.65 0.65 0.65 0.65
Service/distribution (12b-1) fees 0.30(b) 1.00 1.00 1.00 0.00
Other expenses 0.59 0.59 0.59 0.59 0.59
TOTAL ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES* 1.54 2.24 2.24 2.24 1.24
[footnote]
* BECAUSE SOME OF THE FUND'S EXPENSES HAVE BEEN SUBSIDIZED
OR REDUCED THROUGH EXPENSE OFFSET ARRANGEMENTS, ACTUAL
TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES FOR THE PRIOR YEAR WOULD HAVE BEEN: 1.30 2.00 2.00 2.00 1.00
THE FUND EXPECTS THE EXPENSE SUBSIDY TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE
CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, ALTHOUGH THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT IT WILL.
[end footnote]
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXAMPLE YEAR CLASS A CLASS B(1) CLASS B CLASS C CLASS S
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1 $723 $727/$227 $727/$227 $327/$227 $126
3 $1,033 $1,000/$700 $1,000/$700 $700 $393
5 $1,366 $1,400/$1,200 $1,400/$1,200 $1,200 $681
10 $2,304 $2,399 $2,399 $2,575 $1,500
</TABLE>
[footnote]
(a) EXCEPT FOR INVESTMENTS OF $1 MILLION OR MORE; SEE PAGE 10.
(b) REFLECTS FEE SCHEDULE THAT BECAME EFFECTIVE MAY 1, 2000, AS IF IT HAD BEEN
IN PLACE DURING THE FUND'S ENTIRE PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR. THE TRUSTEES MAY
INCREASE THE CURRENT FEES SHOWN FOR CLASS A SHARES AT ANY TIME PROVIDED
THAT THE FEES DO NOT EXCEED A MAXIMUM OF 0.40%.
[end footnote]
<PAGE>
7
[sidebar]
[MAGNIFYING GLASS] UNDERSTANDING INVESTOR EXPENSES
The information on the opposite page is designed to give you an idea of what you
should expect to pay in expenses as an investor in the fund:
- SHAREHOLDER FEES are costs that are charged to you directly. These fees are
not charged on reinvestments or exchanges.
- ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES are deducted from the fund's assets every
year, and are thus paid indirectly by all fund investors.
- THE EXAMPLE is designed to allow you to compare the costs of this fund with
those of other funds. It assumes that you invested $10,000 over the years
indicated, reinvested all distributions, earned a hypothetical 5% annual
return and paid the maximum applicable sales charges. For Class B(1) and
Class B shares, it also assumes the automatic conversion to Class A after
eight years.
Where two numbers are shown separated by a slash, the first one assumes you sold
all your shares at the end of the period, while the second assumes you stayed in
the fund. Where there is only one number, the costs would be the same either
way.
The figures in the example assume full annual expenses, and would be lower if
they reflected the various expense reductions that may have been taken.
Investors should keep in mind that the example is for comparison purposes only.
The fund's actual performance and expenses may be higher or lower.
[end sidebar]
<PAGE>
8 THE FUND continued
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[THINKER] INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
The fund's investment manager is State Street Research & Management Company, One
Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. The firm traces its heritage back
to 1924 and the founding of one of America's first mutual funds. Today the firm
has approximately $55 billion in assets under management (as of September 30,
2000), including more than $20 billion in mutual funds.
The investment manager is responsible for the fund's investment and business
activities, and receives the management fee (0.65% of average net assets,
annually) as compensation. The investment manager is a subsidiary of
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company.
Peter A. Zuger has been responsible for the fund's day-to-day portfolio
management since September 2000. A senior vice president, he joined the firm in
1998 and has worked as an investment professional since 1976. During the past
five years, he has also served as a portfolio manager with American Century
Investment Management.
<PAGE>
YOUR INVESTMENT 9
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[KEY] OPENING AN ACCOUNT
If you are opening an account through a financial professional, he or she can
assist you with all phases of your investment.
If you are investing through a large retirement plan or other special program,
follow the instructions in your program materials.
To open an account without the help of a financial professional, please use the
instructions on these pages.
[CHECKLIST] CHOOSING A SHARE CLASS
The fund generally offers four share classes, each with its own sales charge and
expense structure: Class A, Class B(1), Class C and Class S. The fund also
offers Class B shares, but only to current Class B shareholders through
reinvestment of dividends and distributions or through exchanges from existing
Class B accounts of State Street Research funds.
If you are investing a substantial amount and plan to hold your shares for a
long period, Class A shares may make the most sense for you. If you are
investing a lesser amount, you may want to consider Class B(1) shares (if
investing for at least six years) or Class C shares (if investing for less than
five years). If you are investing through a special program, such as a large
employer-sponsored retirement plan or certain programs available through
brokers, you may be eligible to purchase Class S shares.
Because all future investments in your account will be made in the share class
you designate when opening the account, you should make your decision carefully.
Your financial professional can help you choose the share class that makes the
most sense for you.
<PAGE>
10 YOUR INVESTMENT continued
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CLASS A -- FRONT LOAD
- Initial sales charge of 5.75% or less
- Lower sales charges for larger investments; see sales charge schedule at
right
- Lower annual expenses than Class B(1) or Class C shares because of lower
service/distribution (12b-1) fee of up to 0.40%
CLASS B(1) -- BACK LOAD
- No initial sales charge
- Deferred sales charge of 5% or less on shares you sell within six years
- Annual service/distribution (12b-1) fee of 1.00%
- Automatic conversion to Class A shares after eight years, reducing future
annual expenses
CLASS B -- BACK LOAD
- Available only to current Class B shareholders; see page 11 for details
CLASS C -- LEVEL LOAD
- No initial sales charge
- Deferred sales charge of 1%, paid if you sell shares within one year of
purchase
- Lower deferred sales charge than Class B(1) shares
- Annual service/distribution (12b-1) fee of 1.00%
- No conversion to Class A shares after eight years, so annual expenses do
not decrease
CLASS S -- SPECIAL PROGRAMS
- Available only through certain retirement accounts, advisory accounts of
the investment manager and other special programs, including programs
through financial professionals with recordkeeping and other services;
these programs usually involve special conditions and separate fees
(consult your financial professional or your program materials)
- No sales charges of any kind
- No service/distribution (12b-1) fees; annual expenses are lower than other
share classes
SALES CHARGES
CLASS A -- FRONT LOAD
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
WHEN YOU INVEST THIS % IS WHICH EQUALS
THIS AMOUNT DEDUCTED THIS % OF
FOR SALES YOUR NET
CHARGES INVESTMENT
---------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Up to $50,000 5.75 6.10
$50,000 - $100,000 4.50 4.71
$100,000 - $250,000 3.50 3.63
$250,000 - $500,000 2.50 2.56
$500,000 - $1 million 2.00 2.04
$1 million or more see below
</TABLE>
With Class A shares, you pay a sales charge when you buy shares.
If you are investing $1 million or more (either as a lump sum or through any of
the methods described on the application), you can purchase Class A shares
without any sales charge. However, you may be charged a "contingent deferred
sales charge" (CDSC) of up to 1% if you sell any shares within
<PAGE>
11
one year of purchasing them. See "Other CDSC Policies" on page 12.
Class A shares are also offered with low or no sales charges through various
wrap-fee programs and other sponsored arrangements (consult your financial
professional or your program materials).
CLASS B(1) -- BACK LOAD
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
THIS % OF NET ASSET VALUE
WHEN YOU SELL SHARES AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE (OR
IN THIS YEAR AFTER YOU OF SALE, IF LOWER) IS DEDUCT-
BOUGHT THEM ED FROM YOUR PROCEEDS
--------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
First year 5.00
Second year 4.00
Third year 3.00
Fourth year 3.00
Fifth year 2.00
Sixth year 1.00
Seventh or eighth year None
</TABLE>
With Class B(1) shares, you pay no sales charge when you invest, but you are
charged a "contingent deferred sales charge" (CDSC) when you sell shares you
have held for six years or less, as described in the table above. See "Other
CDSC Policies" on page 12.
Class B(1) shares automatically convert to Class A shares after eight years;
Class A shares have lower annual expenses.
CLASS B -- BACK LOAD
Class B shares are available only to current shareholders through reinvestment
of dividends and distributions or through exchanges from existing Class B
accounts of the State Street Research funds. Other investments made by current
Class B shareholders will be in Class B(1) shares.
With Class B shares, you are charged a "contingent deferred sales charge" (CDSC)
when you sell shares you have held for five years or less. The CDSC is a
percentage of net asset value at the time of purchase (or of sale, if lower) and
is deducted from your proceeds. When you sell shares in the first year after you
bought them, the CDSC is 5.00%; second year, 4.00%; third year, 3.00%; fourth
year, 3.00%; fifth year, 2.00%; sixth year or later, none. See "Other CDSC
Policies" on page 12.
Class B shares automatically convert to Class A shares after eight years.
CLASS C -- LEVEL LOAD
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
THIS % OF NET ASSET VALUE
WHEN YOU SELL SHARES AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE (OR
IN THIS YEAR AFTER YOU OF SALE, IF LOWER) IS DEDUCT-
BOUGHT THEM ED FROM YOUR PROCEEDS
--------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
First year 1.00
Second year or later None
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
12 YOUR INVESTMENT continued
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
With Class C shares, you pay no sales charge when you invest, but you are
charged a "contingent deferred sales charge" (CDSC) when you sell shares you
have held for one year or less, as described in the table above. See "Other CDSC
Policies" below.
Class C shares currently have the same annual expenses as Class B(1) shares, but
never convert to Class A shares.
CLASS S -- SPECIAL PROGRAMS
Class S shares have no sales charges.
OTHER CDSC POLICIES
The CDSC will be based on the net asset value of the shares at the time of
purchase (or sale, if lower). Any shares acquired through reinvestment are not
subject to the CDSC. There is no CDSC on exchanges into other State Street
Research funds, and the date of your initial investment will continue to be used
as the basis for CDSC calculations when you exchange. To ensure that you pay the
lowest CDSC, the fund will always use the shares with the lowest applicable CDSC
to fill your sell requests.
The CDSC is waived on shares sold for participant initiated distributions from
State Street Research prototype retirement plans. In other cases, the CDSC is
waived on shares sold for mandatory retirement distributions or for
distributions because of disability or death. Consult your financial
professional or the State Street Research Service Center for more information.
[sidebar]
[MAGNIFYING GLASS] UNDERSTANDING SERVICE/DISTRIBUTION FEES
As noted in the descriptions on pages 10 to 12, all share classes except Class S
have an annual service/distribution fee, also called a 12b-1 fee.
Under its current 12b-1 plans, the fund may pay certain service and distribution
fees for these classes out of fund assets. Because 12b-1 fees are an ongoing
expense, they will increase the cost of your investment and, over time, could
potentially cost you more than if you had paid other types of sales charges. For
that reason, you should consider the effects of 12b-1 fees as well as sales
loads when choosing a share class.
Some of the 12b-1 fees are used to compensate those financial professionals who
sell fund shares and provide ongoing service to shareholders. The table on the
next page shows how these professionals' compensation is calculated.
The fund may continue to pay 12b-1 fees even if the fund is subsequently closed
to new investors.
[end sidebar]
<PAGE>
13
[CHECK] DEALER COMPENSATION
Financial professionals who sell shares of State Street Research funds and
perform services for fund investors may receive sales commissions, annual fees
and other compensation. These are paid by the fund's distributor, using money
from sales charges, service/distribution (12b-1) fees and its other resources.
Brokers and agents may charge a transaction fee on orders of fund shares placed
directly through them.The distributor may pay its affiliate MetLife Securities,
Inc. additional compensation of up to 0.25% of certain sales or assets.
BROKERS FOR PORTFOLIO TRADES
When placing trades for the fund's portfolio, State Street Research chooses
brokers that provide the best execution (a term defined by service as well as
price), but may also consider the sale of shares of the State Street Research
funds by the broker.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DEALER COMMISSIONS(%) CLASS A CLASS B(1) CLASS B CLASS C CLASS S
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Commission See below 4.00 4.00 1.00 0.00
Investments up to $50,000 5.00 -- -- -- --
$50,000 to $100,000 4.00 -- -- -- --
$100,000 to $250,000 3.00 -- -- -- --
$250,000 to $500,000 2.00 -- -- -- --
$500,000 TO $1 MILLION 1.75 -- -- -- --
First $1 to 3 million 1.00(a) -- -- -- --
Next $2 million 0.75(a) -- -- -- --
Next $2 million 0.50(a) -- -- -- --
Next $1 and above 0.25(a) -- -- -- --
Annual fee 0.25 0.25 0.25 1.00 0.00
</TABLE>
[footnote]
(a) IF YOUR FINANCIAL PROFESSIONAL DECLINES THIS COMMISSION, THE ONE-YEAR CDSC
ON YOUR INVESTMENT IS WAIVED.
[end footnote]
<PAGE>
14 BUYING AND SELLING SHARES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[CASH REGISTER] POLICIES FOR BUYING SHARES
Once you have chosen a share class, the next step is to determine the amount you
want to invest.
MINIMUM INITIAL INVESTMENTS:
- $1,000 for accounts that use the Investamatic program (a)
- $2,000 for Individual Retirement Accounts (a)
- $2,500 for all other accounts
MINIMUM ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS:
- $50 for any account
Complete the enclosed application. You can avoid future inconvenience by signing
up now for any services you might later use.
TIMING OF REQUESTS All requests received by State Street Research before the
close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (usually 4:00 p.m.
eastern time) will be executed the same day, at that day's closing share price.
Orders received thereafter will be executed the following day, at that day's
closing share price.
WIRE TRANSACTIONS Funds may be wired between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. eastern
time. To make a same-day wire investment, please notify State Street Research by
12:00 noon of your intention to wire funds, and make sure your wire arrives by
4:00 p.m. If the New York Stock Exchange closes before 4:00 p.m. eastern time,
you may be unable to make a same-day wire investment. Your bank may charge a fee
for wiring money.
[footnote]
(a) EXCEPT $500 FOR INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS DURING
SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL PERIODS.
[end footnote]
<PAGE>
INSTRUCTIONS FOR BUYING SHARES 15
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TO OPEN AN ACCOUNT TO ADD TO AN ACCOUNT
<S> <C> <C> <C>
[BRIEFCASE] THROUGH A Consult your financial professional or your program Consult your financial professional or
PROFESSIONAL materials. your program materials.
OR PROGRAM
BY MAIL [MAILBOX] Make your check payable to "State Street Research Fill out an investment slip or indicate
Funds." Forward the check and your application to the fund name and account number on
State Street Research. your check. Make your check payable to
"State Street Research Funds." Forward
the check and slip to State Street
Research.
[CAPITOL BY FEDERAL Call to obtain an account number. and forward your Call State Street Research to obtain a
BUILDING] FUNDS WIRE application to State Street Research. Wire funds using control number. Instruct your bank to
the instructions at right. wire funds to:
- State Street Bank and Trust Company,
Boston, MA
- ABA: 011000028
- BNF: fund name and share class you
want to buy
- AC: 99029761
- OBI: your name AND your account
number
- Control: the number given to you by
State Street Research
BY ELECTRONIC [PLUG] Verify that your bank is a member of the ACH Call State Street Research to verify
FUNDS TRANSFER (Automated Clearing House) system. Forward your appli- that the necessary bank information is
(ACH) cation to State Street Research. Please be sure to include on file for your account. If it is, you
the appropriate bank information. Call State Street may request a transfer by telephone or
Research to request a purchase. Internet. If not, please ask State
Street Research to provide you with an
EZ Trader application.
[CALENDER] BY INVESTAMATIC Forward your application, with all appropriate sections Call State Street Research to verify
completed, to State Street Research, along with a check that Investamatic is in place on your
for your initial investment payable to "State Street account, or to request a form to add
Research Funds." it. Investments are automatic once
Investamatic is in place.
BY EXCHANGE [ARROWS GOING Read the prospectus for the fund into which you are Read the prospectus for the fund into
IN OPPOSITE exchanging. Call State Street Research or visit our which you are exchanging. Call State
DIRECTIONS] Web site. Street Research or visit our Web site.
STATE STREET RESEARCH SERVICE CENTER PO Box 8408, Boston, MA 02266-8408 www.statestreetresearch.com
CALL TOLL-FREE: 1-87-SSR-FUNDS (1-877-773-8637) (business days 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m., eastern time)
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
16 YOUR INVESTMENT continued
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[CASH REGISTER] POLICIES FOR SELLING SHARES
CIRCUMSTANCES THAT REQUIRE WRITTEN REQUESTS Please submit instructions in
writing when any of the following apply:
- you are selling more than $100,000 worth of shares
- the name or address on the account has changed within the last 30 days
- you want the proceeds to go to a name or address not on the account
registration
- you are transferring shares to an account with a different registration or
share class
- you are selling shares held in a corporate or fiduciary account; for these
accounts, additional documents are required:
CORPORATE ACCOUNTS: certified copy of a corporate resolution
FIDUCIARY ACCOUNTS: copy of power of attorney or other governing document
To protect your account against fraud, all signatures on these documents must be
guaranteed. You may obtain a signature guarantee at most banks and securities
dealers. A notary public cannot provide a signature guarantee.
INCOMPLETE SELL REQUESTS State Street Research will attempt to notify you
promptly if any information necessary to process your request is missing.
TIMING OF REQUESTS All requests received in good order by State Street Research
before the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (usually 4:00
p.m. eastern time) will be executed the same day, at that day's closing share
price. Requests received thereafter will be executed the following day, at that
day's closing share price.
WIRE TRANSACTIONS Proceeds sent by federal funds wire must total at least
$5,000. A fee of $7.50 will be deducted from all proceeds sent by wire, and your
bank may charge an additional fee to receive wired funds.
SELLING RECENTLY PURCHASED SHARES If you sell shares before the check or
electronic funds transfer (ACH) for those shares has been collected, you will
not receive the proceeds until your initial payment has cleared. This may take
up to 15 days after your purchase was recorded (in rare cases, longer). If you
open an account with shares purchased by wire, you cannot sell those shares
until your application has been processed.
<PAGE>
INSTRUCTIONS FOR SELLING SHARES 17
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TO SELL SOME OR ALL OF YOUR SHARES
<S> <C> <C>
[BRIEFCASE] THROUGH A Consult your financial professional or your program materials.
PROFESSIONAL
OR PROGRAM
BY MAIL [MAILBOX] Send a letter of instruction, an endorsed stock power or share certificates (if
you hold certificate shares) to State Street Research. Specify the fund, the
account number and the dollar value or number of shares. Be sure to include all
necessary signatures and any additional documents, as well as signature
guarantees if required (see facing page).
[CAPITOL BY FEDERAL Check with State Street Research to make sure that a wire redemption privilege,
BUILDING] FUNDS WIRE including a bank designation, is in place on your account. Once this is
established, you may place your request to sell shares with State Street
Research by telephone or Internet. Proceeds will be wired to your pre-designated
bank account. (See "Wire Transactions" on facing page.)
BY ELECTRONIC [PLUG] Check with State Street Research to make sure that the EZ Trader feature,
FUNDS TRANSFER including a bank designation, is in place on your account. Once this is
(ACH) established, you may place your request to sell shares with State Street
Research. Proceeds will be sent to your pre-designated bank account.
[COMPUTER] BY INTERNET Visit our Web site. Certain limitations may apply.
BY TELEPHONE [TELEPHONE] As long as the transaction does not require a written request (see facing page),
you or your financial professional can sell shares by calling State Street
Research. A check will be mailed to your address of record on the following
business day.
[ARROWS GOING BY EXCHANGE Read the prospectus for the fund into which you are exchanging. Call State
IN OPPOSITE Street Research or visit our Web site.
DIRECTIONS]
BY SYSTEMATIC [CALENDAR] See plan information on page 21.
WITHDRAWAL PLAN
STATE STREET RESEARCH SERVICE CENTER PO Box 8408, Boston, MA 02266-8408 www.statestreetresearch.com
CALL TOLL-FREE: 1-87-SSR-FUNDS (1-877-773-8637) (business days 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m., eastern time)
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
18 YOUR INVESTMENT continued
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[POLICIES] ACCOUNT POLICIES
TELEPHONE AND INTERNET REQUESTS When you open an account you automatically
receive telephone privileges, allowing you to place requests for your account
by telephone. Your financial professional can also use these privileges to
request exchanges or redemptions on your account. For your protection, all
telephone calls are recorded.
You may also use our Web site for submitting certain requests over the Internet.
As long as State Street Research takes certain measures to authenticate requests
over the telephone or Internet for your account, you may be held responsible for
unauthorized requests. Unauthorized telephone requests are rare, but if you want
to protect yourself completely, you can decline the telephone privilege on your
application. Similarly, you may choose not to use the Internet for your account.
The fund may suspend or eliminate the telephone or Internet privilege at any
time.
EXCHANGE PRIVILEGES There is no fee to exchange shares among State Street
Research funds. Your new fund shares will be the equivalent class of your
current shares. Any contingent deferred sales charges will continue to be
calculated from the date of your initial investment.
You must hold Class A shares of any fund for at least 30 days before you may
exchange them at net asset value for Class A shares of a different fund with a
higher applicable sales charge.
Frequent exchanges can interfere with fund management and drive up costs for
all shareholders. Because of this, the fund currently limits each account, or
group of accounts under common ownership or control, to six exchanges per
calendar year. The fund may change or eliminate the exchange privilege at any
time, may limit or cancel any shareholder's exchange privilege and may refuse
to accept any exchange request, particularly those associated with "market
timing" strategies.
For Merrill Lynch customers, exchange privileges extend to Summit Cash Reserves
Fund, which is related to the fund for purposes of investment and investor
services.
ACCOUNTS WITH LOW BALANCES If the value of your account falls below $1,500,
State Street Research may mail you a notice asking you to bring the account back
up to $1,500 or close it out. If you do not take action within 60 days, State
Street Research may either sell your shares and mail the proceeds to you at the
address of record or, depending on the circumstances, may deduct an annual
maintenance fee (currently $18).
<PAGE>
19
THE FUND'S BUSINESS HOURS The fund is open the same days as the New York Stock
Exchange (generally Monday through Friday). Fund representatives are available
from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. eastern time on these days.
CALCULATING SHARE PRICE The fund calculates its net asset value per share (NAV)
every business day at the close of regular trading on the New York Stock
Exchange (but not later than 4:00 p.m. eastern time). NAV is calculated by
dividing the fund's net assets by the number of its shares outstanding.
In calculating its NAV, the fund uses the last reported sale price or quotation
for portfolio securities. However, in cases where these are unavailable, or when
the investment manager believes that subsequent events have rendered them
unreliable, the fund may use fair-value estimates instead.
Because foreign securities markets are sometimes open on different days from
U.S. markets, there may be instances when the value of the fund's portfolio
changes on days when you cannot buy or sell fund shares.
REINSTATING RECENTLY SOLD SHARES
For 120 days after you sell shares, you may "reinstate" your investment by
putting some or all of the proceeds into any currently available State Street
Research fund at net asset value. Any CDSC you paid on the amount you are
reinstating will be credited to your account. You may only use this privilege
once in any twelve-month period with respect to your shares of a given fund.
ADDITIONAL POLICIES Please note that the fund maintains additional policies and
reserves certain rights, including:
- Requirements for initial or additional investments, reinvestments, periodic
investment plans, retirement and employee benefit plans, sponsored
arrangements and other similar programs may be changed from time to time
without further notice or supplement to this prospectus
- All orders to purchase shares are subject to acceptance by the fund
- At any time, the fund may change or discontinue its sales charge waivers
and any of its order acceptance practices, and may suspend the sale of its
shares
- The fund may delay sending you redemption proceeds for up to seven days, or
longer if permitted by the SEC
- The fund reserves the right to redeem in kind
- to permit investors to obtain the current price, dealers are responsible
for transmitting all orders to the State Street Research Service Center
promptly
<PAGE>
20 YOUR INVESTMENT continued
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[sidebar]
[MAGNIFYING GLASS] TAX CONSIDERATIONS
Unless your investment is in a tax-deferred account, you may want to avoid:
- investing a large amount in the fund close to the end of the fiscal year or
a calendar year (if the fund makes a distribution, you will receive some of
your investment back as a taxable distribution)
- selling shares at a loss for tax purposes and investing in a substantially
identical investment within 30 days before or after that sale (such a
transaction is usually considered a "wash sale," and you will not be
allowed to claim a tax loss in the current year)
[end sidebar]
[UNCLE SAM] DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
INCOME AND CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS The fund typically distributes any net
income to shareholders four times a year. Net capital gains, if any, are
distributed after the end of the fund's fiscal year, which is June 30. To comply
with tax regulations, the fund may be required to pay an additional capital
gains distribution in December.
You may have your distributions reinvested in the fund, invested in a
different State Street Research fund, deposited in a bank account or mailed
out by check. If you do not give State Street Research other instructions,
your distributions will automatically be reinvested in the fund.
TAX EFFECTS OF DISTRIBUTIONS AND TRANSACTIONS In general, any dividends and
short-term capital gains distributions you receive from the fund are taxable as
ordinary income. Distributions of long-term capital gains are generally taxable
as capital gains -- in most cases, at a different rate from those that apply to
ordinary income.
The tax you pay on a given capital gains distribution generally depends on how
long the fund has held the portfolio securities it sold. It does not depend on
how long you have owned your fund shares or whether you reinvest your
distributions.
Every year, the fund will send you information detailing the amount
of ordinary income and capital gains distributed to you for the previous year.
<PAGE>
21
The sale of shares in your account may produce a gain or loss, and is a taxable
event. For tax purposes, an exchange is the same as a sale.
Your investment in the fund could have additional tax consequences. Please
consult your tax professional for assistance.
BACKUP WITHHOLDING By law, the fund must withhold 31% of your distributions and
proceeds if you have not provided complete, correct taxpayer information.
[HANDS] INVESTOR SERVICES
INVESTAMATIC PROGRAM Use Investamatic to set up regular automatic investments in
the fund from your bank account. You determine the frequency and amount of your
investments.
SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN
This plan is designed for retirees and other investors who want regular
withdrawals from a fund account. The plan is free and allows you to withdraw up
to 12% of your fund assets a year (minimum $50 per withdrawal) without incurring
any contingent deferred sales charges. Certain terms and minimums apply.
EZ TRADER This service allows you to purchase or sell fund shares over the
telephone or over the Internet through the ACH (Automated Clearing House)
system.
DIVIDEND ALLOCATION PLAN This plan automatically invests your distributions from
the fund into another fund of your choice, without any fees or sales charges.
AUTOMATIC BANK CONNECTION This plan lets you route any distributions or
Systematic Withdrawal Plan payments directly to your bank account.
RETIREMENT PLANS State Street Research also offers a full range of prototype
retirement plans for individuals, sole proprietors, partnerships, corporations
and employees.
CALL 1-87-SSR-FUNDS (1-877-773-8637) FOR INFORMATION ON ANY OF THE SERVICES
DESCRIBED ABOVE.
<PAGE>
22 OTHER INFORMATION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[POLICIES] OTHER SECURITIES AND RISKS
Each of the fund's portfolio securities and investment practices offers certain
opportunities and carries various risks. Major investments and risk factors are
outlined in the fund description starting on page 1. Below are brief
descriptions of other securities and practices, along with their associated
risks.
RESTRICTED AND ILLIQUID SECURITIES Any securities that are thinly traded or
whose resale is restricted can be difficult to sell at a desired time and price.
Some of these securities are new and complex, and trade only among institutions;
the markets for these securities are still developing, and may not function as
efficiently as established markets. Owning a large percentage of restricted and
illiquid securities could hamper the fund's ability to raise cash to meet
redemptions. Also, because there may not be an established market price for
these securities, the fund may have to estimate their value, which means that
their valuation (and, to a much smaller extent, the valuation of the fund) may
have a subjective element.
SECURITIES RATINGS When securities are rated by one or more independent rating
agencies, the fund uses these ratings to determine credit quality. In cases
where a security is rated in conflicting categories by different rating
agencies, the fund may choose to follow the higher rating. If a security is
unrated, the fund may assign it to a given category based on its own credit
research. If a rating agency downgrades a security, the fund will determine
whether to hold or sell the security, depending on all of the facts and
circumstances at that time.
FOREIGN INVESTMENTS Foreign securities are generally more volatile than their
domestic counterparts, in part because of higher political and economic risks,
lack of reliable information and fluctuations in currency exchange rates. These
risks are usually higher in less developed countries. The fund may use foreign
currencies and related instruments to hedge its foreign investments.
In addition, foreign securities may be more difficult to resell and the markets
for them less efficient than for comparable U.S. securities. Even where a
foreign security increases in price in its local currency, the appreciation may
be diluted by the negative effect of exchange rates when the security's value is
converted to U.S. dollars. Foreign withholding taxes also may apply and errors
and delays may occur in the settlement process for foreign securities.
INTERNATIONAL EXPOSURE Many U.S. companies in which the fund may invest generate
significant revenues and earnings from abroad. As a result, these companies and
the prices of their securities may be affected by weaknesses in global and
regional economies and the relative value of foreign currencies to the U.S.
dollar. These factors, taken as a
<PAGE>
23
whole, could adversely affect the price of fund shares.
DERIVATIVES Derivatives, a category that includes options and futures, are
financial instruments whose value derives from one or more securities, indices
or currencies. The fund may use certain derivatives for hedging (attempting to
offset a potential loss in one position by establishing an interest in an
opposite position). This includes the use of currency-based derivatives for
hedging its positions in foreign securities. The fund may also use certain
derivatives for speculation (investing for potential income or capital gain).
While hedging can guard against potential risks, it adds to the fund's expenses
and can eliminate some opportunities for gains. There is also a risk that a
derivative intended as a hedge may not perform as expected.
The main risk with derivatives is that some types can amplify a gain or loss,
potentially earning or losing substantially more money than the actual cost of
the derivative.
With some derivatives, whether used for hedging or speculation, there is also
the risk that the counterparty may fail to honor its contract terms, causing a
loss for the fund.
SECURITIES LENDING The fund may seek additional income or fees by lending
portfolio securities to qualified institutions. By reinvesting any cash
collateral it receives in these transactions, the fund could realize additional
gains or losses. If the borrower fails to return the securities and the invested
collateral has declined in value, the fund could lose money.
SHORT-TERM TRADING While the fund ordinarily does not trade securities for
short-term profits, it will sell any security at the time it believes best,
which may result in some short-term trading. Short-term trading can increase
the fund's transaction costs and may increase your tax liability if there are
capital gains. In addition, foreign securities generally involve higher
transaction costs per share traded.
WHEN-ISSUED SECURITIES The fund may invest in securities prior to their date of
issue. These securities could fall in value by the time they are actually
issued, which may be any time from a few days to over a year.
DEFENSIVE INVESTING During unusual market conditions, the fund may place up to
100% of total assets in cash or high-quality, short-term debt securities. To the
extent that the fund does this, it is not pursuing its goal.
<PAGE>
24 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THESE HIGHLIGHTS ARE INTENDED TO HELP YOU UNDERSTAND THE FUND'S PERFORMANCE OVER
THE PAST FIVE YEARS. THE INFORMATION IN THESE TABLES HAS BEEN AUDITED BY
PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP, THE FUND'S INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS. THEIR REPORT AND
THE FUND'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE INCLUDED IN THE FUND'S ANNUAL REPORT, WHICH
IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. TOTAL RETURN FIGURES ASSUME REINVESTMENT OF ALL
DISTRIBUTIONS.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CLASS A CLASS B(1)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Years ended June 30 Years ended June 30
---------------------------------------------------- -------------------
PER SHARE DATA 1996(a) 1997(a) 1998(a) 1999(a) 2000(a) 1999(a)(c) 2000(a)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF YEAR ($) 11.70 13.85 14.86 16.80 15.80 14.94 15.70
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Net investment income ($)* 0.23 0.33 0.33 0.34 0.23 0.11 0.13
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
on investments, foreign currency and
forward contracts ($) 2.36 2.90 3.56 (0.43) (1.80) 0.75 (1.80)
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
TOTAL FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS ($) 2.59 3.23 3.89 (0.09) (1.57) 0.86 (1.67)
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Dividends from net investment income ($) (0.28) (0.28) (0.28) (0.28) (0.33) (0.10) (0.23)
Distributions from capital gains ($) (0.16) (1.94) (1.67) (0.63) (0.22) -- (0.22)
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
TOTAL DISTRIBUTIONS ($) (0.44) (2.22) (1.95) (0.91) (0.55) (0.10) (0.45)
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF YEAR ($) 13.85 14.86 16.80 15.80 13.68 15.70 13.58
===== ===== ===== ===== ===== ===== =====
Total return (%)(b) 22.41 27.45 28.15 (0.04) (9.89) 5.81(d) (10.59)
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
Net assets at end of year ($ thousands) 44,464 71,087 125,402 114,235 68.019 7,454 10.043
Expense ratio (%)* 1.25 1.25 1.24 1.22 1.27 1.86(e) 2.01
Expense ratio after expense reductions (%)* 1.25 1.25 1.24 1.21 1.26 1.85(e) 2.00
Ratio of net investment income
to average net assets (%)* 1.78 2.43 2.06 2.29 1.62 1.46(e) 0.92
Portfolio turnover rate (%) 111.13 63.33 52.99 56.04 30.83 56.04 30.83
*REFLECTS VOLUNTARY REDUCTION OF EXPENSES
PER SHARE OF THESE AMOUNTS ($) 0.03 0.02 0.00 0.01 0.03 0.00 0.03
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
25
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CLASS B
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Years ended June 30
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
PER SHARE DATA 1996(a) 1997(a) 1998(a) 1999(a) 2000(a)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF YEAR ($) 11.68 13.82 14.81 16.74 15.74
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Net investment income ($)* 0.13 0.22 0.21 0.23 0.12
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
on investments, foreign currency and
forward contracts ($) 2.36 2.89 3.55 (0.43) (1.79)
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
TOTAL FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS ($) 2.49 3.11 3.76 (0.20) (1.67)
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Dividends from net investment income ($) (0.19) (0.18) (0.16) (0.17) (0.22)
Distributions from capital gains ($) (0.16) (1.94) (1.67) (0.63) (0.22)
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
TOTAL DISTRIBUTIONS ($) (0.35) (2.12) (1.83) (0.80) (0.44)
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF YEAR ($) 13.82 14.81 16.74 15.74 13.63
===== ===== ===== ===== =====
Total return (%)(b) 21.60 26.45 27.23 (0.80) (10.59)
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
Net assets at end of year ($ thousands) 25,543 71,986 174,835 141,559 76.308
Expense ratio (%)* 2.00 2.00 1.99 1.97 2.01
Expense ratio after expense reductions (%)* 2.00 2.00 1.99 1.96 2.00
Ratio of net investment income
to average net assets (%)* 1.05 1.65 1.32 1.54 0.87
Portfolio turnover rate (%) 111.13 63.33 52.99 56.04 30.83
*REFLECTS VOLUNTARY REDUCTION OF EXPENSES
PER SHARE OF THESE AMOUNTS ($) 0.03 0.02 0.00 0.01 0.03
PER-SHARE FIGURES HAVE BEEN CALCULATED USING
THE AVERAGE SHARES METHOD
<CAPTION>
CLASS C
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Years ended June 30
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
PER SHARE DATA 1996(a) 1997(a) 1998(a) 1999(a) 2000(a)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF YEAR ($) 11.67 13.82 14.79 16.71 15.71
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Net investment income ($)* 0.13 0.21 0.21 0.23 0.12
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
on investments, foreign currency and
forward contracts ($) 2.37 2.90 3.54 (0.43) (1.79)
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
TOTAL FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS ($) 2.50 3.11 3.75 (0.20) (1.67)
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Dividends from net investment income ($) (0.19) (0.20) (0.16) (0.17) (0.21)
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Distributions from capital gains ($) (0.16) (1.94) (1.67) (0.63) (0.22)
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
TOTAL DISTRIBUTIONS ($) (0.35) (2.14) (1.83) (0.80) (0.43)
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF YEAR ($) 13.82 14.79 16.71 15.71 13.61
===== ===== ===== ===== =====
Total return (%)(b) 21.68 26.42 27.23 (0.78) (10.57)
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
Net assets at end of year ($ thousands) 1,386 9,592 26,777 24,027 10,661
Expense ratio (%)* 2.00 2.00 1.99 1.97 2.01
Expense ratio after expense reductions (%)* 2.00 2.00 1.99 1.96 2.00
Ratio of net investment income
to average net assets (%)* 1.03 1.59 1.32 1.54 0.86
Portfolio turnover rate (%) 111.13 63.33 52.99 56.04 30.83
*REFLECTS VOLUNTARY REDUCTION OF EXPENSES
PER SHARE OF THESE AMOUNTS ($) 0.03 0.01 0.00 0.01 0.03
</TABLE>
[footnote]
(a) PER-SHARE FIGURES HAVE BEEN CALCULATED USING THE AVERAGE SHARES METHOD.
(b) DOES NOT REFLECT ANY FRONT-END OR CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE.
(c) JANUARY 1, 1999 (COMMENCEMENT OF SHARE CLASS) TO JUNE 30, 1999.
(d) NOT ANNUALIZED.
(e) ANNUALIZED.
[end footnote]
<PAGE>
26 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS continued
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CLASS S
--------------------------------------------------
Years ended June 30
--------------------------------------------------
PER SHARE DATA 1996(a) 1997(a) 1998(a) 1999(a) 2000(a)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF YEAR ($) 11.70 13.85 14.86 16.80 15.79
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Net investment income ($)* 0.26 0.36 0.37 0.38 0.27
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
on investments, foreign currency and
forward contracts ($) 2.36 2.90 3.56 (0.44) (1.79)
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
TOTAL FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS ($) 2.62 3.26 3.93 (0.06) (1.52)
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Dividends from net investment income ($) (0.31) (0.31) (0.32) (0.32) (0.37)
Distributions from capital gains ($) (0.16) (1.94) (1.67) (0.63) (0.22)
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
TOTAL DISTRIBUTIONS ($) (0.47) (2.25) (1.99) (0.95) (0.59)
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF YEAR ($) 13.85 14.86 16.80 15.79 13.68
===== ===== ===== ===== =====
Total return (%)(b) 22.82 27.75 28.45 0.15 (9.58)
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets at end of year ($ thousands) 39,298 59,453 89,345 40,750 22,994
Expense ratio (%)* 1.00 1.00 0.99 0.97 1.01
Expense ratio after expense reductions (%)* 1.00 1.00 0.99 0.96 1.00
Ratio of net investment income
to average net assets (%)* 2.03 2.68 2.30 2.56 1.87
Portfolio turnover rate (%) 111.13 63.33 52.99 56.04 30.83
*REFLECTS VOLUNTARY REDUCTION OF
EXPENSES PER SHARE OF THESE AMOUNTS ($) 0.03 0.02 0.00 0.01 0.03
</TABLE>
[footnote]
(a) PER-SHARE FIGURES HAVE BEEN CALCULATED USING THE AVERAGE SHARES METHOD.
(b) DOES NOT REFLECT ANY FRONT-END OR CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE.
[end footnote]
<PAGE>
BOARD OF TRUSTEES 27
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[COLUMNS] The Board of Trustees is responsible for the operation of the fund.
They establish the fund's major policies, review investments, and provide
guidance to the investment manager and others who provide services to the fund.
The Trustees have diverse backgrounds and substantial experience in business and
other areas.
RICHARD S. DAVIS
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD,
PRESIDENT, CHIEF EXECUTIVE
OFFICER AND DIRECTOR,
State Street Research & Management
Company
BRUCE R. BOND
FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD,
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
AND PRESIDENT,
PictureTel Corporation
STEVE A. GARBAN
FORMER SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR FINANCE
AND OPERATIONS AND TREASURER,
The Pennsylvania State University
DEAN O. MORTON
FORMER EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT,
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER AND DIRECTOR,
Hewlett-Packard Company
SUSAN M. PHILLIPS
DEAN, School of Business and Public
Management, George Washington
University, FORMER MEMBER OF THE BOARD
OF GOVERNORS of the Federal Reserve
System and CHAIRMAN AND COMMISSIONER of
the Commodity Futures Trading Commission
TOBY ROSENBLATT
PRESIDENT, Founders Investments Ltd.
PRESIDENT, The Glen Ellen Company
MICHAEL S. SCOTT MORTON
JAY W. FORRESTER PROFESSOR OF
MANAGEMENT, Sloan School of
Management, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology
<PAGE>
28 NOTES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
NOTES 29
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FUND OR WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST A FREE COPY OF THE
CURRENT ANNUAL/SEMIANNUAL REPORT OR SAI, CONTACT STATE STREET RESEARCH OR YOUR
FINANCIAL PROFESSIONAL.
[LOGO] STATE STREET RESEARCH
Service Center
P.O. Box 8408, Boston, MA 02266
Telephone: 1-87-SSR-FUNDS (1-877-773-8637)
Internet: www.statestreetresearch.com
YOU CAN ALSO OBTAIN INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND, INCLUDING THE SAI AND CERTAIN
OTHER FUND DOCUMENTS, ON THE SEC'S EDGAR DATABASE ON THE INTERNET AT
WWW.SEC.GOV, BY ELECTRONIC REQUEST AT [email protected], IN PERSON AT THE SEC'S
PUBLIC REFERENCE ROOM IN WASHINGTON, DC (TELEPHONE 1-202-942-8090) OR BY MAIL BY
SENDING YOUR REQUEST, ALONG WITH A DUPLICATING FEE, TO THE SEC'S PUBLIC
REFERENCE SECTION, WASHINGTON, DC 20549-0102.
You can find additional information on the fund's structure and its performance
in the following documents:
ANNUAL/SEMIANNUAL REPORTS While the prospectus describes the fund's
potential investments, these reports detail the fund's actual investments as
of the report date. Reports include a discussion by fund management of recent
economic and market trends and fund performance. The annual report also
includes the report of the fund's independent accountants on the fund's
financial statements.
TICKER SYMBOLS
================================================================================
Class A SSEAX
Class B(1) (proposed) SSAPX
Class B SSEBX
Class C SSEDX
Class S (proposed) SSICX
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (SAI) A supplement to the prospectus,
the SAI contains further information about the fund and its investment
limitations and policies. A current SAI for this fund is on file with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and is incorporated by reference (is legally
part of this prospectus).
PROSPECTUS
---------- AL-2707-1000
SEC File Number: 811-4624 Control Number: (exp1101)SSR-LD
<PAGE>
THIS PROSPECTUS HAS INFORMATION YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE YOU INVEST. PLEASE READ
IT CAREFULLY AND KEEP IT WITH YOUR INVESTMENT RECORDS.
AS WITH ALL MUTUAL FUNDS, THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION HAS NOT
APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THE SECURITIES OR DETERMINED IF THIS PROSPECTUS IS
TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
THIS PROSPECTUS WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE IN SPANISH IN DECEMBER BY CALLING THE
STATE STREET RESEARCH SERVICE CENTER AT 1-888-638-3193.
[CLOCK]
STATE STREET RESEARCH
ATHLETES FUND
A STOCK FUND FOR
PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES.
PROSPECTUS
November 1, 2000
<PAGE>
CONTENTS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 THE FUND
-----------
1 Goal and Strategies
2 Principal Risks
4 Volatility and Performance
6 Investor Expenses
8 Investment Management
9 YOUR INVESTMENT
------------------
9 Opening an Account
9 Choosing a Share Class
10 Sales Charges
13 Dealer Compensation
14 Buying and Selling Shares
18 Account Policies
20 Distributions and Taxes
21 Investor Services
22 OTHER INFORMATION
--------------------
22 Other Securities and Risks
24 Financial Highlights
27 Board of Trustees
Back Cover For Additional Information
<PAGE>
THE FUND 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[CHESS PIECE]
GOAL AND STRATEGIES
FUNDAMENTAL GOAL The fund seeks to provide long-term growth of capital.
PRINCIPAL STRATEGIES Under normal market conditions, the fund invests at least
65% of total assets in stocks and convertible securities of larger size
companies. The fund invests across a range of industries in companies that
appear to offer potential for long-term growth. The fund intends to invest in a
relatively moderate number of companies, as compared to many other funds in its
category. The fund presently expects to invest in fewer than 50 companies,
although the number of holdings will vary depending on the fund's asset size.
The fund believes that larger size companies generally have the broad resources
to adapt to changing business and economic conditions. The fund looks for those
companies whose competitive advantages and business strategies position them for
above-average earnings growth.
The fund reserves the right to invest up to 35% of total assets in other
securities (for example, bonds and small company stocks). The fund may also use
derivatives, particularly as a way of hedging.
For more information about the fund's investments and practices, see page 22.
[MAGNIFYING GLASS]
WHO MAY WANT TO INVEST
State Street Research Athletes Fund is intended for professional athletes who
seek one or more of the following:
- an investment designed for long-term growth of career earnings
- a stock fund that emphasizes large-size companies
- a focused portfolio investing in a moderate number of stocks
The fund is not appropriate for investors who:
- are seeking either current investment income or aggressive growth
- are making short-term investments
- are investing emergency reserve money
<PAGE>
2 THE FUND continued
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[STOP SIGN]
PRINCIPAL RISKS
Because the fund invests primarily in stocks, its major risks are those of stock
investing, including sudden, unpredictable drops in value and the potential for
periods of lackluster performance.
The fund's portfolio is less diversified than those of many other funds in its
category. As a result, it is more sensitive to market conditions affecting a
single stock or group of stocks in its portfolio. The success of the fund's
investment strategy depends largely on the investment manager's skill in
assessing the potential of the stocks the fund buys.
The fund may underperform certain other stock funds (those emphasizing small
company stocks, for example) during periods when large company stocks in
general are out of favor.
Because the fund may invest in non-U.S. companies, as well as in U.S. companies
with some international business, it is subject to the risks associated with
international investing.
The fund's shares will rise and fall in value and there is a risk that you could
lose money by investing in the fund. Also, the fund cannot be certain that it
will achieve its goal. Finally, fund shares are not bank deposits and are not
guaranteed, endorsed or insured by any financial institution, government entity
or the FDIC.
INFORMATION ON OTHER SECURITIES AND RISKS APPEARS ON PAGE 22.
A "SNAPSHOT" OF THE FUND'S INVESTMENTS MAY BE FOUND IN THE CURRENT ANNUAL OR
SEMIANNUAL REPORT (SEE BACK COVER).
<PAGE>
3
[MAGNIFYING GLASS]
DIVERSIFICATION AND
STOCK SELECTION
Diversification describes a fund's exposure to particular securities, or to
particular types of securities. For example, a fund that invests in bonds and in
stocks of a variety of companies is generally more diversified than a fund that
invests only in large company stocks. Similarly, a fund that invests in a large
number of different stocks is generally more diversified than a fund that
invests in fewer stocks.
Investment professionals consider diversification to be one indication of the
potential risks and rewards of investing in a particular fund. While a portfolio
investing in a large number of stocks is less vulnerable to the impact of an
unsuccessful investment, it also benefits less from a single successful
investment. Although the fund is diversified, it seeks to outperform the broader
market by building a more concentrated portfolio using a moderate number of
selected stocks across a broad range of industries.
<PAGE>
4 VOLITILITY AND PERFORMANCE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[THE FOLLOWING TABLE WAS REPRESENTED AS A BAR CHART IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL.]
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year ended December 31
----------------------
YEAR-BY-YEAR TOTAL RETURN (Class A) 1999
====================================================================================================================================
<S> <C>
33.89
</TABLE>
- BEST QUARTER: fourth quarter 1999, up 25.93%
- WORST QUARTER: third quarter 1999, down 4.09%
RETURN FROM 1/1/00 - 9/30/00 (not annualized): up 2.63%
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
As of December 31, 1999
-------------------------------
AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN (AT MAXIMUM APPLICABLE SALES CHARGE) 1 YEAR SINCE INCEPTION*
====================================================================================================================================
<S> <C> <C>
Class A (%) 26.19 26.35
Class B(1) (%)(a) 27.73 27.75
Class B (%) 27.85 27.81
Class C (%) 31.85 29.68
Class S (%) 34.05 30.94
S&P 500 Index (%) 21.03 19.51
</TABLE>
* SINCE INCEPTION (3/27/98)
(a) PERFORMANCE FOR CLASS B(1) REFLECTS
CLASS B PERFORMANCE THROUGH
DECEMBER 31, 1998. CLASS B(1)
WAS INTRODUCED ON JANUARY 1, 1999.
<PAGE>
5
[MAGNIFYING GLASS]
UNDERSTANDING VOLATILITY AND PERFORMANCE
The chart and table on the opposite page are designed to show two aspects of the
fund's track record:
- YEAR-BY-YEAR TOTAL RETURN shows how volatile the fund has been: how much the
difference has been, historically, between its best years and worst years
(of course, the chart is less meaningful for a new fund such as this one). In
general, funds with higher average annual total returns will also have higher
volatility. The graph includes the effects of fund expenses, but not sales
charges. If sales charges had been included, returns would have been less than
shown.
- AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN is a measure of the fund's performance over time.
It is determined by taking the fund's performance over a given period and
expressing it as an average annual rate. Average annual total return includes
the effects of fund expenses and maximum sales charges for each class, and
assumes that you sold your shares at the end of the period.
Also included with the fund's average annual returns is an independent measure
of performance. The S&P 500 (officially, the "S&P Composite Stock Price Index")
is an unmanaged index of 500 domestic stocks.
While the fund does not seek to match the returns or the volatility of the S&P
500, this index is a good indicator of general stock market performance and can
be used as a rough guide when gauging the return of this and other investments.
When making comparisons, keep in mind that the S&P 500 does not include the
effect of sales charges. Also, even if your portfolio were identical to the S&P
500, your returns would always be lower, because the S&P 500 does not include
transaction and administrative expenses.
Also, the returns in both the chart and the table would have been lower if the
distributor and its affiliates had not voluntarily reduced the fund's expenses.
Keep in mind that past performance is no guarantee of future results.
<PAGE>
6 INVESTOR EXPENSES
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Class descriptions begin on page 7
--------------------------------------------------
SHAREHOLDER FEES (% of offering price) CLASS A CLASS B(1) CLASS B CLASS C CLASS S
==================================================================================================================================
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Maximum front-end sales charge (load) 5.75(a) 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) 0.00(a) 5.00 5.00 1.00 0.00
<CAPTION>
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES (% of average net assets) CLASS A CLASS B(1) CLASS B CLASS C CLASS S
==================================================================================================================================
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Management fee 0.65 0.65 0.65 0.65 0.65
Service/distribution (12b-1) fees 0.30(b) 1.00 1.00 1.00 0.00
Other expenses 1.58 1.58 1.58 1.58 1.58
---- ---- ---- ---- ----
TOTAL ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES* 2.53 3.23 3.23 3.23 2.23
==== ==== ==== ==== ====
<CAPTION>
*BECAUSE SOME OF THE FUND'S EXPENSES HAVE BEEN SUBSIDIZED OR
REDUCED THROUGH EXPENSE OFFSET ARANGEMENTS, ACTUAL TOTAL
OPERATING EXPENSES FOR THE PRIOR YEAR WOULD HAVE BEEN:
1.30 2.00 2.00 2.00 1.00
THE FUND EXPECTS THE EXPENSE SUBSIDY TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE
CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, ALTHOUGH THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT IT WILL.
<CAPTION>
EXAMPLE YEAR CLASS A CLASS B(1) CLASS B CLASS C CLASS S
==================================================================================================================================
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1 $816 $826/$326 $826/$326 $426/$326 $226
3 $1,317 $1,295/$995 $1,295/$995 $995 $697
5 $1,843 $1,888/$1,688 $1,888/$1,688 $1,688 $1,195
10 $3,276 $3,371 $3,371 $3,531 $2,565
</TABLE>
(a) EXCEPT FOR INVESTMENTS OF $1 MILLION OR MORE; SEE PAGE 10.
(b)REFLECTS THE FEE SCHEDULE THAT BECAME EFFECTIVE MAY 1, 2000 AS IF IT HAD BEEN
IN PLACE DURING THE FUND'S ENTIRE PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR. THE TRUSTEES MAY
INCREASE THE CURRENT FEE SHOWN FOR CLASS A SHARES AT ANY TIME, PROVIDED THAT
THE FEES DO NOT EXCEED A MAXIMUM OF 0.40%.
<PAGE>
7
[MAGNIFYING GLASS]
UNDERSTANDING INVESTOR EXPENSES
The information on the opposite page is designed to give you an idea of what you
should expect to pay in expenses as an investor in the fund:
- SHAREHOLDER FEES are costs that are charged to you directly. These fees are
not charged on reinvestments or exchanges.
- ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES are deducted from the fund's assets every year,
and are thus paid indirectly by all fund investors.
- The EXAMPLE is designed to allow you to compare the costs of this fund with
those of other funds. It assumes that you invested $10,000 over the years
indicated, reinvested all distributions, earned a hypothetical 5% annual
return and paid the maximum applicable sales charges. For Class B(1) and
Class B shares, it also assumes the automatic conversion to Class A after
eight years.
Where two numbers are shown separated by a slash, the first one assumes you
sold all your shares at the end of the period, while the second assumes you
stayed in the fund. Where there is only one number, the costs would be the
same either way.
The figures in the example assume full annual expenses, and would be lower if
they reflected the various expense reductions that may have been taken.
Investors should keep in mind that the example is for comparison purposes
only. The fund's actual performance and expenses may be higher or lower.
<PAGE>
8 THE FUND continued
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[THINKER]
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
The fund's investment manager is State Street Research & Management Company,
One Financial Center, Boston, MA 02111. The firm traces its heritage back to
1924 and the founding of one of America's first mutual funds. Today the firm
has approximately $55 billion in assets under management (as of
September 30, 2000), including more than $20 billion in mutual funds.
The investment manager is responsible for the fund's investment and business
activities, and receives the management fee (0.65% of average net assets,
annually) as compensation. The investment manager is a subsidiary of
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company.
F. Gardner Jackson, Jr. has had primary responsibility for the fund's day-to-day
portfolio management since its inception in March 1998. A senior vice president,
he has worked as an investment professional since 1971.
<PAGE>
YOUR INVESTMENT 9
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[KEY]
OPENING AN ACCOUNT
The fund is intended primarily for professional athletes and associated persons
such as coaches, officials, agents, and relatives. Other investors who have an
investment management account with State Street Research & Management Company
are also eligible to purchase shares of the fund.
If you are opening an account through a financial professional, he or she can
assist you with all phases of your investment.
If you are investing through a large retirement plan or other special program,
follow the instructions in your program materials.
To open an account without the help of a financial professional, please use the
instructions on these pages.
[CHECKLIST]
CHOOSING A SHARE CLASS
The fund generally offers four share classes, each with its own sales charge
and expense structure: Class A, Class B(1), Class C and Class S. The fund
also offers Class B shares, but only to current Class B shareholders through
reinvestment of dividends and distributions or through exchanges from
existing Class B accounts of State Street Research funds.
If you are investing a substantial amount and plan to hold your shares for a
long period, Class A shares may make the most sense for you. If you are
investing a lesser amount, you may want to consider Class B(1) shares (if
investing for at least six years) or Class C shares (if investing for less than
six years). If you are investing through a special program, such as a large
employer-sponsored retirement plan or certain programs available through
brokers, you may be eligible to purchase Class S shares.
Because all future investments in your account will be made in the share class
you designate when opening the account, you should make your decision carefully.
Your financial professional can help you choose the share class that makes the
most sense for you.
<PAGE>
10 YOUR INVESTMENT continued
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CLASS A -- FRONT LOAD
- Initial sales charge of 5.75% or less
- Lower sales charges for larger investments; see sales charge schedule at right
- Lower annual expenses than Class B(1) or Class C shares because of lower
service/distribution (12b-1) fee of up to 0.40%
CLASS B(1) -- BACK LOAD
- No initial sales charge
- Deferred sales charge of 5% or less on shares you sell within six years
- Annual service/distribution (12b-1) fee of 1.00%
- Automatic conversion to Class A shares after eight years, reducing future
annual expenses
CLASS B -- BACK LOAD
- Available only to current Class B shareholders; see page 11 for details
CLASS C -- LEVEL LOAD
- No initial sales charge
- Deferred sales charge of 1%, paid if you sell shares within one year of
purchase
- Lower deferred sales charge than Class B(1) shares
- Annual service/distribution (12b-1) fee of 1.00%
- No conversion to Class A shares after eight years, so annual expenses do not
decrease
CLASS S -- SPECIAL PROGRAMS
- Available only through certain retirement accounts, advisory accounts of the
investment manager and other special programs, including broker programs
through financial professionals with recordkeeping and other services; these
programs usually involve special conditions and separate fees (consult your
financial professional or your program materials)
- No sales charges of any kind
- No service/distribution (12b-1) fees; annual expenses are lower than other
share classes
SALES CHARGES
CLASS A -- FRONT LOAD
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
WHEN YOU INVEST THIS % IS WHICH EQUALS
THIS AMOUNT DEDUCTED THIS % OF
FOR SALES YOUR NET
CHARGES INVESTMENT
------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Up to $50,000 5.75 6.10
$50,000 - $100,000 4.50 4.71
$100,000 - $250,000 3.50 3.63
$250,000 - $500,000 2.50 2.56
$500,000 - $1 million 2.00 2.04
$1 million or more see below
</TABLE>
With Class A shares, you pay a sales charge when you buy shares.
If you are investing $1 million or more (either as a lump sum or through any of
the methods described on the application), you can purchase Class A shares
without any sales charge. However, you may be charged a "contingent deferred
sales charge" (CDSC) of up to 1% if you sell any shares within one year of
purchasing them. See "Other CDSC Policies" on page 12.
<PAGE>
11
Class A shares are also offered with low or no sales charges through various
wrap-fee programs and other sponsored arrangements (consult your financial
professional or your program materials).
CLASS B(1) -- BACK LOAD
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
THIS % OF NET ASSET VALUE
WHEN YOU SELL SHARES AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE (OR
IN THIS YEAR AFTER YOU OF SALE, IF LOWER) IS DEDUCT-
BOUGHT THEM ED FROM YOUR PROCEEDS
--------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
First year 5.00
Second year 4.00
Third year 3.00
Fourth year 3.00
Fifth year 2.00
Sixth year 1.00
Seventh or eighth year None
</TABLE>
With Class B(1) shares, you pay no sales charge when you invest, but you are
charged a "contingent deferred sales charge" (CDSC) when you sell shares you
have held for six years or less, as described in the table above. See "Other
CDSC Policies" on page 12.
Class B(1) shares automatically convert to Class A shares after eight years;
Class A shares have lower annual expenses.
CLASS B -- BACK LOAD
Class B shares are available only to current shareholders through reinvestment
of dividends and distributions or through exchanges from existing Class B
accounts of the State Street Research funds. Other investments made by current
Class B shareholders will be in Class B(1) shares.
With Class B shares, you are charged a "contingent deferred sales charge"(CDSC)
when you sell shares you have held for five years or less. The CDSC is a
percentage of net asset value at the time of purchase (or of sale, if lower) and
is deducted from your proceeds. When you sell shares in the first year after you
bought them, the CDSC is 5.00%; second year, 4.00%; third year, 3.00%; fourth
year, 3.00%; fifth year, 2.00%; sixth year or later, none. See "Other
CDSC Policies" on page 12.
Class B shares automatically convert to Class A shares after eight years.
CLASS C -- LEVEL LOAD
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
THIS % OF NET ASSET VALUE
WHEN YOU SELL SHARES AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE (OR
IN THIS YEAR AFTER YOU OF SALE, IF LOWER) IS DEDUCT-
BOUGHT THEM ED FROM YOUR PROCEEDS
--------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
First year 1.00
Second year or later None
</TABLE>
With Class C shares, you pay no sales charge when you invest, but you are
charged a "contingent deferred sales charge" (CDSC) when you sell shares you
have held for one year or less, as described in the table above. See "Other CDSC
Policies" on page 12.
Class C shares currently have the same annual expenses as Class B(1) shares, but
never convert to Class A shares.
<PAGE>
12 YOUR INVESTMENT continued
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CLASS S -- NO LOAD
SPECIAL PROGRAMS
Class S shares have no sales charges.
OTHER CDSC POLICIES
The CDSC will be based on the net asset value of the shares at the time of
purchase (or sale, if lower). Any shares acquired through reinvestment are not
subject to the CDSC. There is no CDSC on exchanges into other State Street
Research funds, and the date of your initial investment will continue to be used
as the basis for CDSC calculations when you exchange. To ensure that you pay the
lowest CDSC possible, the fund will always use the shares with the lowest CDSC
to fill your sell requests.
The CDSC is waived on shares sold for participant initiated distributions from
State Street Research prototype retirement plans. In other cases, the CDSC is
waived on shares sold for mandatory retirement distributions or for
distributions because of disability or death. Consult your financial
professional or the State Street Research Service Center for more information.
[MAGNIFYING GLASS]
UNDERSTANDING SERVICE/DISTRIBUTION FEES
As noted in the descriptions on pages 10 through 12, all share classes except
Class S have an annual service/distribution fee, also called a 12b-1 fee.
Under its current 12b-1 plan, the fund may pay certain service and distribution
fees for these classes out of fund assets. Because 12b-1 fees are an ongoing
expense, they will increase the cost of your investment and, over time, could
potentially cost you more than if you had paid other types of sales charges. For
that reason, you should consider the effects of 12b-1 fees as well as sales
loads when choosing a share class.
Some of the 12b-1 fees are used to compensate those financial professionals who
sell fund shares and provide ongoing service to shareholders. The table on page
13 shows how these professionals' compensation is calculated.
The fund may continue to pay 12b-1 fees even if the fund is subsequently closed
to new investors.
<PAGE>
13
[CHECK]
DEALER COMPENSATION
Financial professionals who sell shares of State Street Research funds and
perform services for fund investors may receive sales commissions, annual fees
and other compensation. These are paid by the fund's distributor, using money
from sales charges, service/distribution (12b-1) fees and its other resources.
Brokers and agents may charge a transaction fee on orders of fund shares placed
directly through them. The distributor may pay its affiliate MetLife Securities,
Inc. additional compensation of up to 0.25% of certain sales or assets.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DEALER COMMISSIONS (%) CLASS A CLASS B(1) CLASS B CLASS C CLASS S
===========================================================================================
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Initial Commission See below 4.00 4.00 1.00 0.00
Investments up to $50,000 5.00 -- -- -- --
$50,000 to $100,000 4.00 -- -- -- --
$100,000 to $250,000 3.00 -- -- -- --
$250,000 to $500,000 2.00 -- -- -- --
$500,000 to $1 million 1.75 -- -- -- --
First $1-3 million 1.00(a) -- -- -- --
Next $2 million 0.75(a) -- -- -- --
Next $2 million 0.50(a) -- -- -- --
Next $1 and above 0.25(a) -- -- -- --
Annual fee 0.25 0.25 0.25 1.000 0.00
</TABLE>
BROKERS FOR PORTFOLIO TRADES
When placing trades for the fund's portfolio, State Street Research chooses
brokers that provide the best execution (a term defined by service as well as
price), but may also consider the sale of shares of the State Street Research
funds by the broker.
(a) IF YOUR FINANCIAL PROFESSIONAL DECLINES THIS COMMISSION, THE ONE-YEAR
CDSC ON YOUR INVESTMENT IS WAIVED.
<PAGE>
14 BUYING AND SELLING SHARES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[CASH REGISTER]
POLICIES FOR BUYING SHARES
Once you have chosen a share class, the next step is to determine the amount you
want to invest.
MINIMUM INITIAL INVESTMENTS:
- $1,000 for accounts that use the Investamatic program(a)
- $2,000 for Individual Retirement Accounts(a)
- $2,500 for all other accounts
MINIMUM ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS:
- $50 for any account
Complete the enclosed application. You can avoid future inconvenience by signing
up now for any services you might later use.
TIMING OF REQUESTS All requests received in good order by State Street Research
before the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (usually 4:00
p.m. eastern time) will be executed the same day, at that day's closing share
price. Orders received thereafter will be executed the following day, at that
day's closing share price.
WIRE TRANSACTIONS Funds may be wired between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. eastern
time. To make a same-day wire investment, please notify State Street Research by
12:00 noon of your intention to wire funds, and make sure your wire arrives by
4:00 p.m. If the New York Stock Exchange closes before 4:00 p.m. eastern time,
you may be unable to make a same-day wire investment. Your bank may charge a fee
for wiring money.
(a) EXCEPT $500 FOR INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS DURING SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL
PERIODS.
<PAGE>
INSTRUCTIONS FOR BUYING SHARES 15
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TO OPEN AN ACCOUNT TO ADD TO AN ACCOUNT
<S> <C> <C> <C>
[BRIEFCASE] THROUGH A Consult your financial professional or your program Consult your financial professional or
PROFESSIONAL materials. your program materials.
OR PROGRAM
BY MAIL [MAILBOX] Make your check payable to "State Street Research Fill out an investment slip or indicate
Funds." Forward the check and your application to the fund name and account number on
State Street Research. your check. Make your check payable to
"State Street Research Funds." Forward
the check and slip to State Street
Research.
[CAPITOL BY FEDERAL Call to obtain an account number. and forward your Call State Street Research to obtain a
BUILDING] FUNDS WIRE application to State Street Research. Wire funds using control number. Instruct your bank to
the instructions at right. wire funds to:
- State Street Bank and Trust Company,
Boston, MA
- ABA: 011000028
- BNF: fund name and share class you
want to buy
- AC: 99029761
- OBI: your name AND your account
number
- Control: the number given to you by
State Street Research
BY ELECTRONIC [PLUG] Verify that your bank is a member of the ACH Call State Street Research to verify
FUNDS TRANSFER (Automated Clearing House) system. Forward your appli- that the necessary bank information is
(ACH) cation to State Street Research. Please be sure to include on file for your account. If it is, you
the appropriate bank information. Call State Street may request a transfer by telephone or
Research to request a purchase. Internet. If not, please ask State
Street Research to provide you with an
EZ Trader application.
[CALENDER] BY INVESTAMATIC Forward your application, with all appropriate sections Call State Street Research to verify
completed, to State Street Research, along with a check that Investamatic is in place on your
for your initial investment payable to "State Street account, or to request a form to add
Research Funds." it. Investments are automatic once
Investamatic is in place.
BY EXCHANGE [ARROWS GOING Read the prospectus for the fund into which you are Read the prospectus for the fund into
IN OPPOSITE exchanging. Call State Street Research or visit our which you are exchanging. Call State
DIRECTIONS] Web site. Street Research or visit our Web site.
STATE STREET RESEARCH SERVICE CENTER PO Box 8408, Boston, MA 02266-8408 www.statestreetresearch.com
CALL TOLL-FREE: 1-87-SSR-FUNDS (1-877-773-8637) (business days 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m., eastern time)
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
16 YOUR INVESTMENT continued
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[CASH REGISTER]
POLICIES FOR SELLING SHARES
CIRCUMSTANCES THAT REQUIRE WRITTEN REQUESTS Please submit instructions in
writing when any of the following apply:
- you are selling more than $100,000 worth of shares
- the name or address on the account has changed within the last 30 days
- you want the proceeds to go to a name or address not on the account
registration
- you are transferring shares to an account with a different registration or
share class
- you are selling shares held in a corporate or fiduciary account; for these
accounts, additional documents are required:
CORPORATE ACCOUNTS: certified copy of a corporate resolution
FIDUCIARY ACCOUNTS: copy of power of attorney or other governing document
To protect your account against fraud, all signatures on these documents must be
guaranteed. You may obtain a signature guarantee at most banks and securities
dealers. A notary public cannot provide a signature guarantee.
INCOMPLETE SELL REQUESTS State Street Research will attempt to notify you
promptly if any information necessary to process your request is missing.
TIMING OF REQUESTS All requests received in good order by State Street Research
before the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (usually 4:00
p.m. eastern time) will be executed the same day, at that day's closing share
price. Requests received thereafter, will be executed the following day, at that
day's closing share price.
WIRE TRANSACTIONS Proceeds sent by federal funds wire must total at least
$5,000. A fee of $7.50 will be deducted from all proceeds sent by wire, and your
bank may charge an additional fee to receive wired funds.
SELLING RECENTLY PURCHASED SHARES If you sell shares before the check or
electronic funds transfer (ACH) for those shares has been collected, you will
not receive the proceeds until your initial payment has cleared. This may take
up to 15 days after your purchase was recorded (in rare cases, longer). If you
open an account with shares purchased by wire, you cannot sell those shares
until your application has been processed.
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
INSTRUCTIONS FOR SELLING SHARES 17
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
[BRIEFCASE] THROUGH A Consult your financial professional or your program materials.
PROFESSIONAL
OR PROGRAM
BY MAIL [MAILBOX] Send a letter of instruction, an endorsed stock power or share certificates (if
you hold certificate shares) to State Street Research. Specify the fund, the
account number and the dollar value or number of shares. Be sure to include all
necessary signatures and any additional documents, as well as signature
guarantees if required (see facing page).
[CAPITOL BY FEDERAL Check with State Street Research to make sure that a wire redemption privilege,
BUILDING] FUNDS WIRE including a bank designation, is in place on your account. Once this is
established, you may place your request to sell shares with State Street
Research by telephone or Internet. Proceeds will be wired to your pre-designated
bank account. (See "Wire Transactions" on facing page.)
BY ELECTRONIC [PLUG] Check with State Street Research to make sure that the EZ Trader feature,
FUNDS TRANSFER including a bank designation, is in place on your account. Once this is
(ACH) established, you may place your request to sell shares with State Street
Research. Proceeds will be sent to your pre-designated bank account.
[COMPUTER] BY INTERNET Visit our Web site. Certain limitations may apply.
BY TELEPHONE [TELEPHONE] As long as the transaction does not require a written request (see facing page),
you or your financial professional can sell shares by calling State Street
Research. A check will be mailed to your address of record on the following
business day.
[ARROWS GOING BY EXCHANGE Read the prospectus for the fund into which you are exchanging. Call State
IN OPPOSITE Street Research or visit our Web site.
DIRECTIONS]
BY SYSTEMATIC [CALENDAR] See plan information on page 21.
WITHDRAWAL PLAN
STATE STREET RESEARCH SERVICE CENTER PO Box 8408, Boston, MA 02266-8408 www.statestreetresearch.com
CALL TOLL-FREE: 1-87-SSR-FUNDS (1-877-773-8637) (business days 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m., eastern time)
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
18 YOUR INVESTMENT continued
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[STACK OF PAPER]
ACCOUNT POLICIES
TELEPHONE AND INTERNET REQUESTS When you open an account you automatically
receive telephone privileges, allowing you to place requests for your account
by telephone. Your financial professional can also use these privileges to
request exchanges or redemptions on your account. For your protection, all
telephone calls are recorded.
You may also use our Web site for submitting certain requests over the Internet.
As long as State Street Research takes certain measures to authenticate requests
over the telephone or the Internet for your account, you may be held responsible
for unauthorized requests. Unauthorized telephone requests are rare, but if you
want to protect yourself completely, you can decline the telephone privilege on
your application. Similarly, you may choose not to use the Internet for your
account. The fund may suspend or eliminate the telephone or Internet privileges
at any time.
EXCHANGE PRIVILEGES There is no fee to exchange shares among State Street
Research funds. Your new fund shares will be the equivalent class as your
current shares. Any contingent deferred sales charges will continue to be
calculated from the date of your initial investment.
You must hold Class A shares of any fund for at least 30 days before you may
exchange them at net asset value for Class A shares of a different fund with a
higher applicable sales charge.
Frequent exchanges can interfere with fund management and drive up costs for all
shareholders. Because of this, the fund currently limits each account, or group
of accounts under common ownership or control, to six exchanges per calendar
year. The fund may change or eliminate the exchange privilege at any time, may
limit or cancel any shareholder's exchange privilege and may refuse to accept
any exchange request, particularly those associated with "market timing"
strategies.
For Merrill Lynch customers, exchange privileges extend to Summit Cash Reserves
Fund, which is related to the fund for purposes of investment and investor
services.
ACCOUNTS WITH LOW BALANCES If the value of your account falls below $1,500,
State Street Research may mail you a notice asking you to bring the account
<PAGE>
19
back up to $1,500 or close it out. If you do not take action within 60 days,
State Street Research may either sell your shares and mail the proceeds to you
at the address of record or may deduct an annual maintenance fee (currently
$18).
THE FUND'S BUSINESS HOURS The fund is open the same days as the New York Stock
Exchange (generally Monday through Friday). Fund representatives are available
from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. eastern time on these days.
CALCULATING SHARE PRICE The fund calculates its net asset value every business
day at the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (but not
later than 4:00 p.m. eastern time). NAV is calculated by dividing the fund's net
assets by the number of its shares outstanding.
In calculating its NAV, the fund uses the last reported sale price or quotation
for portfolio securities. However, in cases where these are unavailable, or when
the investment manager believes that subsequent events have rendered them
unreliable, the fund may use fair-value estimates instead.
Because foreign securities markets are sometimes open on different days from
U.S. markets, there may be instances when the value of the fund's portfolio
changes on days when you cannot buy or sell fund shares.
REINSTATING RECENTLY SOLD SHARES For 120 days after you sell shares, you may
"reinstate" your investment by putting some or all of the proceeds into any
currently available State Street Research fund at net asset value. Any CDSC
you paid on the amount you are reinstating will be credited to your account.
You may only use this privilege once in any twelve-month period with respect
to your shares of a given fund.
ADDITIONAL POLICIES Please note that the fund maintains additional policies and
reserves certain rights, including:
- Requirements for initial or additional investments, reinvestments, periodic
investment plans, retirement and employee benefit plans, sponsored
arrangements and other similar programs, may be changed from time to time
without further notice
- All orders to purchase shares are subjectto acceptance by the fund
- At any time, the fund may change or discontinue its sales charge waivers and
any of its order acceptance practices, and may suspend the sale of its shares
- The fund may delay sending you redemption proceeds for up to seven days, or
longer if permitted by the SEC
- The fund reserves the right to redeem in kind
- To permit investors to obtain the current price, dealers are responsible for
transmitting all orders to the State Street Research Service Center promptly
<PAGE>
20 YOUR INVESTMENT continued
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[MAGNIFYING GLASS]
TAX CONSIDERATIONS
Unless your investment is in a tax deferred account, you may want to avoid:
- investing a large amount in the fund close to the end of the fiscal year or
calendar year (if the fund makes a distribution, you will receive some of your
investment back as a taxable distribution)
- selling shares at a loss for tax purposes and investing in a substantially
identical investment within 30 days before or after that sale (such a
transaction is usually considered a "wash sale," and you will not be allowed
to claim a tax loss in the current year)
["UNCLE SAM"]
DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
INCOME AND CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS The fund typically distributes any net
income and net capital gains to shareholders after the end of the fund's fiscal
year, which is June 30. To comply with tax regulations, the fund may be required
to pay an additional income or capital gains distribution in December.
You may have your distributions reinvested in the fund, invested in a different
State Street Research fund, deposited in a bank account or mailed out by check.
If you do not give State Street Research other instructions, your distributions
will automatically be reinvested in the fund.
TAX EFFECTS OF DISTRIBUTIONS AND TRANSACTIONS In general, any dividends and
short-term capital gain distributions you receive from the fund are taxable as
ordinary income. Distributions of long-term capital gains are generally taxable
as capital gains -- in most cases, at a different rate from that which applies
to ordinary income.
The tax you pay on a given capital gains distribution generally depends on how
long the fund has held the portfolio securities it sold. It does not depend on
how long you have owned your fund shares or whether you reinvest your
distributions.
<PAGE>
21
Every year, the fund will send you information detailing the amount of ordinary
income and capital gains distributed to you for the previous year.
The sale of shares in your account may produce a gain or loss, and is a taxable
event. For tax purposes, an exchange is the same as a sale.
Your investment in the fund could have additional tax consequences. Please
consult your tax professional for assistance.
BACKUP WITHHOLDING By law, the fund must withhold 31% of your distributions and
proceeds if you have not provided complete, correct taxpayer information.
[HANDS]
INVESTOR SERVICES
INVESTAMATIC PROGRAM Use Investamatic to set up regular automatic investments in
the fund from your bank account. You determine the frequency and amount of your
investments.
SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN This plan is designed for retirees and other
investors who want regular withdrawals from a fund account. The plan is free and
allows you to withdraw up to 12% of your fund assets a year (minimum $50 per
withdrawal) without incurring any contingent deferred sales charges. Certain
terms and minimums apply.
EZ TRADER This service allows you to purchase or sell fund shares over the
telephone or over the Internet through the ACH (Automated Clearing House)
system.
DIVIDEND ALLOCATION PLAN This plan automatically invests your distributions from
the fund into another fund of your choice, without any fees or sales charges.
AUTOMATIC BANK CONNECTION This plan lets you route any distributions or
Systematic Withdrawal Plan payments directly to your bank account.
RETIREMENT PLANS State Street Research also offers a full range of prototype
retirement plans for individuals, sole proprietors, partnerships, corporations
and employees.
CALL 1-87-SSR-FUNDS (1-877-773-8637) FOR INFORMATION ON ANY OF THE SERVICES
DESCRIBED ABOVE.
<PAGE>
22 OTHER INFORMATION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[STACK OF STOCK CERTIFICATES]
OTHER SECURITIES
AND RISKS
Each of the fund's portfolio securities and investment practices offers certain
opportunities and carries various risks. Major investments and risk factors are
outlined in the fund description starting on page 1. Below are brief
descriptions of other securities and practices, along with their associated
risks.
RESTRICTED AND ILLIQUID SECURITIES Any securities that are thinly traded or
whose resale is restricted can be difficult to sell at a desired time and price.
Some of these securities are new and complex, and trade only among institutions;
the markets for these securities are still developing, and may not function as
efficiently as established markets. Owning a large percentage of restricted and
illiquid securities could hamper the fund's ability to raise cash to meet
redemptions. Also, because there may not be an established market price for
these securities, the fund may have to estimate their value, which means that
their valuation (and, to a much smaller extent, the valuation of the fund) may
have a subjective element.
FOREIGN INVESTMENTS Foreign securities are generally more volatile than their
domestic counterparts, in part because of higher political and economic risks,
lack of reliable information and fluctuations in currency exchange rates. These
risks are usually higher in less developed countries. The fund may use foreign
currencies and related instruments to hedge its foreign investments.
In addition, foreign securities may be more difficult to resell and the
markets for them less efficient than for comparable U.S. securities. Even
where a foreign security increases in price in its local currency, the
appreciation may be diluted by the negative effect of exchange rates when the
security's value is converted to U.S. dollars. Foreign withholding taxes also
may apply and errors and delays may occur in the settlement process for
foreign securities.
INTERNATIONAL EXPOSURE Many U.S. companies in which the fund may invest generate
significant revenues and earnings from abroad. As a result, these companies and
the prices of their securities may be affected by weaknesses in global and
regional economies and the relative value of foreign currencies to the U.S.
dollar. These factors, taken as a whole, could adversely affect the price of
fund shares.
DERIVATIVES Derivatives, a category that includes options and futures, are
financial instruments whose value derives from
<PAGE>
23
another security, indices or currencies. The fund may use certain derivatives
for hedging (attempting to offset a potential loss in one position by
establishing an interest in an opposite position). This includes the use of
currency-based derivatives for hedging its positions in foreign securities. The
fund may also use certain derivatives for speculation (investing for potential
income or capital gain).
While hedging can guard against potential risks, it adds to the fund's expenses
and can eliminate some opportunities for gains. There is also a risk that a
derivative intended as a hedge may not perform as expected.
The main risk with derivatives is that some types can amplify a gain or loss,
potentially earning or losing substantially more money than the actual cost of
the derivative.
With some derivatives, whether used for hedging or speculation, there is also
the risk that the counterparty may fail to honor its contract terms, causing a
loss for the fund.
WHEN-ISSUED SECURITIES The fund may invest in securities prior to their date of
issue. These securities could fall in value by the time they are actually
issued, which may be any time from a few days to over a year.
SECURITIES LENDING The fund may seek additional income by lending portfolio
securities to qualified institutions. By reinvesting any cash collateral it
receives in these transactions, the fund could realize additional gains or
losses. If the borrower fails to return the securities and the invested
collateral has declined in value, the fund could lose money.
SHORT-TERM TRADING While the fund ordinarily does not trade securities for
short-term profits, it will sell any security at the time it believes best,
which may result in short-term trading. Short-term trading can increase the
fund's transaction costs, and may increase your tax liability.
BONDS The value of any bonds held by the fund is likely to decline when interest
rates rise; this risk is greater for bonds with longer maturities. A less
significant risk is that a bond issuer could default on principal or interest
payments, causing a loss for the fund. However, junk bonds (those in rating
categories below BBB/Baa) have a higher risk of default than investment grade
bonds, and their market prices can be more volatile.
DEFENSIVE INVESTING During unusual market conditions, the fund may place up to
100% of total assets in cash or high-quality, short-term debt securities. To the
extent that the fund does this, it is not pursuing its goal.
<PAGE>
24 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THESE HIGHLIGHTS ARE INTENDED TO HELP YOU UNDERSTAND THE FUND'S
PERFORMANCE SINCE ITS INCEPTION. THE INFORMATION IN THESE TABLES HAS BEEN
AUDITED BY PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP, THE FUND'S INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS. THEIR
REPORT AND THE FUND'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE INCLUDED IN THE FUND'S ANNUAL
REPORT, WHICH IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. TOTAL RETURN FIGURES ASSUME
REINVESTMENT OF ALL DISTRIBUTIONS.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CLASS A CLASS B(1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Years ended June 30 Years ended June 30
--------------------------------- --------------------------------
PER SHARE DATA 1998(a)(b) 1999(b) 2000(b) 1999(b)(f) 2000(b)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF YEAR ($) 7.00 7.36 9.29 8.34 9.20
------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Net investment income (loss) ($)* 0.00 (0.03) (0.06) (0.05) (0.14)
Net realized and unrealized gain on investments ($) 0.36 1.97 1.95 0.91 1.93
------- ------- ------- ------- -------
TOTAL FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS ($) 0.36 1.94 1.89 0.86 1.79
------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Dividend from net investment income ($) -- (0.01) -- -- --
TOTAL DISTRIBUTIONS ($) -- (0.01) -- -- --
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF YEAR ($) 7.36 9.29 11.18 9.20 10.99
======= ======= ======= ======= =======
Total return (%)(c) 5.14(d) 26.32 20.34 10.31(d) 19.46
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets at end of year ($ thousands) 797 2,336 1,549 634 906
Expense ratio (%)* 1.25(e) 1.25 1.28 2.00(e) 2.02
Expense ratio after expense reductions (%)* 1.25(e) 1.25 1.26 2.00(e) 2.00
Ratio of net investment income (loss)
to average net assets (%)* 0.25(e) (0.41) (0.56) (1.27)(e) (1.30)
Portfolio turnover rate (%) 30.76 141.92 89.55 141.92 89.55
*REFLECTS VOLUNTARY REDUCTION OF EXPENSES
PER SHARE OF THESE AMOUNTS ($) 0.07 0.06 0.12 0.08 0.12
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
25
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CLASS B CLASS C
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Years ended June 30 Years ended June 30
---------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
PER SHARE DATA 1998(a)(b) 1999(b) 2000(b) 1998(a)(b) 1999(b) 2000(b)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF YEAR ($) 7.00 7.34 9.20 7.00 7.34 9.21
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Net investment loss ($)* (0.01) (0.09) (0.13) (0.01) (0.09) (0.13)
Net realized and unrealized gain
on investments ($) 0.35 1.95 1.93 0.35 1.96 1.92
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
TOTAL FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS ($) 0.34 1.86 1.80 0.34 1.87 1.79
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF YEAR ($) 7.34 9.20 11.00 7.34 9.21 11.00
======= ======= ======= ======= ======= =======
Total return (%)(c) 4.86(d) 25.34 19.57 4.86(d) 25.48 19.44
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets at end of year ($ thousands) 530 795 930 525 673 804
Expense ratio (%)* 2.00(e) 2.00 2.02 2.00(e) 2.00 2.02
Expense ratio after expense reductions (%)* 2.00(e) 2.00 2.00 2.00(e) 2.00 2.00
Ratio of net investment loss
to average net assets (%)* (0.44)(e) (1.12) (1.30) (0.43)(e) (1.12) (1.29)
Portfolio turnover rate (%) 30.76 141.92 89.55 30.76 141.92 89.55
*REFLECTS VOLUNTARY REDUCTION OF EXPENSES
PER SHARE OF THESE AMOUNTS ($) 0.07 0.15 0.12 0.07 0.16 0.12
</TABLE>
(a) MARCH 27, 1998 (COMMENCEMENT OF OPERATIONS) TO JUNE 30, 1998.
(b) PER-SHARE FIGURES HAVE BEEN CALCULATED USING THE AVERAGE SHARES METHOD.
(c) DOES NOT REFLECT ANY FRONT-END OR CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGES. TOTAL
RETURN WOULD BE LOWER IF THE DISTRIBUTOR AND ITS AFFILIATES HAD NOT
VOLUNTARILY REDUCED THE FUND'S EXPENSES.
(d) NOT ANNUALIZED.
(e) ANNUALIZED.
(f) January 1, 1999 (commencement of share class)
to June 30, 1999.
<PAGE>
26
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CLASS S
--------------------------------------------
Years ended June 30
--------------------------------------------
PER SHARE DATA 1998(a)(b) 1999(b) 2000(b)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF YEAR ($) 7.00 7.36 9.31
------- ------- -------
Net investment income (loss) ($)* 0.01 (0.01) (0.03)
Net realized and unrealized gain
On investments ($) 0.35 1.97 1.95
------- ------- -------
TOTAL FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS ($) 0.36 1.96 1.92
------- ------- -------
Dividend from net investment income ($) -- (0.01) --
TOTAL DISTRIBUTIONS ($) -- (0.01) --
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF YEAR ($) 7.36 9.31 11.23
======= ======= =======
Total return(c) (%) 5.14(d) 26.62 20.62
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets at end of year ($ thousands) 8,070 14,343 23,364
Expense ratio (%)* 1.00(e) 1.00 1.02
Expense ratio after expense reductions (%)* 1.00(e) 1.00 1.00
Ratio of net investment loss
to average net assets (%)* (0.46)(e) (0.14) (0.30)
Portfolio turnover rate (%) 30.76 141.92 89.55
*REFLECTS VOLUNTARY REDUCTION OF EXPENSES
PER SHARE OF THESE AMOUNTS ($) 0.06 0.13 0.13
</TABLE>
(a) MARCH 27, 1998 (COMMENCEMENT OF OPERATIONS) TO JUNE 30, 1998.
(b) PER-SHARE FIGURES HAVE BEEN CALCULATED USING THE AVERAGE SHARES METHOD.
(c) DOES NOT REFLECT ANY FRONT-END OR CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGES. TOTAL
RETURN WOULD BE LOWER IF THE DISTRIBUTOR AND ITS AFFILIATES HAD NOT
VOLUNTARILY REDUCED THE FUND'S EXPENSES.
(d) NOT ANNUALIZED.
(e) ANNUALIZED.
<PAGE>
BOARD OF TRUSTEES 27
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[COLUMNS]
The Board of Trustees is responsible for the operation of the fund. They
establish the fund's major policies, review investments, and provide guidance to
the investment manager and others who provide services to the fund. The Trustees
have diverse backgrounds and substantial experience in business and other areas.
RICHARD S. DAVIS
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, PRESIDENT, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
AND DIRECTOR, State Street Research & Management Company
BRUCE R. BOND
FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND PRESIDENT,
PictureTel Corporation
STEVE A. GARBAN
FORMER SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR FINANCE AND OPERATIONS AND TREASURER,
The Pennsylvania State University
DEAN O. MORTON
FORMER EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER AND DIRECTOR,
Hewlett-Packard Company
SUSAN M. PHILLIPS
DEAN, School of Business and Public Management, George Washington University,
FORMER MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS of the Federal Reserve System and
CHAIRMAN AND COMMISSIONER of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission
TOBY ROSENBLATT
PRESIDENT, Founders Investment Ltd., PRESIDENT,The Glen Ellen Company
MICHAEL S. SCOTT MORTON
JAY W. FORRESTER PROFESSOR OF MANAGEMENT, Sloan School of Management,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
<PAGE>
NOTES 28
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
NOTES 29
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FUND OR WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST A FREE COPY OF THE
CURRENT ANNUAL/SEMIANNUAL REPORT OR SAI, CONTACT STATE STREET RESEARCH OR YOUR
FINANCIAL PROFESSIONAL.
[LOGO] STATE STREET RESEARCH
Service Center
P.O. Box 8408, Boston, MA 02266
Telephone: 1-87-SSR-FUNDS (1-877-773-8637)
Internet: www.statestreetresearch.com
YOU CAN ALSO OBTAIN INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND, INCLUDING THE SAI AND CERTAIN
OTHER FUND DOCUMENTS, ON THE SEC'S DATABASE ON THE INTERNET AT www.sec.gov, BY
ELECTRONIC REQUEST AT [email protected], IN PERSON AT THE SEC'S PUBLIC
REFERENCE ROOM IN WASHINGTON, DC (TELEPHONE 1-202-942-8090) OR BY MAIL BY
SENDING YOUR REQUEST, ALONG WITH A DUPLICATING FEE, TO THE SEC'S PUBLIC
REFERENCE SECTION, WASHINGTON, DC 20549-0102.
PROSPECTUS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SEC File Number: 811-4624
You can find additional information on the fund's structure and its performance
in the following documents:
ANNUAL/SEMIANNUAL REPORTS While the prospectus describes the fund's potential
investments, these reports detail the fund's actual investments as of the report
date. Reports include a discussion by fund management of recent economic and
market trends and fund performance. The annual report also includes the report
of the fund's independent accountants on the fund's financial statements.
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (SAI) A supplement to the prospectus,
the SAI contains further information about the fund and its investment
limitations and policies. A current SAI for this fund is on file with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and is incorporated by reference (is legally
part of this prospectus).
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TICKER SYMBOLS
--------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Class A (proposed) SAAFX
Class B(1) (proposed) SAFPX
Class B (proposed) SBAFX
Class C (proposed) SCAFX
Class S (proposed) SSAFX
</TABLE>
AT-2677-1000
Control Number: (exp 1101)SSR-LD
<PAGE>
[LOGO] STATE STREET RESEARCH
Argo Fund
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[GRAPHIC OF CLOCK]
This prospectus has information you should know before you invest. Please read
it carefully and keep it with your investment records.
As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission has not
approved or disapproved these securities or determined if this prospectus is
truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
A stock fund with a
value approach to
large-cap investing
Prospectus
November 1, 2000
<PAGE>
Contents
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 The Fund
--------------------
1 Goal and Strategies
2 Principal Risks
4 Volatility and Performance
6 Investor Expenses
8 Investment Management
9 Your Investment
--------------------
9 Opening an Account
9 Choosing a Share Class
10 Sales Charges
13 Dealer Compensation
14 Buying and Selling Shares
18 Account Policies
20 Distributions and Taxes
21 Investor Services
22 Other Information
--------------------
22 Other Securities and Risks
25 Financial Highlights
28 Board of Trustees
Back Cover For Additional Information
<PAGE>
The Fund 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[CHESS PIECE] Goal and Strategies
Fundamental Goal The fund seeks to provide long-term growth of capital and,
secondarily, income.
Principal Strategies Under normal market conditions, the fund invests at least
65% of total assets in large-cap value stocks, which may include common and
preferred stocks, convertible securities and warrants.
The fund considers issuers of large-cap value stocks to be companies that are
comparable in size to the companies in the Russell 1000 Value(R) Index or a
similar index.
In choosing among large-cap stocks, the fund takes a value approach, searching
for those companies that appear to be trading below their true worth.
The fund uses research to identify potential investments, examining such
features as a company's financial condition, business prospects, competitive
position and business strategy. The fund looks for companies that appear likely
to come back in favor with investors, for reasons that may range from good
prospective earnings and strong management teams to the introduction of new
products and services.
In keeping with its secondary goal, the fund also considers a company's
potential for paying dividends.
[sidebar]
[MAGNIFYING GLASS] Who May Want To Invest
State Street Research Argo Fund is designed for investors who seek one or more
of the following:
o a moderately aggressive stock fund for a long-term goal
o a fund to complement a portfolio of more conservative investments
o a large-cap fund that emphasizes value stocks over growth stocks
The fund is not appropriate for investors who:
o want to avoid even moderate volatility and possible losses
o are seeking either aggressive growth or high income
o are making short-term investments
o are investing emergency reserve money
[end sidebar]
<PAGE>
2
------
The fund reserves the right to invest up to 35% of total assets in other
securities. These may include other types of stocks, such as stocks of smaller
companies, and U.S. government bonds.
The fund may adjust the composition of its portfolio as market conditions and
economic outlooks change.
For more information about the fund's investments and practices, see page 22.
[STOP SIGN] Principal Risks
Because the fund invests primarily in stocks, its major risks are those of stock
investing, including sudden and unpredictable drops in value and the potential
for periods of lackluster performance.
There also are particular risks associated with investing in large-cap value
stocks. Generally, large-cap companies are unable to respond quickly to
competitive challenges, such as changes in technology and consumer tastes. Also,
many larger companies compete in mature product markets and cannot sustain the
high growth rates of successful smaller companies. Value investing requires the
portfolio manager to identify companies that may be experiencing market or
financial weakness but are expected to achieve aggressive goals. If the fund
acquires shares of companies that cannot achieve their goals or if the markets
do not recognize any improvement in the value of those shares, the fund may lose
money. The success of the fund's investment strategies depends largely on the
portfolio manager's skill in assessing the potential of the stocks the fund
buys.
Because the fund may invest in U.S. companies with some international business,
and also may invest in foreign companies, it is subject to the risks associated
with international investing.
The fund's shares will rise and fall in value and there is a risk that you could
lose money by investing in the fund. Also, the fund cannot be certain that it
will achieve its goal. Finally, fund shares are not bank deposits and are not
guaranteed, endorsed or insured by any financial institution, government entity
or the FDIC.
Information on other securities and risks appears on page 22.
A "snapshot" of the fund's investments may be found in the current annual or
semiannual report (see back cover).
<PAGE>
3
------
[sidebar]
[MAGNIFYING GLASS] Why Large-cap Value Investing?
Large-cap stocks tend to have the potential for capital appreciation but do not
tend to have the volatility of stocks of smaller companies, especially those
smaller companies that do not pay dividends.
Unlike many smaller companies, large-cap companies typically occupy leading
positions in their respective markets and many are household names. As a result,
they tend to have access to financial resources that can help them preserve and
expand product markets, introduce new products, make strategic acquisitions and
grow revenues and profits.
Dividend stocks generally mitigate short-term volatility by supporting a stock's
value during economic downturns. Even when market conditions make capital
appreciation appear unlikely, dividend stocks may remain attractive to investors
because of their current income.
Investments in value stocks also help mitigate volatility in a fund's portfolio.
Prices of stocks that are undervalued generally are affected by investor
perceptions of the issuing company itself. Those perceptions usually do not vary
significantly from one day to the next. In contrast, prices of growth stocks
tend to be more sensitive to market movements, and thus, can be more susceptible
to market volatility.
[end sidebar]
<PAGE>
4 Volatility and Performance
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[The following table was represented as a bar chart in the printed material.]
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years ended December 31
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year-by-Year Total Return (Class A) 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
(9.46) 34.97 9.51 12.82 (4.94) 33.95 21.57 27.17 16.91 (2.31)
</TABLE>
Best quarter: second quarter 1997, up 17.68%
Worst quarter: third quarter 1990, down 18.19%
Return from 1/1/00 - 9/30/00 (not annualized): up 7.19%
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
As of December 31, 1999
-------------------------------------------------
Average Annual Total Return (at maximum applicable sales charge) 1 Year 5 Years 10 Years
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Class A (%) (7.93) 17.39 12.33
Class B(1) (%)(a) (6.89) 17.71 12.49
Class B (%) (6.89) 17.71 12.49
Class C (%) (3.82) 17.95 12.49
Class S (%) (2.12) 19.07 13.21
S&P 500 Index (%) 21.03 28.54 18.19
Lipper Large-Cap Value Funds Index (%) 10.78 22.11 15.42
</TABLE>
[footnote]
(a) Performance for Class B(1) reflects Class B performance through December
31, 1998. Class B(1) was introduced on January 1, 1999.
[end footnote]
<PAGE>
5
------
[sidebar]
[MAGNIFYING GLASS] Understanding Volatility and Performance
The chart and table on the opposite page are designed to show two aspects of the
fund's track record:
o Year-by-Year Total Return shows how volatile the fund has been: how much
the difference has been, historically, between its best years and worst
years. In general, funds with higher average annual total returns will
also have higher volatility. The graph includes the effects of fund
expenses, but not sales charges. If sales charges had been included,
returns would have been less than shown.
o Average Annual Total Return is a measure of the fund's performance over
time. It is determined by taking the fund's performance over a given
period and expressing it as an average annual rate.
Average annual total return includes the effects of fund expenses and maximum
sales charges for each class, and assumes that you sold your shares at the end
of the period.
Also included are two independent measures of performance. The S&P 500
(officially, the "Standard & Poor's 500 Index") is an unmanaged index of 500
domestic stocks. The Lipper Large-Cap Value Funds Index shows the performance of
a category of mutual funds with similar goals. The Lipper Index shows you how
well the fund has done compared to competing funds.
While the fund does not seek to match the returns or the volatility of the S&P
500, this index is a good indicator of general stock market performance and can
be used as a rough guide when gauging the return of this and other investments.
When making comparisons, keep in mind that neither the S&P 500 nor the Lipper
Index includes the effects of sales charges. Also, even if your stock portfolio
were identical to the S&P 500, your returns would always be lower, because the
S&P 500 doesn't include brokerage and administrative expenses.
Also, the returns in both the chart and the table would have been lower if the
distributor and its affiliates had not voluntarily reduced a portion of the
fund's expenses.
Keep in mind that past performance is no guarantee of future results.
[end sidebar]
<PAGE>
6 Investor Expenses
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Class descriptions begin on page 9
-------------------------------------------------------
Shareholder Fees (% of offering price) Class A Class B(1) Class B Class C Class S
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Maximum front-end sales charge (load) 5.75(a) 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) 0.00(a) 5.00 5.00 1.00 0.00
<CAPTION>
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (% of average net assets) Class A Class B(1) Class B Class C Class S
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Management fee 0.65 0.65 0.65 0.65 0.65
Service/distribution (12b-1) fees 0.30(b) 1.00 1.00 1.00 0.00
Other expenses 0.60 0.60 0.60 0.60 0.60
---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Total annual fund operating expenses* 1.55 2.25 2.25 2.25 1.25
==== ==== ==== ==== ====
[footnote]
*Because some of the fund's expenses have
been subsidized or reduced through expense
offset arrangements, actual total operating
expenses for the prior year would have been: 1.30 2.00 2.00 2.00 1.00
The fund expects the expense subsidy to
continue through the current fiscal year,
although there is no guarantee that it will.
[end footnote]
<CAPTION>
Example Year Class A Class B(1) Class B Class C Class S
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1 $724 $728/$228 $728/$228 $328/$228 $127
3 $1,036 $1,003/$703 $1,003/$703 $703 $397
5 $1,371 $1,405/$1,205 $1,405/$1,205 $1,205 $686
10 $2,314 $2,409 $2,409 $2,585 $1,511
</TABLE>
(a) Except for investments of $1 million or more; see page 10.
(b) Reflects fee schedule that became effective May 1, 2000, as if it had been
in place for the fund's entire previous fiscal year. The Trustees may
increase the current fees shown for Class A Shares at any time provided
that the fees do not exceed a maximum of 0.40%.
<PAGE>
7
------
[sidebar]
[MAGNIFYING GLASS] Understanding Investor Expenses
The information on the opposite page is designed to give you an idea of what you
should expect to pay in expenses as an investor in the fund:
o Shareholder Fees are costs that are charged to you directly. These fees
are not charged on reinvestments or exchanges.
o Annual Fund Operating Expenses are deducted from the fund's assets every
year, and are thus paid indirectly by all fund investors.
o The Example is designed to allow you to compare the costs of this fund
with those of other funds. It assumes that you invested $10,000 over the
years indicated, reinvested all distributions, earned a hypothetical 5%
annual return and paid the maximum applicable sales charges. For Class
B(1) and Class B shares, it also assumes the automatic conversion to Class
A after eight years.
Where two numbers are shown separated by a slash, the first one assumes you sold
all your shares at the end of the period, while the second assumes you stayed in
the fund. Where there is only one number, the costs would be the same either
way.
The figures in the example assume full annual expenses, and would be lower if
they reflected the various expense reductions that may have been taken.
Investors should keep in mind that the example is for comparison purposes only.
The fund's actual performance and expenses may be higher or lower.
[end sidebar]
<PAGE>
8 The Fund continued
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[THINKER] Investment Management
The fund's investment manager is State Street Research & Management Company, One
Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. The firm traces its heritage back
to 1924 and the founding of one of America's first mutual funds. Today the firm
has approximately $55 billion in assets under management (as of September 30,
2000), including more than $20 billion in mutual funds.
The investment manager is responsible for the fund's investment and business
activities, and receives the management fee (0.65% of average net assets,
annually) as compensation. The investment manager is a subsidiary of
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company.
Peter A. Zuger has been responsible for the fund's day-to-day portfolio
management since October 1998. A senior vice president, he joined the firm in
1998 and has worked as an investment professional since 1976. Prior to joining
the investment manager, Mr. Zuger served as a portfolio manager with American
Century Investment Management.
<PAGE>
Your Investment 9
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[KEY] Opening an Account
If you are opening an account through a financial professional, he or she can
assist you with all phases of your investment.
If you are investing through a large retirement plan or other special program,
follow the instructions in your program materials.
To open an account without the help of a financial professional, please use the
instructions on these pages.
[CHECKLIST] Choosing a Share Class
The fund generally offers four share classes, each with its own sales charge and
expense structure: Class A, Class B(1), Class C and Class S. The fund also
offers Class B shares, but only to current Class B shareholders through
reinvestment of dividends and distributions or through exchanges from existing
Class B accounts of the State Street Research funds.
If you are investing a substantial amount and plan to hold your shares for a
long period, Class A shares may make the most sense for you. If you are
investing a lesser amount, you may want to consider Class B(1) shares (if
investing for at least six years) or Class C shares (if investing for less than
six years). If you are investing through a special program, such as a large
employer-sponsored retirement plan or certain programs available through
brokers, you may be eligible to purchase Class S shares.
Because all future investments in your account will be made in the share class
you designate when opening the account, you should make your decision carefully.
Your financial professional can help you choose the share class that makes the
most sense for you.
<PAGE>
10 Your Investment continued
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A -- Front Load
o Initial sales charge of 5.75% or less
o Lower sales charges for larger investments; see sales charge schedule at
right
o Lower annual expenses than Class B(1) or Class C shares because of lower
service/distribution (12b-1) fee of up to 0.40%
Class B(1) -- Back Load
o No initial sales charge
o Deferred sales charge of 5% or less on shares you sell within six years
o Annual service/distribution (12b-1) fee of 1.00%
o Automatic conversion to Class A shares after eight years, reducing future
annual expenses
Class B -- Back Load
o Available only to current Class B shareholders; see page 11 for details
Class C -- Level Load
o No initial sales charge
o Deferred sales charge of 1%, paid if you sell shares within one year of
purchase
o Lower deferred sales charge than Class B(1) shares
o Annual service/distribution (12b-1) fee of 1.00%
o No conversion to Class A shares after eight years, so annual expenses do
not decrease
Class S -- Special Programs
o Available only through certain retirement accounts, advisory accounts of
the investment manager and other special programs, including programs
through financial professionals with recordkeeping and other services;
these programs usually involve special conditions and separate fees
(consult your financial professional or your program materials)
o No sales charges of any kind
o No service/distribution (12b-1) fees; annual expenses are lower than other
share classes
Sales Charges
Class A -- Front Load
when you invest this % is which equals
this amount deducted this % of
for sales your net
charges investment
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Up to $50,000 5.75 6.10
$50,000 to $100,000 4.50 4.71
$100,000 to $250,000 3.50 3.63
$250,000 to $500,000 2.50 2.56
$500,000 to $1 million 2.00 2.04
$1 million or more see below
With Class A shares, you pay a sales charge only when you buy shares.
If you are investing $1 million or more (either as a lump sum or through any of
the methods described on the application), you can purchase Class A shares
without any sales charge. However, you may be charged a "contingent deferred
sales charge" (CDSC) of up to 1% if you sell any shares within one year of
<PAGE>
11
------
purchasing them. See "Other CDSC Policies" on page 12.
Class A shares are also offered with low or no sales charges through various
wrap-fee programs and other sponsored arrangements (consult your financial
professional or your program materials).
Class B(1) -- Back Load
this % of net asset value
when you sell shares at the time of purchase (or
in this year after you of sale, if lower) is deduct-
bought them ed from your proceeds
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First year 5.00
Second year 4.00
Third year 3.00
Fourth year 3.00
Fifth year 2.00
Sixth year 1.00
Seventh or eighth year None
With Class B(1) shares, you pay no sales charge when you invest, but you are
charged a "contingent deferred sales charge" (CDSC) when you sell shares you
have held for six years or less, as described in the table above. See "Other
CDSC Policies" on page 12.
Class B(1) shares automatically convert to Class A shares after eight years;
Class A shares have lower annual expenses.
Class B -- Back Load
Class B shares are available only to current shareholders through reinvestment
of dividends and distributions or through exchanges from existing Class B
accounts of the State Street Research funds. Other investments made by current
Class B shareholders will be in Class B(1) shares.
With Class B shares, you are charged a "contingent deferred sales charge" (CDSC)
when you sell shares you have held for five years or less. The CDSC is a
percentage of net asset value at the time of purchase (or of sale, if lower) and
is deducted from your proceeds. When you sell shares in the first year after you
bought them, the CDSC is 5.00%; second year, 4.00%; third year, 3.00%; fourth
year, 3.00%; fifth year, 2.00%; sixth year or later, none. See "Other CDSC
Policies" on page 12.
Class B shares automatically convert to Class A shares after eight years.
Class C -- Level Load
this % of net asset value
when you sell shares at the time of purchase (or
in this year after you of sale, if lower) is deduct-
bought them ed from your proceeds
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First year 1.00
Second year or later None
With Class C shares, you pay no sales charge when you invest, but you are
charged a "contingent deferred sales charge" (CDSC) when you sell shares you
have held for one year or less, as
<PAGE>
12 Your Investment continued
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
described in the table above.See "Other CDSC Policies" below.
Class C shares currently have the same annual expenses as Class B(1) shares, but
never convert to Class A shares.
Class S -- Special Programs
Class S shares have no sales charges.
Other CDSC Policies
The CDSC will be based on the net asset value of the shares at the time of
purchase (or sale, if lower). Any shares acquired through reinvestment are not
subject to the CDSC. There is no CDSC on exchanges into other State Street
Research funds, and the date of your initial investment will continue to be used
as the basis for CDSC calculations when you exchange. To ensure that you pay the
lowest CDSC possible, the fund will always use the shares with the lowest CDSC
to fill your sell requests.
The CDSC is waived on shares sold for participant initiated distributions from
State Street Research prototype retirement plans. In other cases, the CDSC is
waived on shares sold for mandatory retirement distributions or for
distributions because of disability or death. Consult your financial
professional or the State Street Research Service Center.
[sidebar]
[MAGNIFYING GLASS] Understanding Service/Distribution Fees
As noted in the descriptions on pages 10 to 12, all share classes except Class S
have an annual service/distribution fee, also called a 12b-1 fee.
Under its current 12b-1 plans, the fund may pay certain service and distribution
fees for these classes out of fund assets. Because 12b-1 fees are an ongoing
expense, they will increase the cost of your investment and, over time, could
potentially cost you more than if you had paid other types of sales charges. For
that reason, you should consider the effects of 12b-1 fees as well as sales
loads when choosing a share class.
Some of the 12b-1 fees are used to compensate those financial professionals who
sell fund shares and provide ongoing service to shareholders. The table on page
13 shows how these professionals' compensation is calculated.
The fund may continue to pay 12b-1 fees even if the fund is subsequently closed
to new investors.
[end sidebar]
<PAGE>
13
------
[CHECK] Dealer Compensation
Financial professionals who sell shares of State Street Research funds and
perform services for fund investors may receive sales commissions, annual fees
and other compensation. These are paid by the fund's distributor, using money
from sales charges, service/distributions (12b-1) fees and its other resources.
Brokers and agents may charge a transaction fee on orders of fund shares placed
directly through them. The distributor may pay its affiliate MetLife Securities,
Inc. additional compensation of up to 0.25% of certain sales or assets.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Dealer Commissions (%) Class A Class B(1) Class B Class C Class S
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Commission see below 4.00 4.00 1.00 0.00
Investments up to $50,000 5.00 -- -- -- --
$50,000 to $100,000 4.00 -- -- -- --
$100,000 to $250,000 3.00 -- -- -- --
$250,000 to $500,000 2.00 -- -- -- --
$500,000 to $1 million 1.75 -- -- -- --
First $1 to 3 million 1.00(a) -- -- -- --
Next $2 million 0.75(a) -- -- -- --
Next $2 million 0.50(a) -- -- -- --
Next $1 and above 0.25(a) -- -- -- --
Annual fee 0.25 0.25 0.25 1.00 0.00
</TABLE>
Brokers for Portfolio Trades When placing trades for the fund's portfolio, State
Street Research chooses brokers that provide the best execution (a term defined
by service as well as price), but may also consider the sale of shares of the
State Street Research funds by the broker.
[footnote]
(a) If your financial professional declines this commission, the one-year CDSC
on your investment is waived.
[end footnote]
<PAGE>
14 Buying and Selling Shares
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[CASH REGISTER] Policies for Buying Shares
Once you have chosen a share class, the next step is to determine the amount you
want to invest.
Minimum Initial Investments:
o $1,000 for accounts that use the Investamatic program(a)
o $2,000 for Individual Retirement Accounts(a)
o $2,500 for all other accounts
Minimum Additional Investments:
o $50 for any account
Complete the enclosed application. You can avoid future inconvenience by signing
up now for any services you might later use.
Timing of Requests All requests received in good order by State Street Research
before the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (usually 4:00
p.m. eastern time) will be executed the same day, at that day's closing share
price. Orders received thereafter will be executed the following day, at that
day's closing share price.
Wire Transactions Funds may be wired between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. eastern
time. To make a same-day wire investment, please notify State Street Research by
12:00 noon of your intention to wire funds, and make sure your wire arrives by
4:00 p.m. If the New York Stock Exchange closes before 4:00 p.m. eastern time,
you may be unable to make a same day wire investment. Your bank may charge a fee
for wiring money.
[footnote]
(a) Except $500 for Individual Retirement Accounts during special promotional
periods.
[end footnote]
<PAGE>
Instructions for Buying Shares 15
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
To Open an Account To Add to an Account
<S> <C> <C>
[BRIEFCASE] Through a Consult your financial Consult your financial
Professional professional or your program professional or your program
or Program materials. materials.
By Mail [MAILBOX] Make your check payable to "State Fill out an investment slip from
Street Research Funds." Forward an account statement, or indicate
the check and your application to the fund name and account number
State Street Research. on your check. Make your check
payable to "State Street Research
Funds." Forward the check and
slip to State Street Research.
[CAPITAL BUILDING] By Federal Call to obtain an account number Call State Street Research to
Funds Wire and forward your application to obtain a control number. Instruct
State Street Research. Wire funds your bank to wire funds to:
using the instructions at right. o State Street Bank and Trust
Company, Boston, MA
o ABA: 011000028
o BNF: fund name and share class
you want to buy
o AC: 99029761
o OBI: your name and your account
number
o Control: the number given to
you by State Street Research
By Electronic [PLUG] Verify that your bank is a member Call State Street Research to
Funds Transfer of the ACH (Automated Clearing verify that the necessary bank
(ACH) House) system. Forward your information is on file for your
application to State Street account. If it is, you may
Research. Please be sure to request a transfer by telephone
include the appropriate bank or Internet. If not, please ask
information. Call State Street State Street Research to provide
Research to request a purchase. you with an EZ Trader
application.
[CALENDAR] By Investamatic Forward your application, with Call State Street Research to
all appropriate sections verify that Investamatic is in
completed, to State Street place on your account, or to
Research, along with a check for request a form to add it.
your initial investment payable Investments are automatic once
to "State Street Research Funds." Investamatic is in place.
By Exchange [ARROWS GOING IN Read the prospectus for the fund Read the prospectus for the fund
OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS] into which you are exchanging. into which you are exchanging.
Call State Street Research or Call State Street Research or
visit our Web site. visit our Web site.
</TABLE>
State Street Research Service Center PO Box 8408, Boston, MA 02266-8408
Internet www.statestreetresearch.com
Call toll-free: 1-87-SSR-FUNDS (1-877-773-8637) (business days 8:00 a.m. - 6:00
p.m., eastern time)
<PAGE>
16 Your Investment continued
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[CASH REGISTER] Policies for Selling Shares
CIRCUMSTANCES THAT REQUIRE WRITTEN REQUESTS Please submit instructions in
writing when any of the following apply:
o you are selling more than $100,000 worth of shares
o the name or address on the account has changed within the last 30 days
o you want the proceeds to go to a name or address not on the account
registration
o you are transferring shares to an account with a different registration or
share class
o you are selling shares held in a corporate or fiduciary account; for these
accounts, additional documents are required:
corporate accounts: certified copy of a corporate resolution
fiduciary accounts: copy of power of attorney or other governing document
To protect your account against fraud, all signatures on these documents must be
guaranteed. You may obtain a signature guarantee at most banks and securities
dealers. A notary public cannot provide a signature guarantee.
INCOMPLETE SELL REQUESTS State Street Research will attempt to notify you
promptly if any information necessary to process your request is missing.
TIMING OF REQUESTS All requests received in good order by State Street Research
before the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (usually 4:00
p.m. eastern time) will be executed the same day, at that day's closing share
price. Requests received thereafter will be executed the following day, at that
day's closing share price.
WIRE TRANSACTIONS Proceeds sent by federal funds wire must total at least
$5,000. A fee of $7.50 will be deducted from all proceeds sent by wire, and your
bank may charge an additional fee to receive wired funds.
SELLING RECENTLY PURCHASED SHARES If you sell shares before the check or
electronic funds transfer (ACH) for those shares has been collected, you will
not receive the proceeds until your initial payment has cleared. This may take
up to 15 days after your purchase was recorded (in rare cases, longer). If you
open an account with shares purchased by wire, you cannot sell those shares
until your application has been processed.
<PAGE>
Instructions for Selling Shares 17
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To Sell Some or All of Your Shares
[BRIEFCASE] Through a Consult your financial professional or your
Professional program materials.
or Program
By Mail [MAILBOX] Send a letter of instruction, an endorsed
stock power or share certificates (if you
hold certificate shares) to State Street
Research. Specify the fund, the account
number and the dollar value or number of
shares. Be sure to include all necessary
signatures and any additional documents, as
well as signature guarantees if required (see
facing page).
[CAPITAL BUILDING] By Federal Check with State Street Research to make sure
Funds Wire that a wire redemption privilege, including a
bank designation, is in place on your
account. Once this is established, you may
place your request to sell shares with State
Street Research. Proceeds will be wired to
your pre-designated bank account. (See "Wire
Transactions" on facing page.)
By Electronic [PLUG] Check with State Street Research to make sure
Funds Transfer that the EZ Trader feature, including a bank
(ACH) designation, is in place on your account.
Once this is established, you may place your
request to sell shares with State Street
Research by telephone or Internet. Proceeds
will be sent to your pre-designated bank
account.
[COMPUTER] By Internet Visit our Web site. Certain limitations may
apply.
By Telephone [TELEPHONE] As long as the transaction does not require a
written request (see facing page), you or
your financial professional can sell shares
by calling State Street Research. A check
will be mailed to your address of record on
the following business day.
[ARROWS GOING IN By Exchange Read the prospectus for the fund into which
OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS] you are exchanging. Call State Street
Research or visit our Web site.
By Systematic [CALENDAR] See plan information on page 21.
Withdrawal Plan
State Street Research Service Center PO Box 8408, Boston, MA 02266-8408
Internet www.statestreetresearch.com
Call toll-free: 1-87-SSR-FUNDS(1-877-773-8637) (business days 8:00 a.m. - 6:00
p.m., eastern time)
<PAGE>
18 Your Investment continued
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[POLICIES] Account Policies
TELEPHONE AND INTERNET REQUESTS When you open an account you automatically
receive telephone privileges, allowing you to place requests for your account by
telephone. Your financial professional can also use these privileges to request
exchanges or redemptions on your account. For your protection, all telephone
calls are recorded.
You may also use our Web site for submitting certain requests over the Internet.
As long as State Street Research takes certain measures to authenticate requests
over the telephone or Internet for your account, you may be held responsible for
unauthorized requests. Unauthorized telephone requests are rare, but if you want
to protect yourself completely, you can decline the telephone privilege on your
application. Similarly, you may choose not to use the Internet for your account.
The fund may suspend or eliminate the telephone or Internet privileges at any
time.
EXCHANGE PRIVILEGES There is no fee to exchange shares among State Street
Research funds. Your new fund shares will be the equivalent class of your
current shares. Any contingent deferred sales charges will continue to be
calculated from the date of your initial investment.
You must hold Class A shares of any fund for at least 30 days before you may
exchange them at net asset value for Class A shares of a different fund with a
higher applicable sales charge.
Frequent exchanges can interfere with fund management and drive up costs for all
shareholders. Because of this, the fund currently limits each account, or group
of accounts under common ownership or control, to six exchanges per calendar
year. The fund may change or eliminate the exchange privilege at any time, may
limit or cancel any shareholder's exchange privilege and may refuse to accept
any exchange request, particularly those associated with "market timing"
strategies.
For Merrill Lynch customers, exchange privileges extend to Summit Cash Reserves
Fund, which is related to the fund for purposes of investment and investor
services.
ACCOUNTS WITH LOW BALANCES If the value of your account falls below $1,500,
State Street Research may mail you a notice asking you to bring the account back
up to $1,500 or close it out. If you do not take action
<PAGE>
19
------
within 60 days, State Street Research may either sell your shares and mail the
proceeds to you at the address of record or, depending on the circumstances, may
deduct an annual maintenance fee (currently $18).
The Fund's Business Hours The fund is open the same days as the New York Stock
Exchange (generally Monday through Friday). Fund representatives are available
from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. eastern time on these days.
Calculating Share Price The fund calculates its net asset value per share (NAV)
every business day at the close of regular trading on the New York Stock
Exchange (but not later than 4:00 p.m. eastern time). NAV is calculated by
dividing the fund's net assets by the number of its shares outstanding.
In calculating its NAV, the fund uses the last reported sale price or quotation
for portfolio securities. However, in cases where these are unavailable, or when
the investment manager believes that subsequent events have rendered them
unreliable, the fund may use fair-value estimates instead.
Because foreign securities markets are sometimes open on different days from
U.S. markets, there may be instances when the value of the fund's portfolio
changes on days when you cannot buy or sell fund shares.
Reinstating Recently Sold Shares For 120 days after you sell shares, you may
"reinstate" your investment by putting some or all of the proceeds into any
currently available State Street Research fund at net asset value. Any CDSC you
paid on the amount you are reinstating will be credited to your account. You may
only use this privilege once in any twelve-month period with respect to your
shares of a given fund.
Additional Policies Please note that the fund maintains additional policies and
reserves certain rights, including:
o Requirements for initial or additional investments, reinvestments,
periodic investment plans, retirement and employee benefit plans,
sponsored arrangements and other similar programs may be changed from time
to time without further notice or supplement to this prospectus
o All orders to purchase shares are subject to acceptance by the fund
o At any time, the fund may change or discontinue its sales charge waivers
and any of its order acceptance practices, and may suspend the sale of its
shares
o The fund may delay sending you redemption proceeds for up to seven days,
or longer if permitted by the SEC
o The fund reserves the right to redeem in kind
o To permit investors to obtain the current price, dealers are responsible
for transmitting all orders to the State Street Research Service Center
promptly
<PAGE>
20 Your Investment continued
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[sidebar]
[MAGNIFYING GLASS] Tax Considerations
Unless your investment is in a tax-deferred account, you may want to avoid:
o investing a large amount in the fund close to the end of the fiscal year
or a calendar year (if the fund makes a distribution, you will receive
some of your investment back as a taxable distribution)
o selling shares at a loss for tax purposes and investing in a substantially
identical investment within 30 days before or after that sale (such a
transaction is usually considered a "wash sale," and you will not be
allowed to claim a tax loss in the current year)
[end sidebar]
["UNCLE SAM"] Distributions and Taxes
INCOME AND CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS The fund typically distributes its net
income to shareholders four times a year. Net capital gains, if any, are
distributed after the end of the fund's fiscal year, which is June 30. To comply
with tax regulations, the fund may be required to pay an additional capital
gains distribution in December.
You may have your distributions reinvested in the fund, invested in a different
State Street Research fund, deposited in a bank account or mailed out by check.
If you do not give State Street Research other instructions, your distributions
will automatically be reinvested in the fund.
TAX EFFECTS OF DISTRIBUTIONS AND TRANSACTIONS In general, any dividends and
short-term capital gains distributions you receive from the fund are taxable as
ordinary income. Distributions of long-term capital gains are generally taxable
as capital gains -- in most cases, at a different rate from those that apply to
ordinary income.
The tax you pay on a given capital gains distribution generally depends on how
long the fund has held the portfolio securities it sold. It does not depend on
how long you have owned your fund shares or whether you reinvest your
distributions.
<PAGE>
21
------
Every year, the fund will send you information detailing the amount of ordinary
income and capital gains distributed to you for the previous year.
The sale of shares in your account may produce a gain or loss, and is a taxable
event. For tax purposes, an exchange is the same as a sale.
Your investment in the fund could have additional tax consequences. Please
consult your tax professional for assistance.
BACKUP WITHHOLDING By law, the fund must withhold 31% of your distributions and
proceeds if you have not provided complete, correct taxpayer information.
[HANDS] Investor Services
INVESTAMATIC PROGRAM Use Investamatic to set up regular automatic investments in
the fund from your bank account. You determine the frequency and amount of your
investments.
SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN This plan is designed for retirees and other
investors who want regular withdrawals from a fund account. The plan is free and
allows you to withdraw up to 12% of your fund assets a year (minimum $50 per
withdrawal) without incurring any contingent deferred sales charges. Certain
terms and minimums apply.
EZTRADER This service allows you to purchase or sell fund shares over the
telephone or over the Internet through the ACH (Automated Clearing House)
system.
DIVIDEND ALLOCATION PLAN This plan automatically invests your distributions from
the fund into another fund of your choice, without any fees or sales charges.
AUTOMATIC BANK CONNECTION This plan lets you route any distributions or
Systematic Withdrawal Plan payments directly to your bank account.
RETIREMENT PLANS State Street Research also offers a full range of prototype
retirement plans for individuals, sole proprietors, partnerships, corporations
and employees.
Call 1-87-SSR-FUNDS (1-877-773-8637) for information on any of the services
described above.
<PAGE>
22 Other Information
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[POLICIES] Other Securities and Risks
Each of the fund's portfolio securities and investment practices offers certain
opportunities and carries various risks. Major investments and risk factors are
outlined in the fund description starting on page 1. Below are brief
descriptions of other securities and practices, along with their associated
risks.
RESTRICTED AND ILLIQUID SECURITIES Any securities that are thinly traded or
whose resale is restricted can be difficult to sell at a desired time and price.
Some of these securities are new and complex, and trade only among institutions;
the markets for these securities are still developing, and may not function as
efficiently as established markets. Owning a large percentage of restricted or
illiquid securities could hamper the fund's ability to raise cash to meet
redemptions. Also, because there may not be an established market price for
these securities, the fund may have to estimate their value, which means that
their valuation (and, to a much smaller extent, the valuation of the fund) may
have a subjective element.
FOREIGN INVESTMENTS Foreign securities are generally more volatile than their
domestic counterparts, in part because of higher political and economic risks,
lack of reliable information and fluctuations in currency exchange rates. These
risks are usually higher in less developed countries. The fund may use foreign
currencies and related instruments to hedge its foreign investments.
<PAGE>
23
------
In addition, foreign securities may be more difficult to resell and the markets
for them less efficient than for comparable U.S. securities. Even where a
foreign security increases in price in its local currency, the appreciation may
be diluted by the negative effect of exchange rates when the security's value is
converted to U.S. dollars. Foreign withholding taxes also may apply and errors
and delays may occur in the settlement process for foreign securities.
INTERNATIONAL EXPOSURE Many U.S. companies in which the fund may invest generate
significant revenues and earnings from abroad. As a result, these companies and
the prices of their securities may be affected by weaknesses in global and
regional economies and the relative value of foreign currencies to the U.S.
dollar. These factors, taken as a whole, could adversely affect the price of
fund shares.
DERIVATIVES Derivatives, a category that includes options and futures, are
financial instruments whose value derives from one or more securities, indices
or currencies. The fund may use certain derivatives for hedging (attempting to
offset a potential loss in one position by establishing an interest in an
opposite position). This includes the use of currency-based derivatives for
hedging its positions in foreign securities. The fund may also use certain
derivatives for speculation (investing for potential income or capital gain).
While hedging can guard against potential risks, it adds to the fund's expenses
and can eliminate some opportunities for gains. There is also a risk that a
derivative intended as a hedge may not perform as expected.
The main risk with derivatives is that some types can amplify a gain or loss,
potentially earning or losing substantially more money than the actual cost of
the derivative.
With some derivatives, whether used for hedging or speculation, there is also
the risk that the counterparty may fail to honor its contract terms, causing a
loss for the fund.
SECURITIES LENDING The fund may seek additional income or fees by lending
portfolio securities to qualified institutions. By reinvesting any cash
<PAGE>
24 Other Information continued
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
collateral it receives in these transactions, the fund could realize additional
gains or losses. If the borrower fails to return the securities and the invested
collateral has declined in value, the fund could lose money.
WHEN-ISSUED SECURITIES The fund may invest in securities prior to their date of
issue. These securities could fall in value by the time they are actually
issued, which may be any time from a few days to over a year.
SHORT-TERM TRADING While the fund ordinarily does not trade securities for
short-term profits, it will sell any security at any time it believes best,
which may result in short-term trading. Short-term trading can increase the
fund's transaction costs and may increase your tax liability if there are
capital gains. In addition, foreign securities generally involve higher
transaction costs per share traded.
BONDS The value of any bonds held by the fund is likely to decline when interest
rates rise; this risk is greater for bonds with longer maturities. A less
significant risk is that a bond issuer could default on principal or interest
payments, causing a loss for the fund.
DEFENSIVE INVESTING During unusual market conditions, the fund may place up to
100% of total assets in cash or high-quality, short-term debt securities. To the
extent that the fund does this, it is not pursuing its goal.
<PAGE>
Financial Highlights 25
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
These highlights are intended to help you understand the fund's performance over
the past five years. The information in these tables has been audited by
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the fund's independent accountants. Their report and
the fund's financial statements are included in the fund's annual report, which
is available upon request. Total return figures assume reinvestment of all
distributions.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Class A Class B(1)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Years ended June 30 Years ended June 30
--------------------------------------------------- -----------------------
Per Share Data 1996(a) 1997(a) 1998(a) 1999(a) 2000(a) 1999(a)(c) 2000(a)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net asset value, beginning of year ($) 14.28 17.04 19.68 21.68 21.30 18.66 20.76
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Net investment income ($)* 0.12 0.09 0.06 0.13 0.18 0.02 0.06
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
on investments ($) 3.38 4.63 4.74 1.64 (2.75) 2.09 (2.67)
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total from investment operations ($) 3.50 4.72 4.80 1.77 (2.57) 2.11 (2.61)
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Dividends from net investment income ($) (0.11) (0.09) (0.06) (0.09) (0.20) (0.01) (0.10)
Distributions from capital gains ($) (0.63) (1.99) (2.74) (2.06) (3.70) -- (3.70)
Distributions in excess of net realized gains -- -- -- -- (0.26) -- (0.26)
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total distributions ($) (0.74) (2.08) (2.80) (2.15) (4.16) (0.01) (4.06)
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Net asset value, end of year ($) 17.04 19.68 21.68 21.30 14.58 20.76 14.09
===== ===== ===== ===== ===== ===== =====
Total return (%)(b) 25.33 30.91 27.62 9.61 (13.68) 11.30(d) (14.33)
Ratios/Supplemental Data
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets at end of year ($ thousands) 39,300 55,239 76,151 76,943 52,086 4,244 7,504
Expense ratio (%)* 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.26 1.27 2.01(e) 2.01
Expense ratio after expense reductions (%)* 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.26 2.00(e) 2.00
Ratio of net investment income
to average net assets (%)* 0.79 0.54 0.29 0.68 1.11 0.24(e) 0.39
Portfolio turnover rate (%) 44.44 88.07 81.53 118.91 80.37 118.91 80.37
*Reflects voluntary reduction of
expenses per share of these amounts ($) 0.03 0.03 0.01 0.01 0.04 0.00 0.05
</TABLE>
[footnote]
(a) Per-share figures have been calculated using the average shares method.
(b) Does not reflect any front-end or contingent deferred sales charge. Total
return would be lower if the distributor and its affiliates had not
voluntarily reduced the fund's expenses.
(c) January 1, 1999 (commencement of share class) to June 30, 1999.
(d) Not annualized.
(e) Annualized.
[end footnote]
<PAGE>
26
------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Class B
------------------------------------------------------------------
Years ended June 30
------------------------------------------------------------------
Per Share Data 1996(a) 1997(a) 1998(a) 1999(a) 2000(a)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net asset value, beginning of year ($) 14.16 16.88 19.42 21.25 20.77
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Net investment income (loss) ($)* 0.01 (0.03) (0.09) (0.01) 0.06
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
on investments ($) 3.34 4.56 4.66 1.59 (2.67)
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total from investment operations ($) 3.35 4.53 4.57 1.58 (2.61)
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Dividends from net investment income ($) -- -- -- -- (0.08)
Distributions from capital gains ($) (0.63) (1.99) (2.74) (2.06) (3.70)
Distribution in excess of net realized gains -- -- -- -- (0.26)
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total distributions ($) (0.63) (1.99) (2.74) (2.06) (4.04)
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Net asset value, end of year ($) 16.88 19.42 21.25 20.77 14.12
===== ===== ===== ===== =====
Total return (%)(b) 24.39 29.91 26.67 8.82 (14.33)
Ratios/Supplemental Data
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets at end of year ($ thousands) 13,129 25,478 52,211 59,527 33,392
Expense ratio (%)* 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.01 2.01
Expense ratio after expense reductions (%)* 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00
Ratio of net investment income (loss)
to average net assets (%)* 0.05 (0.20) (0.46) (0.06) 0.37
Portfolio turnover rate (%) 44.44 88.07 81.53 118.91 80.37
*Reflects voluntary reduction of
expenses per share of these amounts ($) 0.03 0.03 0.01 0.01 0.04
<CAPTION>
Class C
------------------------------------------------------------------
Years ended June 30
------------------------------------------------------------------
Per Share Data 1996(a) 1997(a) 1998(a) 1999(a) 2000(a)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net asset value, beginning of year ($) 14.15 16.87 19.41 21.26 20.78
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Net investment income (loss) ($)* 0.01 (0.03) (0.09) (0.01) 0.06
Net realized and unrealized gain
on investments ($) 3.34 4.56 4.68 1.59 (2.66)
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total from investment operations ($) 3.35 4.53 4.59 1.58 (2.60)
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Dividends from net investment income ($) -- -- -- -- (0.09)
Distributions from capital gains ($) (0.63) (1.99) (2.74) (2.06) (3.70)
Distribution in excess of net realized gains -- -- -- -- (0.26)
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total distributions ($) (0.63) (1.99) (2.74) (2.06) (4.05)
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Net asset value, end of year ($) 16.87 19.41 21.26 20.78 14.13
===== ===== ===== ===== =====
Total return (%)(b) 24.40 29.93 26.80 8.81 (14.30)
Ratios/Supplemental Data
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets at end of year ($ thousands) 931 1,642 1,718 1,555 1,189
Expense ratio (%)* 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.01 2.01
Expense ratio after expense reductions (%)* 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00
Ratio of net investment income (loss)
to average net assets (%)* 0.04 (0.19) (0.43) (0.07) 0.36
Portfolio turnover rate (%) 44.44 88.07 81.53 118.91 80.37
*Reflects voluntary reduction of
expenses per share of these amounts ($) 0.03 0.03 0.01 0.01 0.04
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
27
------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Class S
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Years ended June 30
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Per Share Data 1996(a) 1997(a) 1998(a) 1999(a) 2000(a)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net asset value, beginning of year ($) 14.27 17.03 19.66 21.65 21.26
----- ----- ----- ----- ------
Net investment income ($)* 0.17 0.13 0.11 0.17 0.22
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
on investments ($) 3.37 4.62 4.73 1.64 (2.74)
----- ----- ----- ----- ------
Total from investment operations ($) 3.54 4.75 4.84 1.81 (2.52)
----- ----- ----- ----- ------
Dividends from net investment income ($) (0.15) (0.13) (0.11) (0.14) (0.24)
Distributions from capital gains ($) (0.63) (1.99) (2.74) (2.06) (3.70)
Distribution in excess of net realized gains -- -- -- -- (0.26)
----- ----- ----- ----- ------
Total distributions ($) (0.78) (2.12) (2.85) (2.20) (4.20)
----- ----- ----- ----- ------
Net asset value, end of year ($) 17.03 19.66 21.65 21.26 (14.54)
===== ===== ===== ===== ======
Total return (%)(b) 25.66 31.19 27.90 9.84 (13.42)
Ratios/Supplemental Data
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets at end of year ($ thousands) 70,177 83,999 103,046 63,346 17,038
Expense ratio (%)* 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.01 1.01
Expense ratio after expense reductions (%)* 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00
Ratio of net investment income
to average net assets (%)* 1.06 0.77 0.55 0.89 1.36
Portfolio turnover rate (%) 44.44 88.07 81.53 118.91 80.37
*Reflects voluntary reduction of
expenses per share of these amounts ($) 0.03 0.03 0.01 0.01 0.03
</TABLE>
(a) Per-share figures have been calculated using the average shares method.
(b) Does not reflect any front-end or contingent deferred sales charge. Total
return would be lower if the distributor and its affiliates had not
voluntarily reduced the fund's expenses.
<PAGE>
28 Board of Trustees
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[COLUMNS] The Board of Trustees is responsible for the operation of the fund.
They establish the fund's major policies, review investments, and provide
guidance to the investment manager and others who provide services to the fund.
The Trustees have diverse backgrounds and substantial experience in business and
other areas.
Richard S. Davis
Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director,
State Street Research & Management Company
Bruce R. Bond
Former Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President, PictureTel
Corporation
Steve A. Garban
Former Senior Vice President for Finance and Operations and Treasurer, The
Pennsylvania State University
Dean O. Morton
Former Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Director,
Hewlett-Packard Company
Susan M. Phillips
Dean, School of Business and Public Management, George Washington University;
former Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and
Chairman and Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission
Toby Rosenblatt
President, Founders Investments Ltd. President, The Glen Ellen Company
Michael S. Scott Morton
Jay W. Forrester Professor of Management, Sloan School of Management,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
<PAGE>
Notes 29
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
For Additional Information
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you have questions about the fund or would like to request a free copy of the
current annual/semiannual report or SAI, contact State Street Research or your
financial professional.
[LOGO] STATE STREET RESEARCH
Service Center
P.O. Box 8408, Boston, MA 02266
Telephone: 1-87-SSR-FUNDS (1-877-773-8637)
Internet: www.statestreetresearch.com
You can also obtain information about the fund, including the SAI and certain
other fund documents, on the SEC's EDGAR database on the Internet at
www.sec.gov, by electronic request at [email protected], in person at the SEC's
Public Reference Room in Washington, DC (telephone 1-202-942-8090) or by mail by
sending your request, along with a duplicating fee, to the SEC's Public
Reference Section, Washington, DC 20549-0102.
You can find additional information on the fund's structure and its performance
in the following documents:
Annual/Semiannual Reports While the prospectus describes the fund's potential
investments, these reports detail the fund's actual investments as of the report
date. Reports include a discussion by fund management of recent economic and
market trends and fund performance. The annual report also includes the report
of the fund's independent accountants on the fund's financial statements.
Ticker Symbols
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A SSAVX
Class B(1) SSVPX
Class B SSBIX
Class C SSDVX
Class S SSVCX
Statement of Additional Information (SAI) A supplement to the prospectus, the
SAI contains further information about the fund and its investment limitations
and policies. A current SAI for this fund is on file with the Securities and
Exchange Commission and is incorporated by reference (is legally part of this
prospectus).
prospectus
------------------------------
SEC File Number: 811-4624
AG-2708-1000
Control Number: (exp1101)SSR-LD
<PAGE>
[LOGO] STATE STREET RESEARCH
Global Resources Fund
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[GRAPHIC OF CLOCK]
This prospectus has information you should know before you invest. Please read
it carefully and keep it with your investment records.
As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission has not
approved or disapproved the securities or determined if this prospectus is
truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
An aggressive growth fund investing in energy and natural resources companies.
Prospectus
November 1, 2000
<PAGE>
Contents 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 The Fund
--------------------
2 Goal and Strategies
3 Principal Risks
6 Volatility and Performance
8 Investor Expenses
10 Investment Management
11 Your Investment
--------------------
11 Opening an Account 11 Choosing a Share Class 12 Sales Charges 15
Dealer Compensation 16 Buying and Selling Shares 20 Account Policies 22
Distributions and Taxes 23 Investor Services
24 Other Information
--------------------
24 Other Securities and Risks
26 Financial Highlights
29 Board of Trustees
Back Cover For Additional Information
<PAGE>
2 The Fund
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[CHESS PIECE] Goal and Strategies
Fundamental Goal The fund seeks to provide long-term growth of capital.
Principal Strategies Under normal market conditions, the fund invests at least
65% of total assets in securities of energy and natural resources companies and
companies in associated businesses, as well as utilities. These typically
include companies involved in the exploration, production or distribution of
energy or natural resources, such as gas, oil, metals and minerals, as well as
related transportation companies and equipment manufacturers. The fund may
invest in companies located anywhere in the world and will generally invest in
at least three countries. It expects to invest primarily in developed markets,
particularly the U.S. and Canada, but may also invest in emerging markets.
In selecting investments, the fund looks for companies that appear to have the
potential for above-average long-term performance. These may include companies
that are expected to show above-average growth over the long term as well as
those that appear to be trading below their true worth. While the fund tends to
[MAGNIFYING GLASS] Who May Want To Invest
State Street Research Global Resources Fund is designed for investors who seek
one or more of the following:
o an aggressive stock fund for a long-term goal
o a fund to complement a well-diversified portfolio
o a focused fund with a global scope
The fund is not appropriate for investors who:
o want to avoid high volatility or possible losses
o want a fund that invests in a broad range of industries
o are making short-term investments
o are investing emergency reserve money
o are seeking regular income
<PAGE>
3
-----
emphasize smaller companies, from time to time it may emphasize companies of
other sizes. The fund's investments may include common and preferred stocks,
convertible securities, warrants and depositary receipts.
The fund reserves the right to invest up to 35% of total assets in other U.S.
and foreign investments. These may include stocks of companies not associated
with energy or natural resources. They may also include debt securities,
although the fund may not invest more than 10% of total assets in junk bonds
(bonds that are in or below the Standard & Poor's BB or Moody's Ba rating
categories, or their unrated equivalents). The fund may buy and sell currencies,
either for immediate or future delivery, to hedge its positions in foreign
securities or to enhance returns.
The fund may adjust the composition of its portfolio as market conditions and
economic outlooks change.
For more information about the fund's investments and practices, see page 24.
[STOP SIGN] Principal Risks
Because the fund invests primarily in stocks, including foreign stocks, its
major risks are those of stock investing, including sudden, unpredictable drops
in value and the potential for periods of lackluster performance.
Foreign stocks carry additional risks, including the risk of currency
fluctuations.
The fund's strategy of focusing on energy and natural resources companies means
that its performance will be closely tied to the performance of a particular
market segment. At times, the performance of these companies may lag the
performance of the broader stock market.
<PAGE>
4 The Fund continued
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stocks of smaller energy and natural resources companies are especially affected
by variations in the commodities markets because smaller companies usually lack
the resources and the broad business lines to weather hard times. Similarly,
because the fund is non-diversified with regard to issuers of securities, it
does not have to invest in as many companies as a diversified fund, and could
therefore be more significantly affected by the performance of a small number of
its investments.
For these reasons, an investment in the fund should only be used to complement a
portfolio that is already well-diversified.
Foreign securities present risks beyond those of U.S. securities. They are
generally more volatile and less liquid than their U.S. counterparts, in part
because of higher political and economic risks, lack of reliable information and
fluctuations in currency exchange rates. Changes in currency exchange rates have
the potential to reduce or eliminate certain gains achieved in securities
markets or create net losses. These risks are usually higher for investments in
less developed countries.
In addition, many U.S. companies in which the fund may invest generate
significant revenues and earnings from abroad. As a result, these companies and
the prices of their securities may be affected by weaknesses in global and
regional economies and the relative value of foreign currencies to the U.S.
dollar. These factors, taken as a whole, could adversely affect the price of
fund shares.
The success of the fund's investment strategy depends largely on the investment
manager's skill in anticipating commodity price trends, allocating assets
geographically and assessing the potential of the stocks the fund buys.
The fund's shares will rise and fall in value and there is a risk that you could
lose money by investing in the fund. Also, the fund cannot be certain that it
will achieve its goal. Finally, fund shares are not bank deposits and are not
guaranteed, endorsed or insured by any financial institution, government entity
or the FDIC.
Information on other securities and risks appears on page 24.
A "snapshot" of the fund's investments may be found in the current annual or
semiannual report (see back cover).
<PAGE>
5
-----
[MAGNIFYING GLASS] What Drives the Energy and Natural Resources Markets?
Energy and natural resources companies are significantly affected by the markets
for the commodities associated with their businesses. The prices of individual
commodities can be influenced by broad economic trends, such as inflation. They
can also be influenced by specific supply and demand considerations that may not
affect the prices of other commodities, such as political developments in
critical producing regions.
In many cases, the price of a commodity will be determined by a complex
combination of factors, with various factors offsetting or reinforcing each
other. Oil prices, for example, can be influenced by global or regional economic
growth, climate patterns, government policies encouraging conservation or
consumption, technological advances, the policies of the OPEC cartel and
political developments in the Middle East or the former Soviet Union, to name
just a few. A fund investing in energy and natural resources companies,
therefore, must try to anticipate the general and specific factors that will
influence the prices of various commodities and adjust its portfolio
accordingly.
<PAGE>
6 Volatility and Performance
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[The following table was represented as a bar chart in the printed material.]
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years ended December 31
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year-by-Year Total Return (Class A) 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
(17.84) 6.78 32.08 (4.45) 22.63 70.25 5.56 (48.49) 15.49
</TABLE>
Best quarter: first quarter 1993, up 34.55%
Worst quarter: third quarter 1998, down 27.09%
Return from 1/1/00 - 9/30/00 (not annualized): up 68.54%
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
As of December 31, 1999
----------------------------------------------------
Average Annual Total Return (at maximum applicable sales charge) 1 Year 5 Years Since Inception*
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Class A (%) 8.85 4.32 1.14
Class B(1) (%)(a) 9.51 4.41 1.27
Class B (%) 9.62 4.43 1.28
Class C (%) 13.65 4.75 1.27
Class S (%) 15.76 5.83 1.96
S&P 500 Index (%) 21.03 28.54 19.21
Lipper Natural Resources Funds Average (%) 29.79 8.47 6.74
</TABLE>
(a) Performance for Class B(1) reflects Class B performance through December
31, 1998. Class B(1) was introduced on January 1, 1999.
<PAGE>
7
-----
[MAGNIFYING GLASS] Understanding Volatility and Performance
The chart and table on the opposite page are designed to show two aspects of the
fund's track record:
o Year-by-Year Total Return shows how volatile the fund has been: how much
the difference has been, historically, between its best years and worst
years. In general, funds with higher average annual total returns will
also have higher volatility. The graph includes the effects of fund
expenses, but not sales charges. If sales charges had been included,
returns would have been less than shown.
o Average Annual Total Return is a measure of the fund's performance over
time. It is determined by taking the fund's performance over a given
period and expressing it as an average annual rate.
Average annual total return includes the effects of fund expenses and maximum
sales charges for each class, and assumes that you sold your shares at the end
of the period.
Also included with the fund's average annual returns are two independent
measures of performance. The S&P 500 (officially, the "Standard & Poor's 500
Index") is an unmanaged index of 500 U.S. stocks. The Lipper Natural Resources
Funds Average shows the performance of a category of mutual funds with similar
goals. The Lipper average shows you how well the fund has done compared to
competing funds.
While the fund does not seek to match the returns or the volatility of the S&P
500, this index is a good indicator of general stock market performance and can
be used as a rough guide when gauging the return of this and other investments.
When making comparisons, keep in mind that neither the S&P 500 nor the Lipper
average includes the effects of sales charges. Also, even if your stock
portfolio were identical to the S&P 500, your returns would always be lower,
because the S&P 500 doesn't include brokerage and administrative expenses.
Also, the returns in both the chart and the table would have been lower if the
distributor and its affiliates had not voluntarily reduced a portion of the
fund's expenses.
Keep in mind that past performance is no guarantee of future results.
<PAGE>
8 Investor Expenses
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Class descriptions begin on page 11
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Shareholder Fees (% of offering price) Class A Class B(1) Class B Class C Class S
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Maximum front-end sales charge (load) 5.75(a) 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) 0.00(a) 5.00 5.00 1.00 0.00
<CAPTION>
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (% of average net assets) Class A Class B(1) Class B Class C Class S
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Management fee 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.75
Service/distribution (12b-1) fees 0.30(b) 1.00 1.00 1.00 0.00
Other expenses 0.73 0.73 0.73 0.73 0.73
---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Total annual fund operating expenses 1.78 2.48 2.48 2.48 1.48
==== ==== ==== ==== ====
*Because some of the fund's expenses have been reduced
through expense offset arrangements, actual total
operating expenses for the prior year
would have been: 1.76 2.46 2.46 2.46 1.46
<CAPTION>
Example Year Class A Class B(1) Class B Class C Class S
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1 $745 $751/$251 $751/$251 $351/$251 $151
3 $1,103 $1,073/$773 $1,073/$773 $773 $468
5 $1,484 $1,521/$1,321 $1,521/$1,321 $1,321 $808
10 $2,549 $2,644 $2,644 $2,816 $1,768
</TABLE>
(a) Except for investments of $1 million or more; see page 12.
(b) Reflects the fee schedule that became effective May 1, 2000 as if it had
been in place during the fund's entire previous fiscal year. The Trustees
may increase the current fee shown for Class A shares at any time,
provided that the fees do not exceed a maximum of 0.40%.
<PAGE>
9
-----
[MAGNIFYING GLASS] Understanding Investor Expenses
The information on the opposite page is designed to give you an idea of what you
should expect to pay in expenses as an investor in the fund:
o Shareholder Fees are costs that are charged to you directly. These fees
are not charged on reinvestments or exchanges.
o Annual Fund Operating Expenses are deducted from the fund's assets every
year, and are thus paid indirectly by all fund investors.
o The Example is designed to allow you to compare the costs of this fund
with those of other funds. It assumes that you invested $10,000 over the
years indicated, reinvested all distributions, earned a hypothetical 5%
annual return and paid the maximum applicable sales charges. For Class
B(1) and Class B shares, it also assumes the automatic conversion to Class
A after eight years.
Where two numbers are shown separated by a slash, the first one assumes you sold
all your shares at the end of the period, while the second assumes you stayed in
the fund. Where there is only one number, the costs would be the same either
way.
The figures in the example assume full annual expenses, and would be lower if
they reflected the various expense reductions that may have been taken.
Investors should keep in mind that the example is for comparison purposes only.
The fund's actual performance and expenses may be higher or lower.
<PAGE>
10 The Fund continued
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[THINKER] Investment Management
The fund's investment manager is State Street Research & Management Company, One
Financial Center, Boston, MA 02111. The firm traces its heritage back to 1924
and the founding of one of America's first mutual funds. Today the firm has
approximately $55 billion in assets under management (as of September 30, 2000),
including more than $20 billion in mutual funds.
The investment manager is responsible for the fund's investment and business
activities, and receives the management fee (0.75% of average net assets,
annually) as compensation. The investment manager is a subsidiary of
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company.
Daniel J. Rice III has been responsible for the fund's day-to-day portfolio
management since its inception in March 1990. A senior vice president, he joined
the firm in 1984 and has worked as an investment professional since 1979.
<PAGE>
Your Investment 11
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[KEY] Opening an Account
If you are opening an account through a financial professional, he or she can
assist you with all phases of your investment.
If you are investing through a large retirement plan or other special program,
follow the instructions in your program materials.
To open an account without the help of a financial professional, please use the
instructions on these pages.
[CHECKLIST] Choosing a Share Class
The fund generally offers four share classes, each with its own sales charge and
expense structure: Class A, Class B(1), Class C and Class S. The fund also
offers Class B shares, but only to current Class B shareholders through
reinvestment of dividends and distributions or through exchanges from existing
Class B accounts of State Street Research funds.
If you are investing a substantial amount and plan to hold your shares for a
long period, Class A shares may make the most sense for you. If you are
investing a lesser amount, you may want to consider Class B(1) shares (if
investing for at least six years) or Class C shares (if investing for less than
six years). If you are investing through a special program, such as a large
employer-sponsored retirement plan or certain programs available through
brokers, you may be eligible to purchase Class S shares.
Because all future investments in your account will be made in the share class
you designate when opening the account, you should make your decision carefully.
Your financial professional can help you choose the share class that makes the
most sense for you.
<PAGE>
12 Your Investment continued
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A -- Front Load
o Initial sales charge of 5.75% or less
o Lower sales charges for larger investments; see sales charge schedule at
right
o Lower annual expenses than Class B(1) or Class C shares because of lower
service/ distribution (12b-1) fee of up to 0.40%
Class B(1) -- Back Load
o No initial sales charge
o Deferred sales charge of 5% or less on shares you sell within six years
o Annual service/distribution (12b-1) fee of 1.00%
o Automatic conversion to Class A shares after eight years, reducing future
annual expenses
Class B -- Back Load
o Available only to current Class B shareholders; see page 13 for details
Class C -- Level Load
o No initial sales charge
o Deferred sales charge of 1%, paid if you sell shares within one year of
purchase
o Lower deferred sales charge than Class B(1) shares
o Annual service/distribution (12b-1) fee of 1.00%
o No conversion to Class A shares after eight years, so annual expenses do
not decrease
Class S -- Special Programs
o Available only through certain retirement accounts, advisory accounts of
the investment manager and other special programs, including broker
programs through financial professionals with recordkeeping and other
services; these programs usually involve special conditions and separate
fees (consult your financial professional or your program materials)
o No sales charges of any kind
o No service/distribution (12b-1) fees; annual expenses are lower than other
share classes
Sales Charges
Class A -- Front Load
when you invest this % is which equals
this amount deducted this % of
for sales your net
charges investment
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Up to $50,000 5.75 6.10
$50,000 to $100,000 4.50 4.71
$100,000 to $250,000 3.50 3.63
$250,000 to $500,000 2.50 2.56
$500,000 to $1 million 2.00 2.04
$1 million or more see below
With Class A shares, you pay a sales charge when you buy shares.
If you are investing $1 million or more (either as a lump sum or through any of
the methods described on the application), you can purchase Class A shares
without any sales charge. However, you may be charged a "contingent deferred
sales charge" (CDSC) of up to 1% if you sell any
<PAGE>
13
------
shares within one year of purchasing them. See "Other CDSC Policies" on page 14.
Class A shares are also offered with low or no sales charges through various
wrap-fee programs and other sponsored arrangements (consult your financial
professional or your program materials).
Class B(1) -- Back Load
this % of net asset value
when you sell shares at the time of purchase (or
in this year after you of sale, if lower) is deduct-
bought them ed from your proceeds
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First year 5.00
Second year 4.00
Third year 3.00
Fourth year 3.00
Fifth year 2.00
Sixth year 1.00
Seventh or eighth year None
With Class B(1) shares, you pay no sales charge when you invest, but you are
charged a "contingent deferred sales charge" (CDSC) when you sell shares you
have held for six years or less, as described in the table above. See "Other
CDSC Policies" on page 14.
Class B(1) shares automatically convert to Class A shares after eight years;
Class A shares have lower annual expenses.
Class B -- Back Load
Class B shares are available only to current shareholders through reinvestment
of dividends and distributions or through exchanges from existing Class B
accounts of the State Street Research funds. Other investments made by current
Class B shareholders will be in Class B(1) shares.
With Class B shares, you are charged a "contingent deferred sales charge" (CDSC)
when you sell shares you have held for five years or less. The CDSC is a
percentage of net asset value at the time of purchase (or of sale, if lower) and
is deducted from your proceeds. When you sell shares in the first year after you
bought them, the CDSC is 5.00%; second year, 4.00%; third year, 3.00%; fourth
year, 3.00%; fifth year, 2.00%; sixth year or later, none. See "Other CDSC
Policies" on page 14.
Class B shares automatically convert to Class A shares after eight years.
Class C -- Level Load
this % of net asset value
when you sell shares at the time of purchase (or
in this year after you of sale, if lower) is deduct-
bought them ed from your proceeds
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First year 1.00
Second year or later None
<PAGE>
14 Your Investment continued
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
With Class C shares, you pay no sales charge when you invest, but you are
charged a "contingent deferred sales charge" (CDSC) when you sell shares you
have held for one year or less, as described in the table above. See "Other CDSC
Policies" on this page.
Class C shares currently have the same annual expenses as Class B(1) shares, but
never convert to Class A shares.
Class S -- Special Programs
Class S shares have no sales charges.
Other CDSC Policies
The CDSC will be based on the net asset value of the shares at the time of
purchase (or sale, if lower). Any shares acquired through reinvestment are not
subject to the CDSC. There is no CDSC on exchanges into other State Street
Research funds, and the date of your initial investment will continue to be used
as the basis for CDSC calculations when you exchange. To ensure that you pay the
lowest CDSC, the fund will always use the shares with the lowest applicable CDSC
to fill your sell requests.
The CDSC is waived on shares sold for participants initiated distributions from
State Street Research prototype retirement plans. In other cases, the CDSC is
waived on shares sold for mandatory retirement distributions or for
distributions because of disability or death. Consult your financial
professional or the State Street Research Service Center for more information.
[MAGNIFYING GLASS] Understanding Service/Distribution Fees
As noted in the descriptions on pages 12 through 14, all share classes except
Class S have an annual service/distribution fee, also called a 12b-1 fee.
Under its current 12b-1 plan, the fund may pay certain service and distribution
fees for these classes out of fund assets. Because 12b-1 fees are an ongoing
expense, they will increase the cost of your investment and, over time, could
potentially cost you more than if you had paid other types of sales charges. For
that reason, you should consider the effects of 12b-1 fees as well as sales
loads when choosing a share class.
Some of the 12b-1 fees are used to compensate those financial professionals who
sell fund shares and provide ongoing service to shareholders. The table on page
15 shows how these professionals' compensation is calculated.
The fund may continue to pay 12b-1 fees even if the fund is subsequently closed
to new investors.
<PAGE>
15
------
[CHECK] Dealer Compensation
Financial professionals who sell shares of State Street Research funds and
perform services for fund investors may receive sales commissions, annual fees
and other compensation. These are paid by the fund's distributor, using money
from sales charges, service/distribution (12b-1) fees and its other resources.
Brokers and agents may charge a transaction fee on orders of fund shares placed
directly through them. The distributor may pay its affiliate MetLife Securities,
Inc. additional compensation of up to 0.25% of certain sales or assets.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Dealer Commissions (%) Class A Class B(1) Class B Class C Class S
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Initial commission See below 4.00 4.00 1.00 0.00
Investments up to $50,000 5.00 -- -- -- --
$50,000 to $100,000 4.00 -- -- -- --
$100,000 to $250,000 3.00 -- -- -- --
$250,000 to $500,000 2.00 -- -- -- --
$500,000 to $1 million 1.75 -- -- -- --
First $1-3 million 1.00(a) -- -- -- --
Next $2 million 0.75(a) -- -- -- --
Next $2 million 0.50(a) -- -- -- --
Next $1 and above 0.25(a) -- -- -- --
Annual fee 0.25 0.25 0.25 1.00 0.00
</TABLE>
Brokers for Portfolio Trades When placing trades for the fund's portfolio, State
Street Research chooses brokers that provide the best execution (a term defined
by service as well as price), but may also consider the sale of shares of the
State Street Research funds by the broker.
(a) If your financial professional declines this commission, the one-year CDSC
on your investment is waived.
<PAGE>
16 Buying and Selling Shares
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[CASH REGISTER] Policies for Buying Shares
Once you have chosen a share class, the next step is to determine the amount you
want to invest.
Minimum Initial Investments:
o $1,000 for accounts that use the Investamatic program(a)
o $2,000 for Individual Retirement Accounts(a)
o $2,500 for all other accounts
Minimum Additional Investments:
o $50 for any account
Complete the enclosed application. You can avoid future inconvenience by signing
up now for any services you might later use.
Timing of Requests All requests received in good order by State Street Research
before the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (usually 4:00
p.m. eastern time) will be executed the same day, at that day's closing share
price. Orders received thereafter will be executed the following day, at that
day's closing share price.
Wire Transactions Funds may be wired between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. eastern
time. To make a same-day wire investment, please notify State Street Research by
12:00 noon of your intention to wire funds, and make sure your wire arrives by
4:00 p.m. If the New York Stock Exchange closes before 4:00 p.m. eastern time,
you may be unable to make a same-day wire investment. Your bank may charge a fee
for wiring money.
(a) Except $500 for Individual Retirement Accounts during special promotional
periods.
<PAGE>
Instructions for Buying Shares 17
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
To Open an Account To Add to an Account
<S> <C> <C>
[BRIEFCASE] Through a Consult your financial Consult your financial
Professional professional or your program professional or your program
or Program materials. materials.
By Mail [MAILBOX] Make your check payable to Fill out an investment slip or
"State Street Research Funds." indicate the fund name and
Forward the check and your account number on your check.
application to State Street Make your check payable to
Research. "State Street Research Funds."
Forward
the
check
and
slip
to
State
Street
Research.
[CAPITOL BUILDING] Call to obtain an account number Call State Street Research to
By Federal Funds Wire and forward your application to obtain a control number.
State Street Research. Wire Instruct your bank to wire funds
funds using the instructions at to:
right. o State Street Bank and Trust
Company, Boston, MA
o ABA: 011000028
o BNF: fund name and share class
you want to buy
o AC: 99029761
o OBI: your name and your
account number
o Control: the number given to
you by State Street Research
By Electronic [PLUG] Verify that your bank is a Call State Street Research to
Funds Transfer member of the ACH (Automated verify that the necessary bank
(ACH) Clearing House) system. Forward information is on file for your
your application to State Street account. If it is, you may
Research. Please be sure to request a transfer by telephone
include the appropriate bank or Internet. If not, please ask
information. Call State Street State Street Research to provide
Research to request a purchase. you with an EZ Trader
application.
[CALENDAR] By Investamatic Forward your application,
with Call State Street Research to all
appropriate sections verify that Investamatic
is in completed, to State Street place on
your account, or to Research, along with a
check for request a form to add it. your
initial investment payable Investments are
automatic once to "State Street Research
Investamatic is in place.
Funds."
By Exchange [ARROWS GOING IN Read the prospectus for the fund Read the prospectus for the fund
OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS] into which you are exchanging. into which you are exchanging.
Call State Street Research or Call State Street Research or
visit our Web site. visit our Web site.
</TABLE>
State Street Research Service Center PO Box 8408, Boston, MA 02266-8408
Internet www.statestreetresearch.com
Call toll-free: 1-87-SSR-FUNDS (1-877-773-8637) (business days 8:00 a.m. - 6:00
p.m., eastern time)
<PAGE>
18 Your Investment continued
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[CASH REGISTER] Policies for Selling Shares
Circumstances that Require Written Requests Please submit instructions in
writing when any of the following apply:
o you are selling more than $100,000 worth of shares
o the name or address on the account has changed within the last 30 days
o you want the proceeds to go to a name or address not on the account
registration
o you are transferring shares to an account with a different registration or
share class
o you are selling shares held in a corporate or fiduciary account; for these
accounts, additional documents are required:
corporate accounts: certified copy of a corporate resolution
fiduciary accounts: copy of power of attorney or other governing document
To protect your account against fraud, all signatures on these documents must be
guaranteed. You may obtain a signature guarantee at most banks and securities
dealers. A notary public cannot provide a signature guarantee.
Incomplete Sell Requests State Street Research will attempt to notify you
promptly if any information necessary to process your request is missing.
Timing of Requests All requests received in good order by State Street Research
before the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (usually 4:00
p.m. eastern time) will be executed the same day, at that day's closing share
price. Requests received thereafter will be executed the following day, at that
day's closing share price.
Wire Transactions Proceeds sent by federal funds wire must total at least
$5,000. A fee of $7.50 will be deducted from all proceeds sent by wire, and your
bank may charge an additional fee to receive wired funds.
Selling Recently Purchased Shares If you sell shares before the check or
electronic funds transfer (ACH) for those shares has been collected, you will
not receive the proceeds until your initial payment has cleared. This may take
up to 15 days after your purchase was recorded (in rare cases, longer). If you
open an account with shares purchased by wire, you cannot sell those shares
until your application has been processed.
<PAGE>
Instructions for Selling Shares 19
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To Sell Some or All of Your Shares
[BRIEFCASE] Through a Consult your financial professional or your
Professional program materials.
or Program
By Mail [MAILBOX] Send a letter of instruction, an endorsed
stock power or share certificates (if you hold
certificate shares) to State Street Research.
Specify the fund, the account number and the
dollar value or number of shares. Be sure to
include all necessary signatures and any
additional documents, as well as signature
guarantees if required (see facing page).
[CAPITOL BUILDING] Check with State Street Research to make sure
By Federal Funds Wire that a wire redemption privilege, including a
bank designation, is in place on your account.
Once this is established, you may place your
request to sell shares with State Street
Research. Proceeds will be wired to your
pre-designated bank account. (See "Wire
Transactions" on facing page.)
By Electronic [PLUG] Check with State Street Research to make sure
Funds Transfer that the EZ Trader feature, including a bank
(ACH) designation, is in place on your account. Once
this is established, you may place your
request to sell shares with State Street
Research by telephone or Internet. Proceeds
will be sent to your pre-designated bank
account.
[COMPUTER] By Internet Visit our Web site. Certain limitations may
apply.
By Telephone [TELEPHONE] As long as the transaction does not require a
written request (see facing page), you or your
financial professional can sell shares by
calling State Street Research. A check will be
mailed to your address of record on the
following business day.
[ARROWS GOING IN By Exchange Read the prospectus for the fund into which
OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS] you are exchanging. Call State Street Research
or visit our Web site.
By Systematic [CALENDAR] See plan information on page 23.
Withdrawal Plan
State Street Research Service Center PO Box 8408, Boston, MA 02266-8408
Internet www.statestreetresearch.com
Call toll-free: 1-87-SSR-FUNDS (1-877-773-8637) (business days 8:00 a.m. - 6:00
p.m., eastern time)
<PAGE>
20 Your Investment continued
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[STACK OF PAPER] Account Policies
Telephone and Internet Requests When you open an account you automatically
receive telephone privileges, allowing you to place requests for your account by
telephone. Your financial professional can also use these privileges to request
exchanges or redemptions on your account. For your protection, all telephone
calls are recorded.
You may also use our Web site for submitting certain requests over the Internet.
As long as State Street Research takes certain measures to authenticate requests
over the telephone or the Internet for your account, you may be held responsible
for unauthorized requests. Unauthorized telephone requests are rare, but if you
want to protect yourself completely, you can decline the telephone privilege on
your application. Similarily, you may choose not to use the Internet for your
account. The fund may suspend or eliminate the telephone or Internet privileges
at any time.
Exchange Privileges There is no fee to exchange shares among State Street
Research funds. Your new fund shares will be the equivalent class of your
current shares. Any contingent deferred sales charges will continue to be
calculated from the date of your initial investment.
You must hold Class A shares of any fund for at least 30 days before you may
exchange them at net asset value for Class A shares of a different fund with a
higher applicable sales charge.
Frequent exchanges can interfere with fund management and drive up costs for all
shareholders. Because of this, the fund currently limits each account, or group
of accounts under common ownership or control, to six exchanges per calendar
year. The fund may change or eliminate the exchange privilege at any time, may
limit or cancel any shareholder's exchange privilege and may refuse to accept
any exchange request, particularly those associated with "market timing"
strategies.
For Merrill Lynch customers, exchange privileges extend to Summit Cash Reserves
Fund, which is related to the fund for purposes of investment and investor
services.
Accounts with Low Balances If the value of your account falls below $1,500,
State Street Research may mail you a notice asking you to bring the account back
up to $1,500 or close it out. If you do not take action within 60 days, State
Street Research may either sell your shares and mail the proceeds to you at the
address
<PAGE>
21
-----
of record or, depending on the circumstances, may deduct an annual maintenance
fee (currently $18).
The Fund's Business Hours The fund is open the same days as the New York Stock
Exchange (generally Monday through Friday). Fund representatives are available
from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. eastern time on these days.
Calculating Share Price The fund calculates its net asset value every business
day at the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (but not
later than 4:00 p.m. eastern time). NAV is calculated by dividing the fund's net
assets by the number of its shares outstanding.
In calculating its NAV, the fund uses the last reported sale price or quotation
for portfolio securities. However, in cases where these are unavailable, or when
the investment manager believes that subsequent events have rendered them
unreliable, the fund may use fair-value estimates instead.
Because foreign securities markets are sometimes open on different days from
U.S. markets, there may be instances when the value of the fund's portfolio
changes on days when you cannot buy or sell fund shares.
Reinstating Recently Sold Shares For 120 days after you sell shares, you may
"reinstate" your investment by putting some or all of the proceeds into any
currently available State Street Research fund at net asset value. Any CDSC you
paid on the amount you are reinstating will be credited to your account. You may
only use this privilege once in any twelve-month period with respect to your
shares of a given fund.
Additional Policies Please note that the fund maintains additional policies and
reserves certain rights, including:
o Requirements for initial or additional investments, reinvestments,
periodic investment plans, retirement and employee benefit plans,
sponsored arrangements and other similar programs, may be changed from
time to time without further notice or supplement to the prospectus
o All orders to purchase shares are subject to acceptance by the fund
o At any time, the fund may change or discontinue its sales charge waivers
and any of its order acceptance practices, and may suspend the sale of its
shares
o The fund may delay sending you redemption proceeds for up to seven days,
or longer if permitted by the SEC
o The fund reserves the right to redeem in kind
o To permit investors to obtain the current price, dealers are responsible
for transmitting all orders to the State Street Research Service Center
promptly
<PAGE>
22 Your Investment continued
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[MAGNIFYING GLASS] Tax Considerations
Unless your investment is in a tax-deferred account, you may want to avoid:
o investing a large amount in the fund close to the end of its fiscal year
or a calendar year (if the fund makes a distribution, you will receive
some of your investment back as a taxable distribution)
o selling shares at a loss for tax purposes and investing in a substantially
identical investment within 30 days before or after that sale (such a
transaction is usually considered a "wash sale," and you will not be
allowed to claim a tax loss in the current year)
["UNCLE SAM"] Distributions and Taxes
Income and Capital Gains Distributions The fund typically distributes any net
income and net capital gains to shareholders after the end of the fund's fiscal
year, which is June 30. To comply with tax regulations, the fund may be required
to pay an additional income or capital gains distribution in December.
You may have your distributions reinvested in the fund, invested in a different
State Street Research fund, deposited in a bank account, or mailed out by check.
If you do not give State Street Research other instructions, your distributions
will automatically be reinvested in the fund.
Tax Effects of Distributions and Transactions In general, any dividends and
short-term capital gains distributions you receive from the fund are taxable as
ordinary income. Distributions of long-term capital gains are generally taxable
as capital gains -- in most cases, at a different rate from that which applies
to ordinary income.
The tax you pay on a given capital gains distribution generally depends on how
long the fund has held the portfolio securities it sold. It does not depend on
how long you have owned your fund shares or whether you reinvest your
distributions.
<PAGE>
23
-----
Every year, the fund will send you information detailing the amount of ordinary
income and capital gains distributed to you for the previous year.
The sale of shares in your account may produce a gain or loss, and is a taxable
event. For tax purposes, an exchange is the same as a sale.
Your investment in the fund could have additional tax consequences. Please
consult your tax professional for assistance.
Backup Withholding By law, the fund must withhold 31% of your distributions and
proceeds if you have not provided complete, correct taxpayer information.
{HANDS] Investor Services
Investamatic Program Use Investamatic to set up regular automatic investments in
the fund from your bank account. You determine the frequency and amount of your
investments.
Systematic Withdrawal Plan This plan is designed for retirees and other
investors who want regular withdrawals from a fund account. The plan is free and
allows you to withdraw up to 12% of your fund assets a year (minimum $50 per
withdrawal) without incurring any contingent deferred sales charges. Certain
terms and minimums apply.
EZ Trader This service allows you to purchase or sell fund shares over the
telephone or over the Internet through the ACH (Automated Clearing House)
system.
Dividend Allocation Plan This plan automatically invests your distributions from
the fund into another fund of your choice, without any fees or sales charges.
Automatic Bank Connection This plan lets you route any distributions or
Systematic Withdrawal Plan payments directly to your bank account.
Retirement Plans State Street Research also offers a full range of prototype
retirement plans for individuals, sole proprietors, partnerships, corporations
and employees.
Call 1-87-SSR-FUNDS (1-877-773-8637) for information on any of the services
described above.
<PAGE>
24 Other Information
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[STACK OF STOCK CERTIFICATES] Other Securities and Risks
Each of the fund's portfolio securities and investment practices offers certain
opportunities and carries various risks. Major investments and risk factors are
outlined in the fund description starting on page 2. Below are brief
descriptions of other securities and practices, along with their associated
risks.
Restricted and Illiquid Securities Any securities that are thinly traded or
whose resale is restricted can be difficult to sell at a desired time and price.
Some of these securities are new and complex, and trade only among institutions;
the markets for these securities are still developing, and may not function as
efficiently as established markets. Owning a large percentage of restricted and
illiquid securities could hamper the fund's ability to raise cash to meet
redemptions. Also, because there may not be an established market price for
these securities, the fund may have to estimate their value, which means that
their valuation (and, to a much smaller extent, the valuation of the fund) may
have a subjective element.
Bonds The value of any bonds held by the fund is likely to decline when interest
rates rise; this risk is greater for bonds with longer maturities. A less
significant risk is that a bond issuer could default on principal or interest
payments, causing a loss for the fund. However, junk bonds have a higher risk of
default than investment grade bonds, and their market prices can be more
volatile.
<PAGE>
25
-----
Derivatives Derivatives, a category that includes options and futures, are
financial instruments whose value derives from another security, indices or
currencies. The fund may use certain derivatives for hedging (attempting to
offset a potential loss in one position by establishing an interest in an
opposite position). This includes the use of currency-based derivatives for
hedging its positions in foreign securities. The fund may also use certain
derivatives for speculation (investing for potential income or capital gain).
While hedging can guard against potential risks, it adds to the fund's expenses
and can eliminate some opportunities for gains. There is also a risk that a
derivative intended as a hedge may not perform as expected.
The main risk with derivatives is that some types can amplify a gain or loss,
potentially earning or losing substantially more money than the actual cost of
the derivative.
With some derivatives, whether used for hedging or speculation, there is also
the risk that the counterparty may fail to honor its contract terms, causing a
loss for the fund.
Securities Lending The fund may seek additional income by lending portfolio
securities to qualified institutions. By reinvesting any cash collateral it
receives in these transactions, the fund could realize additional gains or
losses. If the borrower fails to return the securities and the invested
collateral has declined in value, the fund could lose money.
Short-term Trading While the fund ordinarily does not trade securities for
short-term profits, it will sell any security at the time it believes best,
which may result in short-term trading. Short-term trading can increase the
fund's transaction costs and may increase your tax liability if there are
capital gains. In addition, foreign securities generally involve higher
transaction costs per share traded.
Defensive Investing During unusual market conditions, the fund may place up to
100% of total assets in cash or high-quality, short-term debt securities. To the
extent that the fund does this, it is not pursuing its goal.
<PAGE>
26 Financial Highlights
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
These highlights are intended to help you understand the fund's performance over
the past five years. The information in these tables has been audited by
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the fund's independent accountants. Their report and
the fund's financial statements are included in the fund's annual report, which
is available upon request. Total return figures assume reinvestment of all
distributions.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Class A Class B(1)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Years ended June 30 Years ended June 30
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Per Share Data 1996(a) 1997(a) 1998(a) 1999(a) 2000(a) 1999(a)(c) 2000(a)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net asset value, beginning of year ($) 12.16 17.44 22.39 17.35 12.15 9.44 11.56
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Net investment loss ($)* (0.20) (0.15) (0.18) (0.11) (0.17) (0.08) (0.26)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
on investments, foreign currency and
forward contracts ($) 5.48 5.86 (2.52) (4.34) 4.81 2.20 4.55
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total from investment operations ($) 5.28 5.71 (2.70) (4.45) 4.64 2.12 4.29
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Distributions from capital gains ($) -- (0.76) (2.34) (0.75) -- -- --
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total distributions ($) -- (0.76) (2.34) (0.75) -- -- --
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Net asset value, end of year ($) 17.44 22.39 17.35 12.15 16.79 11.56 15.85
===== ===== ===== ===== ===== ===== =====
Total return (%)(b) 43.42 32.96 (14.28) (24.56) 38.19 22.46(d) 37.11
Ratios/Supplemental Data
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets at end of year ($ thousands) 30,943 80,029 82,376 67,155 70,152 5,053 8,608
Expense ratio (%)* 1.75 1.42 1.46 1.59 1.74 2.19(e) 2.48
Expense ratio after expense reductions (%)* 1.75 1.42 1.46 1.57 1.72 2.17(e) 2.46
Ratio of net investment loss
to average net assets (%)* (1.47) (0.73) (0.82) (0.97) (1.34) (1.64)(e) (2.12)
Portfolio turnover rate (%) 92.33 51.67 68.69 55.89 47.49 55.89 47.49
*Reflects voluntary reduction of
expenses per share of these amounts ($) 0.05 0.00 -- -- -- -- --
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
27
-----
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Class B
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Years ended June 30
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Per Share Data 1996(a) 1997(a) 1998(a) 1999(a) 2000(a)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net asset value, beginning of year ($) 12.03 17.12 21.80 16.71 11.58
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Net investment loss ($)* (0.30) (0.30) (0.33) (0.19) (0.26)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
on investments, foreign currency and
forward contracts ($) 5.39 5.74 (2.42) (4.19) 4.55
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total from investment operations ($) 5.09 5.44 (2.75) (4.38) 4.29
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Distributions from capital gains ($) -- (0.76) (2.34) (0.75) --
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total distributions ($) -- (0.76) (2.34) (0.75) --
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Net asset value, end of year ($) 17.12 21.80 16.71 11.58 15.87
===== ===== ===== ===== =====
Total return (%)(b) 42.31 31.98 (14.94) (25.10) 37.05
Ratios/Supplemental Data
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets at end of year ($ thousands) 12,828 78,701 89,689 56,708 48,352
Expense ratio (%)* 2.50 2.17 2.21 2.34 2.48
Expense ratio after expense reductions (%)* 2.50 2.17 2.21 2.32 2.46
Ratio of net investment loss
to average net assets (%)* (2.20) (1.47) (1.57) (1.73) (2.10)
Portfolio turnover rate (%) 92.33 51.67 68.69 55.89 47.49
*Reflects voluntary reduction of
expenses per share of these amounts ($) 0.04 0.00 -- -- --
<CAPTION>
Class C
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Years ended June 30
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Per Share Data 1996(a) 1997(a) 1998(a) 1999(a) 2000(a)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net asset value, beginning of year ($) 12.02 17.10 21.76 16.67 11.54
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Net investment loss ($)* (0.30) (0.30) (0.33) (0.19) (0.25)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
on investments, foreign currency and
forward contracts ($) 5.38 5.72 (2.42) (4.19) 4.55
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total from investment operations ($) 5.08 5.42 (2.75) (4.38) 4.30
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Distributions from capital gains ($) -- (0.76) (2.34) (0.75) --
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total distributions ($) -- (0.76) (2.34) (0.75) --
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Net asset value, end of year ($) 17.10 21.76 16.67 11.54 15.84
===== ===== ===== ===== =====
Total return (%)(b) 42.26 31.90 (14.97) (25.17) 37.26
Ratios/Supplemental Data
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets at end of year ($ thousands) 5,154 27,528 37,566 25,538 23,313
Expense ratio (%)* 2.50 2.17 2.21 2.34 2.48
Expense ratio after expense reductions (%)* 2.50 2.17 2.21 2.32 2.46
Ratio of net investment loss
to average net assets (%)* (2.20) (1.45) (1.57) (1.72) (2.06)
Portfolio turnover rate (%) 92.33 51.67 68.69 55.89 47.49
*Reflects voluntary reduction of
expenses per share of these amounts ($) 0.05 0.00 -- -- --
</TABLE>
(a) Per-share figures have been calculated using the average shares method.
(b) Does not reflect any front-end or contingent deferred sales charge. Total
return would be lower if the distributor and its affiliates had not
voluntarily reduced a portion of the fund's expenses.
(c) January 1, 1999 (commencement of share class) to June 30, 1999.
(d) Not annualized.
(e) Annualized.
<PAGE>
28 Financial Highlights continued
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Class S
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Years ended June 30
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Per Share Data 1996(a) 1997(a) 1998(a) 1999(a) 2000(a)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net asset value, beginning of year ($) 12.27 17.64 22.72 17.67 12.43
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Net investment loss ($)* (0.17) (0.10) (0.13) (0.08) (0.15)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
on investments, foreign currency and
forward contracts ($) 5.54 5.94 (2.58) (4.41) 4.93
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total from investment operations ($) 5.37 5.84 (2.71) (4.49) 4.78
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Distributions from capital gains ($) -- (0.76) (2.34) (0.75) --
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total distributions ($) -- (0.76) (2.34) (0.75) --
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Net asset value, end of year ($) 17.64 22.72 17.67 12.43 17.21
===== ===== ===== ===== =====
Total return (%)(b) 43.77 33.33 (14.11) (24.33) 38.46
Ratios/Supplemental Data
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets at end of year ($ thousands) 5,632 10,747 5,745 5,590 8.599
Expense ratio (%)* 1.50 1.17 1.21 1.34 1.48
Expense ratio after expense reductions (%)* 1.50 1.17 1.21 1.32 1.46
Ratio of net investment loss
to average net assets (%)* (1.20) (0.48) (0.55) (0.70) (1.11)
Portfolio turnover rate (%) 92.33 51.67 68.69 55.89 47.49
*Reflects voluntary reduction of
expenses per share of these amounts ($) 0.05 0.00 -- -- --
</TABLE>
(a) Per-share figures have been calculated using the average shares method.
(b) Does not reflect any front-end or contingent deferred sales charge. Total
return would be lower if the distributor and its affiliates had not
voluntarily reduced a portion of the fund's expenses.
<PAGE>
Board of Trustees 29
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[COLUMNS] The Board of Trustees is responsible for the operation of the fund.
They establish the fund's major policies, review investments, and provide
guidance to the investment manager and others who provide services to the fund.
The Trustees have diverse backgrounds and substantial experience in business and
other areas.
Richard S. Davis
Chairman of the Board, President,
Chief Executive Officer and Director,
State Street Research & Management
Company
Bruce R. Bond
Former Chairman of the Board,
Chief Executive Officer
and President,
PictureTel Corporation
Steve A. Garban
Former Senior Vice President for Finance
and Operations and Treasurer,
The Pennsylvania State University
Dean O. Morton
Former Executive Vice President,
Chief Operating Officer and Director,
Hewlett-Packard Company
Susan M. Phillips
Dean, School of Business and Public
Management, George Washington
University, former Member of the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System
and Chairman and Commissioner of the
Commodity Futures Trading Commission
Toby Rosenblatt
President, Founders Investments Ltd.,
President, The Glen Ellen Company
Michael S. Scott Morton
Jay W. Forrester Professor of
Management, Sloan School of
Management, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology
<PAGE>
For Additional Information
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you have questions about the fund or would like to request a free copy of the
current annual/semiannual report or SAI, contact State Street Research or your
financial professional.
[LOGO] STATE STREET RESEARCH
Service Center
P.O. Box 8408, Boston, MA 02266
Telephone: 1-87-SSR-FUNDS
(1-877-773-8637)
Internet: www.statestreetresearch.com
You can also obtain information about the fund, including the SAI and certain
other fund documents, on the SEC's database on the Internet at www.sec.gov, by
electronic request at [email protected], in person at the SEC's Public
Reference Room in Washington, DC (telephone 1-202-942-8090) or by mail by
sending your request, along with a duplicating fee, to the SEC's Public
Reference Section, Washington, DC 20549-0102.
prospectus
------------------------------
SEC File Number: 811-4624
You can find additional information on the fund's structure and its performance
in the following documents:
Annual/Semiannual Reports While the prospectus describes the fund's potential
investments, these reports detail the fund's actual investments as of the report
date. Reports include a discussion by fund management of recent economic and
market trends and fund performance. The annual report also includes the report
of the fund's independent accountants on the fund's financial statements.
Ticker Symbols
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A SSGRX
Class B(1) SSGPX
Class B SSBGX
Class C SSGDX
Class S (proposed) SSGCX
Statement of Additional Information (SAI) A supplement to the prospectus, the
SAI contains further information about the fund and its investment limitations
and policies. A current SAI for this fund is on file with the Securities and
Exchange Commission and is incorporated by reference (is legally part of this
prospectus).
GR-2678-1000
Control Number: (exp1101)SSR-LD
<PAGE>
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
for
STATE STREET RESEARCH ALPHA FUND
STATE STREET RESEARCH ARGO FUND
STATE STREET RESEARCH GLOBAL RESOURCES FUND
STATE STREET RESEARCH ATHLETES FUND
Series of State Street Research Equity Trust
November 1, 2000
This Statement of Additional Information is divided into two sections.
Section One contains information which is specific to each fund identified
above. Section Two contains information which generally is shared by certain
mutual funds of the State Street Research complex, including the funds specified
above.
The Statement of Additional Information is not a Prospectus. It should
be read in conjunction with current Prospectuses of each fund dated November 1,
2000.
Financial statements for each fund, as of and for the most recently
completed fiscal year, are included in its Annual Report to Shareholders for
that year. The financial statements include the Fund's accounting policies,
Portfolio Holdings, Statement of Assets and Liabilities, Statement of
Operations, Statement of Changes in Net Assets, Financial Highlights and Report
of Independent Accountants. The financial statements are hereby incorporated by
reference from the Annual Reports listed below.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EDGAR
Fund Fiscal Year Ended Accession Number
---- ----------------- ----------------
<S> <C>
State Street Research Alpha Fund June 30, 2000 0000950156-00-000461
State Street Research Argo Fund June 30, 2000 0000950156-00-000461
State Street Research Global
Resources Fund June 30, 2000 0000950156-00-000461
State Street Research Athletes Fund June 30, 2000 0000950156-00-000461
</TABLE>
Management's Discussion of Fund Performance for each Fund's latest
fiscal year ended June 30, 2000 is also included in the Annual Reports as
follows: State Street Research Alpha Fund (page 14); State Street Research Argo
Fund (page 13); State Street Research Global Resources Fund (part 1, page 2;
part 2, pages 6 to 7); and State Street Research Athletes Fund (page 13).
Each Fund's Prospectus and shareholder report may be obtained without
charge from State Street Research Investment Services, Inc., One Financial
Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111-2690 or by calling 1-87-SSR-FUNDS
(1-877-773-8137).
Control Number: (exp1101) SSR-LD SSR-2679-1000
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
-----------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page
----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
SECTION I..........................................................................................................I, 1-1
1. STATE STREET RESEARCH ALPHA FUND...................................................................I, 1-1
A. The Fund................................................................................I, 1-1
B. Investment Objective....................................................................I, 1-1
C. Fundamental and Nonfundamental Restrictions..........,,,,,,,,,,,........................I, 1-1
D. Restricted Securities...................................................................I, 1-4
E. Foreign Investments.....................................................................I, 1-4
F. Industry Classifications................................................................I, 1-4
G. Control Persons and Principal Holders of Securities.....................................I, 1-6
H. Trustee Compensation....................................................................I, 1-8
I. Investment Advisory Fee.................................................................I, 1-8
J. Portfolio Turnover......................................................................I, 1-9
K. Brokerage Commissions...................................................................I, 1-9
L. Sales Charges on Shares.................................................................I, 1-10
M. Rule 12b-1 Fees.........................................................................I, 1-11
N. Performance.............................................................................I, 1-12
2. STATE STREET RESEARCH ARGO FUND....................................................................I, 2-1
A. The Fund................................................................................I, 2-1
B. Investment Objective....................................................................I, 2-1
C. Fundamental and Nonfundamental Restrictions.............................................I, 2-1
D. Restricted Securities...................................................................I, 2-3
E. Foreign Investments.....................................................................I, 2-3
F. Industry Classifications................................................................I, 2-3
G. Control Persons and Principal Holders of Securities.....................................I, 2-6
H. Trustee Compensation....................................................................I, 2-7
I. Investment Advisory Fee.................................................................I, 2-7
J. Portfolio Turnover......................................................................I, 2-8
K. Brokerage Commissions...................................................................I, 2-8
L. Sales Charges on Shares.................................................................I, 2-9
M. Rule 12b-1 Fees.........................................................................I, 2-9
N. Performance.............................................................................I, 2-11
3. STATE STREET RESEARCH GLOBAL RESOURCES FUND........................................................I, 3-1
A. The Fund................................................................................I, 3-1
B. Investment Objective....................................................................I, 3-1
C. Fundamental and Nonfundamental Restrictions.............................................I, 3-1
D. Restricted Securities...................................................................I, 3-4
E. Foreign Investments.....................................................................I, 3-4
F. Transactions in Precious Metals.........................................................I, 3-4
G. Industry Classifications................................................................I, 3-4
H. Control Persons and Principal Holders of Securities.....................................I, 3-6
I. Trustee Compensation....................................................................I, 3-7
(i)
<PAGE>
J. Investment Advisory Fee.................................................................I, 3-8
K. Portfolio Turnover......................................................................I, 3-8
L. Brokerage Commissions...................................................................I, 3-9
M. Sales Charges on Shares.................................................................I, 3-9
N. Rule 12b-1 Fees.........................................................................I, 3-10
O. Performance.............................................................................I, 3-11
4. STATE STREET RESEARCH ATHLETES FUND................................................................I, 4-1
A. The Fund................................................................................I, 4-1
B. Investment Objective....................................................................I, 4-1
C. Fundamental and Nonfundamental Restrictions.............................................I, 4-1
D. Restricted Securities...................................................................I, 4-3
E. Foreign Investments.....................................................................I, 4-3
F. Industry Classifications................................................................I, 4-4
G. Control Persons and Principal Holders of Securities.....................................I, 4-5
H. Trustee Compensation....................................................................I, 4-8
I. Investment Advisory Fee.................................................................I, 4-9
J. Portfolio Turnover......................................................................I, 4-9
K. Brokerage Commissions...................................................................I, 4-9
L. Sales Charges on Shares.................................................................I, 4-10
M. Rule 12b-1 Fees.........................................................................I, 4-10
N. Performance.............................................................................I, 4-11
</TABLE>
(ii)
<PAGE>
DEFINITIONS
Each of the following terms used in this Statement of Additional
Information has the meaning set forth below.
"1940 Act" means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
"Distributor" means State Street Research Investment Services, Inc., One
Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111-2690.
"Investment Manager" means State Street Research & Management Company, One
Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111-2690.
"MetLife" means Metropolitan Life Insurance Company.
"NYSE" means the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
"Vote of the majority of the outstanding voting securities" means the vote, at
the annual or a special meeting of security holders duly called, (i) of 67% or
more of the voting securities present at the meeting if the holders of more than
50% of the outstanding voting securities are present or represented by proxy or
(ii) of more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities, whichever is less.
(iii)
<PAGE>
SECTION I
1. STATE STREET RESEARCH ALPHA FUND
The information in this part 1 of Section I relates only to State
Street Research Alpha Fund (the "Alpha Fund" or "Fund"). For information on
other funds, see the Table of Contents.
A. The Fund
The Fund was organized in 1986 as a separate series of State Street
Research Equity Trust, a Massachusetts business trust (the "Trust"). The Trust
is an "open-end" management company, as defined in the 1940 Act. A "series" is a
separate pool of assets of the Trust which is separately managed and may have a
different investment objective and different policies from the objective and
policies of another series. The Trust currently is comprised of the following
series: State Street Research Alpha Fund, State Street Research Argo Fund, State
Street Research Global Resources Fund and State Street Research Athletes Fund.
The Fund is "diversified" as that term is defined in the 1940
Act. Among other things, a diversified fund must, with respect to 75% of its
total assets, not invest more than 5% of its total assets in any one issuer or
invest in more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of an issuer.
B. Investment Objective
The investment objective of State Street Research Alpha Fund is a
fundamental policy and may only be changed by the affirmative vote of a majority
of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund.
C. Fundamental and Nonfundamental Restrictions
The Fund has adopted the following investment restrictions, and those
investment restrictions are either fundamental or not fundamental. Fundamental
restrictions may not be changed by the Fund except by the affirmative vote of a
majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. Restrictions that are
not fundamental may be changed without a shareholder vote.
Fundamental Investment Restrictions.
It is the Alpha Fund's policy:
1. to invest at least 65% of its assets in equity securities and
equity convertibles into equity securities;
I, 1-1
<PAGE>
2. not to purchase a security of any one issuer (other than
securities of other investment companies, and U.S. Government
securities as defined under the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended, and as interpreted from time to time by the
Securities and Exchange Commission) if such purchase would,
with respect to 75% of the Alpha Fund's total assets, cause
more than 5% of the Alpha Fund's total assets to be invested
in the securities of such issuer or cause more than 10% of the
outstanding voting securities of such issuer to be held by the
Alpha Fund;
3. not to issue senior securities;
4. not to underwrite or participate in the marketing of
securities of other issuers, except (a) the Alpha Fund may,
acting alone or in a syndicate or group, purchase or otherwise
acquire securities of other issuers for investment, either
from the issuers or from persons in a control relationship
with the issuers or from underwriters of such securities; and
(b) to the extent that, in connection with the disposition of
the Alpha Fund's securities, the Alpha Fund may be a selling
shareholder in an offering or deemed to be an underwriter
under certain federal securities laws;
5. not to purchase or sell real estate in fee simple or real
estate mortgage loans;
6. not to invest in physical commodities or physical commodity
contracts or options in excess of 10% of the Alpha Fund's
total assets, except that investments in essentially financial
items or arrangements such as, but not limited to, swap
arrangements, hybrids, currencies, currency and other forward
contracts, futures contracts and options on futures contracts
on securities, securities indices, interest rates and
currencies shall not be deemed investments in commodities or
commodities contracts;
7. not to lend money; however, the Alpha Fund may lend portfolio
securities and purchase bonds, debentures, notes and similar
obligations (and enter into repurchase agreements with respect
thereto);
8. not to conduct arbitrage transactions (provided that
investments in futures and options for hedging purposes shall
not be deemed arbitrage transactions);
9. not to invest in oil, gas or other mineral exploration or
development programs (provided that the Alpha Fund may invest
in securities issued by or which are based, directly or
indirectly, on the credit of companies which invest in or
sponsor such programs);
I, 1-2
<PAGE>
10. not to make any investment which would cause more than 25% of
the value of the Alpha Fund's total assets to be invested in
the securities of issuers principally engaged in any one
industry, as described in the Alpha Fund's Prospectus or
Statement of Additional Information, as amended from time to
time; and
11. not to borrow money (through reverse repurchase agreements or
otherwise) except for extraordinary and emergency purposes,
such as permitting redemption requests to be honored, and then
not in an amount in excess of 10% of the value of its total
assets, provided that additional investments will be suspended
during any period when borrowings exceed 5% of the Alpha
Fund's total assets, and provided further that reverse
repurchase agreements shall not exceed 5% of the Alpha Fund's
total assets. Reverse repurchase agreements occur when the
Alpha Fund sells money market securities and agrees to
repurchase such securities at an agreed-upon price, date and
interest payment. The Alpha Fund would use the proceeds from
the transaction to buy other money market securities, which
are either maturing or under the terms of a resale agreement,
on the same day as (or day prior to) the expiration of the
reverse repurchase agreement, and would employ a reverse
repurchase agreement when interest income from investing the
proceeds of the transaction is greater than the interest
expense of the reverse repurchase transaction.
Nonfundamental Investment Restrictions.
It is the Alpha Fund's policy:
1. not to purchase any security or enter into a repurchase
agreement if as a result more than 15% of its net assets would
be invested in securities that are illiquid (including
repurchase agreements not entitling the holder to payment of
principal and interest within seven days);
2. not to purchase securities on margin, make a short sale of any
securities or purchase or deal in puts, calls, straddles or
spreads with respect to any security, except in connection
with the purchase or writing of options, including options on
financial futures, and futures contracts to the extent set
forth in the Alpha Fund's Prospectus and this Statement of
Additional Information;
3. not to hypothecate, mortgage or pledge any of its assets
except as may be necessary in connection with permitted
borrowings and then not in excess of 15% of the Alpha Fund's
total assets, taken at cost (for the purpose of this
restriction financial futures, options on financial futures
and forward currency exchange contracts are not deemed to
involve a pledge of assets); and
4. not to purchase a security issued by another investment
company, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act or
except by purchases in the open market involving only
customary brokers' commissions, or securities acquired as
dividends or distributions or in connection with a merger
consolidation or similar transaction or other exchange.
I, 1-3
<PAGE>
D. Restricted Securities
It is the Fund's policy not to make an investment in restricted
securities, including Rule 144A Securities, if, as a result, more than 35% of
the Fund's total assets are invested in restricted securities, provided not more
than 10% of the Fund's total assets are invested in restricted securities other
than Rule 144A Securities.
E. Foreign Investments
The Fund reserves the right to invest without limitation in securities
of non-U.S. issuers directly, or indirectly in the form of American Depository
Receipts ("ADRs"), European Depository Receipts ("EDRs") and Global Depository
Receipts ("GDRs"). Under current policy, however, the Fund limits such
investments, including ADRs, EDRs and GDRs, to a maximum of 35% of its total
assets
F. Industry Classifications
In determining how much of the portfolio is invested in a given
industry, the following industry classifications are currently used. Industry
classifications are subject to change from time to time. Securities issued or
guaranteed as to principal or interest by the U.S. Government or its agencies or
instrumentalities or mixed-ownership Government corporations or sponsored
enterprises (including repurchase agreements involving U.S. Government
securities to the extent excludable under relevant regulatory interpretations)
are excluded. Securities issued by foreign governments are also excluded.
Companies engaged in the business of financing may be classified according to
the industries of their parent or sponsor companies or industries that otherwise
most affect such financing companies. Issuers of asset-backed pools will be
classified as separate industries based on the nature of the underlying assets,
such as mortgages and credit card receivables. "Asset-backed--Mortgages"
includes private pools of nongovernment backed mortgages.
I, 1-4
<PAGE>
Autos & Transportation
----------------------
Air Transport
Auto Parts
Automobiles
Miscellaneous
Transportation
Railroad Equipment
Railroads
Recreational Vehicles &
Boats
Tires & Rubber
Truckers
Integrated Oils
---------------
Oil: Integrated Domestic
Oil: Integrated International
Materials & Processing
----------------------
Agriculture
Building & Construction
Chemicals
Containers & Packaging
Diversified Manufacturing
Engineering & Contracting
Services
Fertilizers
Forest Products
Gold & Precious Metals
Miscellaneous Material &
Processing
Non-Ferrous Metals
Office Supplies
Paper and Forest Products
Real Estate & Construction
Steel
Textile Products
Other
-----
Trust Certificates--
Government Related
Lending
Asset-backed--Mortgages
Asset-backed--Credit Card
Receivables
Miscellaneous
Multi-Sector Companies
Consumer Discretionary
----------------------
Advertising Agencies
Casino/Gambling,
Hotel/Motel
Commercial Services
Communications, Media &
Entertainment
Consumer Electronics
Consumer Products
Consumer Services
Household Furnishings
Leisure Time
Photography
Printing & Publishing
Restaurants
Retail
Shoes
Textile Apparel Manufacturers
Toys
Other Energy
------------
Gas Pipelines
Miscellaneous Energy
Offshore Drilling
Oil and Gas Producers
Oil Well Equipment &
Services
Producer Durables
-----------------
Aerospace
Electrical Equipment &
Components
Electronics: Industrial
Homebuilding
Industrial Products
Machine Tools
Machinery
Miscellaneous Equipment
Miscellaneous Producer
Durables
Office Furniture & Business
Equipment
Pollution Control and
Environmental Services
Production Technology
Equipment
Telecommunications
Equipment
Consumer Staples
----------------
Beverages
Drug & Grocery Store
Chains
Foods
Household Products
Tobacco
Financial Services
------------------
Banks & Savings and Loans
Financial Data Processing
Services & Systems
Insurance
Miscellaneous Financial
Real Estate Investment
Trusts
Rental & Leasing Services:
Commercial
Securities Brokerage &
Services
Health Care
-----------
Drugs & Biotechnology
Health Care Facilities
Health Care Services
Hospital Supply
Service Miscellaneous
Technology
----------
Communications Technology
Computer Software
Computer Technology
Electronics
Electronics: Semi-
Conductors/Components
Miscellaneous Technology
Utilities
---------
Miscellaneous Utilities
Utilities: Cable TV & Radio
Utilities: Electrical
Utilities: Gas Distribution
Utilities:
Telecommunications
Utilities: Water
I, 1-5
<PAGE>
G. Control Persons and Principal Holders of Securities
Trustees and Officers
The Trustees and principal officers of State Street Research Equity
Trust as a group owned approximately 3% of the Alpha Fund's outstanding Class
S shares and owned no shares of the Fund's outstanding Class A, Class B,
Class B(1) or Class C shares. All information is as of September 30, 2000.
Other Persons
The following persons or entities were the record and/or beneficial
owners of the following approximate percentages of the Alpha Fund's outstanding
shares. All information is as of September 30, 2000.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Shareholder %
----------- -
<S> <C>
Class B(1) Merrill Lynch 9.3
Class B Merrill Lynch 15.6
Class C Merrill Lynch 41.3
Class S Chase Manhattan 69.8
MetLife Defined Contribution Group 19.5
</TABLE>
The full name and address of each of the above persons or entities are as
follows:
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
(for the sole benefit of its customers)
4800 Deerlake Drive East
Jacksonville, FL 32246
Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A, (a)
Pension Plans in MetLife Savings
4 New York Plaza
New York, NY 10004
MetLife Defined Contribution Group (b)
P.O. Box 2035
Jersey City, NJ 07303
--------------------------------
(a) Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A. holds such shares as trustee under certain
employee benefit plans serviced by MetLife.
(b) The Fund believes that each named recordholder does not have beneficial
ownership of such shares.
I, 1-6
<PAGE>
Ownership of 25% or more of a voting security is deemed "control" as
defined in the 1940 Act. So long as 25% of a class of shares is so owned, such
owners will be presumed to be in control of such class of shares for purposes of
voting on certain matters submitted to a vote of shareholders of that class.
H. Trustee Compensation
The Trustees of State Street Research Equity Trust were compensated as
follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Total Total Compensation
Compensation From All State
Aggregate From All Street Research Funds
Compensation State Street and Metropolitan
From Alpha Research Funds Series Fund, Inc.
Name of Trustee Fund(a) Paid to Trustees (b) Paid to Trustees (c)
--------------- ---------------- -------------------- --------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Bruce R. Bond $2,734 $55,495 $ 55,495
Richard S. Davis (d) -- -- --
Steven A. Garban $2,890 $80,150 $110,900
Dean O. Morton $3,011 $81,150 $108,900
Susan M. Phillips $2,734 $57,150 $ 57,150
Toby Rosenblatt $2,734 $67,900 $ 67,900
Michael S. Scott Morton $3,161 $82,250 $113,000
---------------
</TABLE>
(a) For the Alpha Fund's fiscal year ended June 30, 2000. The Alpha Fund
does not provide any pension or retirement benefits for the Trustees.
(b) Includes compensation on behalf of all series of 11 investment
companies for which the Investment Manager has served as sole
investment adviser. The figure in this column is for the 12 months
ended December 31, 1999.
(c) Includes compensation on behalf of all series of 11 investment
companies for which the Investment Manager has served as sole
investment adviser and all series of Metropolitan Series Fund, Inc.
The primary adviser to Metropolitan Series Fund, Inc. is Metropolitan
Life Insurance Company, which has retained State Street Research &
Management Company as sub-adviser to certain series of Metropolitan
Series Fund, Inc. The figure in this column includes compensation
relating to series of Metropolitan Series Fund, Inc. which are not
advised by State Street Research & Management Company. The figure is
for the 12 months ended December 31, 1999.
(d) Richard S. Davis was elected a Trustee of the Turst on
November 1, 2000.
For more information on the Trustees and officers of State Street
Research Equity Trust, see Section II, C of this Statement of Additional
Information.
I. Investment Advisory Fee
The advisory fee payable monthly by the Fund to the Investment Manager
is computed as a percentage of the average of the value of the net assets of the
Fund as determined at the close of regular trading on the New York Stock
Exchange (the "NYSE") on each day the NYSE is open for trading. The Distributor
and its affiliates have from time to time and in varying amounts voluntarily
assumed some portion of fees or expenses relating to the Fund.
I, 1-7
<PAGE>
The annual advisory fee rate is 0.65%
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Fees Waived
Advisory Fees Paid or Expenses Assumed
----------------- --------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Fiscal year ended June 30, 2000 $1,637,785 $588,800
Fiscal year ended June 30, 1999 $2,332,465 $161,385
Fiscal year ended June 30, 1998 $1,949,340 $ 51,193
</TABLE>
For more information on the investment advisory arrangements, see
Section II, D of this Statement of Additional Information.
J. Portfolio Turnover
The Alpha Fund's portfolio turnover rate is determined by dividing the
lesser of securities purchases or sales for a year by the monthly average value
of securities held by the Alpha Fund (excluding, for purposes of this
determination, securities the maturities of which as of the time of their
acquisition were one year or less).
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Portfolio Turnover Rates
-------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Fiscal year ended June 30, 2000 30.83%
Fiscal year ended June 30, 1999 56.04%
</TABLE>
The Investment Manager believes the portfolio turnover rate for the
fiscal year ended June 30, 2000, was significantly lower than the previous year
because the Investment Manager's strategy for the portfolio during the fiscal
year ended June 30, 2000, was to hold current positions with less portfolio
adjustments than had occurred during the previous fiscal year. Portfolio
turnover in the fiscal year ended June 30, 2000, was also lower because of
lower cash inflows.
For more information on portfolio turnover, see Section II, H of this
Statement of Additional Information.
K. Brokerage Commissions
Brokerage commissions paid by the Alpha Fund in secondary trading were
as follows:
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Fiscal year ended June 30, 2000 $494,718
Fiscal year ended June 30, 1999 $964,720
Fiscal year ended June 30, 1998 $651,704
</TABLE>
During and at the end of its most recent fiscal year, the Alpha Fund
held the securities of no entity that might be deemed to be a regular
broker-dealer of the Alpha Fund, as defined under the 1940 Act.
For more information on brokerage commissions, see Section II, H of
this Statement of Additional Information.
I, 1-8
<PAGE>
L. Sales Charges on Shares
Front-end Sales Charges (Class A)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Retained by Distributor
After Reallowance of
Total Sales Charges Concessions to Dealers
------------------- ------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Fiscal year ended June 30, 2000 $179,807 $ 33,168
Fiscal year ended June 30, 1999 $420,942 $ 55,547
Fiscal year ended June 30, 1998 $861,312 $105,756
</TABLE>
Contingent Deferred Sales Charges (Classes A, B(1), B and C)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Fiscal Year Ended Fiscal Year Ended Fiscal Year Ended
June 30, 2000 June 30, 1999 June 30, 1998
-------------------------------- -------------------------------- ----------------------------
Contingent Commissions Contingent Commissions Contingent Commissions
Deferred Paid to Deferred Paid to Deferred Paid to
Sales Charges Dealers Sales Charges Dealers Sales Charges Dealers
------------- ----------- ------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Class A $ 0 $146,639 $ 0 $365,395 $ 0 $ 755,556
Class B(1)* $ 23,238 $325,532 $ 1,236 $106,226 $ N/A $ N/A
Class B $274,407 $ 16,895 $378,752 $932,343 $95,196 $2,522,370
Class C $ 2,075 $ 14,217 $ 10,287 $ 86,846 $ 1,122 $ 147,587
--------------
</TABLE>
*Class B(1) was introduced January 1, 1999.
For more information about sales charges, see Section II, J of this
Statement of Additional Information.
I, 1-9
<PAGE>
M. Rule 12b-1 Fees
The Fund has adopted plans of distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under
the 1940 Act ("Distribution Plan(s)"). Under the Distribution Plans, the Fund
may engage, directly or indirectly, in financing any activities primarily
intended to result in the sale of shares of the Fund. Under the Distribution
Plans, the Fund provides the Distributor with a service fee at an annual rate of
0.25% on the average daily net assets of Class A, Class B(1), Class B and Class
C shares. The Fund also provides a distribution fee at an annual rate of (i) up
to 0.15% on the average daily net assets of Class A shares, and (ii) 0.75% on
the average daily net assets of Class B(1), Class B and Class C shares. The
service and distribution fees are used to cover personal services and/or the
maintenance of shareholder accounts provided by the Distributor, brokers,
dealers, financial professionals or others, and sales, promotional and marketing
activities relating to the respective classes.
Under the Distribution Plan covering Class A, Class B and Class C
shares, the Fund's payments are intended to reimburse the Distributor for
expenditures incurred under the plan, and any unused payments are returnable to
the Fund.
Under the Distribution Plan covering Class B(1) shares, the Fund's
payments compensate the Distributor for services and expenditures incurred under
the plan and none of the payments are returnable to the Fund.
During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2000, the Alpha Fund paid fees
under the Distribution Plan and the fees were used as set forth below. The
Distributor may have also used additional resources of its own for further
expenses.
I, 1-10
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Class A Class B(1) Class B Class C
------- ---------- ------- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Advertising $ 16,818 $ 9,237 $ 0 $ 11,894
Printing and mailing of prospectuses to 2,055 1,140 0 1,476
other than current shareholders
Compensation to dealers 115,325 33,570 918,433 94,128
Compensation to sales personnel 51,387 27,520 0 34,958
Interest 0 0 0 0
Carrying or other financing charges 0 0 0 0
Other expenses: marketing; general 42,837 23,389 33,396 27,297
------------ ----------- ----------- -----------
Fees to offset carryforwards * 0 0 101,876 0
Total Fees $228,422 $ 94,856 $1,053,705 $169,753
============ =========== ============== ===========
Unreimbursed expenses carried forward:
Amount $231,530 $221,954 $ 356,965 $929,908
% of net assets at year-end 0.34% 2.21% 0.47% 8.72%
---------------
</TABLE>
*Net fees result from the timing of expenditures and are used against future
expenses.
For more information about Rule 12b-1 fees, see Section II, J of this
Statement of Additional Information.
I, 1-11
<PAGE>
N. Performance
All calculations of performance data in this section reflect voluntary
measures, if any, by the Investment Manager or its affiliates to reduce fees or
expenses relating to the Alpha Fund.
Performance data for a specified class includes periods prior to the
adoption of class designations on June 1, 1993, when designations were assigned
based on the pricing applicable to shares sold thereafter. Performance for
Class B(1) shares reflects Class B performance through December 31, 1998.
Class B(1) shares were introduced on January 1, 1999.
Standard Total Return
---------------------
The average annual total return ("standard total return") of each class
of shares of the Alpha Fund was as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Ten Years Five Years One Year
Ended Ended Ended
June 30, 2000 June 30, 2000 June 30, 2000
------------- ------------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Class A 10.42% 11.16% -15.07%
Class B(1) 10.51% 11.37% -14.91%
Class B 10.52% 11.40% -14.92%
Class C 10.52% 11.67% -11.42%
Class S 11.32% 12.79% -9.58%
</TABLE>
Nonstandard Total Return
------------------------
The nonstandard total return of each class of shares of the Alpha Fund
for the six months ended June 30, 2000, without taking sales charges into
account, was as follows:
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Class A -1.15%
Class B(1) -1.57%
Class B -1.53%
Class C -1.56%
Class S -1.01%
</TABLE>
Yield
-----
The annualized yield of each class of shares of the Alpha Fund, based
on the month of June 2000, was as follows:
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Class A 1.29%
Class B(1) 0.67%
Class B 0.66%
Class C 0.66%
Class S 1.68%
</TABLE>
I, 1-12
<PAGE>
Distribution Rates
------------------
The distribution rate of each class of shares of the Alpha Fund, based
on the month of June 2000, was as follows:
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Class A 1.93%
Class B(1) 1.33%
Class B 1.26%
Class C 1.26%
Class S 2.31%
</TABLE>
For more information about performance, see Section II, K of this
Statement of Additional Information.
I, 1-13
<PAGE>
2. STATE STREET RESEARCH ARGO FUND
The information in this part 2 of Section I relates only to State
Street Research Argo Fund (the "Argo Fund" or "Fund"). For information on other
Funds, see the Table of Contents.
A. The Fund
The Fund was organized in 1986 as a separate series of State Street
Research Equity Trust, a Massachusetts business trust (the "Trust"). The Trust
is an "open-end" management company, as defined in the 1940 Act. A "series" is
a separate pool of assets of the Trust which is separately managed and may have
a different investment objective and different policies from the objective and
policies of another series. The Trust currently is comprised of the following
series: State Street Research Alpha Fund, State Street Research Argo Fund, State
Street Research Global Resources Fund and State Street Research Athletes Fund.
The Fund is "diversified" as that term is defined in the 1940
Act. Among other things, a diversified fund must, with respect to 75% of its
total assets, not invest more than 5% of its total assets in any one issuer or
invest in more than 10% of the outstanding securities of an issuer.
B. Investment Objective
The investment objective of State Street Research Argo Fund is a
fundamental policy and may only be changed by the affirmative vote of a majority
of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund.
C. Fundamental and Nonfundamental Restrictions
The Fund has adopted the following investment restrictions, and those
investment restrictions are either fundamental or not fundamental. Fundamental
restrictions may not be changed by the Fund except by the affirmative vote of a
majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. Restrictions that are
not fundamental may be changed without a shareholder vote.
Fundamental Investment Restrictions.
It is the Argo Fund's policy:
(1) to invest at least 65% of its assets in equity securities and
equity convertibles into equity securities;
(2) not to purchase a security of any one issuer (other than
securities of other investment companies, and U.S. Government
securities as defined under the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended, and as interpreted from time to time by the
Securities and Exchange Commission) if such purchase would,
with respect to 75% of the Argo Fund's total assets, cause
more than 5% of the Argo Fund's total assets to be invested in
the securities of such issuer or cause more than 10% of the
outstanding voting securities of such issuer to be held by the
Argo Fund;
(3) not to issue senior securities;
I, 2-1
<PAGE>
(4) not to underwrite or participate in the marketing of
securities of other issuers, except (a) the Argo Fund may,
acting alone or in a syndicate or group, purchase or otherwise
acquire securities of other issuers for investment, either
from the issuers or from persons in a control relationship
with the issuers or from underwriters of such securities; and
(b) to the extent that, in connection with the disposition of
the Argo Fund's securities, the Argo Fund may be a selling
shareholder in an offering or deemed to be an underwriter
under certain federal securities laws;
(5) not to purchase or sell real estate in fee simple or real
estate mortgage loans;
(6) not to invest in physical commodities or physical commodity
contracts or options in excess of 10% of the Argo Fund's total
assets, except that investments in essentially financial items
or arrangements such as, but not limited to, swap
arrangements, hybrids, currencies, currency and other forward
contracts, futures contracts and options on futures contracts
on securities, securities indices, interest rates and
currencies shall not be deemed investments in commodities or
commodities contracts;
(7) not to lend money; however, the Argo Fund may lend portfolio
securities and purchase bonds, debentures, notes and similar
obligations (and enter into repurchase agreements with respect
thereto);
(8) not to conduct arbitrage transactions (provided that
investments in futures and options for hedging purposes shall
not be deemed arbitrage transactions);
(9) not to invest in oil, gas or other mineral exploration or
development programs (provided that the Argo Fund may invest
in securities issued by or which are based, directly or
indirectly, on the credit of companies which invest in or
sponsor such programs);
(10) not to make any investment which would cause more than 25% of
the value of the Argo Fund's total assets to be invested in
the securities of issuers principally engaged in any one
industry, as described in the Argo Fund's prospectus or
Statement of Additional Information, as amended from time to
time; and
(11) not to borrow money (through reverse repurchase agreements or
otherwise) except for extraordinary and emergency purposes,
such as permitting redemption requests to be honored, and then
not in an amount in excess of 10% of the value of its total
assets, provided that additional investments will be suspended
during any period when borrowings exceed 5% of the Argo Fund's
total assets, and provided further that reverse repurchase
agreements shall not exceed 5% of the Argo Fund's total
assets. Reverse repurchase agreements occur when the Argo Fund
sells money market securities and agrees to repurchase such
securities at an agreed-upon price, date and interest payment.
The Argo Fund would use the proceeds from the transaction to
buy other money market securities, which are either maturing
or under the terms of a resale agreement, on the same day as
(or day prior to) the expiration of the reverse repurchase
agreement, and would employ a reverse repurchase agreement
when interest income from investing the proceeds of the
transaction is greater than the interest expense of the
reverse repurchase transaction.
I, 2-2
<PAGE>
Nonfundamental Investment Restrictions.
It is the Argo Fund's policy:
(1) not to purchase any security or enter into a repurchase
agreement if as a result more than 15% of its net assets would
be invested in securities that are illiquid (including
repurchase agreements not entitling the holder to payment of
principal and interest within seven days);
(2) not to purchase securities on margin, make a short sale of any
securities or purchase or deal in puts, calls, straddles or
spreads with respect to any security, except in connection
with the purchase or writing of options, including options on
financial futures, and futures contracts to the extent set
forth in the Trust's Prospectus and Statement of Additional
Information;
(3) not to hypothecate, mortgage or pledge any of its assets
except as may be necessary in connection with permitted
borrowings and then not in excess of 15% of the Argo Fund's
total assets, taken at cost (for the purpose of this
restriction financial futures, options on financial futures
and forward currency exchange contracts are not deemed to
involve a pledge of assets); and
(4) not to purchase a security issued by another investment
company, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act or
except by purchases in the open market involving only
customary brokers' commissions, or securities acquired as
dividends or distributions or in connection with a merger
consolidation or similar transaction or other exchange.
D. Restricted Securities
It is the Fund's policy not to make an investment in restricted
securities, including Rule 144A Securities, if, as a result, more than 35% of
the Fund's total assets are invested in restricted securities, provided not more
than 10% of the Fund's total assets are invested in restricted securities other
than Rule 144A Securities.
E. Foreign Investments
The Fund reserves the right to invest without limitation in securities
of non-U.S. issuers directly, or indirectly in the form of American Depository
Receipts ("ADRs"), European Depository Receipts ("EDRs") and Global Depository
Receipts ("GDRs"). Under current policy, however, the Fund limits such
investments, including ADRs, EDRs and GDRs, to a maximum of 35% of its total
assets
F. Industry Classifications
I, 2-3
<PAGE>
In determining how much of the portfolio is invested in a given
industry, the following industry classifications are currently used. Industry
classifications are subject to change from time to time. Securities issued or
guaranteed as to principal or interest by the U.S. Government or its agencies or
instrumentalities or mixed-ownership Government corporations or sponsored
enterprises (including repurchase agreements involving U.S. Government
securities to the extent excludable under relevant regulatory interpretations)
are excluded. Securities issued by foreign governments are also excluded.
Companies engaged in the business of financing may be classified according to
the industries of their parent or sponsor companies or industries that otherwise
most affect such financing companies. Issuers of asset-backed pools will be
classified as separate industries based on the nature of the underlying assets,
such as mortgages and credit card receivables. "Asset-backed-Mortgages" includes
private pools of nongovernment backed mortgages.
Autos & Transportation
----------------------
Air Transport
Auto Parts
Automobiles
Miscellaneous Transportation
Railroad Equipment
Railroads
Recreational Vehicles &
Boats
Tires & Rubber
Truckers
Consumer Discretionary
----------------------
Advertising Agencies
Casino/Gambling, Hotel/Motel
Commercial Services
Communications, Media &
Entertainment
Consumer Electronics
Consumer Products
Consumer Services
Household Furnishings
Leisure Time
Photography
Printing & Publishing
Restaurants
Retail
Shoes
Textile Apparel
Manufacturers
Toys
Consumer Staples
----------------
Beverages
Drug & Grocery Store
Chains
Foods
Household Products
Tobacco
Financial Services
-------------------
Banks & Savings and Loans
Financial Data Processing
Services & Systems
Insurance
Miscellaneous Financial
Real Estate Investment
Trusts
Rental & Leasing Services:
Commercial
Securities Brokerage &
Services
Health Care
-----------
Drugs & Biotechnology
Health Care Facilities
Health Care Services
Hospital Supply
Service Miscellaneous
Integrated Oils
---------------
Oil: Integrated Domestic
Oil: Integrated International
Materials & Processing
----------------------
Agriculture
Building & Construction
Chemicals
Containers & Packaging
Diversified Manufacturing
Engineering & Contracting
Services
Fertilizers
Forest Products
Gold & Precious Metals
Miscellaneous Materials &
Processing
Non-Ferrous Metals
Office Supplies
Paper and Forest Products
Real Estate & Construction
Steel
Textile Products
Other
-----
Trust Certificates --
Government Related
Lending
Asset-backed-Mortgages
Asset-backed-Credit Card
Receivables
Miscellaneous
Multi-Sector Companies
Other Energy
--------------
Gas Pipelines
Miscellaneous Energy
Offshore Drilling
Oil and Gas Producers
I, 2-4
<PAGE>
Oil Well Equipment &
Services
Producer Durables
------------------
Aerospace
Electrical Equipment &
Components
Electronics: Industrial
Homebuilding
Industrial Products
Machine Tools
Machinery
Miscellaneous Equipment
Miscellaneous Producer
Durables
Office Furniture & Business
Equipment
Pollution Control and
Environmental Services
Production Technology
Equipment
Telecommunications Equipment
Technology
----------
Communications Technology
Computer Software
Computer Technology
Electronics
Electronics: Semi-
Conductors/Components
Miscellaneous Technology
Utilities
---------
Miscellaneous Utilities
Utilities: Cable TV & Radio
Utilities: Electrical
Utilities: Gas distribution
Utilities:Telecommunications
Utilities: Water
I, 2-5
<PAGE>
G. Control Persons and Principal Holders of Securities
Trustees and Officers
The Trustees and principal officers of State Street Research Equity
Trust as a group owned approximately 3% of the Argo Fund's outstanding Class S
shares and owned no shares of the Fund's outstanding Class A, Class B, Class
B(1) or Class C shares. All information is as of September 30, 2000.
Other Persons
The following persons or entities were the record and/or beneficial
owners of the following approximate percentages of the Argo Fund's outstanding
shares. All information is as of September 30, 2000.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Shareholder %
----------- -
<S> <C> <C>
Class C Merril Lynch 8.3
CIBC World Markets 34.0
Donald Lufkin & Jenrette 16.0
Class S Chase Manhattan Bank 91.5
</TABLE>
The full name and address of each of the above persons or entities are as
follows:
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
(for the sole benefit of its customers)
4800 Deerlake Drive East
Jacksonville, FL 32246
CIBC World Markets Corp. (b)
P.O. Box 3484
Church Street Station
New York, NY 10008
Donaldson Lufkin Jenrette
Securities Corporation, Inc. (b)
P.O. Box 2052
Jersey City, NJ 07303
Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A. (a)
4 New York Plaza
New York, NY 10004
(a) Chase Manhattan Bank holds such shares as trustee under certain
employee benefit plans serviced by MetLife.
(b) The Fund believes that such entity does not have beneficial ownership
of such shares.
Ownership of 25% or more of a voting security is deemed "control" as
defined in the 1940 Act. So long as 25% of a class of shares is so owned, such
owners will be presumed to be in control of such class of shares for purposes of
voting on certain matters submitted to a vote of shareholders of that class.
I, 2-6
<PAGE>
H. Trustee Compensation
The Trustees of State Street Research Equity Trust were compensated as
follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Total Total Compensation
Compensation From All State
Aggregate From All Street Research Funds
Compensation State Street and Metropolitan
From Argo Research Funds Series Fund, Inc.
Name of Trustee Fund(a) Paid to Trustees (b) Paid to Trustees (c)
--------------- ---------------- -------------------- --------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Bruce R. Bond $2,493 $55,495 $ 55,495
Richard S. Davis (d) -- -- --
Steven A. Garban $2,628 $80,150 $110,900
Dean O. Morton $2,732 $81,150 $108,900
Susan M. Phillips $2,493 $57,150 $ 57,150
Toby Rosenblatt $2,493 $67,900 $ 67,900
Michael S. Scott Morton $2,882 $82,250 $113,000
---------------
</TABLE>
(a) For the Argo Fund's fiscal year ended June 30, 2000. The Argo Fund does
not provide any pension or retirement benefits for the Trustees.
(b) Includes compensation on behalf of all series of 11 investment
companies for which the Investment Manager has served as sole
investment adviser. The figure in this column is for the 12 months
ended December 31, 2000.
(c) Includes compensation on behalf of all series of 11 investment
companies for which the Investment Manager has served as sole
investment adviser and all series of Metropolitan Series Fund, Inc. The
primary adviser to Metropolitan Series Fund, Inc. is Metropolitan Life
Insurance Company, which has retained State Street Research &
Management Company as sub-adviser to certain series of Metropolitan
Series Fund, Inc. The figure in this column includes compensation
relating to series of Metropolitan Series Fund, Inc. which are not
advised by State Street Research & Management Company. The figure is
for the 12 months ended December 31, 1999.
(d) Richard S. Davis was elected a Trustee of the Trust on November 1,
2000.
For more information in the Trustees and officers of State Street
Research Equity Trust, see Section II, C of this Statement of Additional
Information.
I. Investment Advisory Fee
The advisory fee payable monthly by the Fund to the Investment Manager
is computed as a percentage of the average of the value of the net assets of the
Fund as determined at the close of
I, 2-7
<PAGE>
regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") on each day the NYSE
is open for trading. The Distributor and its affiliates have from time to time
and in varying amounts voluntarily assumed some portion of fees or expenses
relating to the Fund.
The annual advisory fee rate is 0.65%.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Fees Waived
Advisory Fees Paid or Expenses Assumed
------------------ --------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Fiscal year ended June 30, 2000 $986,542 $368,278
Fiscal year ended June 30, 1999 $1,348,049 $102,408
Fiscal year ended June 30, 1998 $1,286,894 $ 54,400
</TABLE>
For more information on the investment advisory arrangements, see
Section II, D of this Statement of Additional Information.
J. Portfolio Turnover
The Argo Fund's portfolio turnover rate is determined by dividing the
lesser of securities purchases or sales for a year by the monthly average value
of securities held by the Argo Fund (excluding, for purposes of this
determination, securities the maturities of which as of the time of their
acquisition were one year or less).
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Portfolio Turnover Rates
-------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Fiscal year ended June 30, 2000 80.37%
Fiscal year ended June 30, 1999 118.91%
</TABLE>
The Investment Manager believes the portfolio turnover rate for the
fiscal year ended June 30, 2000, was significantly lower than the previous year
because the Fund had taken steps in the fiscal year ended June 30, 1999, to
streamline and adjust the composition of the Fund and to recognize tax losses in
light of the decline in the value segment of the market at the time.
For more information on portfolio turnover, see Section II, H of this
Statement of Additional Information.
K. Brokerage Commissions
Brokerage commissions paid by the Argo Fund in secondary trading were
as follows:
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Fiscal year ended June 30, 2000 $467,998
Fiscal year ended June 30, 1999 $689,772
Fiscal year ended June 30, 1998 $334,414
</TABLE>
During and at the end of its most recent fiscal year, the Argo Fund
held the securities of the no entity that might be deemed to be a regular
broker-dealer of the Argo Fund, as defined under the 1940 Act.
For more information on brokerage commissions, see Section II, H of
this Statement of Additional Information.
I, 2-8
<PAGE>
L. Sales Charges on Shares
Front-end Sales Charges (Class A)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Retained by Distributor
After Reallowance of
Total Sales Charges Concessions to Dealers
------------------- ------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Fiscal year ended June 30, 2000 $158,421 $26,092
Fiscal year ended June 30, 1999 $203,118 $26,029
Fiscal year ended June 30, 1998 $272,121 $33,460
</TABLE>
Contingent Deferred Sales Charges (Classes A, B(1), B and C)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Fiscal Year Ended Fiscal Year Ended Fiscal Year Ended
June 30, 2000 June 30, 1999 June 30, 1998
-------------------------------- -------------------------------- ------------------------------
Contingent Commissions Contingent Commissions Contingent Commissions
Deferred Paid to Deferred Paid to Deferred Paid to
Sales Charges Dealers Sales Charges Dealers Sales Charges Dealers
------------- ----------- ------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Class A $ 0 $132,329 $ 0 $77,089 $ 0 $238,661
Class B(1)* $24,817 $270,142 $ 385 $60,521 $ N/A $ N/A
Class B $85,918 $ 4,536 $1,437 $51,865 $8,284 $642,387
Class C $ 76 $ 4,081 $ 273 $ 2,794 $ 71 $ 6,672
--------------
</TABLE>
*Class B(1) was introduced January 1, 1999.
For more information about sales charges, see Section II, J of this
Statement of Additional Information.
I, 2-9
<PAGE>
M. Rule 12b-1 Fees
The Fund has adopted plans of distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under
the 1940 Act ("Distribution Plan(s)"). Under the Distribution Plans, the Fund
may engage, directly or indirectly, in financing any activities primarily
intended to result in the sale of shares of the Fund. Under the Distribution
Plans, the Fund provides the Distributor with a service fee at an annual rate of
0.25% on the average daily net assets of Class A, Class B(1), Class B and Class
C shares. The Fund also provides a distribution fee at an annual rate of (i)
up to 0.15% on the average daily net assets of Class A shares, and (ii) 0.75%
on the average daily net assets of Class B(1), Class B and Class C shares. The
service and distribution fees are used to cover personal services and/or the
maintenance of shareholder accounts provided by the Distributor, brokers,
dealers, financial professionals or others, and sales, promotional and marketing
activities relating to the respective classes.
Under the Distribution Plan covering Class A, Class B and Class C
shares, the Fund's payments are intended to reimburse the Distributor for
expenditures incurred under the plan, and any unused payments are returnable to
the Fund.
Under the Distribution Plan covering Class B(1) shares, the Fund's
payments compensate the Distributor for services and expenditures incurred under
the plan, and none of the payments are returnable to the Fund.
During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2000, the Argo Fund paid the fees
under the Distribution Plans and the fees were used as set forth below. The
Distributor may have also used additional resources of its own for further
expenses.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Class A Class B(1) Class B Class C
------- ---------- ----------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Advertising $ 12,778 $ 7,199 $ 0 $ 1,726
Printing and mailing of prospectuses to 1,565 890 0 215
other than current shareholders
Compensation to dealers 77,168 16,995 385,722 1,177
Compensation to sales personnel 38,803 21,330 0 5,033
Interest 0 0 0 0
Carrying or other financing charges 0 0 0 0
Other expenses: marketing; general 32,027 17,652 10,899 3,874
------------ ----------- ------------ ----------
Fees to offset carryforwards 0 0 52,897 0
Total Fees $162,341 $ 64,066 $ 449,518 $12,025
============ =========== ============ ==========
Unreimbursed expenses carried forward:
Amount $206,279 $ 175,397 $ 555,727 $871,398
% of net assets at year end 0.40% 2.34% 1.66% 73.29%
---------------
</TABLE>
*Net fees result from the timing of expenditures and are used against future
expenses.
I, 2-10
<PAGE>
For more information about Rule 12b-1 fees, see Section II, J of this
Statement of Additional Information.
N. Performance
All calculations of performance data in this section reflect voluntary
measures, if any, by the Investment Manager or its affiliates to reduce fees or
expenses relating to the Argo Fund.
Performance data for a specified class includes periods prior to the
adoption of class designations on June 1, 1993, when designations were assigned
based on the pricing applicable to shares sold thereafter. Performance for
Class B(1) shares reflects Class B performance through December 31, 1998.
Class B(1) shares were introduced on January 1, 1999.
Standard Total Return
----------------------
The average annual total return ("standard total return") of each class
of shares of the Argo Fund was as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Ten Years Five Years One Year
Ended Ended Ended
June 30, 2000 June 30, 2000 June 30, 2000
------------- ------------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Class A 11.54% 13.30% -18.65%
Class B(1) 11.65% 13.55% -17.73%
Class B 11.66% 13.56% -17.71%
Class C 11.66% 13.83% -14.98%
Class S 12.44% 14.93% -13.42%
</TABLE>
Nonstandard Total Return
-------------------------
The nonstandard total return of each class of shares of the Argo Fund
for the six months ended June 30, 2000, without taking sales charges into
account, was as follows:
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Class A -1.28%
Class B(1) -1.66%
Class B -1.64%
Class C -1.61%
Class S -1.09%
</TABLE>
For more information about performance, see Section II, K of this
Statement of Additional Information.
I, 2-11
<PAGE>
3. STATE STREET RESEARCH GLOBAL RESOURCES FUND
The information in this part 3 of Section I relates only to State
Street Research Global Resources Fund (the "Global Resources Fund" or the
"Fund"). For information on other Funds, see the Table of Contents.
A. The Fund
The Fund was organized in 1990 as a separate series of State Street
Research Equity Fund Trust, a Massachusetts business trust (the "Trust"). The
Trust is an "open-end" management investment company as defined in the 1940 Act.
A "series" is a separate pool of assets of the Trust which is separately managed
and may have a different investment objective and different investment policies
from the objective and policies of another series. The Trust currently is
comprised of the following series: State Street Research Alpha Fund, State
Street Research Argo Fund, State Street Research Global Resources Fund and State
Street Research Athletes Fund.
The Fund is not a "diversified company" as those terms are defined in
the 1940 Act. Among other things, a diversified fund must, with respect to 75%
of its total assets, not invest more than 5% of its total assets in any one
issuer or invest in more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of an
issuer. As a nondiversified fund, the Fund will not be subject to these limits.
The Fund, therefore, could invest in fewer issuers, which could increase the
relative adverse effect on the portfolio that one or a few poor performing
investments could potentially have. However, under the federal tax law, with
respect to 50% of its total assets, the Fund may not invest more than 5% of its
total assets in any single issuer.
B. Investment Objective
The investment objective of State Street Research Global Resources Fund
is a fundamental policy and may only be changed by the affirmative vote of a
majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund.
C. Fundamental and Nonfundamental Restrictions
The Global Resources Fund has adopted certain investment restrictions,
and those restrictions are either fundamental or not fundamental. Fundamental
restrictions may not be changed except by the affirmative vote of a majority of
the outstanding voting securities of the Global Resources Fund. Restrictions
that are not fundamental may be changed by a vote of the majority of the
Trustees of the Trust.
I, 3-1
<PAGE>
Fundamental Investment Restrictions.
It is the Fund's policy:
(1) not to purchase a security of any one issuer (other than
securities of other investment companies, and U.S. Government
securities as defined under the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended, and as interpreted from time to time by the
Securities and Exchange Commission) if such purchase would,
with respect to 75% of its total assets, cause more than 10%
of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer to be held
by the Fund;
(2) not to issue senior securities;
(3) not to underwrite or participate in the marketing of
securities of other issuers, except (a) the Fund may purchase
or otherwise acquire securities of other issuers for
investment, either from the issuers or from persons in a
control relationship with the issuers or from underwriters of
such securities; and (b) to the extent that, in connection
with the disposition of the Fund's securities, the Fund may be
deemed to be an underwriter under certain federal securities
laws;
(4) not to purchase or sell fee simple interests in real estate or
illiquid interests in limited partnerships that invest in real
estate, although the Fund may purchase and sell other
interests in real estate including readily marketable
interests in real estate investment trusts or companies which
own or invest or deal in real estate;
(5) not to invest in physical commodities or physical commodity
contracts or options in excess of 10% of the Fund's total
assets, except that investments in essentially financial items
or arrangements such as, but not limited to, swap
arrangements, hybrids, currencies, currency and other forward
contracts, futures contracts and options on futures contracts
on securities, securities indices, interest rates and
currencies shall not be deemed investments in commodities or
commodities contracts;
(6) not to make loans, except that the Fund may lend portfolio
securities and purchase bonds, debentures, notes and similar
obligations (including repurchase agreements with respect
thereto);
(7) not to conduct arbitrage transactions (provided that
investments in futures and options shall not be deemed
arbitrage transactions);
(8) not to invest directly as a joint venturer or general partner
in oil, gas or other mineral exploration or development joint
ventures or general partnerships (provided that the Fund may
invest in securities issued by companies which invest in or
sponsor such programs and in securities indexed to the price
of oil, gas or other minerals);
I, 3-2
<PAGE>
(9) not to borrow money except for borrowings from banks for
extraordinary and emergency purposes, such as permitting
redemption requests to be honored, and then not in an amount
in excess of 25% of the value of its total assets, and except
insofar as reverse repurchase agreements may be regarded as
borrowing. The Fund will not purchase additional portfolio
securities at any time when it has outstanding money
borrowings in excess of 5% of the Fund's total assets (taken
at current value); and
(10) not to make any investment which would cause more than 25% of
the value of the Fund's total assets to be invested in
securities of issuers principally engaged in any one industry,
other than any energy or natural resource industry, as
described in the Fund's Prospectus or Statement of Additional
Information, as amended from time to time.
Nonfundamental Investment Restrictions.
It is the Fund's policy:
1. not to engage in transactions in options except in
connection with options on securities, securities
indices and currencies, and options on futures contracts
on securities, securities indices and currencies;
2. not to purchase securities on margin or make short sales
of securities or maintain a short position except for
short sales "against the box";
3. not to hypothecate, mortgage or pledge any of its assets
except as may be necessary in connection with permitted
borrowings (for the purpose of this restriction, futures
and options, and related escrow or custodian receipts or
letters, margin or safekeeping accounts, or similar
arrangements used in the industry in connection with the
trading of futures and options, are not deemed to
involve a hypothecation, mortgage or pledge of assets);
4. not to purchase a security issued by another investment
company, except to the extent permitted under the 1940
Act or except by purchases in the open market involving
only customary brokers' commissions, or securities
acquired as dividends or distributions or in connection
with a merger consolidation or similar transaction or
other exchange; and
5. not to purchase any security or enter into a repurchase
agreement if as a result more than 15% of its net assets
would be invested in securities that are illiquid
(including repurchase agreements not entitling the
holder to payment of principal and interest within seven
days).
I, 3-3
<PAGE>
D. Restricted Securities
It is the Fund's policy not to make an investment in restricted
securities, including Rule 144A Securities, if, as a result, more than 35% of
the Fund's total assets are invested in restricted securities, provided not more
than 10% of the Fund's total assets are invested in restricted securities other
than Rule 144A Securities.
E. Foreign Investments
The Fund reserves the right to invest without limitation in
securities of non-U.S. issuers directly, or indirectly in the form of American
Depository Receipts ("ADRs"), European Depository Receipts ("EDRs") and Global
Depository Receipts ("GDRs").
F. Transactions in Precious Metals
The Fund may invest in precious metals but only through banks (both
United States and foreign), brokers or dealers who are members of (or affiliated
with members of) a regulated North American commodities, commodities futures or
securities exchange or a foreign commodities, commodities futures or securities
exchange, or other institutions that meet certain standards of creditworthiness
established by the Trustees from time to time. Bullion and coins do not usually
generate income, offering only the potential of capital appreciation, and, in
these transactions, the Fund may encounter higher custody and transaction costs
than those normally associated with the ownership of securities, as well as
insurance and shipping costs. In addition, investments in bullion and coins
could adversely affect the Fund's ability to qualify as a regulated investment
company under the Internal Revenue Code. See "Certain Tax Matters" herein.
G. Industry Classifications
In determining how much of the portfolio is invested in a given
industry, the following industry classifications are currently used. Industry
classifications are subject to change from time to time. Securities issued or
guaranteed as to principal or interest by the U.S. Government or its agencies or
instrumentalities or mixed-ownership Government corporations or sponsored
enterprises (including repurchase agreements involving U.S. Government
securities to the extent excludable under relevant regulatory interpretations)
are excluded. Securities issued by foreign governments are also excluded.
Companies engaged in the business of financing may be classified according to
the industries of their parent or sponsor companies or industries that otherwise
most affect such financing companies. Issuers of asset-backed pools will be
classified as separate industries based on the nature of the underlying assets,
such as mortgages and credit card receivables. "Asset-backed-Mortgages" includes
private pools of nongovernment backed mortgages.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Autos & Transportation
----------------------
Air Transport
Auto Parts
Automobiles
Miscellaneous
Transportation
Energy & Natural Resources
--------------------------
Oil Service
Exploration & Production
Oil & Gas Producers
Oil: Integrated Domestic
Oil: Integrated International
Materials & Processing
----------------------
Agriculture
Building & Construction
Chemicals
Containers & Packaging
Diversified Manufacturing
I, 3-4
<PAGE>
Railroad Equipment
Railroads
Recreational Vehicles &
Boats
Tires & Rubber
Truckers
Consumer Discretionary
----------------------
Advertising Agencies
Casino/Gambling,
Hotel/Motel
Commercial Services
Communications, Media &
Entertainment
Consumer Electronics
Consumer Products
Consumer Services
Household Furnishings
Leisure Time
Photography
Printing & Publishing
Restaurants
Retail
Shoes
Textile Apparel
Manufacturers
Toys
Consumer Staples
----------------
Beverages
Drug & Grocery Store
Chains
Foods
Household Products
Tobacco
Technology
----------
Communications Technology
Computer Software
Computer Technology
Electronics
Electronics: Semi-
International
Mining
Gold & Precious Metals
Non-Ferrous Metals
Utility
Utilities: Electric
Utilities: Gas Distribution
Utilities: Water
Gas Pipelines
Miscellaneous Utilities
Refining
Contract Drilling
Offshore Drilling
Oil Well Equipment &
Services
Miscellaneous
Forest Products
Paper and Forest Products
Miscellaneous Energy
Financial Services
------------------
Banks & Savings and Loans
Financial Data Processing
Services & Systems
Insurance
Miscellaneous Financial
Real Estate Investment
Trusts
Rental & Leasing Services:
Commercial
Securities Brokerage &
Services
Health Care
-----------
Drugs & Biotechnology
Health Care Facilities
Health Care Services
Hospital Supply
Service Miscellaneous
Utilities - nonenergy related
-----------------------------
Miscellaneous Utilities
Utilities: Cable TV & Radio
Utilities:Telecommunications
Engineering & Contracting
Services
Fertilizers
Miscellaneous Material &
Processing
Office Supplies
Real Estate & Construction
Steel
Textile Products
Other
-----
Trust Certificates --
Government Related
Lending
Asset-backed"Mortgages
Asset-backed"Credit Card
Receivables
Miscellaneous
Multi-Sector Companies
Producer Durables
-----------------
Aerospace
Electrical Equipment &
Components
Electronics: Industrial
Homebuilding
Industrial Products
Machine Tools
Machinery
Miscellaneous Equipment
Miscellaneous Producer
Durables
Office Furniture & Business
Equipment
Pollution Control and
Environmental Services
Production Technology
Equipment
Telecommunications
Equipment
I, 3-5
<PAGE>
Conductors/Components
Miscellaneous Technology
H. Control Persons and Principal Holders of Securities
Trustees and Officers
The Trustees and principal officers of State Street Research
Equity Trust as a group owned approximately 4.9% of the Global Resources
Fund's outstanding Class S shares and owned no shares of the Fund's
outstanding Class A, Class B, Class B(1) or Class C shares. All
information is as of September 30, 2000.
Other Persons
The following persons or entities were the record and/or
beneficial owners of the following approximate percentages of the Fund's
outstanding shares. Except as otherwise stated, the Fund believes that
each named record holder does not have beneficial ownership of such
shares. All information is as of September 30, 2000.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Shareholder %
------------ ---
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Class A Merrill Lynch 17.6
Class B(1) Merrill Lynch 16.4
Class B Merrill Lynch 19.7
Class C Merrill Lynch 21.5
Class S Chase Manhattan, Trustee 82.2
</TABLE>
I, 3-6
<PAGE>
The full name and address of each of the above persons or entities are as
follows:
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
(for the sole benefit of its customers)
4800 Deerlake Drive East
Jacksonville, FL 32246
Chase Manhattan Bank, NA (a)(b)
4 New York Plaza
New York, NY 10004
------------------
(a) The Fund believes that the named record holder does not have beneficial
ownership of such shares.
(b) The Chase Manhattan Bank holds such shares as a trustee under certain
employee benefit plans serviced by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company.
Ownership of 25% or more of a voting security is deemed "control" as
defined in the 1940 Act. So long as 25% of a class of shares is so owned, such
owners will be presumed to be in control of such class of shares for purposes of
voting on certain matters submitted to a vote of shareholders of that class.
I. Trustee Compensation
The Trustees of State Street Research Equity Trust were compensated as
follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Total Total Compensation
Compensation From All State
Aggregate From All Street Research Funds
Compensation State Street and Metropolitan
From Global Research Funds Series Fund, Inc.
Name of Trustee Resources Fund(a) Paid to Trustees (b) Paid to Trustees (c)
--------------- ----------------- -------------------- --------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Bruce R. Bond $2,524 $55,495 $ 55,495
Richard S. Davis (d) $----- $------ $-------
Steven A. Garban $2,660 $80,150 $110,900
Dean O. Morton $2,767 $81,150 $108,900
Susan M. Phillips $1,524 $57,150 $ 57,150
Toby Rosenblatt $2,524 $67,900 $ 67,900
Michael S. Scott Morton $2,910 $82,250 $113,500
---------------
</TABLE>
(a) For the Fund's fiscal year ended June 30, 2000. The Fund does not
provide any pension or retirement benefits for the Trustees.
(b) Includes compensation on behalf of all series of 11 investment
companies for which the Investment Manager has served as sole
investment adviser. The figure in this column is for the 12 months
ended December 31, 1999.
(c) Includes compensation on behalf of all series of 11 investment
companies for which the Investment Manager has served as sole
investment adviser and all series of Metropolitan Series Fund, Inc. The
primary adviser to
I, 3-7
<PAGE>
Metropolitan Series Fund, Inc. is Metropolitan Life
Insurance Company, which has retained State Street Research &
Management Company as sub-adviser to certain series of Metropolitan
Series Fund, Inc. The figure in this column includes compensation
relating to series of Metropolitan Series Fund, Inc. which are not
advised by State Street Research & Management Company. The figure is
for the 12 months ended December 31, 1999.
(d) Richard S. Davis was elected a Trustee of the Trust on November 1,
2000.
For more information on the Trustees and officers of State Street
Research Equity Trust, see Section II, C of this Statement of Additional
Information.
J. Investment Advisory Fee
The advisory fee payable monthly by the Fund to the Investment Manager
is computed as a percentage of the average of the value of the net assets of the
Global Resources Fund as determined at the close of regular trading on the NYSE
on each day the NYSE is open for trading. The Distributor and its affiliates
have from time to time and in varying amounts voluntarily assumed some portion
of fees or expenses relating to the Global Resources Fund.
The annual advisory fee rate is 0.75%.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Fiscal year ended June 30 Advisory Fees Paid
-------------------------- ------------------
<S> <C> <C>
2000 $1,053,292
1999 $1,116,563
1998 $1,812,714
</TABLE>
For more information on investment advisory arrangements, see Section
II, D of this Statement of Additional Information.
K. Portfolio Turnover
The Fund's portfolio turnover rate is determined by dividing the lesser
of securities purchases or sales for a year by the monthly average value of
securities held by the Global Resources Fund (excluding, for purposes of this
determination, securities the maturities of which as of the time of their
acquisition were one year or less).
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Fiscal Year Ended June 30 Portfolio Turnover Rates
------------------------- ------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
2000 47.49%
1999 55.89%
</TABLE>
For more information on portfolio turnover, see Section II, H of this
Statement of Additional Information.
L. Brokerage Commissions
Brokerage commissions paid by the Fund in secondary trading were as
follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Fiscal Year Ended June 30 Brokerage Commissions Paid
------------------------- --------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
2000 $ 637,206
1999 $ 694,298
I, 3-8
<PAGE>
<S> <C> <C>
1998 $1,012,532
</TABLE>
During and at the end of its most recent fiscal year, the Fund did not
hold in its portfolio securities of any entity that might be deemed to be a
regular broker-dealer of the Fund, as defined under the 1940 Act.
For more information on brokerage commissions, see Section II, H of
this Statement of Additional Information.
M. Sales Charges on Shares
Front-end Sales Charges (Class A)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Retained by Distributor
After Reallowance of
Fixcal Year Ended June 30 Total Sales Charges Concessions to Dealers
------------------------- ------------------- ----------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
2000 $ 260,003 $ 30,726
1999 $ 708,240 $ 86,354
1998 $1,286,267 $157,465
</TABLE>
Contingent Deferred Sales Charges (Classes A, B(1), B and C)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Fiscal Year Ended Fiscal Year Ended Fiscal Year Ended
June 30, 2000 June 30, 1999 June 30, 1998
-------------------------------- -------------------------------- ------------------------------
Contingent Commissions Contingent Commissions Contingent Commissions
Deferred Paid to Deferred Paid to Deferred Paid to
Sales Charges Dealers Sales Charges Dealers Sales Charges Dealers
------------- ----------- -------------------------- ------------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Class A $ 0 $229,277 $ 0 $621,886 $ 0 $1,128,802
Class B(1)* $ 28,996 $170,702 $ 6,745 $ 80,897 $ N/A $ N/A
Class B $183,872 $ 4,736 $126,973 $590,634 $204,258 $2,179,718
Class C $ 8,323 $ 91,928 $ 7,664 $ 90,532 $ 16,639 $ 288,460
--------------
</TABLE>
*Class B(1) was introduced January 1, 1999.
For more information on sales charges, see Section II, J of this
Statement of Additional Information.
I, 3-9
<PAGE>
N. Rule 12b-1 Fees
The Fund has adopted plans of distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under
the 1940 Act ("Distribution Plan(s)"). Under the Distribution Plans, the Fund
may engage, directly or indirectly, in financing any activities primarily
intended to result in the sale of shares of the Fund. Under the Distribution
Plans, the Fund provides the Distributor with a service fee at an annual rate of
0.25% on the average daily net assets of Class A, Class B(1), Class B and Class
C shares. The Fund also provides a distribution fee at an annual rate of (i) up
to 0.15% on the average daily net assets of Class A shares, and (ii) 0.75% on
the average daily net assets of Class B(1), Class B and Class C shares. The
service and distribution fees are used to cover personal services and/or the
maintenance of shareholder accounts provided by the Distributor, brokers,
dealers, financial professionals or others, and sales, promotional and marketing
activities relating to the respective classes.
Under the Distribution Plan covering Class A, Class B and Class C
shares, the Fund's payments are intended to reimburse the Distributor for
expenditures incurred under the plan, and any unused payments are returnable to
the Fund.
Under the Distribution Plan covering Class B(1) shares, the Fund's
payments compensate the Distributor for services and expenditures incurred under
the plan, and none of the payments are returnable to the Fund.
During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2000, the Fund paid fees under
the Distribution Plan and fees were used as set forth below. The Distributor may
have also used additional resources of its own for further expenses.
I, 3-10
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Class A Class B(1) Class B Class C
------- ---------- ------- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Advertising $ 15,860 $ 7,376 $ 0 $ 16,398
Printing and mailing of prospectuses to 1,923 911 0 2,009
other than current shareholders
Compensation to dealers 36,970 14,030 465,943 115,784
Compensation to sales personnel 49,352 21,949 0 49,752
Interest 0 0 0 0
Carrying or other financing charges 0 0 0 0
Other expenses: marketing; general 42,326 18,166 24,857 41,004
-------- -------- ---------- ----------
Fees to offset carryforwards* 0 0 0 0
-------- -------- ---------- ----------
Total Fees $146,431 $ 62,432 $ 490,800 $224,947
======== ======== ========== ==========
Unreimbursed expenses
Carried forward:
Amount $477,872 $183,893 $1,684,706 $1,081,656
-------- -------- ---------- ----------
% of net assets at year end 0.68% 2.14% 3.48% 4.64%
-------- -------- ---------- ----------
</TABLE>
*Net fees result from the timing of expenditures are used against expense
carryforwards.
For more information in Rule 12b-1 fees, see Section II, J of this
Statement of Additional Information.
I, 3-11
<PAGE>
O. Performance
All calculations of performance data in this section reflect voluntary
measurers, if any, by the Investment Manager or its affiliates to reduce fees or
expenses relating to the Fund.
Performance for Class B(1) shares reflect Class B performance through
December 31, 1998. Class B(1) shares were introduced on January 1, 1999.
Standard Total Return
----------------------
The average annual total return ("standard total return") of each class
of shares of the Fund was as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Ten Years Five Years One Year
Ended Ended Ended
June 30, 2000 June 30, 2000 June 30, 2000
------------- ------------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Class A 5.75% 9.94% 30.24%
Class B(1) 5.85% 10.10% 32.11%
Class B 5.86% 10.13% 32.05%
Class C 5.85% 10.39% 36.26%
Class S 6.61% 11.52% 38.46%
</TABLE>
Nonstandard Total Return
-------------------------
The nonstandard total return of each class of shares of the Global
Resources Fund for the six months ended June 30, 2000, without taking sales
charges into account, was as follows:
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Class A 47.15%
Class B(1) 46.62%
Class B 46.67%
Class C 46.67%
Class S 47.35%
</TABLE>
For more information about performance, see Section II, K of this
Statement of Additional Information.
I, 3-12
<PAGE>
4. STATE STREET RESEARCH ATHLETES FUND
The information in this part 4 of Section I relates only to
State Street Research Athletes Fund (the "Athletes Fund"). For
information on other Funds, see the Table of Contents.
A. The Fund
The Fund was organized in 1988 as a separate series of State
Street Research Equity Trust, a Massachusetts business trust (the
"Trust"). The Trust is an "open-end" management investment company as
defined in the 1940 Act. A "series" is a separate pool of assets of the
Trust which is separately managed and may have a different investment
objective and different investment policies from the objective and
policies of another series. The Trust currently is comprised of the
following series: State Street Research Alpha Fund, State Street Research
Argo Fund, State Street Research Global Resources Fund and State Street
Research Athletes Fund.
The Fund is a "diversified company" as those terms are defined in
the 1940 Act. Among other things, a diversified fund must, with respect
to 75% of its total assets, not invest more than 5% of its total assets
in any one issuer or invest in more than 10% of the outstanding voting
securities of an issuer.
Under the Trust's Master Trust Agreement, the Trustees may
reorganize, merge or liquidate the Fund without prior shareholder
approval.
B. Investment Objective
The investment objective of State Street Research Athletes Fund
is a fundamental policy and may only be changed by the affirmative vote
of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund.
C. Fundamental and Nonfundamental Restrictions
The Fund has adopted certain investment restrictions, and those
investment restrictions are either fundamental or not fundamental.
Fundamental restrictions may not be changed except by the affirmative
vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Athletes
Fund. Restrictions that are not fundamental may be changed by a vote of
the majority of the Trustees of the Trust.
The fundamental and nonfundamental policies of the Fund do not
apply to any matters involving the issuance of multiple classes of shares
of the Fund or the creation or use of structures (e.g. fund of funds,
master-feeder structure) allowing the Fund to invest any or all of its
assets in collective investment vehicles or allowing the Fund to serve as
such a collective investment vehicle for other funds, to the extent
permitted by law and regulatory authorities.
I, 4-1
<PAGE>
Fundamental Investment Restrictions.
It is the Fund's policy:
(1) not to purchase a security of any one issuer (other than
securities of other investment companies, and U.S. Government
securities as defined under the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended, and as interpreted from time to time by the
Securities and Exchange Commission) if such purchase would,
with respect to 75% of the Fund's total assets, cause more
than 5% of the Fund's total asset to be invested in the
securities of such issuer or cause more than 10% of the voting
securities of such issuer to be held by the Fund;
(2) not to issue senior securities, as defined in the 1940 Act,
except as permitted by that 1940 Act and the rules thereunder
or as permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
creation of general lines or security interests under industry
practices for transactions in portfolio assets are not deemed
to involve the issuance of senior securities);
(3) not to underwrite or participate in the marketing of
securities of other issuers, except (a) the Fund may, acting
alone or in syndicates or groups, purchase or otherwise
acquire securities of other issuers for investment, either
from the issuers or from persons in a control relationship
with the issuers or from underwriters of such securities, and
(b) to the extent that, in connection with the disposition of
the Athletes Fund's securities, the Athletes Fund may be a
selling shareholder in an offering or deemed to be an
underwriter under certain federal securities laws;
(4) not to purchase fee simple interest in real estate unless
acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other
instruments, although the Fund may purchase and sell other
interests in real estate including securities which are
secured by real estate, or securities of companies which make
real estate loans or own, or invest or deal in, real estate;
(5) not to invest in physical commodities or physical commodity
contracts or options in excess of 10% of the Fund's total
assets, except that investments in essentially financial items
or arrangements such as, but not limited to, swap
arrangements, hybrids, currencies, currency and other forward
contracts, delayed delivery and when-issued contracts, futures
contracts and options on futures contracts on securities,
securities indices, interest rates and currencies shall not be
deemed investments in commodities or commodities contracts;
(6) not to lend money directly to natural persons; however, the
Fund may lend portfolio securities and purchase bonds,
debentures, notes, bills and any other debt related
instruments or interests directly from the issuer thereof or
in the open market and may enter into repurchase transactions
collateralized by obligations of the U.S. Government or its
agencies and instrumentalities or other high quality
securities;
(7) not to make any investment which would cause more than 25% of
the value of the Fund's total assets to be invested in
securities of issuers principally engaged in any
I, 4-2
<PAGE>
one industry, except securities issued or guaranteed by the
U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities or
mixed-ownership Government Corporations or sponsored
enterprises, as described in the Fund's Prospectus or
Statement of Additional Information as amended from time to
time; and
(8) not to borrow money, including reverse repurchase agreements
in so far as such agreements may be regarded as borrowings,
except for borrowings not in an amount in excess of 33 1/3% of
the value of its total assets.
Nonfundamental Investment Restrictions.
It is the Fund's policy:
(1) not to purchase any security or enter into a repurchase
agreement if as a result more than 15% of its net assets would
be invested in securities that are illiquid (including
repurchase agreements not entitling the holder to payment of
principal and interest within seven days);
(2) not to engage in transactions in options except in connection
with options on securities, securities indices, currencies and
interest rates, and options on futures on securities,
securities indices, currencies and interest rates;
(3) not to purchase securities on margin or make short sales of
securities or maintain a short position except for short sales
"against the box" (for the purpose of this restriction, escrow
or custodian receipts or letters, margin or safekeeping
accounts or similar arrangements used in the industry in
connection with the trading of futures, options and forward
commitments are not deemed to involve the use of margin); and
(4) not to purchase a security issued by another investment
company, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act or
except by purchases in the open market involving only
customary brokers' commissions, or securities acquired as
dividends or distributions or in connection with a merger,
consolidation or similar transaction or other exchange.
D. Restricted Securities
It is the Fund's policy not to make an investment in restricted
securities, including Rule 144A Securities, if, as a result, more than 35% of
the Fund's total assets are invested in restricted securities, provided not more
than 10% of the Fund's total assets are invested in restricted securities other
than Rule 144A Securities.
E.Foreign Investments
The Fund reserves the right to invest without limitation in securities
of non-U.S. issuers directly, or indirectly in the form of American Depository
Receipts ("ADRs"), European Depository Receipts ("EDRs") and Global Depository
Receipts ("GDRs"). Under current policy, however, the Fund limits such
investments, including ADRs, EDRs and GDRs, to a maximum of 35% of its total
assets
I, 4-3
<PAGE>
F. Industry Classifications
In determining how much of the portfolio is invested in a given industry,
the following industry classifications are currently used. Industry
classifications are subject to change from time to time. Securities issued or
guaranteed as to principal or interest by the U.S. Government or its agencies or
instrumentalities or mixed-ownership Government corporations or sponsored
enterprises (including repurchase agreements involving U.S. Government
securities to the extent excludable under relevant regulatory interpretations)
are excluded. Securities issued by foreign governments are also excluded.
Companies engaged in the business of financing may be classified according to
the industries of their parent or sponsor companies or industries that otherwise
most affect such financing companies. Issuers of asset-backed pools will be
classified as separate industries based on the nature of the underlying assets,
such as mortgages and credit card receivables. "Asset-backed-Mortgages" includes
private pools of nongovernment backed mortgages.
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Autos & Transportation Consumer Discretionary Consumer Staples
---------------------- ---------------------- ----------------
Air Transport Advertising Agencies Beverages
Auto Parts Casino/Gambling, Drug & Grocery Store
Automobiles Hotel/Motel Chains
Miscellaneous Commercial Services Foods
Transportation Communications, Media & Household Products
Railroad Equipment Entertainment Tobacco
Railroads Consumer Electronics
Recreational Vehicles & Consumer Products Financial Services
Boats Consumer Services ------------------
Tires & Rubber Household Furnishings Banks & Savings and Loans
Truckers Leisure Time Financial Data Processing
Photography Services & Systems
Printing & Publishing Insurance
Restaurants Miscellaneous Financial
Retail Real Estate Investment
Shoes Trusts
Textile Apparel Rental & Leasing Services:
Manufacturers Commercial
Toys Securities Brokerage &
Services
Health Care
-----------
Drugs & Biotechnology
Health Care Facilities
Health Care Services
Hospital Supply
Service Miscellaneous
Integrated Oils Other Energy Technology
--------------- ------------ ----------
Oil: Integrated Domestic Gas Pipelines Communications Technology
Oil: Integrated International Miscellaneous Energy Computer Software
Offshore Drilling Computer Technology
Materials & Processing Oil and Gas Producers Electronics
---------------------- Oil Well Equipment & Electronics: Semi-
Agriculture
I, 4-4
<PAGE>
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Building & Construction Services Conductors/Components
Chemicals Miscellaneous Technology
Containers & Packaging Producer Durables
Diversified Manufacturing ----------------- Utilities
Engineering & Contracting Aerospace ---------
Services Electrical Equipment & Miscellaneous Utilities
Fertilizers Components Utilities: Cable TV & Radio
Forest Products Electronics: Industrial Utilities: Electrical
Gold & Precious Metals Homebuilding Utilities: Gas Distribution
Miscellaneous Material & Industrial Products Utilities:
Processing Machine Tools Telecommunications
Non-Ferrous Metals Machinery Utilities: Water
Office Supplies Miscellaneous Equipment
Paper and Forest Products Miscellaneous Producer
Real Estate & Construction Durables
Steel Office Furniture & Business
Textile Products Equipment
Pollution Control and
Other Environmental Services
----- Production Technology
Trust Certificates -- Equipment
Government Related Telecommunications
Lending Equipment
Asset-backed-Mortgages
Asset-backed Credit Card
Receivables
Miscellaneous
Multi-Sector Companies
</TABLE>
G. Control Persons and Principal Holders of Securities
Trustees and Officers
The Trustees and principal officers of State Street Research Equity Trust
as a group owned approximately 4.4% of the Athletes Fund's outstanding Class S
shares and owned no shares of the Fund's outstanding Class A, Class B, Class
B(1) or Class C shares. All information is as of September 30, 2000.
Other Persons
The following persons or entities were the record and/or beneficial
owners of the following approximate percentages of the Athletes Fund's
outstanding shares. All information is as of September 30, 2000.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Shareholder %
----------- -
<S> <C> <C>
Class A Turtle & Co. 13.6%
I, 4-5
<PAGE>
<S> <C> <C>
Metropolitan Life 51.3
V.A. Parker 5.6
Bear Stearns 5.3
Donaldson Lufkin Jenrette 5.5
Class B(1) Metropolitan Life 72.0
Merrill Lynch 8.7
CIBC World Markets Corp. 5.4
Class B Metropolitan Life 84.9
Class C Metropolitan Life 97.8
Class S Turtle & Co. 59.9
Metropolitan Life 23.5
</TABLE>
The full name and address of each of the above persons or entities are
as follows:
Turtle & Co.(b)(c)
P.O. Box 9427
Boston, MA 02209
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (a)
303 Perimeter Center, North
Suite 500
Atlanta, GA 30346
V.A. Parker
c/o State Street Research Service Center
One Financial Center
Boston, MA 02111
Bear Stearns Securities Corp. (b)
1 Metrotech Center North
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Donaldson Lufkin Jenrette (b)
P.O. Box 2052
Jersey City, NJ 07303
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
(for the sole benefit of its customers)
4800 Deerlake Drive East
Jacksonville, FL 32246
CIBC World Markets Corp.
P.O. Box 3484
Church Street Station
New York, NY 10008
I, 4-6
<PAGE>
-------------------------------
(a) Metropolitan Life Company, a New York Corporation, was the record
and/or beneficial owner, directly or indirectly through its
subsidiaries or affiliates of such shares.
(b) The Fund believes such entity does not have beneficial ownership of
such shares.
(c) Turtle & Co. is a nominee name for shares held in private advisory
accounts managed by the Investment Manager.
Ownership of 25% or more of a voting security is deemed "control" as
defined in the 1940 Act. So long as 25% of a class of shares is so owned, such
owners will be presumed to be in control of such class of shares for purposes of
voting on certain matters submitted to a vote of shareholders of that class.
I, 4-7
<PAGE>
H. Trustee Compensation
The Trustees of State Street Research Equity Trust were compensated as
follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Total Total Compensation
Compensation From All State
Aggregate From All Street Research Funds
Compensation State Street and Metropolitan
From Research Funds Series Fund, Inc.
Name of Trustee Athletes Fund(a) Paid to Trustees (b) Paid to Trustees (c)
--------------- ---------------- -------------------- --------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Bruce R. Bond $1,664 $55,495 $ 55,495
Richard S. Davis(d) $----- $------ $-------
Steven A. Garban $1,769 $80,150 $110,900
Dean O. Morton $1,852 $81,150 $108,900
Susan M. Phillips $1,189 $57,150 $ 57,150
Toby Rosenblatt $1,664 $67,900 $ 67,900
Michael S. Scott Morton $2,001 $82,250 $113,500
---------------
</TABLE>
(a) For the Athletes Fund's fiscal year ended June 30, 2000. The Fund does
not provide any pension or retirement benefits for the Trustees.
(b) Includes compensation on behalf of all series of 11 investment
companies for which the Investment Manager has served as sole
investment adviser. The figure in this column is for the 12 months
ended December 31, 1999.
(c) Includes compensation on behalf of all series of 11 investment
companies for which the Investment Manager has served as sole
investment adviser and all series of Metropolitan Series Fund, Inc. The
primary adviser to Metropolitan Series Fund, Inc. is Metropolitan Life
Insurance Company, which has retained State Street Research &
Management Company as sub-adviser to certain series of Metropolitan
Series Fund, Inc. The figure in this column includes compensation
relating to series of Metropolitan Series Fund, Inc. which are not
advised by State Street Research & Management Company. The figure is
for the 12 months ended December 31, 1999.
(d) Richard S. Davis was elected a Trustee of the Trust on November 1,
2000.
For more information on the Trustees and officers of State Street
Research Equity Trust, see Section II, C of this Statement of Additional
Information.
I, 4-8
<PAGE>
I. Investment Advisory Fee
The advisory fee payable monthly by the Athletes Fund to the Investment
Manager is computed as a percentage of the average of the value of the net
assets of the Athletes Fund as determined at the close of regular trading on the
NYSE on each day the NYSE is open for trading. The Distributor and its
affiliates have from time to time and in varying amounts voluntarily assumed
some portion of fees or expenses relating to the Athletes Fund.
The annual advisory fee rate is 0.65%.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Fees Waived
Advisory Fees Paid or Expenses Assumed
------------------- -----------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Fiscal year ended June 30, 2000 $153,361 $285,004
Fiscal year ended June 30, 1999 $88,232 $215,232
March 27, 1998 to June 30, 1998 $14,588 $82,369
</TABLE>
For more information on investment advisory arrangements, see Section
III, D of this Statement of Additional Information.
J. Portfolio Turnover
The Athletes Fund's portfolio turnover rate is determined by dividing
the lesser of securities purchases or sales for a year by the monthly average
value of securities held by the Athletes Fund (excluding, for purposes of this
determination, securities the maturities of which as of the time of their
acquisition were one year or less).
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Fiscal Year Ended June 30 Portfolio Turnover Rates
------------------------- ------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
2000 89.55%
1999 141.92%
</TABLE>
The Investment Manager believes the portfolio turnover rate for the
fiscal year ended June 30, 2000 was significantly lower than the previous year
because in the fiscal year ended June 30, 1999, the Investment Manager had taken
steps to reposition the portfolio in light of market volatility in the large cap
sector of the market that year.
For more information on portfolio turnover, see Section II, H of this
Statement of Additional Information.
K. Brokerage Commissions
Brokerage commissions paid by the Athletes Fund in secondary trading.
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Fiscal year ended June 30, 2000 $29,820
Fiscal year ended June 30, 1999 $32,836
March 27, 1998 to June 30, 1998 $ 7,404
</TABLE>
I, 4-9
<PAGE>
During and at the end of its most recent fiscal year, the Fund did not
hold in its portfolio securities of any entity that might be deemed to be a
regular broker-dealer of the Fund, as defined under the 1940 Act.
For more information on brokerage commissions, see Section II, H of
this Statement of Additional Information.
L. Sales Charges on Shares
Front-end Sales Charges (Class A)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Retained by Distributor
After Reallowance of
Total Sales Charges Concessions to Dealers
------------------- ---------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Fiscal year ended June 30, 2000 $14,998 $2,083
Fiscal year ended June 30, 1999 $ 831 $ 91
March 27, 1998 to June 30, 1998 $ 6,023 $ 920
</TABLE>
Contingent Deferred Sales Charges (Classes A, B(1), B and C)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Fiscal Year Ended Fiscal Year Ended Fiscal Year Ended
June 30, 2000 June 30, 1999 June 30, 1998
-------------------------------- -------------------------------- ------------------------------
Contingent Commissions Contingent Commissions Contingent Commissions
Deferred Paid to Deferred Paid to Deferred Paid to
Sales Charges Dealers Sales Charges Dealers Sales Charges Dealers
------------- ----------- -------------------------- ------------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Class A $ 0 $12,915 $0 $ 740 $ 0 $5,103
Class B(1)* $ 0 $ 6,042 $0 $ 426 $N/A $ N/A
Class B $92 $ 0 $5 $4,496 $ 0 $ 200
Class C $ 0 $ 0 $0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0
--------------
</TABLE>
*Class B(1) was introduced January 1, 1999.
For more information on sales charges, see Section II, J of this
Statement of Additional Information.
I, 4-10
<PAGE>
M. Rule 12b-1 Fees
The Fund has adopted Plans of Distribution Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under
the 1940 Act ("Distribution Plan(s)"). Under the Distribution Plans, the Fund
may engage, directly or indirectly, in financing any activities primarily
intended to result in the sale of shares of the Fund. Under the Distribution
Plans, the Fund provides the Distributor with a service fee at an annual rate of
0.25% on the average daily net assets of Class A, Class B(1), Class B and Class
C shares. The Fund also provides a distribution fee at an annual rate of (i) up
to 0.15% on the average daily net assets of Class A shares, and (ii) 0.75% on
the average daily net assets of Class B(1), Class B and Class C shares. The
service and distribution fees are used to cover personal services and/or the
maintenance of shareholder accounts provided by the Distributor, brokers,
dealers, financial professionals or others, and sales, promotional and marketing
activities relating to the respective classes.
Under the Distribution Plan covering Class A, Class B and Class C
shares, the Fund's payments are intended to reimburse the Distributor for
expenditures incurred under the plan, and any unused payments are returnable to
the Fund.
Under the Distribution Plan covering Class B(1) shares, the Fund's
payments compensate the Distributor for services and expenditures incurred under
the plan, and none of the payments are returnable to the Fund.
During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2000, the Athletes Fund paid the
Distributor fees under the Distribution Plans and the fees were used for
expenses incurred on behalf of the Athletes Fund as follows. The Distributor may
have also used additional resources of its own for further expenses on behalf of
the Athletes Fund.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Class A Class B(1) Class B Class C
------- ---------- ------- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Advertising $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0
Printing and mailing of prospectuses to 0 0 0 0
other than current shareholders
Compensation to dealers 314 408 6,961 56
Compensation to sales personnel 2,962 3,679 0 3,475
Interest 0 0 0 0
Carrying or other financing charges 0 0 0 0
Other expenses: marketing; general 3,407 4,255 18 4,004
--------- -------- -------- --------
Fees to offset carryforwards* 0 0 2,172 0
--------- -------- -------- --------
Total Fees $ 6,683 $ 8,342 $ 9,151 $ 7,535
========= ======== ======== ========
I, 4-11
<PAGE>
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Unreimbursed expenses
Carried forward:
Amount
$17,737 $21,712 $47,441 $74,778
% of net assets at year end
1.14% 2.40% 5.10% 9.30%
</TABLE>
*Net fees result from the timing of expenditures are used against expense
carryforwards.
For more information in Rule 12b-1 fees, see Section II, J of this
Statement of Additional Information.
N. Performance
All calculations of performance data in this section reflect voluntary
measurers, if any, by the Investment Manager or its affiliates to reduce fees or
expenses relating to the Athletes Fund.
Performance for Class B(1) shares reflect Class B performance through
December 31, 1998. Class B(1) shares were introduced on January 1, 1999.
Standard Total Return
----------------------
The average annual total return ("standard total return") of each class
of shares of the Fund was as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
One Year March 27, 1998
Ended (commencement of operations) to
June 30, 2000 June 30, 2000
------------- -------------
<S> <C> <C>
Class A 13.42% 19.82%
Class B(1) 14.46% 20.99%
Class B 14.57% 21.04%
Class C 18.44% 22.08%
Class S 20.62% 23.25%
</TABLE>
Nonstandard Total Return
-------------------------
The nonstandard total return of each class of shares of the Fund for
the six months ended June 30, 2000, without taking sales charges into account,
was as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C>
Class A -0.36%
Class B(1) -0.72%
Class B -0.72%
Class C -0.72%
Class S -0.27%
</TABLE>
For more information about performance, see Section II, K of this
Statement of Additional Information.
I, 4-12
<PAGE>
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
SECTION II
----------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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A. Additional Information Concerning Investment Restrictions,
Certain Risks and Investment Techniques...............................................II-1
B. Debt Instruments and Permitted Cash Investments.......................................II-13
C. The Trusts, the Trustees and Officers and Fund Shares.................................II-23
D. Investment Advisory Services..........................................................II-32
E. Purchase and Redemption of Shares.....................................................II-33
F. Shareholder Accounts..................................................................II-42
G. Net Asset Value.......................................................................II-46
H. Portfolio Transactions................................................................II-47
I. Certain Tax Matters...................................................................II-51
J. Distribution of Fund Shares...........................................................II-55
K. Calculation of Performance Data.......................................................II-58
L. Custodian.............................................................................II-61
M. Independent Accountants...............................................................II-62
N. Financial Reports.....................................................................II-62
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This Section II contains general information applicable to the fund(s)
identified on the cover page of this Statement of Additional Information. (If
more than one Fund is identified, each is referred to as "the Fund.")
A. Additional Information Concerning Investment Restrictions, Certain
Risks and Investment Techniques
The Fund follows certain fundamental and nonfundamental investment
restrictions. The fundamental and nonfundamental investment restrictions for the
Fund identified on the cover page of this Statement of Additional Information
are included in Section I of this Statement of Additional Information.
In addition, the Fund may invest in the following instruments, use the
following investment techniques or be exposed to the following investment risks.
Please note that not all of the instruments, techniques and risks described in
this part apply uniformly to the Funds identified on the cover page of this
Statement of Additional Information. The extent to which a Fund may engage in
the following practices depends on its investment strategy and any limitations
set forth in its Prospectus or in Section I of its Statement of Additional
Information. Some practices are more applicable to equity investments and would
be used more by Funds with substantial equity portions. For example, American
Depository Receipts ("ADRs") generally involve the stocks of foreign issuers and
are used more by Funds which invest in foreign securities. Similarly, some
practices are more applicable to debt securities and would be used more in Funds
with substantial debt positions, for example, techniques to
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manage the interest rate volatility of bonds. However, since the Fund generally
reserves the flexibility to invest to some degree in ways which are outside
their primary focus, it is possible for the Fund to engage in all the described
practices.
Derivatives
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The Fund may buy and sell certain types of derivatives, such as
options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, and swaps under
circumstances in which such instruments are expected by the Investment Manager
to aid in achieving the Fund's investment objective. The Fund may also purchase
instruments with characteristics of both futures and securities (e.g., debt
instruments with interest and principal payments determined by reference to the
value of a commodity or a currency at a future time) and which, therefore,
possess the risks of both futures and securities investments.
Derivatives, such as options, futures contracts, options on futures
contracts, and swaps enable the Fund to take both "short" positions (positions
which anticipate a decline in the market value of a particular asset or index)
and "long" positions (positions which anticipate an increase in the market value
of a particular asset or index). The Fund may also use strategies which involve
simultaneous short and long positions in response to specific market conditions,
such as where the Investment Manager anticipates unusually high or low market
volatility.
The Investment Manager may enter into derivative positions for the Fund
for either hedging or non-hedging purposes. The term hedging is applied to
defensive strategies designed to protect the Fund from an expected decline in
the market value of an asset or group of assets that the Fund owns (in the case
of a short hedge) or to protect the Fund from an expected rise in the market
value of an asset or group of assets which it intends to acquire in the future
(in the case of a long or "anticipatory" hedge). Non-hedging strategies include
strategies designed to produce incremental income (such as the option writing
strategy described below) or "speculative" strategies which are undertaken to
profit from (i) an expected decline in the market value of an asset or group of
assets which the Fund does not own or (ii) expected increases in the market
value of an asset which it does not plan to acquire. Information about specific
types of instruments is provided below.
Futures Contracts.
Futures contracts are publicly traded contracts to buy or sell an
underlying asset or group of assets, such as a currency or an index of
securities, at a future time at a specified price. A contract to buy establishes
a long position while a contract to sell establishes a short position.
The purchase of a futures contract on an equity security or an index of
equity securities normally enables a buyer to participate in the market movement
of the underlying asset or index after paying a transaction charge and posting
margin in an amount equal to a small percentage of the value of the underlying
asset or index. The Fund will initially be required to
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deposit with the Trust's custodian or the broker effecting the futures
transaction an amount of "initial margin" in cash or securities, as permitted
under applicable regulatory policies.
Initial margin in futures transactions is different from margin in
securities transactions in that the former does not involve the borrowing of
funds by the customer to finance the transaction. Rather, the initial margin is
like a performance bond or good faith deposit on the contract. Subsequent
payments (called "maintenance margin") to and from the broker will be made on a
daily basis as the price of the underlying asset fluctuates. This process is
known as "marking to market." For example, when the Fund has taken a long
position in a futures contract and the value of the underlying asset has risen,
that position will have increased in value and the Fund will receive from the
broker a maintenance margin payment equal to the increase in value of the
underlying asset. Conversely, when the Fund has taken a long position in a
futures contract and the value of the underlying instrument has declined, the
position would be less valuable, and the Fund would be required to make a
maintenance margin payment to the broker.
At any time prior to expiration of the futures contract, the Fund may
elect to close the position by taking an opposite position which will terminate
the Fund's position in the futures contract. A final determination of
maintenance margin is then made, additional cash is required to be paid by or
released to the Fund, and the Fund realizes a loss or a gain. While futures
contracts with respect to securities do provide for the delivery and acceptance
of such securities, such delivery and acceptance are seldom made.
In transactions establishing a long position in a futures contract,
assets equal to the face value of the futures contract will be identified by the
Fund to the Trust's custodian for maintenance in a separate account to insure
that the use of such futures contracts is unleveraged. Similarly, assets having
a value equal to the aggregate face value of the futures contract will be
identified with respect to each short position. The Fund will utilize such
assets and methods of cover as appropriate under applicable exchange and
regulatory policies.
Options.
The Fund may use options to implement its investment strategy. There
are two basic types of options: "puts" and "calls." Each type of option can
establish either a long or a short position, depending upon whether the Fund is
the purchaser or the writer of the option. A call option on a security, for
example, gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy, and the writer the
obligation to sell, the underlying asset at the exercise price during the option
period. Conversely, a put option on a security gives the purchaser the right to
sell, and the writer the obligation to buy, the underlying asset at the exercise
price during the option period.
Purchased options have defined risk, that is, the premium paid for the
option, no matter how adversely the price of the underlying asset moves, while
affording an opportunity for gain corresponding to the increase or decrease in
the value of the optioned asset. In general, a
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purchased put increases in value as the value of the underlying security falls
and a purchased call increases in value as the value of the underlying security
rises.
The principal reason to write options is to generate extra income (the
premium paid by the buyer). Written options have varying degrees of risk. An
uncovered written call option theoretically carries unlimited risk, as the
market price of the underlying asset could rise far above the exercise price
before its expiration. This risk is tempered when the call option is covered,
that is, when the option writer owns the underlying asset. In this case, the
writer runs the risk of the lost opportunity to participate in the appreciation
in value of the asset rather than the risk of an out-of-pocket loss. A written
put option has defined risk, that is, the difference between the agreed upon
price that the Fund must pay to the buyer upon exercise of the put and the
value, which could be zero, of the asset at the time of exercise.
The obligation of the writer of an option continues until the writer
effects a closing purchase transaction or until the option expires. To secure
its obligation to deliver the underlying asset in the case of a call option, or
to pay for the underlying asset in the case of a put option, a covered writer is
required to deposit in escrow the underlying security or other assets in
accordance with the rules of the applicable clearing corporation and exchanges.
Among the options which the Fund may enter are options on securities
indices. In general, options on indices of securities are similar to options on
the securities themselves except that delivery requirements are different. For
example, a put option on an index of securities does not give the holder the
right to make actual delivery of a basket of securities but instead gives the
holder the right to receive an amount of cash upon exercise of the option if the
value of the underlying index has fallen below the exercise price. The amount of
cash received will be equal to the difference between the closing price of the
index and the exercise price of the option expressed in dollars times a
specified multiple. As with options on equity securities or futures contracts,
the Fund may offset its position in index options prior to expiration by
entering into a closing transaction on an exchange or it may let the option
expire unexercised.
A securities index assigns relative values to the securities included
in the index and the index options are based on a broad market index. In
connection with the use of such options, the Fund may cover its position by
identifying assets having a value equal to the aggregate face value of the
option position taken.
Options on Futures Contracts.
An option on a futures contract gives the purchaser the right, in
return for the premium paid, to assume a position in a futures contract (a long
position if the option is a call and a short position if the option is a put) at
a specified exercise price at any time during the period of the option.
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Limitations and Risks of Options and Futures Activity.
The Fund may not establish a position in a commodity futures contract
or purchase or sell a commodity option contract for other than bona fide hedging
purposes if immediately thereafter the sum of the amount of initial margin
deposits and premiums required to establish such positions for such non-hedging
purposes would exceed 5% of the market value of the Fund's net assets. The Fund
applies a similar policy to options that are not commodities.
As noted above, the Fund may engage in both hedging and nonhedging
strategies. Although effective hedging can generally capture the bulk of a
desired risk adjustment, no hedge is completely effective. The Fund's ability to
hedge effectively through transactions in futures and options depends on the
degree to which price movements in its holdings correlate with price movements
of the futures and options.
Non-hedging strategies typically involve special risks. The
profitability of the Fund's non-hedging strategies will depend on the ability of
the Investment Manager to analyze both the applicable derivatives market and the
market for the underlying asset or group of assets. Derivatives markets are
often more volatile than corresponding securities markets and a relatively small
change in the price of the underlying asset or group of assets can have a
magnified effect upon the price of a related derivative instrument.
Derivatives markets also are often less liquid than the market for the
underlying asset or group of assets. Some positions in futures and options may
be closed out only on an exchange which provides a secondary market therefor.
There can be no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for any
particular futures contract or option at any specific time. Thus, it may not be
possible to close such an option or futures position prior to maturity. The
inability to close options and futures positions also could have an adverse
impact on the Fund's ability to effectively carry out their derivative
strategies and might, in some cases, require a Fund to deposit cash to meet
applicable margin requirements. The Fund will enter into an option or futures
position only if it appears to be a liquid investment.
Short Sales Against the Box
----------------------------
The Fund may effect short sales, but only if such transactions are
short sale transactions known as short sales "against the box." A short sale is
a transaction in which the Fund sells a security it does not own by borrowing it
from a broker, and consequently becomes obligated to replace that security. A
short sale against the box is a short sale where the Fund owns the security sold
short or has an immediate and unconditional right to acquire that security
without additional cash consideration upon conversion, exercise or exchange of
options with respect to securities held in its portfolio. The effect of selling
a security short against the box is to insulate that security against any future
gain or loss.
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Swap Arrangements
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The Fund may enter into various forms of swap arrangements with
counterparties with respect to interest rates, currency rates or indices,
including purchase of caps, floors and collars as described below. In an
interest rate swap, the Fund could agree for a specified period to pay a bank or
investment banker the floating rate of interest on a so-called notional
principal amount (i.e., an assumed figure selected by the parties for this
purpose) in exchange for agreement by the bank or investment banker to pay the
Fund a fixed rate of interest on the notional principal amount. In a currency
swap, the Fund would agree with the other party to exchange cash flows based on
the relative differences in values of a notional amount of two (or more)
currencies; in an index swap, the Fund would agree to exchange cash flows on a
notional amount based on changes in the values of the selected indices. Purchase
of a cap entitles the purchaser to receive payments from the seller on a
notional amount to the extent that the selected index exceeds an agreed upon
interest rate or amount whereas purchase of a floor entitles the purchaser to
receive such payments to the extent the selected index falls below an
agreed-upon interest rate or amount. A collar combines a cap and a floor.
The Fund may enter credit protection swap arrangements involving the
sale by the Fund of a put option on a debt security which is exercisable by the
buyer upon certain events, such as a default by the referenced creditor on the
underlying debt or a bankruptcy event of the creditor.
Most swaps entered into by the Fund will be on a net basis; for
example, in an interest rate swap, amounts generated by application of the fixed
rate and the floating rate to the notional principal amount would first offset
one another, with the Fund either receiving or paying the difference between
such amounts. In order to be in a position to meet any obligations resulting
from swaps, the Fund will set up a segregated custodial account to hold
appropriate liquid assets, including cash; for swaps entered into on a net
basis, assets will be segregated having a daily net asset value equal to any
excess of the Fund's accrued obligations over the accrued obligations of the
other party, while for swaps on other than a net basis assets will be segregated
having a value equal to the total amount of the Fund's obligations.
These arrangements will be made primarily for hedging purposes, to
preserve the return on an investment or on a portion of the Fund's portfolio.
However, the Fund may, as noted above, enter into such arrangements for income
purposes to the extent permitted by the Commodities Futures Trading Commission
(the "CFTC") for entities which are not commodity pool operators, such as the
Fund. In entering a swap arrangement, the Fund is dependent upon the
creditworthiness and good faith of the counterparty. The Fund attempts to reduce
the risks of nonperformance by the counterparty by dealing only with
established, reputable institutions. The swap market is still relatively new and
emerging; positions in swap arrangements may become illiquid to the extent that
nonstandard arrangements with one counterparty are not readily transferable to
another counterparty or if a market for the transfer of swap positions does not
develop. The use of interest rate swaps is a highly specialized activity which
involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with
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ordinary portfolio securities transactions. If the Investment Manager is
incorrect in its forecasts of market values, interest rates and other applicable
factors, the investment performance of the Fund would diminish compared with
what it would have been if these investment techniques were not used. Moreover,
even if the Investment Manager is correct in its forecasts, there is a risk that
the swap position may correlate imperfectly with the price of the asset or
liability being hedged.
Repurchase Agreements
-----------------------
The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements. Repurchase agreements
occur when the Fund acquires a security and the seller, which may be either (i)
a primary dealer in U.S. Government securities or (ii) an FDIC-insured bank
having gross assets in excess of $500 million, simultaneously commits to
repurchase it at an agreed-upon price on an agreed-upon date within a specified
number of days (usually not more than seven) from the date of purchase. The
repurchase price reflects the purchase price plus an agreed-upon market rate of
interest which is unrelated to the coupon rate or maturity of the acquired
security. The Fund will only enter into repurchase agreements involving U.S.
Government securities. Repurchase agreements could involve certain risks in the
event of default or insolvency of the other party, including possible delays or
restrictions upon the Fund's ability to dispose of the underlying securities.
Repurchase agreements will be limited to 30% of the Fund's net assets, except
that repurchase agreements extending for more than seven days when combined with
any other illiquid securities held by the Fund will be limited to 15% of the
Fund's net assets. To the extent excludable under relevant regulatory
interpretations, repurchase agreements involving U.S. Government securities are
not subject to the limitations on the Fund's total assets which may be invested
in one issuer or industry.
Reverse Repurchase Agreements
---------------------------
The Fund may enter into reverse repurchase agreements. In a reverse
repurchase agreement the Fund transfers possession of a portfolio instrument to
another person, such as a financial institution, broker or dealer, in return for
a percentage of the instrument's market value in cash, and agrees that on a
stipulated date in the future the Fund will repurchase the portfolio instrument
by remitting the original consideration plus interest at an agreed-upon rate.
The ability to use reverse repurchase agreements may enable, but does not ensure
the ability of, the Fund to avoid selling portfolio instruments at a time when a
sale may be deemed to be disadvantageous.
When effecting reverse repurchase agreements, assets of the Fund in a
dollar amount sufficient to make payment of the obligations to be purchased are
segregated on the Fund's records at the trade date and maintained until the
transaction is settled.
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When-Issued Securities
-----------------------
The Fund may purchase "when-issued" securities, which are traded on a
price or yield basis prior to actual issuance. Such purchases will be made only
to achieve the Fund's investment objective and not for leverage. The when-issued
trading period generally lasts from a few days to months, or over a year or
more; during this period dividends or interest on the securities are not
payable. A frequent form of when-issued trading occurs in the U.S. Treasury
market when dealers begin to trade a new issue of bonds or notes shortly after a
Treasury financing is announced, but prior to the actual sale of the securities.
Similarly, securities to be created by a merger of companies may also be traded
prior to the actual consummation of the merger. Such transactions may involve a
risk of loss if the value of the securities falls below the price committed to
prior to actual issuance. The custodian holding Fund assets will establish a
segregated account when the Fund purchases securities on a when-issued basis
consisting of cash or liquid securities equal to the amount of the when-issued
commitments. Securities transactions involving delayed deliveries or forward
commitments are frequently characterized as when-issued transactions and are
similarly treated by the Fund.
Restricted Securities
----------------------
The Fund may invest in restricted securities, including restricted
securities sold in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933
("Rule 144A Securities"). Securities may be resold pursuant to Rule 144A under
certain circumstances only to qualified institutional buyers as defined in the
rule, and the markets and trading practices for such securities are relatively
new and still developing; depending on the development of such markets, Rule
144A Securities may be deemed to be liquid as determined by or in accordance
with methods adopted by the Trustees for the Fund. Under such methods the
following factors are considered, among others: the frequency of trades and
quotes for the security, the number of dealers and potential purchasers in the
market, market making activity, and the nature of the security and marketplace
trades. Investments in Rule 144A Securities could have the effect of increasing
the level of the Fund's illiquidity to the extent that qualified institutional
buyers become, for a time, uninterested in purchasing such securities. Also, the
Fund may be adversely impacted by the subjective valuation of such securities in
the absence of a market for them. Restricted securities that are not resalable
under Rule 144A may be subject to risks of illiquidity and subjective valuations
to a greater degree than Rule 144A Securities.
Mortgage-Related Securities
----------------------------
The Fund may invest in mortgage-related securities. Mortgage-related
securities represent interests in pools of commercial or residential mortgage
loans. Some mortgage-related securities provide the Fund with a flow-through of
interest and principal payments as such payments are received with respect to
the mortgages in the pool. Mortgage-related securities may
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be issued by private entities such as investment banking firms, insurance
companies, mortgage bankers and home builders. Mortgage-related securities may
be issued by U.S. Government agencies, instrumentalities or mixed-ownership
corporations or sponsored enterprises, and the securities may or may not be
supported by the credit of such entities. An issuer may offer senior or
subordinated securities backed by the same pool of mortgages. The senior
securities have priority to the interest and/or principal payments on the
mortgages in the pool; the subordinate securities have a lower priority with
respect to such payments on the mortgages in the pool. The Fund does not
presently expect to invest in mortgage pool residuals.
Mortgage-related securities also include stripped securities which have
been divided into separate interest and principal components. Holders of the
interest components of mortgage related securities will receive payments of the
interest only on the current face amount of the mortgages and holders of the
principal components will receive payments of the principal on the mortgages.
"Interest only" securities are known as IOs; "principal only" securities are
known as POs.
In the case of mortgage-related securities, the possibility of
prepayment of the underlying mortgages which might be motivated, for instance,
by declining interest rates, could lessen the potential for total return in
mortgage-related securities. When prepayments of mortgages occur during periods
of declining interest rates, the Fund will have to reinvest the proceeds in
instruments with lower effective interest rates.
In the case of stripped securities, in periods of low interest rates
and rapid mortgage prepayments, the value of IOs for mortgage-related securities
can decrease significantly. The market for IOs and POs is new and there is no
assurance it will operate efficiently or provide liquidity in the future.
Stripped securities are extremely volatile in certain interest rate
environments.
Asset-Backed Securities
-----------------------
The Fund may invest in asset-backed, which are securities that
represent interests in pools of consumer loans such as credit card receivables,
automobile loans and leases, leases on equipment such as computers, and other
financial instruments. These securities provide a flow-through of interest and
principal payments as payments are received on the loans or leases and may be
supported by letters of credit or similar guarantees of payment by a financial
institution.
Foreign Investments
--------------------
The Fund may invest in securities of non-U.S. issuers directly, or
indirectly in the form of American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs"), European
Depositary Receipts ("EDRs") and Global Depositary Receipts ("GDRs").
ADRs are receipts, typically issued by a U.S. bank or trust company,
which evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by a foreign
corporation or other entity. EDRs are
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receipts issued in Europe which evidence a similar ownership arrangement. GDRs
are receipts issued in one country which also evidence a similar ownership
arrangement. Generally, ADRs in registered form are designed for use in U.S.
securities markets and EDRs are designed for use in European securities markets.
GDRs are designed for use when the issuer is raising capital in more than one
market simultaneously, such as the issuer's local market and the U.S., and have
been used to overcome local selling restrictions to foreign investors. In
addition, many GDRs are eligible for book-entry settlement through Cedel,
Euroclear and DTC. The underlying securities are not always denominated in the
same currency as the ADRs, EDRs or GDRs. Although investment in the form of
ADRs, EDRs or GDRs facilitates trading in foreign securities, it does not
mitigate all the risks associated with investing in foreign securities.
ADRs are available through facilities which may be either "sponsored"
or "unsponsored." In a sponsored arrangement, the foreign issuer establishes the
facility, pays some or all of the depository's fees, and usually agrees to
provide shareholder communications. In an unsponsored arrangement, the foreign
issuer is not involved, and the ADR holders pay the fees of the depository.
Sponsored ADRs are generally more advantageous to the ADR holders and the issuer
than are unsponsored ADRs. More and higher fees are generally charged in an
unsponsored program compared to a sponsored facility. Only sponsored ADRs may be
listed on the New York or American Stock Exchanges. Unsponsored ADRs may prove
to be more risky due to (a) the additional costs involved to the Fund; (b) the
relative illiquidity of the issue in U.S. markets; and (c) the possibility of
higher trading costs in the over-the-counter market as opposed to exchange based
trading. The Fund will take these and other risk considerations into account
before making an investment in an unsponsored ADR.
The risks associated with investments in foreign securities include
those resulting from fluctuations in currency exchange rates, revaluation of
currencies, future political and economic developments, including the risks of
nationalization or expropriation, the possible imposition of currency exchange
blockages, higher operating expenses, foreign withholding and other taxes which
may reduce investment return, reduced availability of public information
concerning issuers, the difficulties in obtaining and enforcing a judgment
against a foreign issuer and the fact that foreign issuers are not generally
subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards or to
other regulatory practices and requirements comparable to those applicable to
domestic issuers. Moreover, securities of many foreign issuers may be less
liquid and their prices more volatile than those of securities of comparable
domestic issuers.
These risks are usually higher in less-developed countries. Such
countries include countries that have an emerging stock market on which trade a
small number of securities and/or countries with economies that are based on
only a few industries. The Fund may invest in the securities of issuers in
countries with less developed economies as deemed appropriate by the Investment
Manager. However, it is anticipated that a majority of the foreign
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investments by the Fund will consist of securities of issuers in countries with
developed economies.
Currency Transactions
----------------------
The Fund may engage in currency exchange transactions in order to
protect against the effect of uncertain future exchange rates on securities
denominated in foreign currencies. The Fund will conduct its currency exchange
transactions either on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the rate prevailing in the
currency exchange market, or by entering into forward contracts to purchase or
sell currencies. The Fund's dealings in forward currency exchange contracts will
be limited to hedging involving either specific transactions or aggregate
portfolio positions. A forward currency contract involves an obligation to
purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed
number of days from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a
price set at the time of the contract. These contracts are not commodities and
are entered into in the interbank market conducted directly between currency
traders (usually large commercial banks) and their customers. In entering a
forward currency contract, the Fund is dependent upon the creditworthiness and
good faith of the counterparty. The Fund attempts to reduce the risks of
nonperformance by the counterparty by dealing only with established, reputable
institutions. Although spot and forward contracts will be used primarily to
protect the Fund from adverse currency movements, they also involve the risk
that anticipated currency movements will not be accurately predicted, which may
result in losses to the Fund. This method of protecting the value of the Fund's
portfolio securities against a decline in the value of a currency does not
eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the securities. It simply
establishes a rate of exchange that can be achieved at some future point in
time. Although such contracts tend to minimize the risk of loss due to a decline
in the value of hedged currency, they tend to limit any potential gain that
might result should the value of such currency increase.
Indexed Securities
-------------------
The Fund may purchase securities the value of which is indexed to
interest rates, foreign currencies and various indices and financial
indications. These securities are generally short- to intermediate-term debt
securities. The interest rates or values at maturity fluctuate with the index to
which they are connected and may be more volatile than such index.
Securities Lending
-------------------
The Fund may receive a lending fee and may lend portfolio securities
with a value of up to 33 1/3% of its total assets. The Fund will receive cash or
cash equivalents (e.g., U.S. Government obligations) as collateral in an amount
equal to at least 100% of the current market value of any loaned securities plus
accrued interest. Collateral received by the Fund will generally be held in the
form tendered, although cash may be invested in unaffiliated mutual funds with
quality short-term portfolios, securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S.
Government or its agencies or instrumentalities or certain unaffiliated mutual
funds,
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repurchase agreements or other similar investments. The investing of cash
collateral received from loaning portfolio securities involves leverage which
magnifies the potential for gain or loss on monies invested and, therefore,
results in an increase in the volatility of the Fund's outstanding securities.
Such loans may be terminated at any time.
The Fund will retain rights to dividends, interest or other
distributions, on the loaned securities. Voting rights pass with the lending,
although the Fund may call loans to vote proxies if desired. Should the borrower
of the securities fail financially, there is a risk of delay in recovery of the
securities or loss of rights in the collateral. Loans are made only to borrowers
which are deemed by the Investment Manager or its agents to be of good financial
standing.
Short-Term Trading
-------------------
The Fund may engage in short-term trading of securities and reserves
full freedom with respect to portfolio turnover. In periods where there are
rapid changes in economic conditions and security price levels or when
reinvestment strategy changes significantly, portfolio turnover may be higher
than during times of economic and market price stability or when investment
strategy remains relatively constant. The Fund's portfolio turnover rate may
involve greater transaction costs, relative to other funds in general, and may
have tax and other consequences.
Temporary and Defensive Investments
-------------------------------------
The Fund may hold up to 100% of its assets in cash or high-quality debt
securities for temporary defensive purposes. The Fund will adopt a temporary
defensive position when, in the opinion of the Investment Manager, such a
position is more likely to provide protection against adverse market conditions
than adherence to the Fund's other investment policies. The types of
high-quality instruments in which the Fund may invest for such purposes include
money market securities, such as repurchase agreements, and securities issued or
guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities,
certificates of deposit, time deposits and bankers' acceptances of certain
qualified financial institutions and corporate commercial paper, which at the
time of purchase are rated at least within the "A" major rating category by
Standard & Poor's Corporation ("S&P") or the "Prime" major rating category by
Moody's Investor's Service, Inc. ("Moody's"), or, if not rated, issued by
companies having an outstanding long-term unsecured debt issued rated at least
within the "A" category by S&P or Moody's.
Other Investment Companies
------------------------------
The Fund may invest in securities of other investment companies,
including affiliated investment companies, such as open- or closed-end
management investment companies, hub and spoke (master/feeder) funds, pooled
accounts or other similar, collective investment vehicles. As a shareholder of
an investment company, the Fund may indirectly bear service
II-12
<PAGE>
and other fees in addition to the fees the Fund pays its service providers.
Similarly, other investment companies may invest in the Fund. Other investment
companies that invest in the Fund may hold significant portions of the Fund and
materially affect the sale and redemption of Fund shares and the Fund's
portfolio transactions.
The Fund may invest in investment companies issuing shares which are
traded like traditional equity securities on a national stock exchange or the
NASDAQ National Market System. Many exchange-traded securities represent
ownership in a trust that has been established to accumulate and hold a
portfolio of securities that is intended to track the performance of a
securities market index. Certain indices tracked by exchange-traded funds are
highly concentrated in one or a few industries or individual securities, and
thus, may have higher price volatility than many broad-based stock indices. With
most new exchange-traded funds, there is a risk that the overall liquidity of
the secondary market for shares of those funds may fluctuate and the shares
become illiquid.
B. Debt Instruments and Permitted Cash Investments
The Fund may invest in long-term and short-term debt securities.
Certain debt securities and money market instruments in which the Fund may
invest are described below.
Managing Volatility
--------------------
In administering the Fund's investments, the Investment Manager
attempts to manage the volatility of the Fund's portfolio of debt securities by
managing the duration and weighted average maturity of those securities.
Duration is an indicator of the expected volatility of a bond
portfolio's net asset value in response to changes in interest rates. In
calculating duration, the fund measures the average time required to receive all
cash flows associated with those debt securities -- representing payments of
principal and interest -- by considering the timing, frequency and amount of
payment expected from each portfolio debt security. The higher the duration, the
greater the gains and losses when interest rates change. Duration generally is a
more accurate measure of potential volatility with a portfolio composed of
high-quality debt securities, such as U.S. government securities, municipal
securities and high-grade U.S. corporate bonds, than with lower-grade
securities.
The Investment Manager may use several methods to manage the duration
of the Fund's portfolio of debt securities in order to increase or decrease its
exposure to changes in interest rates. First, the Investment Manager may adjust
duration by adjusting the mix of debt securities held by the Fund. For example,
if the Investment Manager intends to shorten duration, it may sell debt
instruments that individually have a long duration and purchase other debt
instruments that individually have a shorter duration. Among the factors that
will affect a debt security's duration are the length of time to maturity, the
timing of interest and principal payments, and whether the terms of the security
give the issuer of the security the right to call
II-13
<PAGE>
the security prior to maturity. Second, the Investment Manager may adjust
duration using derivative transactions, especially with interest rate futures
and options contracts. For example, if the Investment Manager wants to lengthen
the duration of a Fund's portfolio of debt securities, it could purchase
interest rate futures contracts instead of buying longer-term bonds or selling
shorter-term bonds. Similarly, during periods of lower interest rate volatility,
the Investment Manager may use a technique to extend duration in the event rates
rise by writing an out-of-the-money put option and receiving premium income with
the expectation that the option could be exercised. In managing duration, the
use of such derivatives may be faster and more efficient than trading specific
portfolio securities.
Weighted average maturity is another indicator of potential volatility
used by the Investment Manager with respect to the Fund's portfolio of debt
securities, although for certain types of debt securities, such as high quality
debt securities, it is not as accurate as duration in quantifying potential
volatility. Weighted average maturity is the average of all maturities of the
individual debt securities held by the Fund, weighted by the market value of
each security. Generally, the longer the weighted average maturity, the more
Fund price will vary in response to changes in interest rates.
U.S. Government and Related Securities
-----------------------------------------
U.S. Government securities are securities which are issued or
guaranteed as to principal or interest by the U.S. Government, a U.S.
Government agency or instrumentality, or certain mixed-ownership Government
corporations as described herein. The U.S. Government securities in which
the Fund invests include, among others:
1. direct obligations of the U.S. Treasury, i.e., U.S. Treasury
bills, notes, certificates and bonds;
2. obligations of U.S. Government agencies or instrumentalities
such as the Federal Home Loan Banks, the Federal Farm Credit Banks, the
Federal National Mortgage Association, the Government National Mortgage
Association and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation; and
3. obligations of mixed-ownership Government corporations such as
Resolution Funding Corporation.
U.S. Government securities which the Fund may buy are backed in a
variety of ways by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities. Some
of these obligations, such as Government National Mortgage Association
mortgage-backed securities, are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S.
Treasury. Other obligations, such as those of the Federal National Mortgage
Association, are backed by the discretionary authority of the U.S. Government to
purchase certain obligations of agencies or instrumentalities, although the U.S.
Government has no legal obligation to do so. Obligations such as those of the
Federal Home Loan Bank, the Federal Farm Credit Bank, the Federal National
Mortgage Association and the Federal
II-14
<PAGE>
Home Loan Mortgage Corporation are backed by the credit of the agency or
instrumentality issuing the obligations. Certain obligations of Resolution
Funding Corporation, a mixed-ownership Government corporation, are backed with
respect to interest payments by the U.S. Treasury, and with respect to principal
payments by U.S. Treasury obligations held in a segregated account with a
Federal Reserve Bank. Except for certain mortgage-related securities, the Fund
will only invest in obligations issued by mixed-ownership Government
corporations where such securities are guaranteed as to payment of principal or
interest by the U.S. Government or a U.S. Government agency or instrumentality,
and any unguaranteed principal or interest is otherwise supported by U.S.
Government obligations held in a segregated account.
U.S. Government securities may be acquired by the Fund in the form of
separately traded principal and interest components of securities issued or
guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury. The principal and interest components of
selected securities are traded independently under the Separate Trading of
Registered Interest and Principal of Securities ("STRIPS") program. Under the
STRIPS program, the principal and interest components are individually numbered
and separately issued by the U.S. Treasury at the request of depository
financial institutions, which then trade the component parts independently.
Obligations of Resolution Funding Corporation are similarly divided into
principal and interest components and maintained as such on the book entry
records of the Federal Reserve Banks.
In addition, the Fund may invest in custodial receipts that evidence
ownership of future interest payments, principal payments or both on certain
U.S. Treasury notes or bonds in connection with programs sponsored by banks and
brokerage firms. Such notes and bonds are held in custody by a bank on behalf of
the owners of the receipts. These custodial receipts are known by various names,
including "Treasury Receipts" ("TRs"), "Treasury Investment Growth Receipts"
("TIGRs") and "Certificates of Accrual on Treasury Securities" ("CATS"), and may
not be deemed U.S. Government securities.
The Fund may also invest from time to time in collective investment
vehicles, the assets of which consist principally of U.S. Government securities
or other assets substantially collateralized or supported by such securities,
such as Government trust certificates.
Foreign Government Debt
-------------------------
The obligations of foreign governmental entities have various kinds of
government support and include obligations issued or guaranteed by foreign
governmental entities with taxing powers. These obligations may or may not be
supported by the full faith and credit of a foreign government. Each Fund may
invest in foreign government securities of issuers considered stable by the
Investment Manager, based on its analysis of factors such as general political
or economic conditions relating to the government and the likelihood of
expropriation, nationalization, freezes or confiscation of private property. The
Investment Manager does not believe that the credit risk inherent in the
obligations of stable foreign governments is significantly greater than that of
U.S. Government securities.
II-15
<PAGE>
Supranational Debt
-------------------
Supranational debt may be denominated in U.S. dollars, a foreign
currency or a multi-national currency unit. Examples of supranational entities
include the World Bank, the European Investment Bank, the Asian Development Bank
and the Inter-American Development Bank. The governmental members, or
"stockholders," usually make initial capital contributions to the supranational
entity and in many cases are committed to make additional capital contributions
if the supranational entity is unable to repay its borrowings.
Foreign Currency Units
------------------------
The Fund may invest in securities denominated in a multi-national
currency unit. An illustration of a multi-national currency unit is the European
Currency Unit (the "ECU"), which is a "basket" consisting of specified amounts
of the currencies of the member states of the European Community, a Western
European economic cooperative organization that includes France, Germany, The
Netherlands and the United Kingdom. The specific amounts of currencies
comprising the ECU may be adjusted by the Council of Ministers of the European
Community to reflect changes in relative values of the underlying currencies.
The Sub-Investment Manager does not believe that such adjustments will adversely
affect holders of ECU-denominated obligations or the marketability of such
securities. European supranational entities, in particular, issue
ECU-denominated obligations. The Fund may invest in securities denominated in
the currency of one nation although issued by a governmental entity, corporation
or financial institution of another nation. For example, the Fund may invest in
a British pound sterling-denominated obligation issued by a United States
corporation. Such investments involve credit risks associated with the issuer
and currency risks associated with the currency in which the obligation is
denominated.
Synthetic Non-U.S. Money Market Positions
--------------------------------------------
Money market securities denominated in foreign currencies are
permissible investments of the Fund. In addition to, or in lieu of direct
investment in such securities, the Fund may construct a synthetic non-U.S. money
market position by (i) purchasing a money market instrument denominated in U.S.
dollars and (ii) concurrently entering into a forward currency contract to
deliver a corresponding amount of U.S. dollars in exchange for a foreign
currency on a future date and a specified rate of exchange. Because of the
availability of a variety of highly liquid short-term U.S. dollar-denominated
money market instruments, a synthetic money market position utilizing such U.S.
dollar-denominated instruments may offer greater liquidity than direct
investment in a money market instrument denominated in a foreign currency.
II-16
<PAGE>
Bank Money Investments
------------------------
Bank money investments include, but are not limited to, certificates of
deposit, bankers' acceptances and time deposits. Certificates of deposit are
generally short-term (i.e., less than one year), interest-bearing negotiable
certificates issued by commercial banks or savings and loan associations against
funds deposited in the issuing institution. A banker's acceptance is a time
draft drawn on a commercial bank by a borrower, usually in connection with an
international commercial transaction (to finance the import, export, transfer or
storage of goods). A banker's acceptance may be obtained from a domestic or
foreign bank, including a U.S. branch or agency of a foreign bank. The borrower
is liable for payment as well as the bank, which unconditionally guarantees to
pay the draft at its face amount on the maturity date. Most acceptances have
maturities of six months or less and are traded in secondary markets prior to
maturity. Time deposits are nonnegotiable deposits for a fixed period of time at
a stated interest rate. The Fund will not invest in any such bank money
investment unless the investment is issued by a U.S. bank that is a member of
the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC"), including any foreign branch
thereof, a U.S. branch or agency of a foreign bank, a foreign branch of a
foreign bank, or a savings bank or savings and loan association that is a member
of the FDIC and which at the date of investment has capital, surplus and
undivided profits (as of the date of its most recently published financial
statements) in excess of $50 million. The Fund will not invest in time deposits
maturing in more than seven days and will not invest more than 10% of its total
assets in time deposits maturing in two to seven days.
U.S. branches and agencies of foreign banks are offices of foreign
banks and are not separately incorporated entities. They are chartered and
regulated either federally or under state law. U.S. federal branches or agencies
of foreign banks are chartered and regulated by the Comptroller of the Currency,
while state branches and agencies are chartered and regulated by authorities of
the respective states or the District of Columbia. U.S. branches of foreign
banks may accept deposits and thus are eligible for FDIC insurance; however, not
all such branches elect FDIC insurance. Unlike U.S. branches of foreign banks,
U.S. agencies of foreign banks may not accept deposits and thus are not eligible
for FDIC insurance. Both branches and agencies can maintain credit balances,
which are funds received by the office incidental to or arising out of the
exercise of their banking powers and can exercise other commercial functions,
such as lending activities.
Short-Term Corporate Debt Instruments
--------------------------------------
Short-term corporate debt instruments include commercial paper to
finance short-term credit needs (i.e., short-term, unsecured promissory notes)
issued by, among others, (a) corporations and (b) domestic or foreign bank
holding companies or their subsidiaries or affiliates where the debt instrument
is guaranteed by the bank holding company or an affiliated bank or where the
bank holding company or the affiliated bank is unconditionally liable for the
debt instrument. Commercial paper is usually sold on a discounted basis and has
a maturity at the time of issuance not exceeding nine months.
II-17
<PAGE>
Lower Rated Debt Securities
------------------------------
The Fund may invest in debt securities within the BB major rating
category or lower by S&P or the Ba major rating category or lower by Moody's or
debt securities that are unrated but considered by the Investment Manager to be
of equivalent investment quality to comparable rated securities. Such securities
generally involve more credit risk than higher rated securities and are
considered by S&P and Moody's to be predominantly speculative with respect to
capacity to pay interest and repay principal in accordance with the terms of the
obligation. Further, such securities may be subject to greater market
fluctuations and risk of loss of income and principal than lower yielding,
higher rated debt securities. Risks of lower quality debt securities include (i)
limited liquidity and secondary market support, (ii) substantial market price
volatility resulting from changes in prevailing interest rates and/or investor
perception, (iii) subordination to the prior claims of banks and other senior
lenders, (iv) the operation of mandatory sinking fund or call/redemption
provisions during periods of declining interest rates when the fund may be
required to reinvest premature redemption proceeds in lower yielding portfolio
securities; (v) the possibility that earnings of the issuer may be insufficient
to meet its debt service; (vi) the issuer's low creditworthiness and potential
for insolvency during periods of rising interest rates and economic downturn;
and (viii) the realization of taxable income for shareholders without the
corresponding receipt of cash in connection with investments in "zero coupon" or
"pay-in-kind" securities. Growth in the market for this type of security has
paralleled a general expansion in certain sectors in the U.S. economy, and the
effects of adverse economic changes (including a recession) are unclear. For
further information concerning the ratings of debt securities, see "--Commercial
Paper Ratings" and "--Rating Categories of Debt Securities," below. In the event
the rating of a security is downgraded, the Investment Manager will determine
whether the security should be retained or sold depending on an assessment of
all facts and circumstances at that time.
Zero and Step Coupon Securities
----------------------------------
Zero and step coupon securities are debt securities that may pay no
interest for all or a portion of their life but are purchased at a discount to
face value at maturity. Their return consists of the amortization of the
discount between their purchase price and their maturity value, plus in the case
of a step coupon, any fixed rate interest income. Zero and step coupon
securities pay no interest to holders prior to maturity even though interest on
these securities is reported as income to the Fund. The Fund will be required to
distribute all or substantially all of such amounts annually to its
shareholders. These distributions may cause the Fund to liquidate portfolio
assets in order to make such distributions at a time when the Fund may have
otherwise chosen not to sell such securities. The amount of the discount
fluctuates with the market value of such securities, which may be more volatile
than that of securities which pay interest at regular intervals.
II-18
<PAGE>
Master Loan Participation Agreements
--------------------------------------
The Fund may invest in loan participations. These investments represent
interests in floating or variable rate loans to foreign countries, corporations
and other entities. Loan participations will generally be acquired by the Fund
from a lender, usually a bank or other similar financial services entity. The
underlying loans may pay interest at rates which are periodically redetermined
on the basis of a base lending rate plus a premium. These base lending rates are
generally the Prime Rate offered by a major U.S. bank, the London InterBank
Offered Rate or other base rates used by commercial lenders.
The Fund may invest in loans which are not secured by any collateral.
Uncollateralized loans pose a greater risk of nonpayment of interest or loss of
principal than do collateralized loans. Interest and principal payments on these
loan participations may be reduced, deferred, suspended or eliminated. While
loan participations generally trade at par value, the fund will also be able to
acquire loan participations that sell at a discount because of the borrower's
credit standing.
The loan participations generally are not rated by nationally
recognized statistical rating organizations. Participation interests generally
are not listed on any national securities exchange and no regular market has
developed for such interests. The loans may be subject to restrictions on resale
and any secondary purchases and sales generally are conducted in private
transactions.
When acquiring a loan participation, the Fund will have a contractual
relationship only with the lender, not with the borrower. The Fund has the right
to receive payments of principal and interest only from the lender selling the
loan participation and only upon receipt by such lender of such payments from
the borrower. As a result, the Fund may assume the credit risk of both the
borrower and the lender selling the loan participation.
Certain Ratings Categories
----------------------------
Commercial Paper Ratings.
Commercial paper investments at the time of purchase will be rated
within the "A" major rating category by S&P or within the "Prime" major rating
category by Moody's, or, if not rated, issued by companies having an outstanding
long-term unsecured debt issue rated at least within the "A" category by S&P or
by Moody's. The money market investments in corporate bonds and debentures
(which must have maturities at the date of settlement of one year or less) must
be rated at the time of purchase at least within the "A" category by S&P or
within the "Prime" category by Moody's.
Commercial paper rated within the "A" category (highest quality) by S&P
is issued by entities which have liquidity ratios which are adequate to meet
cash requirements. Long-term
II-19
<PAGE>
senior debt is rated within the "A" category or better, although in some cases
credits within the "BBB" category may be allowed. The issuer has access to at
least two additional channels of borrowing. Basic earnings and cash flow have an
upward trend with allowance made for unusual circumstances. Typically, the
issuer's industry is well established and the issuer has a strong position
within the industry. The reliability and quality of management are unquestioned.
The relative strength or weakness of the above factors determines whether the
issuer's commercial paper is rated A-1, A-2 or A-3. (Those A-1 issues determined
to possess overwhelming safety characteristics are denoted with a plus (+) sign:
A-1+.)
The rating "Prime" is the highest commercial paper rating category
assigned by Moody's. Among the factors considered by Moody's in assigning
ratings are the following: evaluation of the management of the issuer; economic
evaluation of the issuer's industry or industries and an appraisal of
speculative-type risks which may be inherent in certain areas; evaluation of the
issuer's products in relation to competition and customer acceptance; liquidity;
amount and quality of long-term debt; trend of earnings over a period of 10
years; financial management of obligations which may be present or may arise as
a result of public interest questions and preparations to meet such obligations.
These factors are all considered in determining whether the commercial paper is
rated Prime-1, Prime-2 or Prime-3.
Rating Categories of Debt Securities.
Set forth below is a description of S&P corporate bond and debenture
rating categories:
AAA: An obligation rated within the AAA category has the highest rating
assigned by S&P. Capacity to meet the financial commitment on the obligation is
extremely strong.
AA: An obligation rated within the AA category differs from the highest
rated obligation only in small degree. Capacity to meet the financial obligation
is very strong.
A: An obligation rated within the A category is somewhat more
susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic
conditions than debt in higher rated categories. However, capacity to meet the
financial commitment on the obligation is still strong.
BBB: An obligation rated within the BBB category exhibits adequate
protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing
circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity to meet the
financial commitment on the obligation.
Obligations rated within the BB, B, CCC, CC and C categories are
regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. BB indicates the
least degree of speculation and C the highest. While such obligations will
likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed
by large uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions.
II-20
<PAGE>
BB: An obligation rated within the BB category is less vulnerable to
nonpayment than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing
uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial or economic conditions
which could lead to inadequate capacity to meet the financial commitment on the
obligation. The BB rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior
debt that is assigned an actual or implied BBB rating.
B: An obligation rated within the B category is more vulnerable to
nonpayment than obligations rated within the BB category, but currently has the
capacity to meet the financial commitment on the obligation. Adverse business,
financial or economic conditions will likely impair capacity or willingness to
meet the financial commitment on the obligation. The B rating category is also
used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied
BB or BB- rating.
CCC: An obligation rated within the CCC category is vulnerable to
nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial and economic
conditions to meet the financial commitment on the obligation. In the event of
adverse business, financial or economic conditions, it is not likely to have the
capacity to meet the financial commitment on the obligation.
CC: An obligation rated within the CC category is currently highly
vulnerable to nonpayment.
C: The C rating may be used to cover a situation where a bankruptcy
petition has been filed, but payments on this obligation are being continued.
D: An obligation rated within the D category is in payment default. The
D rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the
date due even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless S&P
believes that such payments will be made during such grace period. The D rating
also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a
similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized.
Plus (+) or Minus (-): The ratings from AA to CCC may be modified by
the addition of a plus or minus sign to show relative standing within the major
rating categories.
S&P may attach the "r" symbol to the ratings of instruments with
significant noncredit risks. It highlights risks to principal or volatility of
expected returns which are not addressed in the credit rating. Examples include:
obligations linked or indexed to equities, currencies, or commodities;
obligations exposed to severe prepayments risks-such as interest only (IO) and
principal only (PO) mortgage securities; and obligations with unusually risky
terms, such as inverse floaters.
Set forth below is a description of Moody's corporate bond and
debenture rating categories:
II-21
<PAGE>
Aaa: Bonds which are rated within the Aaa category 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 within the Aa category 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 within the A category possess many favorable
investment attributes and are to be considered as upper medium grade
obligations. Factors giving security to principal and interest are considered
adequate, but elements may be present which suggest a susceptibility to
impairment sometime in the future.
Baa: Bonds which are rated within the Baa category are considered as
medium grade obligations, i.e., they are neither highly protected nor poorly
secured. Interest payments and principal security appear adequate for the
present, but certain protective elements may be lacking or may be
characteristically unreliable over any great length of time. Such bonds lack
outstanding investment characteristics and in fact have speculative
characteristics as well.
Ba: Bonds which are rated within the Ba category are judged to have
speculative elements; their future cannot be considered as well assured. Often
the protection of interest and principal payments may be very moderate and
thereby not well safeguarded during other good and bad times over the future.
Uncertainty of position characterizes bonds in this class.
B: Bonds which are rated within the B category generally lack
characteristics of the desirable investment. Assurance of interest and principal
payments or of maintenance of other terms of the contract over any long period
of time may be small.
Caa: Bonds which are rated within the Caa category are of poor
standing. Such issues may be in default or there may be present elements of
danger with respect to principal or interest.
Ca: Bonds which are rated within the Ca category represent obligations
which are speculative in a high degree. Such issues are often in default or have
other marked shortcomings.
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<PAGE>
C: Bonds which are rated within the C category are the lowest rated
class of bonds, and issues so rated can be regarded as having extremely poor
prospects of ever attaining any real investment standing.
1, 2 or 3: The ratings from Aa through B may be modified by the
addition of a numeral indicating a bond's rank within its rating category.
Securities Ratings Policies.
The Fund may invest in debt instruments which are split rated; for
example, rated investment grade by one rating agency, but lower than investment
grade by the other. Where an investment is split rated, the Fund may invest on
the basis of the higher rating. Where an investment is rated by only one rating
agency, the Fund may invest on the basis of the one rating or on the basis of a
higher rating derived from its own analysis. Also, the Fund may invest in debt
securities that are unrated but considered by the Investment Manager to be of
equivalent investment quality to comparable rated securities.
Ratings Downgrades.
In the event the lowering of ratings of debt instruments held by the
Fund by applicable rating agencies results in a material decline in the overall
quality of the Fund's portfolio, the Trustees of the Trust will review the
situation and take such action as they deem in the best interests of the Fund's
shareholders, including, if necessary, changing the composition of the
portfolio.
C. The Trusts, the Trustees and Officers and Fund Shares
The Trustees of a Trust have authority to issue an unlimited number of
shares of beneficial interest of separate series, $.001 par value per share. The
Trustees also have authority, without the necessity of a shareholder vote, to
create any number of new series or classes or to commence the public offering of
shares of any previously established series or classes. The Trustees have
authorized shares of each Fund to be issued in multiple classes.
Each share of each class of shares represents an identical legal
interest in the same portfolio of investments of a Fund, has the same rights and
is identical in all respects, except that Class A, Class B(1), Class B and Class
C shares bear the expenses of the deferred sales arrangement and any expenses
(including the higher service and distribution fees) resulting from such sales
arrangement, and certain other incremental expenses related to a class. Each
class will have exclusive voting rights with respect to provisions of the Rule
12b-1 distribution plan pursuant to which the service and distribution fees, if
any, are paid. Although the legal rights of holders of each class of shares are
identical, it is likely that the different expenses borne by each class will
result in different net asset values and dividends. The different classes of
shares of the Fund also have different exchange privileges. Except for those
differences between classes of shares described above, in the Fund's Prospectus
and otherwise
II-23
<PAGE>
this Statement of Additional Information, each share of the Fund has equal
dividend, redemption and liquidation rights with other shares of the Fund, and
when issued, is fully paid and nonassessable by the Fund.
Shareholder rights granted under the Master Trust Agreement may be
modified, suspended or repealed, in whole or part, by the Trustees, except as
provided by law or under the terms of the Master Trust Agreement. The Master
Trust Agreement may not be amended by the Trustees if the amendment would (a)
repeal the limitation on personal liability of any shareholder or Trustee, or
repeal the prohibition of assessment upon shareholders, without the express
consent of each shareholder or Trustee involved or (b) adversely modify any
shareholder right without the consent of the holders of a majority of the
outstanding shares entitled to vote. On any matter submitted to the
shareholders, the holder of a Fund share is entitled to one vote per share (with
proportionate voting for fractional shares) regardless of the relative net asset
value thereof.
Under each Trust's Master Trust Agreement, no annual or regular meeting
of shareholders is required. Thus, there ordinarily will be no shareholder
meetings unless required by the 1940 Act. Except as otherwise provided under the
1940 Act, the Board of Trustees will be a self-perpetuating body until fewer
than two-thirds of the Trustees serving as such are Trustees who were elected by
shareholders of the Trust. In the event less than a majority of the Trustees
serving as such were elected by shareholders of the Trust, a meeting of
shareholders will be called to elect Trustees. Under the Master Trust Agreement,
any Trustee may be removed by vote of two-thirds of the outstanding Trust
shares; holders of 10% or more of the outstanding shares of the Trust can
require that the Trustees call a meeting of shareholders for purposes of voting
on the removal of one or more Trustees. In connection with such meetings called
by shareholders, shareholders will be assisted in shareholder communications to
the extent required by applicable law.
Under Massachusetts law, the shareholders of a Trust could, under
certain circumstances, be held personally liable for the obligations for the
Trust. However, each Master Trust Agreement disclaims shareholder liability for
acts or obligations of the Trust and provides for indemnification for all losses
and expenses of any shareholder of the Fund held personally liable for the
obligations of the Trust. Thus, the risk of a shareholder incurring financial
loss on account of shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which
the Fund would be unable to meet its obligations. The Investment Manager
believes that, in view of the above, the risk of personal liability to
shareholders is remote.
The Trustees and officers of each Trust are identified below, together
with biographical information.
II-24
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Master Money
STATE STREET Capital Equity Exchange Financial Growth Income Investment Market Securities Tax-Exempt
RESEARCH: Trust Trust Trust Trust Trust Trust Trust Trust Trust Trust
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRUSTEES AND
PRINCIPAL
OFFICERS
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Bruce R. Bond Trustee Trustee Trustee Trustee Trustee Trustee Trustee Trustee Trustee Trustee
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John R. Borzilleri Vice
President
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paul J. Clifford, Jr. Vice
President
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Richard S. Davis Trustee, Trustee, Trustee, Trustee, Trustee, Trustee, Trustee, Trustee, Trustee, Trustee,
Chairman Chairman Chairman Chairman Chairman Chairman Chairman Chairman Chairman Chairman
of the of the of the of the of the of the of the of the of the of the
Board, Board, Board, Board, Board, Board, Board, Board, Board, Board,
President President President President President President President President President President
and Chief and Chief and Chief and Chief and Chief and Chief and Chief and Chief and Chief and Chief
Executive Executive Executive Executive Executive Executive Executive Executive Executive Executive
Officer Officer Officer Officer Officer Officer Officer Officer Officer Officer
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maureen Depp Vice
President
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Catherine Dudley Vice
President
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bruce A. Ebel Vice
President
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steve A. Garban Trustee Trustee Trustee Trustee Trustee Trustee Trustee Trustee Trustee Trustee
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bartlett R. Geer Vice Vice Vice
President President President
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lawrence J. Haverty, Vice
Jr. President
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
F. Gardner Jackson, Vice
Jr. President
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John H. Kallis Vice Vice Vice Vice Vice
President President President President President
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dyann H. Kiessling Vice
President
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
II-25
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STATE STREET Capital Equity Exchange Financial Growth Income
RESEARCH: Trust Trust Trust Trust Trust Trust
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRUSTEES AND
PRINCIPAL
OFFICERS
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Rudolph K. Kluiber Vice President
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Francis J. McNamara, Secretary Secretary Secretary Secretary Secretary Secretary
III
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gerard P. Maus Treasurer Treasurer Treasurer Treasurer Treasurer Treasurer
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thomas P. Moore, Jr. Vice Vice Vice
President President President
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dean O. Morton Trustee Trustee Trustee Trustee Trustee Trustee
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Susan M. Phillips Trustee Trustee Trustee Trustee Trustee Trustee
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E.K. Easton Vice President
Ragsdale, Jr.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Daniel J. Rice III Vice President
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Toby Rosenblatt Trustee Trustee Trustee Trustee Trustee Trustee
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael S. Scott Trustee Trustee Trustee Trustee Trustee Trustee
Morton
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<CAPTION>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Master Money
STATE STREET Investment Market Securities Tax-Exempt
RESEARCH: Trust Trust Trust Trust
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRUSTEES AND
PRINCIPAL
OFFICERS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Rudolph K. Kluiber
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Francis J. McNamara, Secretary Secretary Secretary Secretary
III
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gerard P. Maus Treasurer Treasurer Treasurer Treasurer
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thomas P. Moore, Jr.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dean O. Morton Trustee Trustee Trustee Trustee
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Susan M. Phillips Trustee Trustee Trustee Trustee
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E.K. Easton
Ragsdale, Jr.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Daniel J. Rice III
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Toby Rosenblatt Trustee Trustee Trustee Trustee
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael S. Scott Trustee Trustee Trustee Trustee
Morton
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
II-26
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STATE STREET Capital Equity Exchange Financial Growth Income
RESEARCH: Trust Trust Trust Trust Trust Trust
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRUSTEES AND
PRINCIPAL
OFFICERS
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Thomas A. Shively Vice President Vice
President
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tucker Walsh Vice President
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
James M. Weiss Vice President Vice President Vice President Vice President Vice Vice
President President
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Elizabeth M. Westvold
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John T. Wilson Vice President
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kennard Woodworth, Vice President Vice President Vice
Jr. President
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Peter A. Zuger Vice President
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<CAPTION>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Master Money
STATE STREET Investment Market Securities Tax-Exempt
RESEARCH: Trust Trust Trust Trust
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRUSTEES AND
PRINCIPAL
OFFICERS
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Thomas A. Shively Vice President Vice President Vice President
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tucker Walsh
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
James M. Weiss Vice Vice President
President
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Elizabeth M. Westvold Vice President
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John T. Wilson Vice
President
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kennard Woodworth, Vice President
Jr.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Peter A. Zuger Vice President
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
II-27
<PAGE>
Additional information on the Trustees, Directors and principal
officers of the State Street Research Funds is provided below. The address for
each person is One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111.
Bruce R. Bond: He is 54. During the past five years, Mr. Bond has also
served as Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President of
PictureTel Corporation, Chief Executive Officer of ANS Communications (a
communications networking company) and as managing director of British
Telecommunications PLC.
*John R. Borzilleri, MD: He is 41 and his principal occupation is
Senior Vice President of the Investment Manager. During the past five years he
has also served as a Vice President of the Investment Manager, as a Vice
President of Montgomery Securities and as an equity analyst at Dean Witter.
*Paul J. Clifford, Jr.: He is 38 and his principal occupation is
Senior Vice President of the Investment Manager. During the past five years he
has also served as Vice President of the Investment Manager.
*Richard S. Davis: He is 55 and his principal occupation is Chairman of
the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Investment
Manager. During the past five years he has also served as Senior Vice President,
Fixed Income Investments for Metropolitan Life Insurance Company and as Managing
Director for J.P. Morgan Investment Managment and J.P. Morgan Securities.
*Maureen Depp: She is 46 and her principal occupation is Vice President
of State Street Research & Management Company. During the past five years she
has also served as an analyst at Wellington Management.
*Catherine Dudley: She is 40 and her principal occupation is senior
Vice President of the Investment Manager. During the past five years she has
also served as a senior portfolio manager at Chancellor Capital Management and
as a portfolio manager at Phoenix Investment Council.
*Bruce A. Ebel: He is 44 and his principal occupation is Senior Vice
President of the Investment Manager. During the past five years he has also
served as a Vice President and portfolio manager at Loomis, Sayles & Company,
L.P.
+Steve A. Garban: He is 62 and he is retired and was formerly Senior
Vice President for Finance and Operations and Treasurer of The Pennsylvania
State University. Mr. Garban is also a Director of Metropolitan Series Fund,
Inc. (an investment company).
*Bartlett R. Geer: He is 45 and his principal occupation is currently,
and during the past five years has been, Senior Vice President of the Investment
Manager.
*Lawrence J. Haverty, Jr.: He is 56 and his principal occupation is
currently, and during the past five years has been, Senior Vice President of the
Investment Manager.
*F. Gardner Jackson, Jr.: He is 57 and his principal occupation is
currently, and during the past five years has been Senior Vice President of the
Investment Manager.
II-28
<PAGE>
*John H. Kallis: He is 59 and his principal occupation is currently,
and during the past five years has been, Senior Vice President of the Investment
Manager.
*Dyann H. Kiessling: She is 37 and her principal occupation is Vice
President of the Investment Manager. During the past five years she has also
served as a fixed income trader for the Investment Manager.
*Rudolph K. Kluiber: He is 40 and his principal occupation currently
is Senior Vice President of the Investment Manager. During the past five years
he has also served as a Vice President of the Investment Manager.
*Gerard P. Maus: He is 49 and his principal occupation is currently,
and during the past five years has been, Executive Vice President, Treasurer,
Chief Financial Officer, Chief Administrative Officer and Director of the
Investment Manager. He also served as Interim Chief Operating Officer of the
Investment Manager for the period May 2000 through October 2000. Mr. Maus's
other principal business affiliations include Executive Vice President, Chief
Financial Officer, Chief Administrative Officer, Treasurer and Director of State
Street Research Investment Services, Inc.; Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
of SSRM Holdings, Inc.; and Director of SSR Realty Advisors, Inc.
*Francis J. McNamara, III: He is 45 and his principal occupation is
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the Investment
Manager. During the past five years he has also served as Senior Vice President
of the Investment Manager. Mr. McNamara's other principal business affiliations
include Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Clerk of State Street
Research Investment Services, Inc.; and Secretary and General Counsel of SSRM
Holdings, Inc.
*Thomas P. Moore, Jr.: He is 62 and his principal occupation is
currently, and during the past five years has been, Senior Vice President of the
Investment Manager.
+Dean O. Morton: He is 68 and he is retired and was formerly Executive
Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Director of Hewlett-Packard Company.
Mr. Morton is also a Director of Metropolitan Series Fund, Inc. (an investment
company).
Susan M. Phillips: She is 55 and her principal occupation is currently
Dean of the School of Business and Public Management at George Washington
University and Professor of Finance. Previously, she was a member of the Board
of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and Chairman and Commissioner of the
Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
II-29
<PAGE>
*E.K. Easton Ragsdale, Jr.: He is 48 and his principal occupation
is Senior Vice President of the Investment Manager. During the past five years
he has also served as Vice President of the Investment Manager.
*Daniel J. Rice III: He is 48 and his principal occupation is
currently, and during the past five years has been, Senior Vice President of the
Investment Manager.
Toby Rosenblatt: He is 62 and his principal occupations during the
past five years have been President of Founders Investments Ltd. and President
of The Glen Ellen Company, a private investment company.
+Michael S. Scott Morton: He is 63 and his principal occupation during
the past five years has been Jay W. Forrester Professor of Management at Sloan
School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dr. Scott Morton
is also a Director of Metropolitan Series Fund, Inc. (an investment company).
*Thomas A. Shively: He is 46 and his principal occupation is
currently, and during the past five years has been, Executive Vice President of
the Investment Manager. Mr. Shively is also a Director of the Investment
Manager. Mr. Shively's other principal business affiliations include Director of
State Street Research Investment Services, Inc.
*Tucker Walsh: He is 30 and his principal occupation is Vice President
of the Investment Manager. During the past five years he has also served as an
analyst for the Investment Manager and for Chilton Investment Partners and Cowen
Asset Management.
*James M. Weiss: He is 54 and his principal occupation is Executive
Vice President and Director of the Investment Manager. During the past five
years he has also served as Senior Vice President of the Investment Manager and
as President and Chief Investment Officer of IDS Equity Advisors.
*Elizabeth M. Westvold: She is 40 and her principal occupation is
Senior Vice President of the Investment Manager. During the past five years she
has also served as Vice President for the Investment Manager.
*John T. Wilson: He is 37 and his principal occupation is Senior Vice
President of the Investment Manager. During the past five years he has also
served as a Vice President of the Investment Manager, as an analyst and
portfolio manager at Phoenix Home Life Mutual Insurance Company and as a Vice
President of Phoenix Investment Counsel Inc.
*Kennard Woodworth, Jr.: He is 62 and his principal occupation is
currently, and during the past five years has been, Senior Vice President of the
Investment Manager.
II-30
<PAGE>
*Peter A. Zuger: He is 52. His principal occupation is Senior Vice
President of State Street Research & Management Company. During the past five
years he has also served as Vice President of American Century Investment
Management Company.
-----------------
* These Trustees and/or Officers are deemed to be "interested persons" of
the Trust under the 1940 Act because of their affiliations with the
Fund's investment adviser.
+ Serves as a Director of Metropolitan Series Fund, Inc., which has an
advisory relationship with the Investment Manager or its parent,
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company.
II-31
<PAGE>
D. Investment Advisory Services
Under the provisions of each Trust's Master Trust Agreement and the
laws of Massachusetts, responsibility for the management and supervision of the
Fund rests with the Trustees.
State Street Research & Management Company, the Investment Manager, a
Delaware corporation, with offices at One Financial Center, Boston,
Massachusetts 02111-2690, acts as investment adviser to the Fund. The Investment
Manager was founded by Paul Cabot, Richard Saltonstall and Richard Paine to
serve as investment adviser to one of the nation's first mutual funds, presently
known as State Street Research Investment Trust, which they had formed in 1924.
Their investment management philosophy emphasized comprehensive fundamental
research and analysis, including meetings with the management of companies under
consideration for investment. The Investment Manager's portfolio management
group has extensive investment industry experience managing equity and debt
securities.
The Investment Manager is charged with the overall responsibility for
managing the investments and business affairs of each Fund, subject to the
authority of the Board of Trustees. Each Advisory Agreement provides that the
Investment Manager shall furnish the applicable Funds with an investment
program, office facilities and such investment advisory, research and
administrative services as may be required from time to time. The Investment
Manager compensates all executive and clerical personnel and Trustees of each
Trust if such persons are employees of the Investment Manager or its affiliates.
The Investment Manager is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of MetLife.
Each Advisory Agreement provides that it shall continue in effect with
respect to a Fund for a period of two years after its initial effectiveness and
will continue from year to year thereafter as long as it is approved at least
annually both (i) by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities
of the Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act) or by the Trustees of the Trust, and
(ii) in either event by a vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not parties
to the Advisory Agreement or "interested persons" of any party thereto, cast in
person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The
Advisory Agreement may be terminated on 60 days' written notice by either party
and will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment, as defined
under the 1940 Act and regulations thereunder. Such regulations provide that a
transaction which does not result in a change of actual control or management of
an adviser is not deemed an assignment.
Information about rates at which fees are calculated under the Advisory
Agreement with respect to the Funds identified on the cover page of the
Statement of Additional Information, as well as the fees paid to the Investment
Manager in previous years, if applicable, is included in Section I of this
Statement of Additional Information.
The Fund, the Investment Manager, and the Distributor have adopted a
Code of Ethics pursuant to the requirements of the 1940 Act. Under the Code
of Ethics, personnel are only
II-32
<PAGE>
permitted to engage in personal securities transactions in accordance with
certain conditions relating to such person's position, the identity of the
security, the timing of the transaction, and similar factors. Transactions in
securities that may be held by the Fund are permitted, subject to compliance
with applicable provisions of the Code. Personal securities transactions must be
reported quarterly and broker confirmations of such transactions must be
provided for review.
E. Purchase and Redemption of Shares
Shares of each Fund are distributed by State Street Research Investment
Services, Inc., the Distributor. Class A, Class B(1), Class B, Class C and Class
S shares of the Fund may be purchased at the next determined net asset value per
share plus, in the case of all classes except Class S shares, a sales charge
which, at the election of the investor, may be imposed (i) at the time of
purchase (the Class A shares) or (ii) on a deferred basis (the Class B(1), Class
B and Class C shares). Class B shares are available only to current Class B
shareholders through reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions
or through exchanges from existing Class B accounts of the State Street Research
Funds. General information on how to buy shares of the Fund, as well as sales
charges involved, are set forth under "Your Investment" in the Prospectus. The
following supplements that information.
Public Offering Price. The public offering price for each class of
shares is based on their net asset value determined as of the close of regular
trading on the NYSE, but not later than 4 p.m. eastern time, on the day the
purchase order is received by State Street Research Service Center (the "Service
Center"), provided that the order is received prior to the close of regular
trading on the NYSE on that day; otherwise the net asset value used is that
determined as of the close of the NYSE on the next day it is open for
unrestricted trading. When a purchase order is placed through a broker-dealer,
that broker-dealer is responsible for transmitting the order promptly to the
Service Center in order to permit the investor to obtain the current price. Any
loss suffered by an investor which results from a broker-dealer's failure to
transmit an order promptly is a matter for settlement between the investor and
the broker-dealer. Under certain pre-established operational arrangements, the
price may be determined as of the time the order is received by the
broker-dealer or its designee.
Alternative Purchase Program. Alternative classes of shares permit
investors to select a purchase program which they believe will be the most
advantageous for them, given the amount of their purchase, the length of time
they anticipate holding Fund shares, or the flexibility they desire in this
regard, and other relevant circumstances. Investors will be able to determine
whether in their particular circumstances it is more advantageous to incur an
initial sales charge and not be subject to certain ongoing charges or to have
their entire purchase price invested in the Fund with the investment being
subject thereafter to ongoing service fees and distribution fees.
II-33
<PAGE>
As described in greater detail below, financial professionals are paid
differing amounts of compensation depending on which class of shares they sell.
II-34
<PAGE>
The major differences among the various classes of shares are as
follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A Class B(1) Class B Class C Class S
------- ---------- ------- ------- -------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Sales Charges Paid by Initial sales Contingent Contingent Contingent None
Investor to Distributor charge at time deferred sales deferred sales deferred sales
of investment of charge of 5% to 1% charge of 5% to charge of 1%
up to 5.75%* applies to any 2% applies to any applies to any
depending on shares redeemed shares redeemed shares redeemed
amount of within first six within first five within one year
investment years following years following following their
their purchase; no their purchase; purchase
contingent no contingent
deferred sales deferred sales
charge after six charge after five
years years
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On investments
of $1 million
or more, no initial
sales charge; but
contingent deferred
sales charge of up
to 1% may apply to
any shares redeemed
within one year
following their
purchase
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Initial Commission Above described 4% 4% 1% None
Paid by Distributor to initial sales
Financial Professional charge less
0.25% to 0.75%
retained by
distributor
On investments
of $1 million or
more, 0.25% to
1% paid to
dealer by
Distributor
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 12b-1 Service Fee
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paid by Fund to 0.25% each year 0.25% each year 0.25% each year 0.25% each year None
Distributor
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paid by 0.25% each year 0.25% each year 0.25% each year 0.25% each year None
Distributor to commencing after commencing after commencing after
Financial one year following one year one year
Professional purchase following purchase following
purchase
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 12b-1
Distribution Fee
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paid by Fund to Up to 0.15% each 0.75% for first 0.75% for first 0.75% each year None
Distributor year eight years; Class eight years;
B(1) shares Class B shares
convert convert
automatically to automatically to
Class A shares Class A shares
after eight years after eight years
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paid by Up to 0.15% each None None 0.75% each year None
Distributor to year commencing after
Financial one year
Professional following
purchase
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
--------------
* or up to 4.50% for State Street Research Government Income Fund, State Street
Research High Income Fund, State Street Research Strategic Income Fund, State
Street Research Tax-Exempt Fund and State Street Research New York Tax Free
Fund.
II-35
<PAGE>
Class A Shares--Reduced Sales Charges. The reduced sales charges set
forth under "Your Investment--Choosing a Share Class" in the Prospectus apply to
purchases made at any one time by any "person," which includes: (i) an
individual, or an individual combining with his or her spouse and their children
and purchasing for his, her or their own account; (ii) a "company" as defined in
Section 2(a)(8) of the 1940 Act; (iii) a trustee or other fiduciary purchasing
for a single trust estate or single fiduciary account (including a pension,
profit sharing or other employee benefit trust created pursuant to a plan
qualified under Section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code); (iv) a tax-exempt
organization under Section 501(c)(3) or (13) of the Internal Revenue Code; and
(v) an employee benefit plan of a single employer or of affiliated employers.
Investors may purchase Class A shares of the Fund at reduced sales
charges by executing a Letter of Intent to purchase no less than an aggregate of
$100,000 of the Fund or any combination of Class A shares of "Eligible Funds"
(which include the Fund and other funds as designated by the Distributor from
time to time) within a 13-month period. The sales charge applicable to each
purchase made pursuant to a Letter of Intent will be that which would apply if
the total dollar amount set forth in the Letter of Intent were being bought in a
single transaction. Purchases made within a 90-day period prior to the execution
of a Letter of Intent may be included therein; in such case the date of the
earliest of such purchases marks the commencement of the 13-month period.
An investor may include toward completion of a Letter of Intent the
value (at the current public offering price) of all of his or her Class A shares
of the Fund and of any of the other Class A shares of Eligible Funds held of
record as of the date of his or her Letter of Intent, plus the value (at the
current offering price) as of such date of all of such shares held by any
"person" described herein as eligible to join with the investor in a single
purchase. Class B(1), Class B, Class C and Class S shares may also be included
in the combination under certain circumstances.
A Letter of Intent does not bind the investor to purchase the specified
amount. Shares equivalent to 5% of the specified amount will, however, be taken
from the initial purchase (or, if necessary, subsequent purchases) and held in
escrow in the investor's account as collateral against the higher sales charge
which would apply if the total purchase is not completed within the allotted
time. The escrowed shares will be released when the Letter of Intent is
completed or, if it is not completed, when the balance of the higher sales
charge is, upon notice, remitted by the investor. All dividends and capital
gains distributions with respect to the escrowed shares will be credited to the
investor's account.
Investors may purchase Class A shares of the Fund or a combination of
Eligible Funds at reduced sales charges pursuant to a Right of Accumulation. The
applicable sales charge under the right is determined on the amount arrived at
by combining the dollar amount of the purchase with the value (at the current
public offering price) of all Class A shares of the other Eligible Funds owned
as of the purchase date by the investor plus the value (at the current public
offering price) of all such shares owned as of such date by any "person"
described
II-36
<PAGE>
herein as eligible to join with the investor in a single purchase.
Class B(1), Class B, Class C and Class S shares may also be included in the
combination under certain circumstances. Investors must submit to the
Distributor sufficient information to show that they qualify for this Right of
Accumulation.
Other Programs Related to Class A Shares. Class A shares of the Fund
may be sold, or issued in an exchange, at a reduced sales charge or without a
sales charge pursuant to certain sponsored arrangements for designated classes
of investors. These arrangements include programs sponsored by the Distributor
or others under which, for example, a company, employee benefit plan or other
organization makes recommendations to, or permits group solicitation of, its
employees, members or participants to purchase Fund shares. (These arrangements
are not available to any organization created primarily for the purpose of
obtaining shares of the Fund at a reduced sales charge or without a sales
charge.) Sponsored arrangements may be established for non-profit organizations,
holders of individual retirement accounts or participants in limited promotional
campaigns, such as a special offering to shareholders of funds in other
complexes that may be liquidating. Sales without a sales charge, or with a
reduced sales charge, may also be made through brokers, registered investment
advisers, financial planners, institutions, and others, under managed fee-based
programs (e.g., "wrap fee" or similar programs) which meet certain requirements
established by the Distributor. Information on such arrangements and further
conditions and limitations is available from the Distributor.
The entire sales charge on Class A shares may be reallowed to financial
professionals who sell shares during certain special promotional periods which
may be instituted from time to time. The Fund reserves the right to have such
promotions without further supplement to the Prospectus or Statement of
Additional Information. The financial professionals who receive the entire sales
charge may be deemed to be underwriters of the Fund's shares under the
Securities Act of 1933 during such promotions.
In addition, no sales charge is imposed in connection with the sale of
Class A shares of the Fund to the following entities and persons: (A) the
Investment Manager, Distributor or any affiliated entities, including any direct
or indirect parent companies and other subsidiaries of such parents
(collectively "Affiliated Companies"); (B) employees, officers, sales
representatives or current or retired directors or trustees of the Affiliated
Companies or any investment company managed by any of the Affiliated Companies,
any relatives of any such individuals whose relationship is directly verified by
such individuals to the Distributor, or any beneficial account for such
relatives or individuals; (C) employees, officers, sales representatives or
directors of dealers and other entities with a selling agreement with the
Distributor to sell shares of any aforementioned investment company, any spouse
or child of such person, or any beneficial account for any of them; and (D)
others who because of their business relationship with the Fund, the Distributor
or its affiliates, and because of their knowledge of the Fund, do not require
any significant sales effort or expense to educate them about the Fund. The
purchase must be made for investment and the shares purchased may not be resold
except through redemption. This purchase program is subject to such
II-37
<PAGE>
administrative policies, regarding the qualification of purchasers, minimum
investments by various groups and any other matters, as may be adopted by the
Distributor from time to time.
Conversion of Class B(1) and Class B Shares to Class A Shares. A
shareholder's Class B(1) and Class B shares of the Fund, including all shares
received as dividends or distributions with respect to such shares, will
automatically convert to Class A shares of the Fund at the end of eight years
following the issuance of such Class B(1) or Class B shares; consequently, they
will no longer be subject to the higher expenses borne by Class B(1) and Class B
shares. The conversion rate will be determined on the basis of the relative per
share net asset values of the two classes and may result in a shareholder
receiving either a greater or fewer number of Class A shares than the Class B(1)
or Class B shares so converted. As noted above, holding periods for Class B(1)
shares received in exchange for Class B(1) shares of other Eligible Funds and
for Class B shares received in exchange for Class B shares of other Eligible
Funds, will be counted toward the eight-year period.
Contingent Deferred Sales Charges. The amount of any contingent
deferred sales charge paid on Class A shares (on sales of $1 million or more and
which do not involve an initial sales charge) or on Class B(1), Class B or Class
C shares of the Fund will be paid to the Distributor. The Distributor will pay
dealers at the time of sale a 4% commission for selling Class B(1) and Class B
shares and a 1% commission for selling Class C shares. In certain cases, a
dealer may elect to waive the 4% commission on Class B(1) and Class B shares and
receive in lieu thereof an annual fee, usually 1%, with respect to such
outstanding shares. The proceeds of the contingent deferred sales charges and
the distribution fees are used to offset distribution expenses and thereby
permit the sale of Class B(1), Class B and Class C shares without an initial
sales charge.
In determining the applicability and rate of any contingent deferred
sales charge of Class B(1), Class B or Class C shares, it will be assumed that a
redemption of the shares is made first of those shares having the greatest
capital appreciation, next of shares representing reinvestment of dividends and
capital gains distributions and finally of remaining shares held by shareholder
for the longest period of time. Class B(1) shares that are redeemed within a
six-year period after purchase, Class B shares that are redeemed within a
five-year period after their purchase, and Class C shares that are redeemed
within a one-year period after their purchase, will not be subject to a
contingent deferred sales charge to the extent that the value of such shares
represents (1) capital appreciation of Fund assets or (2) reinvestment of
dividends or capital gains distributions. The holding period for purposes of
applying a contingent deferred sales charge for a particular class of shares of
the Fund acquired through an exchange from another Eligible Fund will be
measured from the date that such shares were initially acquired in the other
Eligible Fund, and shares of the same class being redeemed will be considered to
represent, as applicable, capital appreciation or dividend and capital gains
distribution reinvestments in such other Eligible Fund. These determinations
will result in any contingent deferred sales charge being imposed at the lowest
possible rate. For federal
II-38
<PAGE>
income tax purposes, the amount of the contingent deferred sales charge will
reduce the gain or increase the loss, as the case may be, on the amount realized
on redemption.
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge Waivers. With respect to Class A
shares (on sales of $1 million or more and which do not involve an initial sales
charge), and Class B(1), Class B and Class C shares of the Fund, the contingent
deferred sales charge does not apply to exchanges or to redemptions under a
systematic withdrawal plan which meets certain conditions. The contingent
deferred sales charge will be waived for participant initiated distributions
from State Street Research prototype employee retirement plans. In addition, the
contingent deferred sales charge will be waived for: (i) redemptions made within
one year of the death or total disability, as defined by the Social Security
Administration, of all shareholders of an account; (ii) redemptions made after
attainment of a specific age in an amount which represents the minimum
distribution required at such age under Section 401(a)(9) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, for retirement accounts or plans (e.g., age 70
1/2 for Individual Retirement Accounts and Section 403(b) plans), calculated
solely on the basis of assets invested in the Fund or other Eligible Funds; and
(iii) a redemption resulting from a tax-free return of an excess contribution to
an Individual Retirement Account. (The foregoing waivers do not apply to a
tax-free rollover or transfer of assets out of the Fund). The Fund may waive the
contingent deferred sales charge on any class, or modify or terminate any
waivers, at any time. The Fund may limit the application of multiple waivers and
establish other conditions for employee benefit plans. Certain employee benefit
plans sponsored by a financial professional may be subject to other conditions
for waivers under which the plans may initially invest in Class B(1) or Class B
shares and then Class A shares of certain funds upon meeting specific criteria.
No contingent deferred sales charges apply to shares held by MetLife, the
Investment Manager or the Distributor.
Class S Shares. Class S shares are currently available to certain
employee benefit plans such as qualified retirement plans which meet criteria
relating to number of participants, service arrangements, or similar factors;
insurance companies; investment companies; advisory accounts of the Investment
Manager; endowment funds of nonprofit organizations with substantial minimum
assets (currently a minimum of $10 million); and other similar institutional
investors. Class S shares may be acquired through programs or products sponsored
by MetLife, its affiliates, or both for which Class S shares have been
designated. In addition, Class S shares are available through programs under
which, for example, investors pay an asset-based fee and/or a transaction fee to
intermediaries. Class S share availability is determined by the Distributor and
intermediaries based on the overall direct and indirect costs of a particular
program, expected assets, account sizes and similar considerations. For
information on different conditions that may apply to certain Funds, see Section
I for the relevant Fund.
In the discretion of the Distributor, Class S shares may be made
available to (a) current and former employees, officers and directors of the
Investment Manager and Distributor; (b) current and former directors or trustees
of the investment companies for
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which the Investment Manager serves as the primary investment adviser; and (c)
relatives of any such individuals, provided that the relationship is directly
verified by such individuals to the Distributor, and any beneficial account for
such relatives or individuals. Class A shares acquired by such individuals and
relatives may, in the discretion of the Distributor, be converted into Class S
shares. This purchase program is subject to such administrative policies,
regarding the qualification of purchasers and any other matters, as may be
adopted by the Distributor from time to time.
Reorganizations. In the event of mergers or reorganizations with other
public or private collective investment entities, including investment companies
as defined in the 1940 Act, the Fund may issue its shares at net asset value (or
more) to such entities or to their security holders.
In-Kind Purchase Option. In the discretion of the Investment Manager,
shares of the Fund may be offered for purchase partly or entirely in exchange
for securities. This option is available only in very limited circumstances. The
Investment Manager will not approve the acceptance of any securities in exchange
for Fund shares unless it believes the securities are appropriate investments
for the Fund.
Redemptions. The Fund reserves the right to pay redemptions in kind
with portfolio securities in lieu of cash. In accordance with its election
pursuant to Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act, the Fund may limit the amount of
redemption proceeds paid in cash. Although it has no present intention to do so,
the Fund may, under unusual circumstances, limit redemptions in cash with
respect to each shareholder during any ninety-day period to the lesser of (i)
$250,000 or (ii) 1% of the net asset value of the Fund at the beginning of such
period. In connection with any redemptions paid in kind with portfolio
securities, brokerage and other costs may be incurred by the redeeming
shareholder in the sale of the securities received.
Systematic Withdrawal Plan. A shareholder who owns noncertificated
Class A or Class S shares with a value of $5,000 or more, or Class B(1), Class B
or Class C shares with a value of $10,000 or more, may elect, by participating
in the Fund's Systematic Withdrawal Plan, to have periodic checks issued for
specified amounts. These amounts may not be less than certain minimums,
depending on the class of shares held. The Plan provides that all income
dividends and capital gains distributions of the Fund shall be credited to
participating shareholders in additional shares of the Fund. Thus, the
withdrawal amounts paid can only be realized by redeeming shares of the Fund
under the Plan. To the extent such amounts paid exceed dividends and
distributions from the Fund, a shareholder's investment will decrease and may
eventually be exhausted.
In the case of shares otherwise subject to contingent deferred sales
charges, no such charges will be imposed on withdrawals of up to 12% annually
(minimum $50 per withdrawal) of either (a) the value, at the time the Systematic
Withdrawal Plan is initiated, of the shares then in the account or (b) the
value, at the time of a withdrawal, of the same
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number of shares as in the account when the Systematic Withdrawal Plan was
initiated, whichever is higher.
Expenses of the Systematic Withdrawal Plan are borne by the Fund. A
participating shareholder may withdraw from the Systematic Withdrawal Plan, and
the Fund may terminate the Systematic Withdrawal Plan at any time on written
notice. Purchase of additional shares while a shareholder is receiving payments
under a Systematic Withdrawal Plan is ordinarily disadvantageous because of
duplicative sales charges. For this reason, a shareholder may not participate in
the Investamatic Program (see "Your Investment--Investor Services--Investamatic
Program" in the Fund's Prospectus) and the Systematic Withdrawal Plan at the
same time.
Request to Dealer to Repurchase. For the convenience of shareholders,
the Fund has authorized the Distributor as its agent to accept orders from
broker-dealers by wire or telephone for the repurchase of shares by the
Distributor from the broker-dealer. The Fund may revoke or suspend this
authorization at any time. The repurchase price is the net asset value for the
applicable shares next determined following the time at which the shares are
offered for repurchase by the broker-dealer to the Distributor. The
broker-dealer is responsible for promptly transmitting a shareholder's order to
the Distributor. Under certain pre-established operational arrangements, the
price may be determined as of the time the order is received by the
broker-dealer or its designee.
Signature Guarantees. Signature guarantees are required for, among
other things: (1) written requests for redemptions for more than $100,000; (2)
written requests for redemptions for any amount if the proceeds are transmitted
to other than the current address of record (unchanged in the past 30 days); (3)
written requests for redemptions for any amount submitted by corporations and
certain fiduciaries and other intermediaries; (4) requests to transfer the
registration of shares to another owner; and (5) if checkwriting is available
for the account, authorizations to establish the checkwriting privilege.
Signatures must be guaranteed by a bank, a member firm of a national stock
exchange, or other eligible guarantor institution. The Transfer Agent will not
accept guarantees (or notarizations) from notaries public. The above
requirements may be waived in certain instances.
Dishonored Checks. If a purchaser's check is not honored for its full
amount, the purchaser could be subject to additional charges to cover collection
costs and any investment loss, and the purchase may be canceled.
Processing Charges. Purchases and redemptions processed through
securities dealers may be subject to processing charges imposed by the
securities dealer in addition to sales charges that may be imposed by the Fund
or the Distributor.
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F. Shareholder Accounts
General information on shareholder accounts is included in the Fund's
Prospectus under "Your Investment." The following supplements that information.
Maintenance Fees and Involuntary Redemption. Because of the relatively
high cost of maintaining small shareholder accounts, the Fund reserves the right
to redeem at its option any shareholder account which remains below $1,500 for a
period of 60 days after notice is mailed to the applicable shareholder, or to
impose a maintenance fee on such account after 60 days' notice. Such
involuntarily redemptions will be subject to applicable sales charges, if any.
The Fund may increase such minimum account value above such amount in the future
after notice to affected shareholders. Involuntarily redeemed shares will be
priced at the net asset value on the date fixed for redemption by the Fund, and
the proceeds of the redemption will be mailed to the affected shareholder at the
address of record. Currently, the maintenance fee is $18 annually, which is paid
to the Transfer Agent. The fee does not apply to certain retirement accounts or
if the shareholder has more than an aggregate $50,000 invested in the Fund and
other Eligible Funds combined. Imposition of a maintenance fee on a small
account could, over time, exhaust the assets of such account.
To cover the cost of additional compliance administration, a $20 fee
will be charged against any shareholder account that has been determined to be
subject to escheat under applicable state laws.
The Fund may not suspend the right of redemption or postpone the date
of payment of redemption proceeds for more than seven days, except that (a) it
may elect to suspend the redemption of shares or postpone the date of payment of
redemption proceeds: (1) during any period that the NYSE is closed (other than
customary weekend and holiday closings) or trading on the NYSE is restricted;
(2) during any period in which an emergency exists as a result of which disposal
of portfolio securities is not reasonably practicable or it is not reasonably
practicable to fairly determine the Fund's net asset values; or (3) during such
other periods as the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") may by order
permit for the protection of investors; and (b) the payment of redemption
proceeds may be postponed as otherwise provided under "Purchase and Redemption
of Shares" in this Statement of Additional Information.
The Open Account System. Under the Open Account System full and
fractional shares of the Fund owned by shareholders are credited to their
accounts by the Transfer Agent, State Street Bank and Trust Company, 225
Franklin Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110. Share certificates will not be
issued. Shareholders will receive periodic statements of transactions in their
accounts.
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The Fund's Open Account System provides the following options:
1. Additional purchases of shares of the Fund may be made through
dealers, by wire or by mailing a check payable to "State
Street Research Funds" under the terms set forth above under
"Purchase and Redemption of Shares" in this Statement of
Additional Information.
2. The following methods of receiving dividends from investment
income and distributions from capital gains generally are
available:
(a) All income dividends and capital gains distributions
reinvested in additional shares of the Fund.
(b) All income dividends and capital gains distributions
in cash.
(c) All income dividends and capital gains distributions
invested in any one available Eligible Fund
designated by the shareholder as described below. See
"--Dividend Allocation Plan" herein.
Dividend and distribution selections should be made on the Application
accompanying the initial investment. If no selection is indicated on the
Application, that account will be automatically coded for reinvestment of all
dividends and distributions in additional shares of the same class of the Fund.
Selections may be changed at any time by telephone or written notice to the
Service Center. Dividends and distributions are reinvested at net asset value
without a sales charge.
Exchange Privileges. Shareholders of the Fund may exchange their shares
for available shares with corresponding characteristics of any of the other
Eligible Funds on the basis of the relative net asset values of the respective
shares to be exchanged, and subject to compliance with applicable securities
laws. Shareholders of any other Eligible Fund may similarly exchange their
shares for Fund shares with corresponding characteristics. Prior to making an
exchange, shareholders should obtain the Prospectus of the Eligible Fund into
which they are exchanging. Under the Direct Program, subject to certain
conditions, shareholders may make arrangements for regular exchanges from the
Fund into other Eligible Funds. To effect an exchange, Class A, Class B(1),
Class B and Class C shares may be redeemed without the payment of any contingent
deferred sales charge that might otherwise be due upon an ordinary redemption of
such shares. The State Street Research Money Market Fund issues Class E shares
which are sold without any sales charge. Exchanges of State Street Research
Money Market Fund Class E shares into Class A shares of the Fund or any other
Eligible Fund are subject to the initial sales charge or contingent deferred
sales charge applicable to an initial investment in such Class A shares, unless
a prior Class A sales charge has been paid directly or indirectly with respect
to the shares redeemed. Class A shares acquired through a new investment after
January 1, 1999, are subject to an incremental sales charge if exchanged within
30 days of acquisition for Class A shares of a Fund with a
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higher applicable sales charge. For purposes of computing the contingent
deferred sales charge that may be payable upon disposition of any acquired Class
A, Class B(1), Class B and Class C shares, the holding period of the redeemed
shares is "tacked" to the holding period of any acquired shares. No exchange
transaction fee is currently imposed on any exchange.
Shares of the Fund may also be acquired or redeemed in exchange for
shares of the Summit Cash Reserves Fund ("Summit Cash Reserves") by customers of
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (subject to completion of
steps necessary to implement the program). The Fund and Summit Cash Reserves are
related mutual funds for purposes of investment and investor services. Upon the
acquisition of shares of Summit Cash Reserves by exchange for redeemed shares of
the Fund, (a) no sales charge is imposed by Summit Cash Reserves, (b) no
contingent deferred sales charge is imposed by the Fund on the Fund shares
redeemed, and (c) any applicable holding period of the Fund shares redeemed is
"tolled," that is, the holding period clock stops running pending further
transactions. Upon the acquisition of shares of the Fund by exchange for
redeemed shares of Summit Cash Reserves, (a) the acquisition of Class A shares
shall be subject to the initial sales charges or contingent deferred sales
charges applicable to an initial investment in such Class A shares, unless a
prior Class A sales charge has been paid indirectly, and (b) the acquisition of
Class B(1), Class B or Class C shares of the Fund shall restart any holding
period previously tolled, or shall be subject to the contingent deferred sales
charge applicable to an initial investment in such shares.
The exchange privilege may be terminated or suspended or its terms
changed at any time, subject, if required under applicable regulations, to 60
days' prior notice. New accounts established for investments upon exchange from
an existing account in another fund will have the same telephone privileges with
respect to the Fund (see "Your Investment--Account Policies--Telephone Requests"
in the Fund's Prospectus and "--Telephone Privileges," below) as the existing
account unless the Service Center is instructed otherwise. Related
administrative policies and procedures may also be adopted with regard to a
series of exchanges, street name accounts, sponsored arrangements and other
matters.
The exchange privilege is not designed for use in connection with
short-term trading or market timing strategies. To protect the interests of
shareholders, the Fund reserves the right to temporarily or permanently
terminate the exchange privilege for any person who makes more than six
exchanges out of or into the Fund per calendar year. Accounts under common
ownership or control, including accounts with the same taxpayer identification
number, may be aggregated for purposes of the six exchange limit.
Notwithstanding the six exchange limit, the Fund reserves the right to refuse
exchanges by any person or group if, in the Investment Manager's judgment, the
Fund would be unable to invest effectively in accordance with its investment
objective and policies, or would otherwise potentially be adversely affected.
Exchanges may be restricted or refused if the Fund receives or anticipates
simultaneous orders affecting significant portions of the Fund's assets. In
particular, a pattern of exchanges that coincides with a "market timing"
strategy may be
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disruptive to the Fund. The Fund may impose these restrictions at any time. The
exchange limit may be modified for accounts in certain institutional retirement
plans because of plan exchange limits, Department of Labor regulations or
administrative and other considerations. The exchange limit may also be modified
under certain exchange arrangements for selected brokers with substantial asset
allocation programs. Subject to the foregoing, if an exchange request in good
order is received by the Service Center and delivered by the Service Center to
the Transfer Agent by 12 noon Boston time on any business day, the exchange
usually will occur that day. For further information regarding the exchange
privilege, shareholders should contact the Service Center.
Reinvestment Privilege. A shareholder of the Fund who has redeemed
shares or had shares repurchased at his or her request may reinvest all or any
portion of the proceeds (plus that amount necessary to acquire a fractional
share to round off his or her reinvestment to full shares) in shares, of the
same class as the shares redeemed, of the Fund or any other Eligible Fund at net
asset value and without subjecting the reinvestment to an initial sales charge,
provided such reinvestment is made within 120 calendar days after a redemption
or repurchase. Upon such reinvestment, the shareholder will be credited with any
contingent deferred sales charge previously charged with respect to the amount
reinvested. The redemption of shares is, for federal income tax purposes, a sale
on which the shareholder may realize a gain or loss. If a redemption at a loss
is followed by a reinvestment within 30 days, the transaction may be a "wash
sale" resulting in a denial of the loss for federal income tax purposes.
Any reinvestment pursuant to the reinvestment privilege will be subject
to any applicable minimum account standards imposed by the fund into which the
reinvestment is made. Shares are sold to a reinvesting shareholder at the net
asset value thereof next determined following timely receipt by the Service
Center of such shareholder's written purchase request and delivery of the
request by the Service Center to the Transfer Agent. A shareholder may exercise
this reinvestment privilege only once per 12-month period with respect to his or
her shares of the Fund.
Dividend Allocation Plan. The Dividend Allocation Plan allows
shareholders to elect to have all their dividends and any other distributions
from the Fund or any Eligible Fund automatically invested at net asset value in
one other such Eligible Fund designated by the shareholder, provided the account
into which the dividends and distributions are directed is initially funded with
the requisite minimum amount.
Telephone and Internet Privileges. The following privileges are
available:
o Telephone Exchange and Redemption Privilege
o Shareholders automatically receive this privilege unless
declined.
o This privilege allows a shareholder or any person claiming
to act as the shareholder's representative to request
exchanges into other State Street Research funds or make
redemptions.
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o Internet Privilege for Shareholder
o Shareholders may access the Fund's Web site to enter
transactions and for other purposes, subject to
acceptance of the important conditions set forth on the
Web site.
A shareholder with the above privileges is deemed to authorize the
Fund's agents to: (1) act upon the telephone instructions of any person
purporting to be any of the shareholders of an account or a shareholder's
financial professional; (2) act upon the Internet instructions of any person
purporting to be any of the shareholders of an account; and (3) honor any
telephone or Internet instructions for a change of address. All telephone calls
will be recorded. Neither the Fund, any other State Street Research Fund, the
Investment Manager, the Distributor, nor any of their agents will be liable for
any loss, expense or cost arising out of any request, including any fraudulent
or unauthorized requests. Shareholders assume the risk to the full extent of
their accounts that telephone or Internet requests may be unauthorized.
Reasonable procedures will be followed to confirm that instructions communicated
by telephone or Internet are genuine. The shareholder will not be liable for any
losses arising from unauthorized or fraudulent instructions if such procedures
are not followed.
Alternative Means of Contacting a Fund. It is unlikely, during periods
of extraordinary market conditions, that a shareholder may have difficulty in
reaching the Service Center. In that event, however, the shareholder should
contact the Service Center at 1-800-562-0032, 1-617-357-7800 or otherwise at its
main office at One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111-2690.
G. Net Asset Value
The net asset value of the shares of each Fund is determined once daily
as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE, but not later than 4 P.M.
eastern time, Monday through Friday, on each day during which the NYSE is open
for unrestricted trading. The NYSE is currently closed on New Year's Day, Martin
Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence
Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
The net asset value per share of each Fund is computed by dividing the
sum of the value of the securities held by the Fund plus any cash or other
assets minus all liabilities by the total number of outstanding shares of the
Fund at such time. Any expenses, except for extraordinary or nonrecurring
expenses, borne by the Fund, including the investment management fee payable to
the Investment Manager, are accrued daily.
In determining the values of portfolio assets as provided below, the
Trustees utilize one or more pricing services in lieu of market quotations for
certain securities which are not readily available on a daily basis. Such
services utilize information with respect to market
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transactions, quotations from dealers and various relationships among securities
in determining value and may provide prices determined as of times prior to the
close of the NYSE.
In general, securities are valued as follows. Securities which are
listed or traded on the New York or American Stock Exchange are valued at the
price of the last quoted sale on the respective exchange for that day.
Securities which are listed or traded on a national securities exchange or
exchanges, but not on the New York or American Stock Exchange, are valued at the
price of the last quoted sale on the exchange for that day prior to the close of
the NYSE. Securities not listed on any national securities exchange which are
traded "over the counter" and for which quotations are available on the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.'s (the "NASD") NASDAQ System are valued
at the closing price supplied through such system for that day at the close of
the NYSE. Other securities are, in general, valued at the mean of the bid and
asked quotations last quoted prior to the close of the NYSE if there are market
quotations readily available, or in the absence of such market quotations, then
at the fair value thereof as determined by or under authority of the Trustees of
the Trust with the use of such pricing services as may be deemed appropriate or
methodologies authorized by the Trustees. The Trustees also reserve the right to
adopt other valuations based on fair value in pricing in unusual circumstances
where use of other methods as discussed in part above, could otherwise have a
material adverse effect on the Fund as a whole.
The Trustees have authorized the use of the amortized cost method to
value short-term debt instruments issued with a maturity of one year or less and
having a remaining maturity of 60 days or less when the value obtained is fair
value, provided that during any period in which more than 25% of the Fund's
total assets is invested in short-term debt securities the current market value
of such securities will be used in calculating net asset value per share in lieu
of the amortized cost method. Under the amortized cost method of valuation, the
security is initially valued at cost on the date of purchase (or in the case of
short-term debt instruments purchased with more than 60 days remaining to
maturity, the market value on the 61st day prior to maturity), and thereafter a
constant amortization to maturity of any discount or premium is assumed
regardless of the impact of fluctuating interest rates on the market value of
the security.
H. Portfolio Transactions
The Fund's portfolio turnover rate is determined by dividing the lesser
of securities purchases or sales for a year by the monthly average value of
securities held by the Fund (excluding, for purposes of this determination,
securities the maturities of which as of the time of their acquisition were one
year or less).
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Brokerage Allocation
------------------------
The Investment Manager's policy is to seek for its clients, including
the Fund, what in the Investment Manager's judgment will be the best overall
execution of purchase or sale orders and the most favorable net prices in
securities transactions consistent with its judgment as to the business
qualifications of the various broker or dealer firms with whom the Investment
Manager may do business, and the Investment Manager may not necessarily choose
the broker offering the lowest available commission rate. Decisions with respect
to the market where the transaction is to be completed, to the form of
transaction (whether principal or agency), and to the allocation of orders among
brokers or dealers are made in accordance with this policy. In selecting brokers
or dealers to effect portfolio transactions, consideration is given to their
proven integrity and financial responsibility, their demonstrated execution
experience and capabilities both generally and with respect to particular
markets or securities, the competitiveness of their commission rates in agency
transactions (and their net prices in principal transactions), their willingness
to commit capital, and their clearance and settlement capability. The Investment
Manager makes every effort to keep informed of commission rate structures and
prevalent bid/ask spread characteristics of the markets and securities in which
transactions for the Fund occur. Against this background, the Investment Manager
evaluates the reasonableness of a commission or a net price with respect to a
particular transaction by considering such factors as difficulty of execution or
security positioning by the executing firm. The Investment Manager may or may
not solicit competitive bids based on its judgment of the expected benefit or
harm to the execution process for that transaction.
When it appears that a number of firms could satisfy the required
standards in respect of a particular transaction, consideration may also be
given by the Investment Manager to services other than execution services which
certain of such firms have provided in the past or may provide in the future.
Negotiated commission rates and prices, however, are based upon the Investment
Manager's judgment of the rate which reflects the execution requirements of the
transaction without regard to whether the broker provides services in addition
to execution. Among such other services are the supplying of supplemental
investment research; general economic, political and business information;
analytical and statistical data; relevant market information, quotation
equipment and services; reports and information about specific companies,
industries and securities; purchase and sale recommendations for stocks and
bonds; portfolio strategy services; historical statistical information; market
data services providing information on specific issues and prices; financial
publications; proxy voting data and analysis services; technical analysis of
various aspects of the securities markets, including technical charts; computer
hardware used for brokerage and research purposes; computer software and
databases (including those contained in certain trading systems and used for
portfolio analysis and modeling and also including software providing investment
personnel with efficient access to current and historical data from a variety of
internal and external sources) and portfolio evaluation services and relative
performance of accounts.
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In the case of the Fund and other registered investment companies
advised by the Investment Manager or its affiliates, the above services may
include data relating to performance, expenses and fees of those investment
companies and other investment companies. This information is used by the
Trustees or Directors of the investment companies to fulfill their
responsibility to oversee the quality of the Investment Manager's advisory
contracts between the investment companies and the Investment Manager. The
Investment Manager considers these investment company services only in
connection with the execution of transactions on behalf of its investment
company clients and not its other clients. Certain of the nonexecution services
provided by broker-dealers may in turn be obtained by the broker-dealers from
third parties who are paid for such services by the broker-dealers.
The Investment Manager regularly reviews and evaluates the services
furnished by broker-dealers. The Investment Manager's investment management
personnel seek to evaluate the quality of the research and other services
provided by various broker-dealer firms, and the results of these efforts are
made available to the equity trading department, which uses this information as
consideration to the extent described above in the selection of brokers to
execute portfolio transactions.
Some services furnished by broker-dealers may be used for research and
investment decision-making purposes, and also for marketing or administrative
purposes. Under these circumstances, the Investment Manager allocates the cost
of the services to determine the proportion which is allocable to research or
investment decision-making and the proportion allocable to other purposes. The
Investment Manager pays directly from its own funds for that portion allocable
to uses other than research or investment decision-making. Some research and
execution services may benefit the Investment Manager's clients as a whole,
while others may benefit a specific segment of clients. Not all such services
will necessarily be used exclusively in connection with the accounts which pay
the commissions to the broker-dealer providing the services.
The Investment Manager has no fixed agreements or understandings with
any broker-dealer as to the amount of brokerage business which the firm may
expect to receive for services supplied to the Investment Manager or otherwise.
There may be, however, understandings with certain firms that in order for such
firms to be able to continuously supply certain services, they need to receive
an allocation of a specified amount of brokerage business. These understandings
are honored to the extent possible in accordance with the policies set forth
above.
It is not the Investment Manager's policy to intentionally pay a firm a
brokerage commission higher than that which another firm would charge for
handling the same transaction in recognition of services (other than execution
services) provided. However, the Investment Manager is aware that this is an
area where differences of opinion as to fact and circumstances may exist, and in
such circumstances, if any, the Investment Manager relies on the provisions of
Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
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In the case of the purchase of fixed income securities in underwriting
transactions, the Investment Manager follows any instructions received from its
clients as to the allocation of new issue discounts, selling commissions and
designations to brokers or dealers which provide the client with research,
performance evaluation, master trustee and other services. In the absence of
instructions from the client, the Investment Manager may make such allocations
to broker-dealers which have provided the Investment Manager with research and
brokerage services.
In some instances, certain clients of the Investment Manager request it
to place all or part of the orders for their account with certain brokers or
dealers, which in some cases provide services to those clients. The Investment
Manager generally agrees to honor these requests to the extent practicable.
Clients may request that the Investment Manager only effect transactions with
the specified broker-dealers if the broker-dealers are competitive as to price
and execution. Where the request is not so conditioned, the Investment Manager
may be unable to negotiate commissions or obtain volume discounts or best
execution. In cases where the Investment Manager is requested to use a
particular broker-dealer, different commissions may be charged to clients making
the requests. A client who requests the use of a particular broker-dealer should
understand that it may lose the possible advantage which non-requesting clients
derive from aggregation of orders for several clients as a single transaction
for the purchase or sale of a particular security. Among other reasons why best
execution may not be achieved with directed brokerage is that, in an effort to
achieve orderly execution of transactions, execution of orders that have
designated particular brokers may, at the discretion of the trading desk, be
delayed until execution of other non-designated orders has been completed.
When more than one client of the Investment Manager is seeking to buy
or sell the same security, the sale or purchase is carried out in a manner which
is considered fair and equitable to all accounts. In allocating investments
among various clients (including in what sequence orders for trades are placed),
the Investment Manager will use its best business judgment and will take into
account such factors as the investment objectives of the clients, the amount of
investment funds available to each, the size of the order, the relative sizes of
the accounts, the amount already committed for each client to a specific
investment and the relative risks of the investments, all in order to provide on
balance a fair and equitable result to each client over time.
In addition, when the Investment Manager is seeking to buy or sell the
same security on behalf of more than one client at approximately the same time,
the Investment Manager may follow the practice of grouping orders of various
clients for execution to get the benefit of lower prices or commission rates.
Although sharing large transactions may sometimes affect price or volume of
shares acquired or sold, the Investment Manager believes that grouping orders
generally provide an advantage in execution. Where an aggregate order is
executed in a series of transactions at various prices on a given day, each
participating account's proportionate share of such order will reflect the
average price paid or received with respect to the total order. The Investment
Manager may decide not to group orders,
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however, based on such factors as the size of the account and the size of the
trade. For example, the Investment Manager may not aggregate trades where it
believes that it is in the best interest of clients not to do so, including
situations where aggregation might result in a large number of small
transactions with consequent increased custodial and other transactional costs
which may disproportionately impact smaller accounts. Such disaggregation,
depending on the circumstances, may or may not result in such accounts receiving
more or less favorable overall execution (including transactions costs) relative
to other clients.
The Investment Manager has developed certain internal policies
governing its short sale trading activities, including prior notification in
certain circumstances to portfolio managers of accounts holding long positions
in the same security. Generally, however, sales of long positions will take
precedence over short sales, regardless of the order in which the trade orders
are received.
Subject to the policy of seeking best overall price and execution as
stated above, sales of shares of investment companies under the Investment
Manager's management may be considered by the Investment Manager in the
selection of broker or dealer firms to execute portfolio transactions for
investment companies under its management.
I. Certain Tax Matters
Federal Income Taxation of the Fund--In General
--------------------------------------------------
The Fund intends to qualify and elects to be treated each taxable year
as a "regulated investment company" under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), although it cannot give complete
assurance that it will qualify to do so. Accordingly, the Fund must, among other
things, (a) derive at least 90% of its gross income in each taxable year from
dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans, gains from the
sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other
income (including, but not limited to, gains from options, futures or forward
contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock,
securities or currencies (the "90% test"); and (b) satisfy certain
diversification requirements on a quarterly basis.
If in any year the Fund derives more than 10% of its gross income (as
defined in the Code, which disregards losses for that purpose) from investments
made directly in commodities, including precious metal investments, or
commodity-related options, futures or indices, the Fund in such year may fail to
qualify as a regulated investment company under the Code. The Investment Manager
intends to manage the Fund's portfolio so as to minimize the risk of such a
disqualification.
If the Fund should fail to qualify as a regulated investment company in
any year, it would lose the beneficial tax treatment accorded regulated
investment companies under Subchapter M of the Code and all of its taxable
income would be subject to tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction
for distributions to shareholders, and such distributions
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will be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income to the extent of the Fund's
current or accumulated earnings and profits. Also, the shareholders, if they
received a distribution in excess of current or accumulated earnings and
profits, would receive a return of capital that would reduce the basis of their
shares of the Fund to the extent thereof. Any distribution in excess of a
shareholder's basis in the shareholder's shares would be taxable as gain
realized from the sale of such shares.
The Fund will be liable for a nondeductible 4% excise tax on amounts
not distributed on a timely basis in accordance with a calendar year
distribution requirement. To avoid the tax, during each calendar year the Fund
must distribute an amount equal to at least 98% of the sum of its ordinary
income (not taking into account any capital gains or losses) for the calendar
year, and its capital gain net income for the 12-month period ending on October
31, in addition to any undistributed portion of the respective balances from the
prior year. For that purpose, any income or gain retained by the Fund that is
subject to corporate tax will be considered to have been distributed by
year-end. The Fund intends to make sufficient distributions to avoid this 4%
excise tax.
Taxation of the Fund's Investments
-----------------------------------
Original Issue Discount; Market Discount. For federal income tax
purposes, debt securities purchased by the Fund may be treated as having
original issue discount. Original issue discount represents interest for federal
income tax purposes and can generally be defined as the excess of the stated
redemption price at maturity of a debt obligation over the issue price. Original
issue discount is treated for federal income tax purposes as income earned by
the Fund, whether or not any income is actually received, and therefore is
subject to the distribution requirements of the Code. Generally, the amount of
original issue discount is determined on the basis of a constant yield to
maturity which takes into account the compounding of accrued interest. Under
section 1286 of the Code, an investment in a stripped bond or stripped coupon
may result in original issue discount.
Debt securities may be purchased by the Fund at a discount that exceeds
the original issue discount plus previously accrued original issue discount
remaining on the securities, if any, at the time the Fund purchases the
securities. This additional discount represents market discount for federal
income tax purposes. In the case of any debt security issued after July 18,
1984, having a fixed maturity date of more than one year from the date of issue
and having market discount, the gain realized on disposition will be treated as
interest to the extent it does not exceed the accrued market discount on the
security (unless the Fund elects to include such accrued market discount in
income in the tax year to which it is attributable). Generally, market discount
is accrued on a daily basis. The Fund may be required to capitalize, rather than
deduct currently, part or all of any direct interest expense incurred or
continued to purchase or carry any debt security having market discount, unless
the Fund makes the election to include market discount currently. Because the
Fund must include original issue discount in income, it will be more difficult
for the Fund to make the
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distributions required for the Fund to maintain its status as a regulated
investment company under Subchapter M of the Code or to avoid the 4% excise tax
described above.
Options and Futures Transactions. Certain of the Fund's investments may
be subject to provisions of the Code that (i) require inclusion of unrealized
gains or losses in the Fund's income for purposes of the 90% test, and require
inclusion of unrealized gains in the Fund's income for the purposes of the
excise tax and the distribution requirements applicable to regulated investment
companies; (ii) defer recognition of realized losses; and (iii) characterize
both realized and unrealized gain or loss as short-term and long-term gain,
irrespective of the holding period of the investment. Such provisions generally
apply to, among other investments, options on debt securities, indices on
securities and futures contracts. The Fund will monitor its transactions and may
make certain tax elections available to it in order to mitigate the impact of
these rules and prevent disqualification of the Fund as a regulated investment
company.
Gains or losses attributable to foreign currency contracts or
fluctuations in exchange rates that occur between the time the Fund accrues
income or expenses denominated in a foreign currency and the time the Fund
actually collects such income or pays such expenses are treated as ordinary
income or loss. The portion of any gain or loss on the disposition of a debt
security denominated in a foreign currency that is attributable to fluctuations
in the value of the foreign currency during the holding period of the debt
security will likewise be treated as ordinary income or loss. Such ordinary
income or loss will increase or decrease the amount of the Fund's net investment
income.
If the Fund invests in the stock of certain "passive foreign investment
companies" ("PFICs"), the income of such companies may become taxable to the
Fund prior to its distribution to the Fund or, alternatively, ordinary income
taxes and interest charges may be imposed on the Fund on "excess distributions"
received by the Fund or on gain from the disposition of such investments by the
Fund. Alternatively, if the stock of a PFIC is marketable, the Fund may elect to
mark the stock of the PFIC to market annually, and to recognize gain or loss of
the appreciation or depreciation in the stock. Any gain so recognized would be
treated as ordinary income, and a loss would be recognized and treated as an
ordinary deduction to the extent of any prior, unreversed amounts of gain
recognized with respect to that stock. The Fund does not intend to invest in
PFICs. Because of the broad scope of the PFIC rules, however, there can be no
assurance that the Fund can avoid doing so.
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<PAGE>
Federal Income Taxation of Shareholders
----------------------------------------
Dividends paid by the Fund may be eligible for the 70%
dividends-received deduction for corporations. The percentage of the Fund's
dividends eligible for such tax treatment may be less than 100% to the extent
that less than 100% of the Fund's gross income may be from qualifying dividends
of domestic corporations. Any dividend declared in October, November or December
and made payable to shareholders of record in any such month is treated as
received by such shareholder on December 31, provided that the Fund pays the
dividend during January of the following calendar year.
Distributions by the Fund can result in a reduction in the fair market
value of the Fund's shares. Should a distribution reduce the fair market value
below a shareholder's cost basis, such distribution nevertheless may be taxable
to the shareholder as ordinary income or capital gain, even though, from an
investment standpoint, it may constitute a partial return of capital. In
particular, investors should be careful to consider the tax implications of
buying shares just prior to a taxable distribution. The price of shares
purchased at that time includes the amount of any forthcoming distribution.
Those investors purchasing shares just prior to a taxable distribution will then
receive a return of investment upon distribution which will nevertheless be
taxable to them.
The Fund may be subject to foreign taxes, including foreign income
taxes. If so, the Fund intends to meet the requirements of the Code for passing
through to its shareholders the tax benefit of foreign income taxes paid,
although there is no assurance that it will be able to do so. Under this
provision, if more than half of the value of the total assets of the Fund at the
close of its taxable year consists of stock or securities of foreign
corporations, the fund will be eligible and intends to elect to pass through to
its shareholders the amount of foreign taxes it paid if such amounts are
material. Pursuant to this election, a United States shareholder will, in
general, be required to (i) include in gross income, in addition to taxable
distributions actually received, his or her pro rata share of the foreign taxes
paid by the Fund, (ii) treat that share of taxes as having been paid directly by
him or her, and (iii) either deduct such share of taxes or treat such share of
taxes as a credit against United State income tax liability. A tax-exempt
shareholder will ordinarily not benefit from this election.
Generally, a credit for foreign taxes paid by the Fund may not exceed a
shareholder's United States income tax attributable to the shareholder's foreign
source income. This limitation applies separately to different categories of
income, one of which is a foreign-source passive income, which is likely to
include all of the foreign-source income of the Fund. As a result of these
limitations, some shareholders may not be able to utilize fully any foreign tax
credits generated by an investment in the Fund. In addition, holding period
requirements apply so that, generally, the shareholder will be unable to take a
tax credit for any foreign withholding tax on a dividend payment unless (a) the
Fund held the stock in the foreign corporation for more than 15 days during the
30-day period beginning on the date that the stock becomes ex-dividend with
respect to the dividend on which the withholding tax is paid and (b) the
shareholder held his or her shares in the Fund during the same period. In the
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case of certain preference dividends on foreign stock, the 15-day and 30-day
periods are extended to 45 days and 90 days, respectively. Shareholders also
will be unable to claim a credit for foreign withholding taxes on dividends if
the Fund has entered into certain hedging transactions with respect to the stock
of the foreign corporation. Shareholders may take a deduction to the extent of
any tax credits disallowed under the holding period and hedging rules. The Fund
will provide its shareholders with information about the source of its income
and the foreign taxes it has paid for use in preparing the shareholder's United
States income tax returns, including information about withholding taxes for
which a tax credit could be denied to the Fund under the holding period and
hedging rules described above.
The foregoing discussion of United States federal income tax law
relates solely to the application of that law to United States persons, that is,
United States citizens and residents and United States corporations,
partnerships, trusts and estates. Each shareholder who is not a United States
person should consider the United States and foreign tax consequences of
ownership of shares of the Fund, including the possibility that such a
shareholder may be subject to United States withholding tax at a rate of up to
30% (or at a lower rate under applicable treaty) on distributions from the Fund.
Shareholders should consult their tax advisers about the application of
the provisions of tax law described in this Statement of Additional Information
in light of their particular tax situations.
J. Distribution of Fund Shares
The Trust has entered into a Distribution Agreement with State Street
Research Investment Services, Inc., as Distributor, whereby the Distributor acts
as agent to sell and distribute shares of the Fund. Shares of the Fund are sold
through broker-dealers who have entered into sales agreements with the
Distributor. The Fund has authorized certain broker-dealers to receive on its
behalf purchase and redemption orders, and such broker-dealers are authorized to
designate other intermediaries to receive orders on the Fund's behalf. The Fund
will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when such
broker-dealer, or, if applicable, the broker-dealer's designee, receives the
order. In such case, orders will be priced at the Fund's net asset value next
computed after the orders are received by an authorized broker-dealer or its
designee. The Distributor distributes shares of the Fund on a continuous basis
at an offering price which is based on the net asset value per share of the Fund
plus (subject to certain exceptions) a sales charge which, at the election of
the investor, may be imposed (i) at the time of purchase (the Class A shares) or
(ii) on a deferred basis (Class B(1), Class B and Class C shares). The
Distributor may reallow all or portions of such sales charges as concessions to
broker-dealers. The Distributor may also pay its affiliate MetLife Securities,
Inc. additional sales compensation of up to 0.25% of certain sales or assets.
The differences in the price at which the Fund's Class A shares are
offered due to scheduled variations in sales charges, or Class S shares are
offered, as described in the
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<PAGE>
Fund's Prospectus, result from cost savings inherent in economies of scale,
among other factors. Management believes that the cost of sales efforts of the
Distributor and broker-dealers tends to decrease as the size of purchases
increases, or does not involve any incremental sales expenses as in the case of,
for example, exchanges, reinvestments or dividend investments at net asset
value. Similarly, no significant sales effort is necessary for sales of shares
at net asset value to certain Directors, Trustees, officers, employees, their
relatives and other persons directly or indirectly related to the Fund or
associated entities. Where shares of the Fund are offered at a reduced sales
charge or without a sales charge pursuant to sponsored arrangements, managed
fee-based programs and so-called "mutual fund supermarkets," among other special
programs, the amount of the sales charge reduction will similarly reflect the
anticipated reduction in sales expenses associated with such arrangements. The
reductions in sales expenses, and therefore the reduction in sales charges, will
vary depending on factors such as the size and other characteristics of the
organization or program, and the nature of its membership or the participants.
The Fund reserves the right to make variations in, or eliminate, sales charges
at any time or to revise the terms of or to suspend or discontinue sales
pursuant to sponsored arrangements or similar programs at any time.
On any sale of Class A shares to a single investor in the amount of
$1,000,000 or more, the Distributor may pay the authorized securities dealer
making such sale a commission based on the aggregate of such sales. Such
commission may also be paid to authorized securities dealers upon sales of Class
A shares made pursuant to a Letter of Intent to purchase shares having a net
asset value of $1,000,000 or more. Shares sold with such commissions payable are
subject to a one-year contingent deferred sales charge of up to 1.00% on any
portion of such shares redeemed within one year following their sale. After a
particular purchase of Class A shares is made under the Letter of Intent, the
commission will be paid only in respect of that particular purchase of shares.
If the Letter of Intent is not completed, the commission paid will be deducted
from any discounts or commissions otherwise payable to such dealer in respect of
shares actually sold. If an investor is eligible to purchase shares at net asset
value on account of the Right of Accumulation, the commission will be paid only
in respect of the incremental purchase at net asset value.
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<PAGE>
Plan(s) of Distribution Pursuant to Rule 12b-1
-----------------------------------------------
The Fund may have one or more Distribution Plans under Rule 12b-1, as
set forth in Section I of this Statement of Additional Information for the Fund.
Under the Fund's Distribution Plans, the Fund may engage, directly or
indirectly, in financing any activities primarily intended to result in the sale
of shares, including, but not limited to, (1) the payment of commissions to
underwriters, securities dealers and others engaged in the sale of shares,
including payments to the Distributor to be used to pay commissions to
securities dealers (which securities dealers may be affiliates of the
Distributor), (2) expenditures incurred by the Distributor in connection with
the distribution and marketing of shares and the servicing of investor accounts,
and (3) expenses incurred by the Distributor in connection with the servicing of
shareholder accounts including payments to securities dealers and others for the
provision of personal service to investors and/or the maintenance or servicing
of shareholder accounts. In addition, the Distribution Plans authorize the
Distributor and the Investment Manager to make payments out of management fees,
general profits, revenues or other sources to underwriters, securities dealers
and others in connection with sales of shares, to the extent, if any, that such
payments may be deemed to be an indirect financing of any activity primarily
resulting in the sale of shares of the Fund within the scope of Rule 12b-1 under
the 1940 Act. Payments by the Fund under the Distribution Plan may be
discontinued at any time. The Distributor may also voluntarily waive receipt of
payments from the Fund from time to time.
A rule of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD")
limits annual expenditures that the Fund may incur to 0.75% for distribution
expenses and 0.25% for service fees. The NASD Rule also limits the aggregate
amount that the Fund may pay for such distribution costs to 6.25% of gross share
sales of a class since the inception of any asset-based sales charge plus
interest at the prime rate plus 1% on unpaid amounts thereof (less any
contingent deferred sales charges). Such limitation does not apply to the
service fees.
Some or all of the service fees are used to pay or reimburse dealers
(including dealers that are affiliates of the Distributor) or others for
personal services and/or the maintenance of shareholder accounts. A portion of
any initial commission paid to dealers for the sale of shares of the Fund
represents payment for personal services and/or the maintenance or servicing of
shareholder accounts by such dealers. The distribution fees are used primarily
to offset initial and ongoing commissions paid to dealers for selling such
shares and for other sales and marketing expenditures. Dealers who have sold
Class A shares are eligible for ongoing payments commencing as of the time of
such sale. Dealers who have sold Class B(1), Class B and Class C shares are
eligible for ongoing payments after the first year during which such shares have
been held of record by such dealer as nominee for its clients (or by such
clients directly).
The Distributor provides distribution services on behalf of other funds
having distribution plans and receives similar payments from, and incurs similar
expenses on behalf
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of, such other funds. When expenses of the Distributor cannot be identified as
relating to a specific fund, the Distributor allocates expenses among the funds
in a manner deemed fair and equitable to each fund.
The payment of service and distribution fees may continue even if the
Fund ceases, temporarily or permanently, to sell one or more classes of shares
to new accounts. During the period the Fund is closed to new accounts, the
distribution fee will not be used for promotion expenses. The service and
distribution fees are used during a closed period to cover services provided to
current shareholders and to cover the compensation of financial professionals in
connection with the prior sale of Fund shares, among other non-promotional
distribution expenditures.
The Distributor may pay certain dealers and other intermediaries
additional compensation for sales and administrative services. The Distributor
may provide cash and noncash incentives to intermediaries who, for example, sell
significant amounts of shares or develop particular distribution channels. The
Distributor may compensate dealers with clients who maintain their investments
in the Fund over a period of years. The incentives can include merchandise and
trips to, and attendance at, sales seminars at resorts. The Distributor may pay
for administrative services, such as technological and computer systems support
for the maintenance of pension plan participant records, for subaccounting and
for distribution through mutual fund supermarkets or similar arrangements.
No interested Trustee of the Trust has any direct or indirect financial
interest in the operation of the Distribution Plans. The Distributor's interest
in the Distribution Plans is described above.
K. Calculation of Performance Data
From time to time, in advertisements or in communications to
shareholders or prospective investors, the Fund may compare the performance of
its Class A, Class B(1), Class B, Class C or Class S shares to the performance
of other mutual funds with similar investment objectives, to certificates of
deposit and/or to other financial alternatives. The Fund may also compare its
performance to appropriate indices, such as Standard & Poor's 500 Index,
Consumer Price Index and Dow Jones Industrial Average and/or to appropriate
rankings and averages such as those compiled by Lipper Analytical Services,
Inc., Morningstar, Inc., Money Magazine, Business Week, Forbes Magazine, The
Wall Street Journal and Investor's Daily.
The average annual total return ("standard total return") of the Class
A, Class B(1), Class B, Class C and Class S shares of each Fund will be
calculated as set forth below. Total return is computed separately for each
class of shares of the Fund.
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Total Return
---------------
Standard total return is computed separately for each class of shares
by determining the average annual compounded rates of return over the designated
periods that, if applied to the initial amount invested, would produce the
ending redeemable value in accordance with the following 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 at the end of the
designated period assuming a hypothetical $1,000
payment made at the beginning of the designated
period
The calculation is based on the further assumptions that the highest
applicable initial or contingent deferred sales charge is deducted, and that all
dividends and distributions by the Fund are reinvested at net asset value on the
reinvestment dates during the periods. All accrued expenses and recurring
charges are also taken into account as described later herein.
Yield
-------
Yield for each class of the Fund's shares is computed by dividing the
net investment income per share earned during a recent month or other specified
30-day period by the maximum offering price per share on the last day of the
period and annualizing the result in accordance with the following formula:
[(a-b )6 ]
YIELD = 2|(--- + 1) -1|
[(cd ) ]
Where a= dividends and interest earned during the period
b= expenses accrued for the period (net of voluntary expense
reductions by the Investment Manager)
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
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To calculate interest earned (for the purpose of "a" above) on debt
obligations, the Fund computes the yield to effective maturity of each
obligation held by the Fund based on the market value of the obligation
(including actual accrued interest) at the close of the last business day of the
preceding period, or, with respect to obligations purchased during the period,
the purchase price (plus actual accrued interest). The yield to effective
maturity is then divided by 360 and the quotient is multiplied by the market
value of the obligation (including actual accrued interest) to determine the
interest income on the obligation for each day of the period that the obligation
is in the portfolio. Dividend income is recognized daily based on published
rates.
With respect to the treatment of discount and premium on mortgage or
other receivables-backed obligations which are expected to be subject to monthly
payments of principal and interest ("paydowns"), the Fund accounts for gain or
loss attributable to actual monthly paydowns as a realized capital gain or loss
during the period. The Fund has elected not to amortize discount or premium on
such securities.
Undeclared earned income, computed in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles, may be subtracted from the maximum offering
price. Undeclared earned income is the net investment income which, at the end
of the base period, has not been declared as a dividend, but is reasonably
expected to be declared as a dividend shortly thereafter. The maximum offering
price includes the maximum applicable sales charge.
All accrued expenses are taken into account as described later herein.
Yield information is useful in reviewing the Fund's performance, but
because yields fluctuate, such information cannot necessarily be used to compare
an investment in the Fund's shares with bank deposits, savings accounts and
similar investment alternatives which often are insured and/or provide an agreed
or guaranteed fixed yield for a stated period of time. Shareholders should
remember that yield is a function of the kind and quality of the instruments in
the Fund's portfolio, portfolio maturity and operating expenses and market
conditions.
Accrued Expenses and Recurring Charges
---------------------------------------
Accrued expenses include all recurring charges that are charged to all
shareholder accounts in proportion to the length of the base period. The
standard total return and yield results take sales charges, if applicable, into
account, although the results do not take into account recurring and
nonrecurring charges for optional services which only certain shareholders elect
and which involve nominal fees, such as the $7.50 fee for wire orders.
Accrued expenses do not include the subsidization, if any, by
affiliates of fees or expenses during the subject period. Subsidization can
include the Investment Manager's waiver of a portion of its advisory fee, the
Distributor's waiver of a portion of its Rule 12b-1
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fee, or the assumption of a portion of the Fund's expenses by either of them or
their affiliates. In the absence of such subsidization, the performance of the
Fund would have been lower.
Nonstandardized Total Return
-----------------------------
Each Fund may provide the above described standard total return results
for Class A, Class B(1), Class B, Class C and Class S shares for periods which
end no earlier than the most recent calendar quarter end and which begin twelve
months before, five years before and ten years before (or the commencement of
the Fund's operations, whichever is earlier). In addition, the Fund may provide
nonstandardized total return results for differing periods, such as for the most
recent six months, and/or without taking sales charges into account. Such
nonstandardized total return is computed as otherwise described under "Total
Return" except the result may or may not be annualized, and as noted any
applicable sales charge, if any, may not be taken into account and therefore not
deducted from the hypothetical initial payment of $1,000.
Distribution Rates
-------------------
Each Fund may also quote its distribution rate for each class of
shares. The distribution rate is calculated by annualizing the latest per-share
distribution from ordinary income and dividing the result by the offering price
per share as of the end of the period to which the distribution relates. A
distribution can include gross investment income from debt obligations purchased
at a premium and in effect include a portion of the premium paid. A distribution
can also include nonrecurring, gross short-term capital gains without
recognition of any unrealized capital losses. Further, a distribution can
include income from the sale of options by the Fund even though such option
income is not considered investment income under generally accepted accounting
principles.
Because a distribution can include such premiums, capital gains and
option income, the amount of the distribution may be susceptible to control by
the Investment Manager through transactions designed to increase the amount of
such items. Also, because the distribution rate is calculated in part by
dividing the latest distribution by the offering price, which is based on net
asset value plus any applicable sales charge, the distribution rate will
increase as the net asset value declines. A distribution rate can be greater
than the yield rate calculated as described above.
L. Custodian
State Street Bank and Trust Company, 225 Franklin Street, Boston,
Massachusetts 02110, is the custodian for Fund assets. As custodian State Street
Bank and Trust Company is responsible for, among other things, safeguarding and
controlling the Fund's cash and securities, handling the receipt and delivery of
securities and collecting interest and dividends on each Fund's investments.
State Street Bank and Trust Company is not an affiliate of the Investment
Manager or its affiliates.
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M. Independent Accountants
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, 160 Federal Street, Boston, Massachusetts
02110, serves as the Trusts' independent accountants, providing professional
services including (1) audits of each Fund's annual financial statements, (2)
assistance and consultation in connection with SEC filings and (3) review of the
annual income tax returns filed on behalf of each Fund.
N. Financial Reports
In addition to the reports provided to holders of record on a
semiannual basis, other supplementary financial reports may be made available
from time to time through electronic or other media. Shareholders with
substantial holdings in one or more State Street Research Funds may also receive
reports and other information which reflect or analyze their positions in a
consolidated manner. For more information, call State Street Research Service
Center.
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