CAPSTONE GROWTH FUND, INC.
Investing in stocks for long-term capital appreciation
Prospectus
February 29, 2000
The Securities and Exchange Commission does not approve or disapprove the
information in this Prospectus, and does not determine whether this information
is accurate or complete. It is a criminal offense to state otherwise.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
The Fund.................................................................. 3
Fee Table................................................................. 6
Management................................................................ 7
Buying and Selling Fund Shares............................................ 7
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes........................................ 12
Financial Highlights...................................................... 13
How To Get More Information............................................... 14
2
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THE FUND
The Fund's Investment Objective and Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund seeks to provide long-term capital appreciation. It invests primarily
in common stocks of companies that represent a broad spectrum of the economy.
The Fund may also buy convertible and preferred securities and shares of other
investment companies. Although most of its investments will generally be in U.S.
issuers, the Fund may invest in foreign securities.
The Fund's investment approach is to invest in companies whose valuations are
attractive in relation to broad market averages and the company's own growth
rate. In selecting stocks for consideration, the Adviser reviews historical
performance and expected earnings growth, as well as recent relative
performance. For companies that rate favorably on those tests, the Adviser
performs a fundamental analysis. This analysis may involve evaluating the
company's industry, reviewing comments of securities analysts and press reports,
and interviewing company management. Finally, in selecting securities for
investment, the Adviser considers their impact on the Fund's overall risk and
return profile. When securities held by the Fund are reviewed according to these
standards and no longer rank favorably relative to other potential investments,
they may be considered for possible sale.
The Fund has authority to invest in securities of the U.S. Government, its
agencies and instrumentalities and in other debt securities that are rated at
least A by Moody's Investors Service (Moody's) or Standard & Poor's Corporation
(S&P) or deemed of comparable quality by the investment adviser. The Fund may
invest without limit in these instruments as a temporary defensive measure under
unusual market conditions, which can cause the Fund to fail to meet its
investment objective during such periods and to lose benefits when the market
begins to improve. (If these securities are downgraded, the adviser has the
discretion to hold or sell them.) The Fund may also use futures and options to
hedge its portfolio, and it may hedge its foreign securities purchases with
forward foreign currency exchange contracts.
The Fund's most recent annual/semiannual report contains information on the
Fund's recent investment strategies, as discussed above, and securities
holdings. (See back cover.)
Principal Risks
The Fund's investments will fluctuate in price. This means that Fund share
prices will go up and down, and an investor can lose money. Moreover, from time
to time, the Fund's performance may be better or worse than funds with similar
investment policies. Its performance is also likely to differ from that of funds
that use different strategies for selecting stocks.
Investments in stocks of any type involve risk because stock prices have no
guaranteed value. Stock prices may fluctuate -- at times dramatically -- in
response to various factors, including market conditions, political and other
events, and developments affecting the particular issuer or its industry or
geographic segment. Despite these risks, stocks have historically tended to out-
perform other types of securities over the longer term.
Investments in fixed income securities also entail risk. The values of these
securities will tend to fluctuate inversely with changes in interest rates.
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Changes in the financial strength of the issuer, or its creditworthiness, can
also affect the value of the securities it issues. Convertible and preferred
stocks, which have some characteristics of both stock and fixed income
securities, also entail, to some extent, the risks of each.
The Fund's hedging activities, although they are designed to help offset
negative movements in the markets for the Fund's investments, will not always be
successful. Moreover, they can also cause the Fund to lose money or fail to get
the benefit of a gain. Among other things, these negative effects can occur if
the market moves in a direction that the Fund's investment adviser does not
expect or if the Fund cannot close out its position in a hedging instrument.
The Fund's investments in foreign securities also involve higher costs and some
risks that are different from its investments in U.S. securities. These
different risks come from differences in securities markets in other countries,
in tax policies, in the level of regulation and in accounting standards, as well
as from fluctuations in currency values. Further, there is often more limited
information about foreign issuers, and there is the possibility of negative
governmental actions and of political and social unrest.
The Fund's investments in other investment companies involve additional expenses
because Fund shareholders will indirectly bear a portion of the expenses of such
companies, including operating costs and administrative and advisory fees. These
expenses are in addition to similar expenses of the Fund that shareholders bear
directly.
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Past Performance
The following two tables illustrate the Fund's past performance. The first table
provides some indication of the risks of an investment in the Fund by showing
how the Fund's returns have varied from year to year. The second shows how the
Fund has performed on a cumulative basis for the past ten years in comparison to
the S&P 500 Index, which is a broad measure of the performance of the U.S. stock
market. Each table assumes that dividends and distributions paid by the Fund
have been reinvested at net asset value in additional Fund shares. You should
remember that past performance does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will
perform in the future.
[Bar Chart to be inserted showing the following data:]
Year-by-year total return as of 12/31 each year (%).
12/31/90 (3.24%)
12/31/91 34.73%
12/31/92 0.84%
12/31/93 6.11%
12/31/94 (7.77%)
12/31/95 29.20%
12/31/96 17.23%
12/31/97 28.74%
12/31/98 23.32%
12/31/99 22.95%
Best Quarter - 4th Quarter 1998 22.00%
Worst Quarter - 3rd Quarter 1990 (12.74%)
Average Annual Total Return as of 12/31/99
1 Year 5 Years 10 Years
------ ------- --------
Fund 22.95% 24.21% 14.29%
S&P 500 Index 21.01% 28.49% 18.17%
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FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE FUND
This table describes the fees and expenses you will pay if you invest in the
Fund. As you can see, the Fund has no fees that are charged directly to
shareholders. Shareholders do, however, bear indirectly a portion of the Fund's
annual operating expenses.
FEE TABLE
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
Maximum front-end sales charge None
Maximum deferred sales charge None
Maximum sales charge on reinvested dividends and None
distributions
Redemption fee None
Exchange fee None
Maximum account fee None
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that are deducted from Fund assets)
Investment Advisory Fees 0.69%
12b-1 Fees* 0.25%
Other Expenses** 0.24%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 1.18%
* The Fund has adopted a Rule 12b-1 Plan that permits it to pay up to 0.25%
of its average net assets each year for distribution costs. These fees are
an ongoing charge to the Fund and therefore are an indirect expense to
you. Over time these fees may cost you more than other types of sales
charge.
** "Other expenses" include such expenses as custody, transfer agent, legal,
accounting and registration fees.
EXAMPLE
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in
the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes
that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then
redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes
that your investment returns 5% each year, and that the Fund's operating
expenses remain at a constant percentage. Because these assumptions may vary
from your actual experience, your actual return and expenses may be different.
1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years
- ------ ------- ------- --------
$120 $365 $630 $1,384
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MANAGEMENT
The Adviser
The Fund's investment adviser is Capstone Asset Management Company (CAMCO), 5847
San Felipe, Suite 4100, Houston, Texas 77057. CAMCO provides continuous
investment management and administration services for the Fund. CAMCO also
provides investment advisory and/or administrative services to several other
mutual funds and provides investment advice to pension and profit sharing
accounts, corporations and individuals. Total assets under management are about
$2.7 billion.
CAMCO receives advisory fees from the Fund which are based on the Fund's net
assets. For its fiscal year ended October 31, 1999, the Fund paid CAMCO fees
equal to 0.69% of the Fund's average net assets.
Portfolio Manager
The Fund's portfolio manager is Dan E. Watson. Mr. Watson is one of the
Adviser's co-founders. He is the Adviser's Chief Investment Officer and Senior
Equity Portfolio Manager and serves on both the investment and client service
teams. Mr. Watson began his career with Texas Commerce Bank, and joined Tenneco,
Inc. in 1977, where he subsequently served as Assistant to the Chairman of the
Board. Mr. Watson helped form Tenneco Financial Services, the Adviser's
predecessor, in 1981 and served as its President. Mr. Watson received his
Bachelor's Degree from Baylor University (magna cum laude), Masters Degrees from
Baylor and Rice Universities, and a PhD from Rice University.
BUYING AND SELLING FUND SHARES
SHARE PRICE
The purchase and redemption price of Fund shares is the Fund's net asset value
(NAV) per share determined after your order is received. NAV is generally
calculated as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange,
generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, and reflects the Fund's aggregate assets less
its liabilities. The Fund's exchange-traded securities are valued at their
market value at that time (certain derivatives are priced at 4:15 Eastern
time). Prices for debt securities may be obtained from pricing services, except
that short-term debt securities are valued at amortized cost. If market value
quotations are not readily available for an investment, the investment will
be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Fund's Board of
Directors. For investments in securities traded on foreign exchanges that close
prior to the time at which a Fund's net asset value is determined, the
calculation of net asset value does not take place contemporaneously with the
determination of the prices of those securities. If an event were to occur after
the value of a Fund investment was so established but before the Fund's net
asset value per share is determined that is likely to materially change the
Fund's net asset value, the Fund instrument would be valued using fair value
considerations established by the Board of Directors. NAV is not calculated on
days the New York Stock Exchange is closed.
Minimum Investment
The minimum initial investment in the Fund is $200, with the exception of
continuous investment plans. There is no minimum for subsequent investments,
with the exception of continuous investment plans. (For telephone purchases, see
below.)
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Share Certificates
The Fund will not issue share certificates unless you make a written request to
the Transfer Agent. (The Transfer Agent's address is provided below.)
Telephone Transactions
In your Investment Application, you may authorize the Fund to accept redemption
and exchange orders by phone. You will be liable for any fraudulent order as
long as the Fund has taken reasonable steps to assure that the order was
proper. Also note that during unusual market conditions, you may experience
delays in placing telephone orders. (See "Purchasing Fund Shares and Redeeming
Fund Shares.")
Frequent Transactions
The Fund reserves the right to limit additional purchase and exchange
transactions by any investor who makes frequent purchases, redemptions or
exchanges that the Adviser believes might harm the Fund. In general, more than
one transaction per month may be viewed as excessive.
PURCHASING FUND SHARES
You may use any of the following methods to purchase Fund shares.
Through Authorized Dealers. You may place your order through any dealer
Authorized to take orders for the Fund. If the order is transmitted to the Fund
by 4:00 p.m. Central time, it will be priced at the NAV per share determined on
that day. Otherwise, later orders will receive the NAV per share next
determined. It is the dealer's responsibility to transmit orders timely.
Through the Distributor. You may place orders directly with the Fund's
distributor by mailing a completed Investment Application with a check or other
negotiable bank draft (payable to Capstone Growth Fund, Inc.) to the Transfer
Agent.
The Transfer Agent's address is:
Capstone Growth Fund, Inc.
c/o PFPC, Inc.
P.O. Box 61503
211 South Gulph Road
King of Prussia, Pennsylvania 19406-3101
(Remember to make your check for at least any applicable
minimum noted above.)
Investing By Wire. You may purchase shares by wire if you have an account with
a commercial bank that is a member of the Federal Reserve System. You should be
aware that your bank may charge a fee for this service.
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For an initial investment by wire, you must first call 1-800-845-2340 to be
assigned a Fund account number. Ask your bank to wire the amount of your
investment to:
Boston Safe Deposit & Trust
ABA #: 011001234
Credit: "Complete Name of your Fund"
Acct #: 000515
FBO: "Shareholder name and account number"
Note that the wire must include: your name and address, your Fund account number
and your social security or tax identification number. You must follow up your
wire with a completed Investment Application. This application is contained in
the Fund's prospectus. Mail the application to the Transfer Agent's address
(see above, under "Distributor").
For a subsequent investment by wire, ask your bank to wire funds to the Boston
Safe Deposit & Trust address noted above. The wire must include your name and
your Fund account number.
Telephone Investment
After you have opened your account, you may make additional investments by
telephone if you completed the "Telephone Purchase Authorization" section of
your Investment Application. You may place a telephone order by calling the
Transfer Agent at 1-800-845-2340.
The minimum for a telephone purchase is $1,000, and the maximum is five times
the NAV of your Fund shares on the day before your telephone order. (You may not
include the value of shares for which you have been issued certificates.) Your
order will be priced at the NAV next determined after your call. Payment for
your order must be received within 3 business days. Mail your payment to the
Transfer Agent's address (see "Distributor," above). If your payment is not
received within 3 business days, you will be liable for any losses caused by
your purchase.
Pre-Authorized Investment
You may arrange to make regular monthly investments of at least $25 through
automatic deductions from your checking account by completing the Pre-Authorized
Payment section of the Investment Application.
REDEEMING FUND SHARES
You may redeem your Fund shares at any time by writing to the Transfer Agent's
address. The Fund does not charge any fee for redemptions. If you request the
redemption proceeds to be sent to your address of record, you generally will not
need a signature guarantee. A signature guarantee will be required if:
o you were issued certificates for the shares you are redeeming;
o you want the proceeds to be mailed to a different address or to be
paid to someone other than the record owner;
o you want to transfer ownership of the shares.
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Signature guarantee: A signature guarantee can be provided by most banks,
broker-dealers and savings associations, as well as by some credit unions.
Any certificates for shares you are redeeming must accompany your redemption
request. You will generally receive a check for your redemption amount within a
week.
Expedited Redemption
Through an authorized dealer: You may request a redemption through any
broker-dealer authorized to take orders for the Fund. The broker-dealer will
place the redemption order by telephone or telegraph directly with the Fund's
distributor and your share price will be based on the NAV next determined after
the distributor receives the order. The distributor does not charge for this
service, but the broker-dealer may charge a fee. You will generally receive your
proceeds within a week.
Telephone redemption: You may order a redemption by calling the Transfer Agent
at 1-800-845-2340 if:
o your redemption will be at least $1,000;
o no share certificates were issued for the shares you are
redeeming;
o your Investment Application authorized expedited telephone
redemption and designated a bank or broker-dealer to receive
the proceeds.
The proceeds will be mailed or wired to the designated bank or broker-dealer on
the next business day after your redemption order is received. There is no fee
charged by the Fund for this service, although a fee may be imposed in the
future. The Fund may also decide to modify or not to offer this service. In this
case, the Fund will attempt to provide reasonable prior notice to shareholders.
Systematic Withdrawal
You may arrange for periodic withdrawals of $50 or more if you invest at least
$5,000 in the Fund. Under this arrangement, you must elect to have all your
dividends and distributions reinvested in shares of the Fund. Your withdrawals
under this plan may be monthly, quarterly, semi-annual or annual.
Payments under this plan are made by redeeming your Fund shares. The payments do
not represent a yield from the Fund and may be a return of your capital, thus
depleting your investment. Payments under this plan will terminate when all your
shares have been redeemed. The number of payments you receive will depend on
the size of your investment, the amount and frequency of payments, and the
yield and share price of the Fund, which can be expected to fluctuate.
You may terminate your plan at any time by writing to the Transfer Agent. You
continue to have the right to redeem your shares at any time. The cost of the
plan is borne by the Fund and there is no direct charge to you.
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Redemption in Kind
If you place a redemption order for more than $1 million, the Fund reserves the
right to pay the proceeds in portfolio securities of the Fund, rather than in
cash to the extent consistent with applicable legal requirements. In that case,
you will bear any brokerage costs imposed when you sell those securities.
Redemption Suspensions or Delays
Although you may normally redeem your shares at any time, redemptions may not be
permitted at times when the New York Stock Exchange is closed for unusual
circumstances, or when the Securities and Exchange Commission allows redemptions
to be suspended.
If you recently purchased the shares by check, the Fund may withhold the
proceeds of your redemption order until it has reasonable assurance that the
purchase check will be collected, which may take up to 15 days from the date
of purchase.
EXCHANGING FUND SHARES
You may exchange your Fund shares for shares of another Capstone fund at a price
based on their respective NAVs. There is no sales charge or other fee. We will
send you the prospectus of the fund into which you are exchanging and we urge
you to read it. If you have certificates for the shares you are exchanging, your
order cannot be processed until you have endorsed them for transfer and
delivered them to the Transfer Agent.
You may place an exchange order in two ways:
o you may mail your exchange order to the Transfer Agent's
address.
o you may place your order by telephone if you authorized
telephone exchanges on your Investment Application. Telephone
exchange orders may be placed from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Eastern time, on any business day.
Exchanges into a fund can be made only if that fund is eligible for sale in your
state. The Fund may terminate or amend the exchange privilege at any time with
60 days' notice to shareholders.
Remember that your exchange is a sale of your shares. Tax consequences are
described under "Dividends, Distributions and Taxes."
Tax-Deferred Retirement Plans
Fund shares may be used for virtually all types of tax-deferred retirement
plans, including traditional, Roth and Education IRAs and Simplified Employee
Pension Plans. For more information, call 1-800-262-6631.
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DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
Dividends and Distributions
The Fund expects to pay dividends from its net income and distributions from its
net realized capital gains at least annually, generally in November. Normally,
income dividends and capital gains distributions on your Fund shares will be
paid in additional shares of the Fund, with no sales charge. However, on your
Investment Application, you may elect one of the following other options:
Option 1 To have income dividends paid in cash and capital gains distributions
paid in additional Fund shares.
Option 2 To have both income dividends and capital gains distributions paid to
you in cash.
There is no sales charge or other fee for either option. If you select Option 1
or Option 2 and the checks sent to you cannot be delivered or remain uncashed
for six months, the aggregate amount of those checks will be invested in
additional Fund shares for your account at the then current NAV, and all your
future dividends and distributions will be paid in Fund shares.
Tax Treatment of Dividends, Distributions and Redemptions
You will generally be subject to federal income tax each year on dividend and
distribution payments, as well as on any gain realized when you sell (redeem) or
exchange your Fund shares. If you hold Fund shares through a tax-deferred
account (such as a retirement plan), you generally will not owe tax until you
receive a distribution from the account.
The Fund will let you know each year which amounts of your dividend and
distribution payments are to be taxed as ordinary income and which are treated
as long-term capital gain. The tax treatment of these amounts does not depend on
how long you have held your Fund shares or on whether you receive payments in
cash or additional shares.
The tax treatment of any gain or loss you realize when you sell or exchange Fund
shares will depend on how long you held the shares.
You should consult your tax adviser about any special circumstances that could
affect the federal, state and local tax treatment of your Fund distributions and
transactions.
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FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The following table is intended to help you understand the Fund's financial
performance for the past five years. The "Per Share Data" reflects financial
results for a single Fund share. The "Total Return" numbers represent the rate
that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund
(assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). The information for
the years ended October 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997 has been audited by Briggs,
Bunting & Dougherty, whose report, along with the Fund's financial statements,
are included in the Fund's Annual Report for the fiscal year ended October 31,
1999, which is available on request. The information for each of the two years
in the period ended October 31, 1996 was audited by other auditors.
<TABLE>
YEARS ENDED OCTOBER 31,
1999 1998 1997 1996 1995
------ ------ ------ ------ ------
PER SHARE DATA
- --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net asset value at beginning of period................... ...$ 15.18 $ 16.76 $ 15.56 $ 13.82 $ 13.23
Income from investment operations:
Net investment income................................ .. 0.02 0.12 0.16 0.22 0.17
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)................. 4.04 2.11 3.55 2.31 1.93
------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Total from investment operations...................... . 4.06 2.23 3.71 2.53 2.10
------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Less distributions from:
Net investment income................................... (0.12) (0.16) (0.22) (0.06) (0.16)
Net realized gains...................................... (0.66) (3.65) (2.29) (0.73) (1.35)
------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Total distributions..................................... (0.78) (3.81) (2.51) (0.79) (1.51)
------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Net asset value at end of period............................. $18.46 $ 15.18 $ 16.76 $ 15.56 $ 13.82
======= ======= ======= ======= =======
TOTAL RETURN (%) (1)......................................... 27.77% 15.51% 26.91% 19.27% 17.04%
======= ======= ======= ======= =======
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
- ------------------------
Net assets at end of period (in thousands).................. $86,234 $71,539 $69,609 $60,230 $85,324
Ratio of total expenses to average net assets................ 1.18% 1.27% 1.25% 1.29% 1.31%
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets......... 0.11% 0.81% 0.99% 1.31% 1.21
Portfolio turnover rate...................................... 70% 93% 229% 173% 119%
- ---------------
<FN>
(1) Calculated without sales charge. Sales charge eliminated on August 21, 1995.
</FN>
SEE ACCOMPANYING NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</TABLE>
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HOW TO GET MORE INFORMATION
Further information about the Fund is contained in:
o the Statement of Additional Information (SAI). The SAI contains more
detail about some of the matters discussed in the Prospectus. The
SAI is incorporated into the Prospectus by reference.
o Annual and Semi-Annual Reports about the Fund describe its
performance and list its portfolio securities. They also include a
letter from Fund management describing the Fund's strategies and
discussing market conditions and trends and their implications for
the Fund.
You may obtain free copies of the SAI or reports, or other information about the
Fund or your account, by calling 1-800-262-6631.
You may also get copies of the SAI, reports and other information directly the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) by:
o visiting the SEC's public reference room. (Call 1-202-942-8090 for
information.)
o sending a written request, plus a duplicating fee, to the SEC's
Public Reference Section, Washington, D.C. 20549-0102, or by e-mail
request to: [email protected]
o visiting the SEC's website - http://www.sec.gov
The Fund's Investment Company Act File Number with the SEC is: 811-1436.
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CAPSTONE GROWTH FUND, INC.
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
February 29, 2000
This Statement of Additional Information is not a Prospectus but contains
information in addition to and more detailed than that set forth in the
Prospectus and should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus dated
February 29, 2000. A Prospectus may be obtained without charge by contacting
Capstone Asset Planning Company, by phone at (800) 262-6631 or by writing to
it at 5847 San Felipe, Suite 4100, Houston, Texas 77057.
The report of Independent Accountants and financial statements of
the Fund included in its Annual Report for the period ended October 31, 1999
("Annual Report") is incorporated herein by reference to such Report. Copies of
such Annual Report are available without charge upon request by writing to the
Fund at 5847 San Felipe, Suite 4100, Houston, Texas 77057 or by calling toll
free 1-800-262-6631.
The financial statements in the Annual Report incorporated by
reference into this Statement of Additional Information have been audited by
Briggs, Bunting & Doughtery, LLP, independent accountants, and have been so
included and incorporated by reference in reliance upon the report of said firm,
which report is given upon their authority as experts in auditing and
accounting.
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
General Information.......................................................
Investment Policies and Restrictions......................................
Risk Factors..............................................................
Performance Information...................................................
Directors and Executive Officers..........................................
Investment Adviser........................................................
Distributor...............................................................
Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage......................................
Determination of Net Asset Value..........................................
How to Buy and Redeem Shares..............................................
Dividends and Distributions...............................................
Taxes.....................................................................
Control Persons and Principal Holders of Securities.......................
Other Information.........................................................
Financial Statements......................................................
<PAGE>
GENERAL INFORMATION
The Fund is an "open-end diversified management company" under the
Investment Company Act of 1940. It was incorporated in New Jersey in 1952 and
commenced business shortly thereafter. On February 28, 1967, it was merged into
a Pennsylvania corporation and operated under the laws of that state until May
11, 1992 when it was reorganized as a Maryland corporation and its name changed
from U.S. Trend Fund, Inc. to Capstone U.S. Trend Fund, Inc. Effective September
6, 1994 the Fund's name was changed to Capstone Growth Fund, Inc. This change
was approved by stockholders at a meeting held August 25, 1994.
The Fund is a member of a group of investment companies sponsored by
Capstone Asset Management Company (the "Adviser"), which provides investment
advisory and administrative services to the Fund. The Adviser and Capstone Asset
Planning Company (the "Distributor") are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Capstone
Financial Services, Inc.
INVESTMENT POLICIES AND RESTRICTIONS
U.S. Government Securities. Securities of the U.S. Government, its
agencies and instrumentalities include instruments backed by the full faith and
credit of the U.S. Treasury, such as Treasury bills, notes and bonds and
obligations of the Government National Mortgage Association. Other such
instruments, including obligations of the Federal Home Loan Banks, Federal Farm
Credit Bank, Bank for Cooperatives, Federal Intermediate Credit Banks and the
Federal Land Bank, are guaranteed by the right of the issuer to borrow from the
U.S. Treasury. Still others, such as obligations of the Federal National
Mortgage Association, are supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S.
Government to purchase certain of the agency's obligations or, in the case of
agencies such as the Student Loan Marketing Association and the Tennessee Valley
Authority, are backed only by the credit of the issuing agency. For investments
not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, the investor must
look principally to the agency issuing or guaranteeing the obligation for
ultimate repayment. For temporary defensive purposes, the Fund may invest to an
unlimited extent in securities of the U.S. Government, its agencies and
instrumentalities.
Options and Futures. The Fund may employ special investment practices as a
hedge against changes in the value of securities held in the Fund's portfolio or
securities it intends to purchase.
The Fund may purchase put and call options on stock and stock indexes for
hedging purposes. The Fund will not purchase a call or put option if as a result
the premium paid for the option together with premiums paid for all other stock
options and options on stock indexes then held by the Fund exceed 2% of the
Fund's total net assets.
A call option gives the purchaser of the option, in return for premium
paid, the right to buy the underlying security at a specified price at any point
during the term of the option. A put option gives the purchaser the right to
sell the underlying security at the exercise price during the option period. In
the case of an option on a stock index, the option holder has the right to
obtain, upon exercise of the option, a cash settlement based on the difference
between the exercise price and the value of the underlying stock index.
The purchase of put and call options does involve certain risks. Through
investment in options, the Fund can profit from favorable movements in the price
of an underlying stock to a greater extent than if the Fund purchased the stock
directly. However, if the stock does not move in the anticipated direction
during the term of the option in an amount greater than the premium paid for the
option, the Fund may lose a greater percentage of its investment than if the
transaction were effected in the stock directly.
Generally, transactions in stock index options pose the same type of risks
as do transactions in stock options. Price movements in securities which the
Fund owns or intends to purchase probably will not correlate perfectly with
movements in the level of an index and, therefore, the Fund bears the risk of a
loss on an index option which may not completely offset movements in the price
of such securities.
The Fund may also (i) invest up to 5% of its total assets in stock index
futures contracts and options on stock index futures and (ii) engage in margin
transactions with respect to such investments.
A stock index futures contract is an agreement under which two parties
agree to take or make delivery of an amount of cash based on the difference
between the value of a stock index at the beginning and at the end of the
contract period. When the Fund enters into a stock index futures contract, it
must make an initial deposit, known as "initial margin," as a partial guarantee
of its performance under the contract. As the value of the stock index
fluctuates, the Fund may be required to make additional margin deposits, known
as "variation margin," to cover any additional obligation it may have under the
contract.
Options on stock index futures contracts are similar to options on stocks
except that an option on a stock index futures contract gives the purchaser the
right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a position in a stock index
futures contract (a long position if the option is a call and a short position
if the option is a put), upon deposit of required margin. In the alternative,
the purchaser may resell the option, if it has value, or simply let it expire.
Upon expiration, the purchaser will either realize a gain or the option will
expire worthless, depending on the closing price of the index on that day. Thus,
the purchaser's risk is limited to the premium paid for the option.
The Fund will not leverage its portfolio by purchasing an amount of
contracts that would increase its exposure to stock market movements beyond the
exposure of a portfolio that was 100% invested in common stocks. The Fund will
not enter into transactions in futures contracts and options on such contracts
to the extent that, immediately thereafter, the sum of its initial margin
deposits on open futures contracts and premiums paid for options, exceeds 5% of
the market value of the Fund's total assets. In addition, the Fund will not
enter into futures contracts and options on such contracts to the extent that
its outstanding obligations under these contracts would exceed 20% of the Fund's
total assets.
Successful use by the Fund of stock index futures contracts is subject to
certain special risk considerations. A liquid index futures market may not be
available when the Fund seeks to offset adverse market movements. In addition,
there may be an imperfect correlation between movements in the securities
included in the index and movements in the securities in the Fund's portfolio.
Successful use of stock index futures contracts and options on such contracts is
further dependent on the Adviser's ability to predict correctly movements in the
direction of the stock markets, and no assurance can be given that is judgment
in this respect will be correct. Risks in the purchase and sale of stock index
futures contracts are discussed further in the Statement of Additional
Information.
Foreign Securities. Investment in foreign securities entails certain
special cost and risks. Although the Fund does not expect to invest extensively
in foreign securities, stockholders should be aware that such investments often
involve higher brokerage and custody costs, currency conversion costs and longer
settlement time. Other special factors regarding foreign investing include
thinner and more volatile trading markets; less extensive information about
securities, markets and issuers; lower levels of government regulation;
difficulties in enforcing obligations; different accounting standards;
fluctuations in values of foreign currencies against the U.S. dollar; and the
risk of negative government actions such as expropriation, nationalization,
imposition of withholding, confiscatory or other taxes, currency blockages or
restrictions on transfer.
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Transactions. The Fund may enter into
forward currency exchange contracts in an attempt to hedge against adverse
movements in the relationship exchange between the U.S. dollar and the
currencies in which any non-U.S. investments are denominated or between two
foreign currencies. The Fund may enter into this type of contract with respect
to a specific transaction or as a hedge for the Fund's portfolio positions.
These contracts involve an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at
a specified future date at a specified price. These contracts are traded in the
interbank market conducted between currency traders (generally large commercial
banks) and their customers. Although the Fund would enter into such a contract
to minimize the risk of loss due to adverse currency fluctuations, such a
contract may also limit the extent to which the Fund could gain from positive
fluctuations. There can be no assurance that these activities will be successful
in protecting the fund against negative effects of currency fluctuation.
Securities of Other Investment Companies. The Fund may invest in
securities issued by the other investment companies. The Fund currently intends
to limit its investments so that, as determined immediately after a securities
purchase is made: (a) not more than 5% of the value of its total assets will be
invested in the securities of any one investment company; (b) not more than 10%
of the value of its total assets will be invested in the aggregate in securities
of investment companies as a group; and (c) not more than 3% of the outstanding
voting stock of any one investment company will be owned by the Fund. As a
shareholder of another investment company, the Fund would bear, along with other
shareholders, its pro rata portion of that company's expenses, including
advisory fees. These expenses would be in addition to the advisory and other
expenses that the Fund bears directly in connection with its own operations.
Investment companies in which the Fund may invest may also impose a sales or
distribution charge in connection with the purchase or redemption of their
shares and other types of commissions or charges. Such charges will be payable
by the Fund and, therefore, will be borne indirectly by shareholders.
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
The Fund has adopted certain investment restrictions which, together with
the investment objective of the Fund, cannot be changed without approval by
holders of a majority of the Fund's outstanding voting shares. Such majority is
defined by the Investment Company Act of 1940 as the lesser of (i) 67% or more
of the voting securities present in person or by proxy at a meeting, if the
holders of more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities are present or
represented by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding voting
securities. These restrictions, which are designed to enhance the realization of
the Fund's investment objective, provide, among other things, that the Fund may
not:
1. Engage in margin transactions or short sales, except that the Fund may
engage in margin transactions with respect to transactions in stock
index futures contracts and options on stock index futures.
2. Invest more than 5% of the value of its total assets (at time of
investment) in the securities of any one issuer except the United
States Government and its instrumentalities.
3. Invest in companies for the purpose of exercising control of
management.
4. Borrow any amount in excess of 5% of the value of its total assets
less all liabilities not represented by senior securities at the time
the loan is made, or amounts in excess of 10% of the gross assets of
the Fund taken at cost, whichever is less, and provided further that
any such borrowings shall be undertaken only as a temporary measure
for extraordinary or emergency purposes. Normally the Fund will borrow
only to permit timely payment for shares liquidated by stockholders
for which it does not have ready funds to make payment. While
authorized to borrow, the Fund has never done so and has no plans to
do so.
5. Invest in securities of companies having a record of less than three
years continuous operation, if such purchase at the time would cause
more than 5% of the total assets to be invested in the securities of
such company or companies.
6. Purchase or retain securities of a company, if those officers or
directors of the Fund or the Adviser who individually own beneficially
more than 1/2 of 1% of the shares or securities of such company
together own beneficially more than 5% of the shares or securities of
such company.
7. Invest in commodities or commodity contracts except that the Fund may
enter into stock index futures contracts and options on stock index
futures contracts to the extent that, (a) immediately thereafter, the
sum of its initial margin deposits on such open contracts and premiums
paid for options on such futures contracts does not exceed 5% of the
market value of the Fund's total assets and (b) its outstanding
obligations under such contracts and options does not exceed 20% of
the Fund's total assets.
8. Invest in real estate, or other interests in real estate which are not
readily marketable.
9. Underwrite securities issued by others, or invest in any securities it
could not freely sell to the public without registration under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except that the Fund may invest up
to 10% of its assets in securities which have not been registered
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
10. Purchase the securities of any one issuer if such purchase would cause
more than 10% of any class of outstanding securities, including
outstanding voting securities, of such issuer to be held by the Fund.
11. Lend any part of its assets apart from the purchase of portions of
issues of publicly distributed bonds, debentures, notes and other
evidences of indebtedness and privately distributed debt obligations
of publicly owned companies.
12. Issue warrants or options for the acquisition of Fund shares.
13. Pledge or otherwise encumber any of its assets to an extent greater
than 15% of the gross assets of the Fund taken at cost. (In order to
comply with Illinois law, management has decided to follow a more
restrictive policy for the present time. Accordingly, the Fund will
not, as a matter of operating policy, pledge, mortgage or hypothecate
its portfolio securities to the extent that at any time the percentage
of pledged securities will exceed 10% of the offering price of the
Fund's shares, except as permitted in transactions in options and
futures.)
14. Invest 25% or more of the value of its total assets in a particular
industry.
15. The Fund will not invest in oil, gas or other mineral exploration or
development programs (although the Fund is not prohibited from
investing in issuers that own or invest in such investors).
16. Invest in securities of other investment companies, except (a) in
connection with a merger, consolidation, acquisition, or
reorganization, and (b) the Fund may invest up to 10% of its total
assets in shares of other investment companies.
Any investment restriction which involves a maximum percentage of
securities or assets shall not be considered to be violated unless an excess
over the percentage occurs as a result of an acquisition of securities.
The portfolio securities of the Fund may be turned over whenever necessary
or appropriate in the opinion of the Fund's management to seek the achievement
of the basic objective of the Fund. The turnover rate of the Fund's portfolio
was 70% for the fiscal year ended October 31, 1999 and 93% for the fiscal year
ended October 31, 1998.
RISK FACTORS
Stock Index Futures and Related Options
The Fund may engage in transactions in options on stock and stock indices,
and stock index futures and options on such futures as a hedge against changes
in the value of securities held in the Fund's portfolio or securities it intends
to purchase.
To protect the value of its portfolio against declining stock prices, the
Fund may purchase put options on stock indices. To protect against an increase
in the value of securities that it wants to purchase, the Fund may purchase call
options on stock indices. A stock index (such as the S&P 500) assigns relative
values to the common stocks included in the index and the index fluctuates with
the changes in the market values of the common stocks so included. Options on
stock indices are similar to options on stock except that, rather than giving
the purchaser the right to take delivery of stock at a specified price, an
option on a stock index gives the purchaser the right to receive cash. The
amount of cash is 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 (the "multiplier"). The writer of the option is obligated, in return
for the premium received, to make delivery of this amount. Gain or loss with
respect to options on stock indices depends on price movements in the stock
market generally rather than price movements in individual stocks.
The multiplier for an index option performs a function similar to the unit
of trading for a stock option. It determines the total dollar value per contract
of each point in the difference between the exercise price of an option and the
current level of the underlying index. A multiplier of 100 means that a
one-point difference will yield $100. Options on different indices may have
different multipliers.
Because the value of a stock index option depends upon movements in the
level of the stock index rather than the price of a particular stock, whether a
fund will realize a gain or loss on the purchase of a put or call option on a
stock index depends upon movements in the level of stock prices in the stock
market generally or in an industry or market segment rather than movements in
the price of a particular stock. Accordingly, successful use by the Fund of both
put and call options on stock indices will be subject to the Adviser's ability
to accurately predict movements in the direction of the stock market generally
or of a particular industry. In cases where the Adviser's prediction proves to
be inaccurate, the Fund will lose the premium paid to purchase the option and it
will have failed to realize any gain.
In addition, the Fund's ability to hedge effectively all or a portion of
its securities through transactions in options on stock indices (and therefore
the extent of its gain or loss on such transactions) depends on the degree to
which price movements in the underlying index correlate with price movements in
the Fund's securities. Inasmuch as such securities will not duplicate the
components of an index, the correlation probably will not be perfect.
Consequently, the Fund will bear the risk that the prices of the securities
being hedged will not move in the same amount as the option. This risk will
increase as the composition of the Fund's portfolio diverges from the
composition of the index.
A stock index futures contract is a bilateral agreement to which two
parties agree to take or make delivery of an amount of cash equal to a specified
dollar amount times the difference between the stock index value at the close of
the last trading day of the contract and the futures contract price. The value
of a unit is the current value of the stock index. For example, the Standard &
Poor's Stock Index is composed of 500 selected common stocks, most of which are
listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The S&P Index assigns relative weightings
to the value of one share of each of these 500 common stocks included in the
Index, and the Index fluctuates with changes in the market values of the shares
of those common stocks. In the case of the S&P 500 Index, contracts are to buy
or sell 500 units. Thus, if the value of the S&P 500 Index Futures were $150,
one contract would be worth $75,000 (500 units X $150). Stock index futures
contracts specify that no delivery of the actual stocks making up the index will
take place. Instead, settlement in cash must occur upon the termination of a
contract, with the settlement being the difference between the contract price
and the actual level of the stock index at the expiration of the contract. For
example, if the Fund enters into a futures contract to buy 500 units of the S&P
500 Index at a specified future date at a contract price of $150 and the S&P 500
Index is at $154 on that future date, the Fund will gain $2,000 (500 units X
gain of $4). If the Fund enters into a futures contract to sell 500 units of the
stock index at a specified future date at a contract price of $150 and the S&P
500 Index is at $154 on that future date, the Fund will lose $2,000 (500 units X
loss of $4).
Options on stock index futures contracts are similar to options on stocks
except that an option on a stock index futures contract gives the purchaser the
right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a position in a stock index
futures contract (a long position if the option is a call and short position if
the option is a put), upon deposit of required margin. In the alternative, the
purchaser may resell the option, if it has value, or simply let it expire. Upon
expiration the purchaser will either realize a gain or the option will expire
worthless, depending on the closing price of the index on that day. Thus, the
purchaser's risk is limited to the premium paid for the option.
Successful use of stock index futures contracts and options on such
contracts is subject to the Adviser's ability to predict correctly movements in
the direction of the stock markets. No assurance can be given that the Adviser's
judgement in this respect will be correct. Additionally, the correlation between
movements in the price of futures contracts or options on futures contracts and
movements in prices of securities being hedged or used for cover is not perfect.
The Fund will purchase and sell stock index futures contracts and will
purchase put and call options on stock index futures contracts only as a hedge
against changes in the value of securities held in the Fund's portfolio or which
it intends to purchase and where the transactions are economically appropriate
to the reduction of the risks inherent in the ongoing management of the Fund.
Generally, the Fund may hedge its securities portfolio against a period of
market decline by selling stock index futures contracts or by purchasing puts on
stock index futures contracts for the purpose of protecting its portfolio
against such decline. Conversely, the Fund may purchase stock index futures
contracts or call options thereon as a means of protecting against an increase
in the prices of securities which the Fund intends to purchase. The Fund will
not engage in transactions in stock index futures contracts or options on such
contracts for speculation and will not write options on stock index futures
contracts.
When purchasing stock index futures contracts, the Fund will be required
to post a small initial margin deposit, held by the Fund's custodian in the name
of the futures broker selected by the Fund; the remaining portion of the
contracts' value will be retained in short-term investments in order to meet
variation margin requirements or net redemptions. In the event of net
redemptions, the Fund would close out open futures contracts and meet
redemptions with cash realized from liquidating short-term investments.
The Fund will not leverage its portfolio by purchasing an amount of
contracts that would increase its exposure to stock market movements beyond the
exposure of a portfolio that was 100% invested in common stocks.
The Fund will not enter into transactions involving futures contracts and
options on futures contracts to the extent that, immediately thereafter, the sum
of its initial margin deposits on open futures contracts and premiums paid for
options on futures contracts would exceed 5% of the market value of the Fund's
total assets. In addition, the Fund will not enter into futures contracts and
options on futures contracts to the extent that its outstanding obligations
under these contracts and options would exceed 20% of the Fund's total assets.
Stock index futures contracts by their terms settle at settlement date on
a cash basis. In most cases, however, the contracts are "closed out" before the
settlement date. Closing out an open futures position is done by taking an
opposite position ("buying" a contract which has previously been "sold" or
selling a previously purchased contract) in an identical contract to terminate
the position.
Positions in stock index futures contracts may be closed out only on an
exchange which provides a secondary market for such futures. There can be no
assurance, however, that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular
futures contract at any specified time. Thus, it may not be possible to close
out a futures position, which could have an adverse impact on the cash position
of the Fund, and which could possibly force the sale of portfolio securities at
a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so. In the opinion of the Fund's
management, the risk that the Fund will be unable to close out a futures
contract will be minimized by entering only into futures contracts which are
traded on national futures exchanges and for which there appears to be a liquid
secondary market.
The risk of loss in trading futures contracts in some strategies can be
substantial, due both to the low margin deposits required and to the extremely
high degree of leverage involved in futures pricing. As a result, a relatively
small price movement in a futures contract may result in immediate and
substantial loss (as well as gain) to an investor. Because the Fund will only
engage in futures strategies for hedging purposes, the Fund's management does
not believe that the Fund will be subject to the risks of substantial loss that
may be associated with futures transactions.
Foreign Securities
Although the Fund expects to invest principally in securities of U.S.
issuers, it may invest in U.S. dollar- or foreign currency-denominated foreign
equity and debt securities traded in the United States or in foreign markets.
Investments in securities of foreign issuers involve certain costs, risks and
considerations not typically associated with investments in U.S. issuers. These
include: differences in accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards;
generally higher commission rates on foreign portfolio transactions; the
possibility of nationalization, expropriation or confiscatory taxation; adverse
changes in investment or exchange control regulations (which may include
suspension of the ability to transfer currency from a country); and political
instability which could affect U.S. investments in foreign countries.
Additionally, foreign securities, and dividends and interest payable on those
securities, may be subject to foreign taxes, including taxes withheld from
payments on those securities. Foreign securities often trade with less frequency
and volume than domestic securities and, therefore, may exhibit greater price
volatility and less liquidity. Additional costs associated with an investment in
foreign securities may include higher custodial fees and transaction costs than
are typical of U.S. investments, as well as currency conversion costs. Changes
in foreign exchange rates also will affect the value of securities denominated
or quoted in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. The Fund's objective may be
affected either favorably or unfavorably by fluctuations in the relative rates
of exchange between the currencies of different nations, by exchange control
regulations and by indigenous economic and political developments. A decline in
the value of any particular currency against the U.S. dollar will cause a
decline in the U.S. dollar value of the Fund's holdings of securities
denominated in such currency and, therefore, will cause an overall decline in
the Fund's net asset value and any net investment income and capital gains to be
distributed in U.S. dollars to shareholders. The rate of exchange between the
U.S. dollar and other currencies is determined by several factors including the
supply and demand for particular currencies, central bank efforts to support
particular currencies, the movement of interest rates, the pace of business
activity in certain other countries and the United States, and other economic
and financial conditions affecting the world economy.
The Fund's investments may include securities represented by European
Depositary Receipts ("EDRs") and American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs"). ADRs are
dollar-denominated depository receipts that, typically, are issued by a United
States bank or trust company. They represent the deposit with that bank or trust
company of a security of a foreign issuer, and are publicly traded on exchanges
or over-the-counter in the United States. Although ADRs provide a convenient
means to invest in non-U.S. securities, these investments involve risks
generally similar to investment directly in foreign securities. ADRs may, or may
not, be sponsored by the issuer. There are certain risks and costs associated
with investments in unsponsored ADR programs. Because the issuer is not involved
in establishing the program (such programs are often initiated by
broker-dealers), the underlying agreement for payment and service is between the
dspository and the shareholders. Expenses related to the issuance, cancellation
and transfer of the ADRs, as well as costs of custody and dividend payment
services may be passed in whole or in part through to shareholders. The
availability of regular reports regarding the issuer is also less certain. EDRs
are similar to ADRs except that they are issued and traded in Europe.
Although the Fund values its assets daily in terms of U.S. dollars, the
Fund does not intend to convert its holdings of foreign currencies into U.S.
dollars on a daily basis. When effected, currency conversion involves costs in
the form of a "spread" between the foreign exchange dealer's buying and selling
prices.
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Transactions
The Fund may enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts in
connection with its investments in foreign securities. A forward foreign
currency exchange contract ("forward contract") is an agreement to purchase or
sell a specific amount of a particular foreign currency at a specified price on
a specified future date. These contracts are traded in the interbank market
conducted directly between currency traders (usually large commercial banks) and
their customers. A forward contract generally has no deposit requirement, and no
commissions are charged at any stage for trades. Closing transactions with
respect to forward contracts are effected with the currency trader who is a
party to the original forward contract.
The Fund will enter into a forward contract only for hedging purposes,
with respect to specific anticipated portfolio transactions (including
receivables and payables) or with respect to portfolio positions denominated in
a particular currency. By entering into such a contract, the Fund hopes to
protect against, or benefit from, an anticipated change in relevant currency
exchange rates. For example, when the Fund anticipates purchasing or selling a
security, or receiving a dividend payment, it may enter into a forward contract
to set the rate at which the relevant currencies will be exchanged at the time
of the transaction. Or, if the Fund anticipates a decline in the value of a
currency in which some of its assets are denominated, it may attempt to "lock
in" the current more favorable rate by entering into a contract to sell an
amount of that currency which approximates the current value of those
securities. Each such contract involves some cost to the Fund and requires that
the Fund maintain with its custodian a segregated account of liquid assets
sufficient to satisfy its obligations under the contract. In the event that the
currencies do not move in the direction, or to the extent, or within the time
frame, anticipated, the Fund may lose some or all of the protection or benefit
hoped for.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
The Fund may from time to time include figures indicating the Fund's total
return or average annual total return in advertisements or reports to
stockholders or prospective investors. Average annual total return and total
return figures represent the increase (or decrease) in the value of an
investment in the Fund over a specified period. Both calculations assume that
all income dividends and capital gains distributions during the period are
reinvested at net asset value in additional Fund shares. Quotations of the
average annual total return reflect the deduction of a proportional share of
Fund expenses on an annual basis. The results, which are annualized, represent
an average annual compounded rate of return on a hypothetical investment in the
Fund over a period of 1, 5 and 10 years ending on the most recent calendar
quarter calculated pursuant to the following formula:
P (1 + T)n= ERV
where P = a hypothetical initial payment of $1,000,
T = the average annual total return,
n = the number of years, and
ERV = the ending redeemable value of a hypothetical $1,000 payment made
at the beginning of the period.
For the 1, 5 and 10 year periods ended October 31, 1999 the Fund's average
annual total return was 27.76%, 21.19% and 13.65%, respectively.
Quotations of total return, which are not annualized, represent historical
earnings and asset value fluctuations. Total return is based on past performance
and is not a guarantee of future results. For the 1, 5 and 10 year periods ended
October 31, 1999 the Fund's total return was 27.76%, 161.44% and 259.40%,
respectively.
Performance information for the Fund may be compared, in reports and
promotional literature, to: (i) the Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Price Index
("S&P 500 Index"), the Dow Jones Industrial Average ("DJIA"), or other
appropriate unmanaged indices of performance of various types of investments, so
that investors may compare the Fund's results with those of indices widely
regarded by investors as representative of the securities markets in general;
(ii) other groups of mutual funds tracked by Lipper Analytical Services, a
widely used independent research firm which ranks mutual funds by overall
performance, investment objectives, and assets, or tracked by other services,
companies, publications, or persons who rank mutual funds on overall performance
or other criteria; and (iii) the Consumer Price Index (a measure of inflation)
to assess the real rate of return from an investment in the Fund. Unmanaged
indices may assume the reinvestment of dividends, but generally do not reflect
deductions for administrative and management costs and expenses.
Performance information for the Fund reflects only the performance of a
hypothetical investment in the Fund during the particular time period on which
the calculations are based. Performance information should be considered in
light of the Fund's investment objectives and policies, the types and quality of
the Fund's portfolio investments, market conditions during the particular time
period and operating expenses. Such information should not be considered as a
representation of the Fund's future performance.
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The directors provide overall supervision of the affairs of the Fund. The
Fund's directors and executive officers, and their principal occupations for the
last five years, are listed below. All persons named as directors also serve in
similar capacities for other mutual funds sponsored by the Adviser as indicated
below.
*EDWARD L. JAROSKI (53), Chairman of the Board, Executive Vice President
and Director, 5847 San Felipe, Suite 4100, Houston, Texas 77057. President
(since 1992) and Director (since 1987) of the Capstone Asset Management
Company; President and Director of Capstone Asset Planning Company and
Capstone Financial Services, Inc. (since 1987); Director/Trustee and
Officer of other Capstone Funds.
JAMES F. LEARY (69), Director. 2006 Peakwood Dr., Garland, Texas 75044.
Managing Director of Benefit Capital South West, Inc. (financial services)
Director/Trustee of other Capstone Funds; Director: Associated Materials,
Inc. (tire cord, siding and industrial cable manufacturer); MESBIC
Ventures, Inc. (minority enterprise small business investment company);
Quest Products Corp. (consumer products); Prospect Street High Income
Fund (closed end mutual fund).
JOHN R. PARKER (53), Director. 541 Shaw Hill, Stowe, Vermont 05672.
Consultant and private investor (since 1990); Director of Nova Natural
Resources (oil, gas, minerals); Director of other Capstone Funds; formerly
Senior Vice President of McRae Capital Management, Inc. (1991-1995); and
registered representative of Rickel & Associates (1988-1991).
BERNARD J. VAUGHAN (71), Director. 113 Bryn Mawr Avenue, Bala Cynwyd,
Pennsylvania 19004. Director of other Capstone Funds; formerly Vice
President of Fidelity Bank (1979-1993).
DAN E. WATSON (51), Executive Vice President. 5847 San Felipe, Suite 4100,
Houston, Texas 77057. Chairman of the Board (since 1992) and Director of
Capstone Asset Management Company (since 1987); Chairman of the Board and
Director of Capstone Asset Planning Company and Capstone Financial
Services, Inc. (since 1987); Officer of other Capstone Funds.
LINDA G. GIUFFRE (38), Secretary/Treasurer. 5847 San Felipe, Suite 4100,
Houston, Texas 77057. Vice President, Compliance of Capstone Financial
Services, Capstone Asset Management Company and Capstone Asset Planning
Company (since November 1999), Vice President and Treasurer (1996-1999) of
Capstone Financial Services, Inc.; Secretary/Treasurer (1998-1999) of
Capstone Asset Planning Company; Vice President (1996-1998) of Capstone
Asset Management Company and Capstone Asset Planning Company; Treasurer
(1990-1996) and Secretary (1994-1996) of Capstone Financial Services, Inc.
and Capstone Asset Management Company; Treasurer (1990-1996) and Secretary
(1995-1996) of Capstone Asset Planning Company; officer of other Capstone
Funds.
--------------
* Trustee who is an interested person as defined in the Investment Company
Act of 1940.
The directors and officers of the Fund as a group own less than one percent
of the outstanding shares of the Fund. Each independent Director serves as a
director or trustee on the Board of four other registered investment companies
comprising the Capstone Complex of Mutual Funds. The independent Directors/
Trustees are entitled to $2,000 per meeting attended and are paid an annual
retainer of $6,000. In addition, each independent Director/Trustee is paid $500
per committee for serving on four (4) committees. The Lead Director is paid an
additional $2,000 for serving the complex. All fees received by the Directors/
Trustees are allocated among the funds based on net assets. The Directors/
Trustees and officers of the Capstone Funds are also reimbursed for expenses
incurred in attending meetings of the Boards of Directors/Trustees. For the
fiscal year ended October 31, 1999, the Fund paid or accrued for the account of
its officers and trustees, as a group for services and expenses in all
capacities, a total of $13,642.
The following table represents the compensation received by the independent
Directors/Trustees during fiscal 1999 from the Capstone Funds complex.
<TABLE>
Compensation Table
Aggregate Pension or Total Compensation
Compensation Retirement Benefits Estimated Annual From Registrant and
From Accrued As Part of Benefits Upon Fund Complex Paid
Name of Person, Position Registrant* Fund Expenses Retirement to Directors (4)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
James F. Leary, Trustee $ 880 $0 $0 $18,250 (1)(2)(3)
John R. Parker, Trustee $1,130 $0 $0 $19,500 (1)(2)(3)
Bernard J. Vaughan, Trustee $1,130 $0 $0 $19,500 (1)(2)(3)
- ---------------------
<FN>
* Company does not pay deferred compensation.
(1) Trustee of Capstone International Series Trust - Capstone Japan Fund
(2) Director of Capstone Growth Fund, Inc. and Capstone Fixed Income Series, Inc.
(3) Trustee of Capstone Social Ethics and Religious Values Fund
(4) Fund Complex includes 10 funds.
</FN>
</TABLE>
INVESTMENT ADVISER
Pursuant to the terms of an investment advisory agreement dated May 11,
1992 (the "Advisory Agreement"), the Fund employs Capstone Asset Management
Company (the "Adviser") to furnish investment advisory and administrative
services. The Adviser is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Capstone Financial
Services, Inc.
For its services, the Adviser receives an annual fee at the rate of .75 of
1% per annum on the first $50 million of the Fund's net assets, .60 of 1% per
annum on the next $150 million of the Fund's net assets, .50 of 1% per annum on
the next $300 million of the Fund's net assets and .40 of 1% per annum on all of
the Fund's net assets in excess of $500 million. The fee is payable monthly at a
rate of 1/16th of 1% of the first $50 million of the Fund's net assets, 1/20th
of 1% of the next $150 million of the Fund's net assets, 1/24th of 1% of the
next $300 million of the Fund's net assets and 1/30th of 1% of all of the Fund's
net assets in excess of $500 million, respectively. The Fund's net assets are
determined at the close of the last business day of each month. The fee paid to
the Adviser may be somewhat higher than that paid by other investment companies.
For the fiscal years ended October 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997, the Fund paid
investment advisory fees in the amounts of $568,101, $505,250 and $474,503,
respectively. As a percentage of the average net assets of the Fund, the
investment advisory fee was 0.69%, 0.71% and 0.71%, respectively, for each of
those years.
The Fifth Third Bank of Cincinnati, Ohio performs accounting, bookkeeping
and pricing services for the Fund. For these services, Fifth Third Bank receives
a monthly fee from the Fund.
The Advisory Agreement contains an expense limitation provision pursuant
to which the Adviser will contribute money to the Fund up to an amount equal to
its advisory fees or waive all or a portion of its advisory fees to insure that
the aggregate annual expenses of the Fund, including the advisory fee, but
excluding certain expenses such as brokerage commissions, litigation costs and
certain distribution plan expenses, do not exceed the expense limitations of any
state having jurisdiction over the Fund. In such event, the annual advisory fees
of the Adviser will be reduced pro rata (but not below zero) to the extent
necessary to comply with such expense limitations. Due to recent Federal and
state regulations, such state expense limitations are no longer applicable to
the Fund.
Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser pays the compensation and
expenses of all of its directors, officers and employees who serve as officers
and executive employees of the Fund (including the Fund's share of payroll
taxes), except expenses of travel to attend meetings of the Fund's Board of
Directors or committees or advisers to the Board. The Adviser also agrees to
make available, without expense to the Fund, the services of its directors,
officers and employees who serve as officers of the Fund. The Fund pays all of
its expenses not borne by the Adviser pursuant to the Advisory Agreement
including such expenses as (i) the advisory fee, (ii) fees under the Service and
Distribution Plan (see "Distributor"), (iii) fees for legal, auditing, transfer
agent, dividend disbursing, and custodian services, (iv) the expenses of issue,
repurchase, or redemption of shares, (v) interest, taxes and brokerage
commissions, (vi) membership dues in the Investment Company Institute allocable
to the Fund, (vii) the cost of reports and notices to stockholders, and (viii)
fees to directors and salaries of any officers or employees who are not
affiliated with the Adviser, if any.
The Advisory Agreement provides that the Adviser shall not be liable for
any error of judgment or of law, or for any loss suffered by the Fund in
connection with the matters to which the agreement relates except a loss
resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of
the Adviser in the performance of its obligations and duties, or by reason of
its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under the Advisory
Agreement.
The Advisory Agreement will remain in effect from year to year provided
its renewal is specifically approved at least annually (a) by the Fund's Board
of Directors or by vote of a majority of the Fund's outstanding voting
securities, and (b) by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors who
are not parties to the agreement or interested persons of any such party, by
votes cast in person at a meeting called for such purpose. The Advisory
Agreement may be terminated (a) at any time without penalty by the Fund upon the
vote of a majority of the directors or by vote of the majority of the Fund's
outstanding voting securities, upon 60 days' written notice to the Adviser or
(b) by the Adviser at any time without penalty, upon 60 days' written notice to
the Fund. The Advisory Agreement will also terminate automatically in the event
of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act).
The following individuals are affiliated persons of both the Fund and the
Adviser as defined in the 1940 Act: Dan E. Watson, Edward L. Jaroski and Linda
G. Giuffre. (For further information, reference is made to the caption herein
"Directors and Officers".)
DISTRIBUTOR
Capstone Asset Planning Company (the "Distributor"), 5847 San Felipe,
Suite 4100, Houston, Texas 77057, acts as the principal underwriter of the
Fund's shares pursuant to a written agreement with the Fund dated May 11, 1992
(the "Distribution Agreement"). The Distributor has the exclusive right (except
for distributions of shares directly by the Fund) to distribute shares of the
Fund in a continuous offering through affiliated and unaffiliated dealers. The
Distributor's obligation is an agency or "best efforts" arrangement under which
the Distributor is required to take and pay for only such Fund shares as may be
sold to the public. The Distributor is not obligated to sell any stated number
of shares. Except to the extent otherwise permitted by the Service and
Distribution Plan (see below), the Distributor bears the cost of printing (but
not typesetting) prospectuses used in connection with this offering and the cost
and expense of supplemental sales literature, promotion and advertising.
Effective August 21, 1995, the front end sales load applicable to sales of the
Fund's shares was eliminated.
The Distribution Agreement is renewable from year to year if approved (a)
by the Fund's Board of Directors or by a vote of a majority of the Fund's
outstanding voting securities and (b) by the affirmative vote of a majority of
directors who are not parties to the Distribution Agreement or interested
persons of any party, by votes cast in person at a meeting called for such
purpose. The Distribution Agreement provides that it will terminate if assigned,
and that it may be terminated without penalty by either party on 60 days'
written notice. The Distributor receives no underwriting discounts or
commissions, redemption or repurchase fees or brokerage commissions from the
Fund. It does receive payments, as described below, under the Fund's Service and
Distribution Plan.
On March 1, 1992, the Fund adopted a Service and Distribution Plan (the
"Plan") pursuant to Rule 12b-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 which
permits the Fund to reimburse the Distributor for certain expenses in connection
with the distribution of its shares and provision of certain services to
stockholders. See "Fee Table" in the Prospectus. As required by Rule 12b-1, the
Fund's Plan and related agreements were approved by a vote of the Fund's Board
of Directors, and by a vote of the directors who are not "interested persons" of
the Fund as defined under the 1940 Act and have no direct or indirect interest
in the operation of the Plan or any agreements related to the Plan (the "Plan
Directors"), and by the Fund's stockholders at the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders held February 18, 1992.
As required by Rule 12b-1, the directors will review quarterly reports
prepared by the Distributor on the amounts expended and the purposes for the
expenditures. The amounts paid to the Distributor and reallowed by the
Distributor to other Service Organizations during the past three fiscal years
were as follows:
Fiscal Year Total 12b-1 Amount Retained Amount Paid to Other
Ended Fees Paid by CAPCO Service Organizations
10/99 $205,458 $200,527 $ 4,931
10/98 $184,752 $170,896 $13,856
10/97 $166,384 $153,905 $12,479
The Plan and related agreements may be terminated at any time by a vote of
the Plan Directors or by vote of a majority of the Fund's outstanding voting
securities. As required by Rule 12b-1, selection and nomination of disinterested
directors for the Fund is committed to the discretion of the directors who are
not "interested persons" as defined under the 1940 Act.
Any change in the Plan that would materially increase the distribution
expenses of the Fund requires stockholder approval, but otherwise, the Plan may
be amended by the directors, including a majority of the Plan Directors.
The Plan will continue in effect for successive one year periods provided
that such continuance is specifically approved by a majority of the directors,
including a majority of the Plan Directors. Continuance of the Plan was last
approved by a majority of directors and Plan Directors on May 3, 1999. In
compliance with the Rule, the directors, in connection with both the adoption
and continuance of the Plan, requested and evaluated information they thought
necessary to make an informed determination of whether the Plan and related
agreements should be implemented, and concluded, in the exercise of reasonable
business judgment and in light of their fiduciary duties, that there is a
reasonable likelihood that the Plan and related agreements will benefit the Fund
and its stockholders.
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE
The Adviser is responsible for decisions to buy and sell securities for
the Fund and for the placement of its portfolio business and the negotiation of
the commissions paid on such transactions. It is the policy of the Adviser to
seek the best security price available with respect to each transaction. In
over-the-counter transactions, orders are placed directly with a principal
market maker unless it is believed that a better price and execution can be
obtained by using a broker. The Adviser seeks the best security price at the
most favorable commission rate. In selecting dealers and in negotiating
commissions, the Adviser considers the firm's reliability, the quality of its
execution services on a continuing basis and its financial condition. When more
than one firm are believed to meet these criteria, preference may be given to
firms which also provide research services to the Fund or the Adviser. In
addition, the Adviser may cause the Fund to pay a broker that provides brokerage
and research services a commission in excess of the amount another broker might
have charged for effecting a securities transaction. Such higher commission may
be paid if the Adviser determines in good faith that the amount paid is
reasonable in relation to the services received in terms of the particular
transaction or the Adviser's overall responsibilities to the Fund and the
Adviser's other clients. Such research services must provide lawful and
appropriate assistance to the Adviser in the performance of its investment
decision-making responsibilities and may include advice, both directly and in
writing, as to the value of the securities, the advisability of investing in,
purchasing or selling securities, and the availability of securities, or
purchasers or sellers of securities, as well as furnishing analyses and reports
concerning issues, industries, securities, economic factors and trends,
portfolio strategy and the performance of accounts.
The Adviser places portfolio transactions for other advisory accounts
including other investment companies. Research services furnished by firms
through which the Fund effects its securities transactions may be used by the
Adviser in servicing all of its accounts; not all of such services may be used
by the Adviser in connection with the Fund. The Adviser has arrangements to
receive research only with respect to accounts for which it exercises brokerage
discretion, including the Funds. Many of the clients of the Adviser have not
granted brokerage discretion and therefore, any research services received as a
result of paying commissions in excess of the amount another broker might have
charged is subsidized by accounts that have granted CAMCO such discretion,
including the Fund. Other research received, although not by a specific
arrangement may also be used by the Adviser in providing service to other
accounts, including the Funds. In the opinion of the Adviser, the benefits from
research services to each of the accounts (including the Fund) managed by the
Adviser cannot be measured separately.
The Adviser seeks to allocate portfolio transactions equitably whenever
concurrent decisions are made to purchase or sell securities by the Fund and
another advisory account. In some cases, this procedure could have an adverse
effect on the price or the amount of securities available to the Fund. In making
such allocations among the Fund and other advisory accounts, the main factors
considered by the Adviser are the respective investment objectives, the relative
size of portfolio holdings of the same or comparable securities, the
availability of cash for investment, the size of investment commitments
generally held, and opinions of the persons responsible for recommending the
investment.
From time to time, the Adviser effects securities transactions through
Capstone Asset Planning Company, a broker-dealer affiliate of the Adviser.
Consistent with the Rules of Fair Practice of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. and subject to seeking best execution and such other
policies as the Board of Directors may determine, the Adviser may consider sales
of shares of the Fund as a factor in the selection of dealers to execute
portfolio transactions for the Fund.
During the fiscal year ended October 31, 1999, the Fund incurred brokerage
commissions of $131,212, which represented .16% of the Fund's average net
assets. Securities transactions effected through brokers who furnished the Fund
with statistical, research and advisory information amounted to $111,746,469
(100% of the aggregate dollar amount of transactions executed with a
commission), and commissions paid by the Fund on these trades totaled $131,212
(100% of total commissions). The Fund also executed trades in the amount of
$7,306,435 in which a "mark-up" (the dealer's profit) was included in the price
of the securities. During the fiscal years ended October 31, 1998 and 1997, the
Fund paid $123,425 and $216,766, respectively, in brokerage commissions on
portfolio trades.
Personal Trading Policies
- -------------------------
The Funds, the Adviser, and the Distributor have adopted Codes of Ethics under
Rule 17j-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Consistent with
requirements of that Rule, the codes permit persons subject to the codes to
invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased by a Fund. The
codes and the Rule require these transactions to be monitored.
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
The net asset value per share is computed daily, Monday through Friday, as
of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange, which is
currently 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, except that the net asset value will not be
computed on the following holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King's
Birthday, President's Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor
Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
The net asset value of Fund shares is computed by dividing the value of
all securities plus other assets, less liabilities, by the number of shares
outstanding, and adjusting to the nearest cent per share. Such computation is
made by (i) valuing securities listed on an exchange or quoted on the NASDAQ
national market system at the last reported sale price, or if there has been no
sale that day at the mean between the last reported bid and asked prices, (ii)
valuing other securities at the mean between the last reported bid and asked
prices and (iii) valuing any securities for which market quotations are not
readily available and any other assets at fair value as determined in good faith
by the Board of Directors of the Fund. If an event were to occur after the
value of a Fund instrument was so established, but before the net asset value
per share is determined which is likely to materially change the net asset
value, the Fund instrument would be valued using fair value considerations
established by the Board of Directors.
However, debt securities (other than short-term obligations) including
listed issues, are valued on the basis of valuations furnished by a pricing
service which utilizes electronic data processing techniques to determine
valuations for normal institutional size trading units of debt securities,
without exclusive reliance upon exchange or over-the-counter prices. Short-term
obligations are valued at amortized cost.
During the period a financial futures contact is open, changes in the
value of the contract are recognized as unrealized gain or loss by
"marking-to-market" on a daily basis to reflect the market value of the contract
at the end of each day's trading. Variation margin payments are received or made
daily as unrealized gain or loss is incurred. When the contract is closed, the
Fund records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the
proceeds from (or cost of) the closing transaction and the Fund's basis in the
contract.
HOW TO BUY AND REDEEM SHARES
Shares of the Fund are sold in a continuous offering without a sales
charge and may be purchased on any business day through authorized dealers,
including Capstone Asset Planning Company. Certain broker-dealers assist their
clients in the purchase of shares from the Distributor and may charge a fee for
this service in addition to the Fund's net asset value.
Shares will be credited to a stockholder's account at the net asset value
next computed after an order is received by the Distributor. Initial purchases
must be at least $200; however, this requirement may be waived by the
Distributor for plans involving continuing investments. There is no minimum for
subsequent purchases of shares. No stock certificates representing shares
purchased will be issued except upon written request to the Fund's Transfer
Agent. The Fund's management reserves the right to reject any purchase order if,
in its opinion, it is in the Fund's best interest to do so. See "Buying and
Selling Fund Shares" in the Prospectus.
Generally, stockholders may require the Fund to redeem their shares by
sending a written request, signed by the record owner(s), to Capstone Growth
Fund, Inc., c/o PFPC , Inc., P.O. Box 61503, 211 South Gulph Road, King of
Prussia, Pennsylvania 19406-3101. In addition, certain expedited redemption
methods are available. See "Buying and Selling Fund Shares" in the Prospectus.
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
The Fund's policy is to distribute to stockholders substantially all of
its investment company taxable income (which includes, among other items,
dividends, interest and the excess of net short-term capital gains over net
long-term capital losses) in annual dividends. The Fund intends similarly to
distribute to stockholders at least annually any net realized capital gains (the
excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses). All
dividends and capital gain distributions are reinvested in shares of the Fund at
net asset value without sales commission, except that any stockholder may
otherwise instruct the Transfer Agent in writing and receive cash. Stockholders
are informed as to the sources of distributions at the time of payment. Any
dividend or distribution paid shortly after a purchase of shares by an investor
will have the effect of reducing the per share net asset value of his shares by
the amount of the dividend or distribution. All or a portion of any such
dividend or distribution, although in effect a return of capital, may be
taxable, as set forth below.
TAXES
The Fund intends to qualify annually and elect to be treated as a
regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended (the "Code"). Qualification and election to be taxed as a
regulated investment company involves no supervision of management or investment
policies or practices by any government agency. To qualify as a regulated
investment company, the Fund must, with respect to each taxable year, distribute
to stockholders at least 90% of its investment company taxable income (which
includes, among other items, dividends, interest, certain foreign currency gains
and the excess of net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital
losses) and meet certain diversification of assets, source of income, and other
requirements of the Code.
As a regulated investment company, the Fund generally is not subject to
Federal income tax on its investment company taxable income and net capital gain
(net long-term capital gains in excess of net short-term capital losses), if
any, that it distributes to stockholders. The Fund intends to distribute to its
stockholders, at least annually, substantially all of its investment company
taxable income and net capital gain. Amounts not distributed on a timely basis
in accordance with a calendar year distribution requirement are subject to a
nondeductible 4% excise tax. To prevent imposition of the tax, the Fund must
distribute during each calendar year (1) at least 98% of its ordinary income
(not taking into account any capital gains or losses) for the calendar year, (2)
at least 98% of its capital gains in excess of its capital losses for the
twelve-month period ending on October 31 of the calendar year (reduced by
certain ordinary losses, as prescribed by the Code), and (3) all ordinary income
and capital gains for previous years that were not distributed during such
years. A distribution will be treated as paid on December 31 of the calendar
year if it is declared by the Fund in October, November or December of that year
to stockholders on a record date in such a month and paid by the Fund during
January of the following calendar year. Such distributions will be taxable to
stockholders in the calendar year the distributions are declared, rather than
the calendar year in which the distributions are received. To prevent
application of the excise tax, the Fund intends to make its distributions in
accordance with the calendar year distribution requirement.
If the Fund retains its net capital gains, although it has no plans to do
so, the Fund may elect to treat such amounts as having been distributed to its
stockholders. As a result, the stockholders would be subject to tax on
undistributed capital gain, would be able to claim their proportionate share of
the Federal income taxes paid by the Fund on such gain as a credit against their
own Federal income tax liabilities, and would be entitled to an increase in
their basis in their Fund shares.
Distributions. Dividends paid out of the Fund's investment company taxable
income, whether received in cash or reinvested in Fund shares, will be taxable
to a stockholder as ordinary income. The excess of net long-term capital gains
over the short-term capital losses realized, properly designated and distributed
by the Fund, whether paid in cash or reinvested in Fund shares, will generally
be taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gain. Net capital gains from
assets held for one year or less will be taxed as ordinary income. Distributions
will be subject to these capital gain rates regardless of how long a stockholder
has held Fund shares.
Dividends received by corporate stockholders may qualify for the dividends
received deduction to the extent the Fund designates its dividends as derived
from dividends from domestic corporations. The amount designated by the Fund as
so qualifying cannot exceed the aggregate amount of dividends received by the
Fund from domestic corporations for the taxable year. Since the Fund's income
may not consist exclusively of dividends eligible for the corporate dividends
received deduction, its distributions of investment company taxable income
likewise may not be eligible, in whole or in part, for that deduction. The
alternative minimum tax applicable to corporations may reduce the benefits of
the dividends received deduction. The dividends received deduction may be
further reduced if the shares of the Fund are debt-financed or are deemed to
have been held less than 46 days.
All distributions are taxable to the stockholder whether reinvested in
additional shares or received in cash. Stockholders receiving distributions in
the form of additional shares will have a cost basis for Federal income tax
purposes in each share received equal to the net asset value of a share of the
Fund on the reinvestment date. Stockholders will be notified annually as to the
Federal tax status of distributions paid to them by the Fund.
Distributions by the Fund reduce the net asset value of the Fund shares.
Should a distribution reduce the net asset value below a stockholder's cost
basis, such distribution nevertheless would be taxable to the stockholder as
ordinary income or capital gain as described above, 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 distribution by the Fund. The price of shares
purchased at that time includes the amount of the forthcoming distribution, but
the distribution will generally be taxable to them.
Hedging and Other Transactions. Certain options and futures contracts are
"section 1256 contracts." Any gains or losses on section 1256 contracts
generally are considered 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gains or
losses ("60/40"). Also, section 1256 contracts held by the Fund at the end of
each taxable year (and at other times prescribed pursuant to the Code) are
"marked-to-market" with the result that unrealized gains or losses are treated
as though they were realized and the resulting gain or loss is generally treated
as 60/40 gain or loss.
Generally, the hedging transactions undertaken by the Fund may result in
"straddles" for Federal income tax purposes. The straddle rules may affect the
character of gains (or losses) realized by the Fund. In addition, losses
realized by the Fund on positions that are part of a straddle may be deferred
under the straddle rules, rather than being taken into account in calculating
the taxable income for the taxable year in which such losses are realized.
Because only a few regulations implementing the straddle rules have been
promulgated, the tax consequences to the Fund of hedging transactions are not
entirely clear. The hedging transactions may increase the amount of short-term
capital gain realized by the Fund which is taxed as ordinary income when
distributed to stockholders.
The Fund may make one or more of the elections available under the Code
which are applicable to straddles. If the Fund makes any of the elections, the
amount, character and timing of the recognition of gains or losses from the
affected straddle positions will be determined under rules that vary according
to the election(s) made. The rules applicable under certain of the elections may
operate to accelerate the recognition of gains or losses from the affected
straddle positions.
Because application of the straddle rules may affect the character of
gains or losses, defer losses and/or accelerate the recognition of gains or
losses from the affected straddle positions, the amount which must be
distributed to stockholders, and which will be taxed to stockholders as ordinary
income or long-term capital gain, may be increased or decreased substantially as
compared to a Fund that did not engage in such hedging transactions.
Because the tax consequences of straddle transactions to the Fund are not
entirely clear, it may ultimately be determined that the Fund's tax accounting
procedures failed to conform to the straddle rules. Consequently, the Fund may
have inadvertently failed to satisfy one or more of the requirements for
qualification as a regulated investment company. If the Fund has failed to
satisfy the requirement that it distribute at least 90% of its net investment
company taxable income, the Fund may be able to preserve its regulated
investment company status by making a "deficiency dividend" distribution. In
addition, the Fund would have to pay interest and a penalty on the amount of the
deficiency dividend distribution. If the Fund fails to satisfy one of the other
requirements for qualification as a regulated investment company, the Fund would
be taxed as an ordinary corporation, and its distributions, including net
capital gain distributions, would be taxable to stockholders as ordinary
dividends. Moreover, upon any requalification as a regulated investment company,
the Fund might be subject to a corporate-level tax on certain gains.
Disposition of Shares. Upon disposition (by redemption, repurchase, sale
or exchange) of Fund shares, a stockholder will realize a taxable gain or loss
depending upon his basis in his shares. Such gain or loss will be treated as
capital gain or loss if the shares are capital assets in the stockholder's
hands. Such gain or loss will generally be long-term or short-term depending
upon the stockholder's holding period for the shares. However, a loss realized
by a stockholder on the disposition of Fund shares with respect to which capital
gain dividends have been paid will, to the extent of such capital gain
dividends, be treated as long-term capital loss if such shares have been held by
the stockholder for six months or less. Further, a loss realized on a
disposition will be disallowed to the extent the shares disposed of are replaced
(whether by reinvestment of distributions or otherwise) within a period of 61
days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the shares are disposed
of. In such a case, the basis of the shares acquired will be adjusted to reflect
the disallowed loss. Exchanges of Fund shares for shares of other funds
generally would be treated as taxable sales of the shares exchanged by the
stockholder.
Certain of the debt securities acquired by the Fund may be treated as debt
securities that were originally issued at a discount. Original issue discount
can generally be defined as the difference between the price at which a security
was issued and its stated redemption price at maturity. Although no cash income
is actually received by the Fund, original issue discount on a taxable debt
security earned in a given year generally is treated for Federal income tax
purposes as interest and, therefore, such income would be subject to the
distribution requirements of the Code.
Backup Withholding. The Fund may be required to withhold Federal income
tax at the rate of 31% of all taxable distributions from the Fund and of gross
proceeds from the redemption of shares payable to stockholders who fail to
provide the Fund with their correct taxpayer identification number or to make
required certifications, or who have been notified by the Internal Revenue
Service that they are subject to backup withholding. Corporate stockholders and
certain other stockholders specified in the Code generally are exempt from
backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts
withheld may be credited against the stockholder's U.S. Federal income tax
liability.
Other Taxes. Distributions also may be subject to additional state, local
and foreign taxes depending on each stockholder's particular situation. Foreign
stockholders may be subject to U.S. tax rules that differ significantly from
those described above, including the likelihood that ordinary income dividends
to them would be subject to withholding of U.S. tax at a rate of 30% (or at a
lower rate under a tax treaty). Stockholders are advised to consult their own
tax advisers with respect to the particular tax consequences to them of an
investment in the Fund.
CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES
As of February 16, 2000, PLIFunds Investment Plans, 5847 San Felipe, Suite
4100, Houston, Texas 77057 owned of record and beneficially 11.40% of the
outstanding shares of common stock of the Fund.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The Report of Independent Certified Public Accountants and financial
statements of the Fund included in its Annual Report to shareholders for the
fiscal year ended October 31, 1999 are incorporated herein by reference to such
Annual Report. Copies of the Fund's Annual and Semi-Annual Reports may be
obtained without charge by calling 1-800-262-6631.
OTHER INFORMATION
Custody of Assets. All securities owned by the Fund and all cash,
including proceeds from the sale of shares of the Fund and of securities in the
Fund's investment portfolio, are held by The Fifth Third Bank (the "Custodian"),
38 Fountain Square, Cincinnati, Ohio 45263.
Stockholder Reports. Semi-annual statements are furnished to stockholders,
and annually such statements are audited by the independent accountants.
Independent Accountants. Briggs, Bunting & Dougherty, LLP, Two Logan
Square, Suite 2121, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103-4901, the independent
accountants for the Fund, performs annual audits of the Fund's financial
statements.
Legal Counsel. Dechert Price & Rhoads, 1775 Eye Street, N.W., Washington,
DC 20006, is legal counsel to the Fund.
Transfer and Shareholder Servicing Agent. The Fund's transfer and
shareholder servicing agent is PFPC, Inc., 211 South Gulph Road, P.O. Box 61503,
King of Prussia, Pennsylvania 19406-3101
<PAGE>
