As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 9, 1999
File No. 33-8982
ICA No. 811-4852
U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 [X]
Pre-Effective Amendment No. _____ [ ]
Post-Effective Amendment No. 46 [X]
and
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 [X]
Amendment No. 47
The Victory Portfolios
(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Trust Instrument)
3435 Stelzer Road
Columbus, Ohio 43219
(Address of Principal Executive Office)
(800) 362-5365
(Area Code and Telephone Number)
Copy to:
Ellen F. Stoutamire, Esq. Carl Frischling, Esq.
BISYS Fund Services Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP
3435 Stelzer Road 919 Third Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43219 New York, New York 10022
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering: As soon as practicable after this
registration statement becomes effective.
It is proposed that this filing will become effective:
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<S> <C>
|_| Immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b) |_| on _____, 1999 pursuant to paragraph (b)
|_| 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) |_| on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
|X| 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) |_| on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of rule 485.
If appropriate, check the following box:
|_| this post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective
amendment.
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<PAGE>
CROSS-REFERENCE SHEET
THE VICTORY PORTFOLIOS
(Pursuant to Rule 404 showing location in the prospectus for the
Gradison Government Reserves Fund and the prospectus for the Established Value
Fund, each a series of The Victory Portfolios, of the responses to the Items in
Part A and location in the Statement of Additional Information for these Funds
of the responses to the Items in Part B of Form N-1A).
Part A
Form N-1A,
Item Number Prospectus Caption
----------- ------------------
1(a) Front Cover Page
(b) Back Cover Page
2(a) Risk/Return Summary - Investment Objective
(b) Risk/Return Summary - Principal Investment Strategies
(c) Risk/Return Summary - Principal Risks
3 Risk/Return Summary - Fund Expenses
4(a) Risk/Return Summary - Investment Objective
(b) Risk/Return Summary - Principal Investment Strategies
(c) Risk Factors
5(a) Not Applicable
(b) Not Applicable
(c) Not Applicable
6(a) Organization and Management of the Funds
(b) Not Applicable
7(a) Share Price
(b) How to Buy Shares
(c) How to Sell Shares
(d) Dividends, Distributions and Taxes
(e) Important Information about Taxes
(f) Not Applicable
8(a) Not Applicable
(b) Organization and Management of the Funds -
Distribution and Service Plan
(c) Not Applicable
9 Financial Highlights
<PAGE>
Part B
Form N-1A,
Item No. Statement of Additional Information Caption
-------- -------------------------------------------
10(a) Front Cover Page
(b) Table of Contents
11(a) Additional Information - Description of Shares
(b) Not Applicable
12(a) Statement of Additional Information
(b) Instruments in Which the Funds Can Invest
(c) Investment Policies and Limitations
(d) Temporary Defensive Measures - Short-Term Obligations
(e) Advisory and Other Contracts -- Portfolio Turnover
13(a) Trustees and Officers - Board of Trustees
(b) Trustees and Officers - Board of Trustees; Officers
(c) Trustees and Officers - Board of Trustees
(d) Trustees and Officers - Board of Trustees
(e) Trustees and Officers - Officers
14(a) Additional Information
(b) Additional Information
(c) Trustees and Officers - Officers
15(a) Advisory and Other Contracts - Investment Adviser
(b) Advisory and Other Contracts - Distributor
(c) Advisory and Other Contracts - Investment Adviser
(d) Transfer Agent; Other Servicing Plans; Distribution and
Service Plan; Fund Accountant;
Legal Counsel
(e) Not Applicable
(f) Additional Purchase, Exchange, and Redemption
Information - Dealer Reallowances
(g) Distribution Plan
(h) Administrator; Transfer Agent; Custodian; Independent
Accountants; Legal Counsel
16(a) Portfolio Transactions
(b) Portfolio Transactions
(c) Portfolio Transactions
(d) Portfolio Transactions
<PAGE>
(e) Not Applicable
17(a) Additional Information - Description of Shares
(b) Not Applicable
18(a) Additional Purchase, Exchange, and Redemption
Information; Purchasing Shares
(b) Not Applicable
(c) Additional Purchase, Exchange, and Redemption
Information; Purchasing Shares
(d) Additional Purchase, Exchange, and Redemption
Information
19(a) Taxes
(b) Taxes
20(a) Distributor
(b) Not Applicable
(c) Not Applicable
21(a) Performance of the Gradison Government Reserves Fund
(b) Performance of the Established Value Fund
22(a) Independent Accountants
(b) Independent Accountants
(c) Not Applicable
Part C
Information required to be included in Part C is set forth under the appropriate
Item, so numbered, in Part C to this Registration Statement.
<PAGE>
The information in this Prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may
not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This Prospectus is not an offer
to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities
in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
THE VICTORY FUNDS
GRADISON GOVERNMENT RESERVES FUND
Class G Shares
PROSPECTUS
Call Victory at:
800-539-FUND
(800-539-3863)
Or Call:
Gradison McDonald
513-579-5700 or
800-869-5999
As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission has not
approved the Fund's securities or determined whether this Prospectus is accurate
or complete. Anyone who tells you otherwise is committing a crime.
April __, 1999
<PAGE>
THE VICTORY PORTFOLIOS
Gradison Government Reserves Fund
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
Risk/Return Summary of the Fund
An analysis which includes the investment objective, principal investment
strategies, principal risks, performance and expenses
Risk Factors
Share Price
Dividends, Distributions, and Taxes
Investing With Victory
How to Buy Shares
How to Exchange Shares
How to Sell Shares
Organization and Management of the Fund
Additional Information
Other Securities and Investment Practices
Financial Highlights
Key to Fund Information:
[Icon 1] Objective and Strategy: The goals and the strategy that the
Fund plans to use to pursue its
investment objective.
[Icon 2] Risk Factors: The risks you may assume as an investor
in the Fund.
[Icon 3] Performance: A summary of the historical performance
of the Fund.
[Icon 4] Expenses: The costs you will pay, directly or
indirectly, as an investor in the Fund,
including ongoing expenses.
The following pages provide you with an overview of the Fund. Please look at the
investment objective, policies, strategies, and risks to determine if the Fund
will suit your risk tolerance and investment needs. You should also review
"Other Securities and Investment Practices" for additional information about the
individual securities in which the Fund can invest.
Shares of the Fund are:
o Not insured by the FDIC; [FDIC icon]
o Not deposits or other obligations of, or guaranteed by KeyBank, any of its
affiliates, or any other bank; [Bank icon]
o Subject to possible investment risks, including possible loss of the principal
amount invested.
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RISK/RETURN SUMMARY
[Icon 1] Investment Objective: The Fund's investment objective is to maximize
current income to the extent consistent with the preservation of capital and the
maintenance of liquidity.
[Icon 1] Principal Investment Strategies: The Fund pursues its investment
objective by investing only in securities issued by U.S. Government, its
agencies and/or instrumentalities. Securities issued by U.S. Government
instrumentalities such as the Student Loan Marketing Association (SLMA), Federal
Farm Credit Bank (FFCB), Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB), and the Federal Home
Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC) are supported only by the credit of the
federal instrumentality. The Fund intends to invest primarily, and may invest
exclusively, in these instruments. The Fund plans, as much as possible, to
invest in securities whose interest payments are exempt from state and local
taxes.
Important Characteristics of the Fund:
Quality: The Fund invests only in U.S. Government securities. The Board of
Trustees has established policies to ensure that the Fund invests in high
quality, liquid instruments.
Maturity: The Fund has a weighted average maturity of 90 days or less.
Individual investments may be purchased with remaining maturities ranging from
one day to 397 days. Variable and floating rate instruments are considered to be
within this maturity range, despite having nominal remaining maturities greater
than 397 days, because of their reset or floating rate features.
[Icon 2] Principal Risks: ****[FDIC Icon] An investment in the Fund is not
insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other
government agency. Although the Fund seeks to preserve the value of your
investment at $1.00 per share, it is possible to lose money by investing in the
Fund.
[Bank Icon]****
The Fund is subject to the following principal risks, more fully described in
"Risk Factors." The Fund's yield and/or total return may be adversely affected
if any of the following occurs:
o An agency or instrumentality defaults on its obligation and the U. S.
Government does not provide financial support
o The market value of floating or variable rate securities falls to the extent
that the Fund's share price declines below $1.00
o Rapidly rising interest rates cause the Fund's share price to decline below
$1.00
o Interest rates decline, resulting in the Fund achieving a lower yield
Who May Want to Invest in the Fund:
o Investors seeking relative safety and easy access
o Investors with a low risk tolerance
o Investors seeking preservation of capital
o Investors willing to accept lower potential returns in return for safety
[Icon 3] INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE
The chart and table shown below give an indication of the risks of investing in
the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year for the
last ten years. The table below shows the Fund's average annual returns for one
year, five years and ten years. The figures shown assume reinvestment of
dividends and distributions. The performance information below reflects the
performance of Gradison U.S. Government Reserves, the predecessor to the Fund.
Returns for the Fund would be substantially similar because the shares will be
invested in the same portfolio of securities.
3
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<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ------------ ---------- --------- ---------- ---------- --------- ---------- --------- ---------- ---------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
10.00% 8.78% 7.61% 5.47% 3.33% 2.50% 3.45% 5.24% 4.75% 4.90% 4.87%
---------- --------- ---------- ---------- --------- ---------- --------- ---------- ---------- ---------
0.00%
---------- --------- ---------- ---------- --------- ---------- --------- ---------- ---------- ---------
1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
- ------------ ---------- --------- ---------- ---------- --------- ---------- --------- ---------- ---------- ---------
****Past performance does not indicate future results.****
During the period shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a quarter was
2.26% (quarter ending June 30, 1989) and the lowest return for a quarter was
0.60% (quarter ending September 30, 1993).
- ---------------------------------------------------- --------------------- --------------------- ---------------------
Average Annual Total Returns
(for the Periods ended December 31, 1998) Past One Year Past 5 Years Past 10 Years
- ---------------------------------------------------- --------------------- --------------------- ---------------------
Gradison Government Reserves Fund 4.87% 4.64% 5.07%
- ---------------------------------------------------- --------------------- --------------------- ---------------------
The "seven-day yield" is an "annualized" figure -- the amount you would earn if
you kept your investment in the Fund and the Fund continued to earn the same net
interest income throughout that year. Call 800-539-FUND or Gradison McDonald
Investments, a division of McDonald Investments Inc., (Gradison McDonald) at
513-579-5700 or 800-869-5999 for the current seven-day yield.
As of December 31, 1998:
Seven-Day Yield %
Seven-Day Effective Yield %
One Year Total Return %
****Past performance does not indicate future results.****
[Icon 4] FUND EXPENSES
This section will help you understand the costs and expenses you would pay,
directly or indirectly, if you invest in the Fund.
Shareholder Transaction Expenses (paid directly from your investment)* Class G
-------
Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) None
Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Reinvested Dividends None
Deferred Sales Charge None
Redemption Fees None
Exchange Fees None
* You may be charged additional fees if you purchase, exchange, or redeem
shares through a broker or agent, other than through Gradison McDonald.
4
<PAGE>
The Annual Fund Operating Expenses table below illustrates the estimated
operating expenses that you will incur as a shareholder of the Fund. The Fund
pays these expenses from its assets.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
Class G
-------
Management Fees (1) 0.44%
Distribution (12b-1) Fees 0.10%
Other Expenses 0.34%
-----
Total Fund Operating Expenses 0.88%
=====
Fee Waiver (0.16)%
Net Expenses (2) 0.72%
=====
(1) The management fees are based upon the average daily net assets of the Fund
at an annual rate of .50% on the first $400 million, .45% on the next $600
million, .40% on the next $1 billion, and .35% in excess of $2 billion.
(2) The expenses shown are estimated based on historical expenses of the Fund
adjusted to reflect anticipated expenses. Key Asset Management Inc., the
Fund's investment adviser (KAM or the Adviser), has agreed to waive its
management fee or to reimburse expenses, as allowed by law, to the extent
necessary to maintain the net total operating expenses at a maximum of
0.72% until at least April 1, 2001.
Example
The following Example is designed 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 shown and then redeem
all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that
your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses
remain the same.* Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on
these assumptions your costs would be:
1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years
Class G $74 $248 $455 $1,054
</TABLE>
* This Example assumes that Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses will equal
0.72% until April 1, 2001 and will equal 0.88% thereafter.
5
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[Icon 2] RISK FACTORS
This Prospectus describes the principal risks that you may assume as an investor
in the Fund. The "Other Securities and Investment Practices" section in this
Prospectus provides additional information on the securities mentioned in the
Risk/Return Summary for the Fund. As with any mutual fund, there is no guarantee
that the Fund will earn income or show a positive total return over time. The
Fund's yield and total return will fluctuate.
An investment in the Fund is not a complete investment program.
****By matching your investment objective with an acceptable level of risk, you
can create your own customized investment plan.****
****It is important to keep in mind one basic principle of investing: the
greater the risk, the greater the potential reward. The reverse is also
generally true: the lower the risk, the lower the potential reward.****
General risks:
o Market risk is the risk that the market value of a security may fluctuate,
depending on the supply and demand for that type of security. As a result of
this fluctuation, a security may be worth more or less than the price the Fund
originally paid for the security, or more or less than the security was worth
at an earlier time. Market risk may affect a single issuer, an industry, a
sector of the economy, or the entire market and is common to all investments.
o Manager risk is the risk that the Fund's portfolio manager may use a strategy
that does not produce the intended result. Manager risk also refers to the
possibility that the portfolio manager may fail to execute the Fund's
investment strategy effectively and, thus, fail to achieve its objective.
Risks associated with investing in debt securities:
o Interest rate risk. The value of a debt security typically changes in the
opposite direction from a change in interest rates. When interest rates go up,
the value of a debt security typically goes down. When interest rates go down,
the value of a debt security typically goes up. Generally, the market values
of securities with longer maturities are more sensitive to changes in interest
rates.
o Inflation risk is the risk that inflation will erode the purchasing power of
the cash flows generated by debt securities held by the Fund. Fixed-rate debt
securities are more susceptible to this risk than floating-rate debt
securities.
o Reinvestment risk is the risk that when interest rates are declining the Fund
will have to reinvest interest income or prepayments that it receives on a
security at lower interest rates. Generally, interest rate risk and
reinvestment risk have offsetting effects.
Share Price
The Fund calculates its share price, called its "net asset value" (NAV), each
business day, normally at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time. You may buy, exchange, and
sell your shares at the next share price calculated after the Fund receives and
accepts your investment instructions. A business day is a day on which the
6
<PAGE>
Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland and the NYSE are open or any day in which
enough trading has occurred in the securities held by the Fund to materially
affect the NAV. You may not be able to buy or sell shares on certain holidays
when the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland is closed, but the NYSE and other
financial markets are open.
The Fund seeks to maintain a $1.00 NAV, although there is no guarantee that it
will be able to do so. The Fund uses the "Amortized Cost Method" to value
securities. You can read about this method in the Statement of Additional
Information (SAI).
Dividends, Distributions, and Taxes
As a shareholder, you are entitled to your share of net income and capital gains
on the Fund's investments. The Fund passes its earnings along to investors in
the form of dividends. Dividend distributions are the net income earned on
investments after expenses. Money market funds usually do not realize capital
gains; however, short-term gains will be distributed, as necessary, and if the
Fund does make a long-term capital gain distribution, it is paid once a year. As
with any investment, you should consider the tax consequences of an investment
in the Fund.
Ordinarily, the Fund declares dividends from accrued income daily and pays the
dividends monthly.
You can receive distributions in one of the following ways. Please check with
your Investment Professional to find out if these options are available to you.
An Investment Professional is an investment consultant, salesperson, financial
planner, investment adviser, or trust officer who provides you with investment
information.
o Reinvestment Option. You can have distributions automatically reinvested in
additional shares of the Fund. If you do not indicate another choice on your
Account Application, you will be assigned this option automatically.
o Cash Option. The Fund will send you a check no later than seven days after the
dividend payment date.
o Directed Dividends Option. In most cases, you can automatically reinvest
distributions in shares of another fund of The Victory Portfolios. If you
reinvest your distributions in a different class of another fund, you may pay
a sales charge on the reinvested distributions.
o Directed Bank Account Option. In most cases, you can automatically transfer
distributions to your bank checking or savings account. Under normal
circumstances, the Fund will transfer your distributions within seven days of
the dividend payment date. The bank account must have a registration identical
to that of your Fund account.
Important Information about Taxes
The Fund pays no federal income tax on the earnings and capital gains it
distributes to shareholders.
o Ordinary dividends from the Fund are taxable as ordinary income; dividends
from the Fund's long-term capital gains, if any, are taxable as capital gain.
o Dividends are treated in the same manner for federal income tax purposes
whether you receive them in cash or in additional shares. They also may be
subject to state and local taxes.
o Dividends from the Fund that are attributable to interest on certain U.S.
Government obligations may be exempt from certain state and local income
taxes. The extent to which ordinary dividends are
7
<PAGE>
attributable to these U.S. Government obligations will be provided on the tax
statements you receive from the Fund.
o An exchange of the Fund's shares for shares of another fund will be treated as
a sale. When you sell or exchange shares of the Fund, you must recognize any
gain or loss.
o Certain dividends paid to you in January will be taxable as if they had been
paid to you the previous December.
o Tax statements will be mailed from the Fund every January showing the amounts
and tax status of distributions made to you.
o Because your tax treatment depends on your purchase price and tax position,
you should keep your regular account statements for use in determining your
tax.
o You should review the more detailed discussion of federal income tax
considerations in the SAI.
****The tax information in this Prospectus is provided as general information.
You should consult your tax adviser about the tax consequences of an investment
in the Fund.****
INVESTING WITH VICTORY
****All you need to do to get started is to fill out an application.****
If you are looking for a convenient way to open an account or to add money to an
existing account, Victory can help. The sections that follow will serve as a
guide to your investments with Victory. The following sections will describe how
to access information on your account, how to open an account, and how to buy,
exchange and sell shares of the Fund. We want to make it simple for you to do
business with us. If you have questions about any of this information, please
call your Investment Professional or one of our customer service representatives
at 800-539-FUND or Gradison McDonald at 513-579-5700 or 800-869-5999. They will
be happy to assist you.
HOW TO BUY SHARES
You can buy shares in a number of different ways. All you need to do to get
started is to fill out an application. The minimum initial investment required
to open an account is $500 ($100 for IRAs), with additional investments of at
least $25. The Fund offers only Class G shares. The Shares have no front-end or
back-end sales charge. You can send in your payment by check, wire transfer,
exchange from another Victory Fund, or through arrangements with Gradison
McDonald or your Investment Professional. Sometimes an Investment Professional
will charge you a fee for these services. This fee will be in addition to, and
unrelated to, the fees and expenses charged by the Fund. If you maintain a
brokerage account with Gradison McDonald, you may buy or sell Fund shares
without incurring any fees.
If you buy shares directly from the Fund and your investment is received and
accepted by 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time, your purchase will be processed the same
day using that day's share price.
Make your check payable to:
The Victory Funds
8
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Keep the following addresses handy for purchases, exchanges, or redemptions:
Regular U.S. Mail Address:
Send completed Account Applications with your check, bank draft, or money order
to:
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<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
The Victory Funds Or: Gradison McDonald Investments
P. O. Box 8527 580 Walnut Street
Boston, MA 02266-8527 Cincinnati, OH 45202
Overnight Mail Address:
Use the following address ONLY for overnight packages:
The Victory Funds Or: Gradison McDonald Investments
c/o Boston Financial Data Services 580 Walnut Street
66 Brooks Drive Cincinnati, OH 45202
Braintree, MA 02184 PHONE: 513-579-5700
PHONE: 800-539-FUND Or: 800-869-5999
Wire Address:
The Transfer Agent does not charge a wire fee, but your originating bank may
charge a fee. Always call the Transfer Agent at 800-539-FUND or Gradison
McDonald at 513-579-5700 or 800-869-5999 BEFORE wiring funds to obtain a control
number.
Telephone Number:
Victory at: FAX Number:
800-539-FUND (800-539-3863) 800-529-2244
Or Gradison McDonald at: Telecommunication Device for the Deaf (TDD):
513-579-5700 or 800-869-5999 800-970-5296
</TABLE>
ACH. After your account is set up, your purchase amount can be transferred by
Automated Clearing House (ACH). Only domestic member banks may be used. It takes
about 15 days to set up an ACH account. Currently, the Fund does not charge a
fee for ACH transfers.
Statements and Reports. You will receive a periodic statement reflecting any
transactions that affect the balance or registration of your account. You will
receive a confirmation after any purchase, exchange, or redemption. If your
account has been set up by an Investment Professional, account activity will be
detailed in your account statements. Share certificates are not issued. Twice a
year, you will receive the financial reports of the Fund. By January 31 of each
year, you will be mailed an IRS form reporting distributions for the previous
year, which also will be filed with the IRS.
Systematic Investment Plan. To enroll in the Systematic Investment Plan, you
should check this box on the Account Application. We will need your bank
information and the amount and frequency of your investment. You can select
monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, or annual investments. You should attach a
voided personal check so the proper information can be obtained. You must first
meet the minimum initial investment requirement of $500 ($100 for IRAs), then we
will make automatic withdrawals of the amount you indicate ($25 or more) from
your bank account and invest it in shares of the Fund.
Retirement Plans. You can use the Fund as part of your retirement portfolio.
Your Investment Professional can set up your new account under one of several
tax-deferred retirement plans. Please
9
<PAGE>
contact your Investment Professional or the Fund for details regarding an IRA or
other retirement plan that works best for your financial situation.
****If you would like to make additional investments after your account is
already established, use the Investment Stub attached to your confirmation
statement and send it with your check to the address indicated.****
You must make all purchases in U.S. dollars and drawn on U.S. banks. The
Transfer Agent may reject any purchase order in its sole discretion. If your
check is returned for any reason, you will be charged for any resulting fees
and/or losses. Third party checks will not be accepted. You may only buy or
exchange into fund shares legally available in your state. If your account falls
below $500 ($100 for IRAs), we may ask you to re-establish the minimum
investment. If you do not do so within 60 days, we may close your account and
send you the value of your account.
HOW TO EXCHANGE SHARES
You can sell shares of one fund of The Victory Portfolios to buy shares of
another. This is considered an exchange. You may exchange shares of one Victory
fund for shares of the same class of any other, generally without paying any
additional sales charges.
You can exchange shares of the Fund by writing or calling the Transfer Agent at
800-539-FUND or Gradison McDonald at 513-579-5700 or 800-869-5999. When you
exchange shares of the Fund, you should keep the following in mind:
o Shares of the Fund selected for exchange must be available for sale in your
state of residence.
o The Fund whose shares you would like to exchange and the fund whose shares you
want to buy must offer the exchange privilege.
o Shares of the Fund may be exchanged at relative net asset value if they are
the same class.
o If you own Class G Shares, you can exchange into Class G Shares, Select
Shares, or any single class money market fund shares of a Victory Fund without
paying a sales charge. If a Victory Fund has both Class G and Class A Shares,
you can exchange into only Class G Shares. However, if you owned Gradison
Shares as of the date of the reorganization, you can exchange into Class A
Shares of any Victory Fund that does not offer Class G Shares without paying a
sales charge.
o You must meet the minimum purchase requirements for the fund you purchase by
exchange.
o The registration and tax identification numbers of the two accounts must be
identical.
o You must hold the shares you buy when you establish your account for at least
seven days before you can exchange them; after the account is open seven days,
you can exchange shares on any business day.
o Before exchanging, read the prospectus of the fund you wish to purchase by
exchange.
****You can obtain a list of funds available for exchange by calling the
Transfer Agent at 800-539-FUND or Gradison McDonald at 513-579-5700 or
800-869-5999.****
HOW TO SELL SHARES
If your request is received and accepted by 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time, your
redemption will be processed the same day.
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<PAGE>
****There are a number of convenient ways to sell your shares. You can use the
same mailing and wiring addresses listed for purchases. You will earn dividends
up to and including the date the Fund processes your redemption request.****
By Telephone. The easiest way to sell shares is by calling 800-539-FUND or
Gradison McDonald at 513-579-5700 or 800-869-5999. When you fill out your
original application, be sure to check the box marked "Telephone Authorization."
Then when you are ready to sell, call and tell us which one of the following
options you would like to use:
o Mail a check to the address of record;
o Wire funds to a domestic financial institution;
o Mail a check to a previously designated alternate address; or
o Electronically transfer your redemption via the Automated Clearing House
(ACH).
The Transfer Agent records all telephone calls for your protection and takes
measures to verify the identity of the caller. If the Transfer Agent properly
acts on telephone instructions and follows reasonable procedures to ensure
against unauthorized transactions, neither Victory nor its servicing agents, the
Adviser, nor the Transfer Agent will be responsible for any losses. If the
Transfer Agent does not follow these procedures, it may be liable to you for
losses resulting from unauthorized instructions.
If there is an unusual amount of market activity and you cannot reach the
Transfer Agent or your Investment Professional by telephone, consider placing
your order by mail.
By Mail. Use the Regular U.S. Mail or Overnight Mail Address to sell shares.
Send us a letter of instruction indicating your Fund account number, amount of
redemption, and where to send the proceeds. A signature guarantee is required
for the following redemption requests:
o Redemptions over $10,000;
o Your account registration has changed within the last 15 days;
o The check is not being mailed to the address on your account;
o The check is not being made payable to the owner of the account; or
o The redemption proceeds are being transferred to another Victory Fund account
with a different registration.
You can get a signature guarantee from a financial institution such as a bank,
broker-dealer, credit union, clearing agency, or savings association.
By Wire. If you want to sell shares by wire, you must establish a Fund account
that will accommodate wire transactions. If you call by 12:00 p.m. Eastern time,
your funds will be wired on the same business day.
By ACH. Normally, your redemption will be processed on the same day or the next
day if received after 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time. It will be transferred by ACH as
long as the transfer is to a domestic bank.
Check Writing. You may withdraw funds by writing a check for $100 or more
without paying any fees. Checks also may be written in amounts of less than
$100, in which case you will be charged a fee of $0.30 per check, which
reimburses the Fund for expenses associated with clearing these checks. Shares
continue to earn daily dividends until these checks are presented for payment.
In order to activate the check writing option on your account, you must sign a
signature card for all owners on the account. The
11
<PAGE>
names of payees of checks and the date checks are cashed appear on monthly
transaction statements. You may not close your account by writing a check.
Please call the Fund for a complete redemption.
Systematic Withdrawal Plan. If you check this box on the Account Application, we
will send monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, or annual payments to the person you
designate. The minimum withdrawal is $25, and you must have a balance of $5,000
or more. Once again, we will need a voided personal check to activate this
feature. You should be aware that your account eventually may be depleted.
However, you cannot automatically close your account using the Systematic
Withdrawal Plan. If your balance falls below $500, we may ask you to bring the
account back to the minimum balance. If you decide not to increase your account
to the minimum balance, your account may be closed and the proceeds mailed to
you.
Additional Information about Redemptions
o Redemption proceeds from the sale of shares purchased by a check may be held
until the purchase check has cleared.
o If you request a complete redemption, the Fund will include any dividends
accrued with the redemption proceeds.
o The Fund may suspend your right to redeem your shares in the following
circumstances:
o During non-routine closings of the NYSE, or when trading on the NYSE is
restricted;
o When an emergency prevents the sale or valuation of the Fund's securities;
or
o When the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) orders a suspension to
protect the Fund's shareholders.
o The Fund will pay redemptions by any one shareholder during any 90-day period
in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the Fund's net assets. The Fund
reserves the right to pay the remaining portion "in kind," that is, in
portfolio securities rather than cash.
Organization and Management of the Fund
*****We want you to know who plays what role in your investment and how they are
related. This section discusses the organizations employed by the Fund to
provide services to its shareholders. These organizations are paid a fee for
their services.*****
About Victory:
The Fund is a member of The Victory Portfolios, a group of over 30 distinct
investment portfolios. The Board of Trustees of Victory has the overall
responsibility for the management of the Fund.
The Investment Adviser and Sub-Administrator:
One of the Fund's most important contracts is its Advisory Agreement with Key
Asset Management Inc. (KAM), a New York corporation registered as an investment
adviser with the SEC. KAM, a subsidiary of KeyCorp, oversees the operations of
the Fund according to investment policies and procedures adopted by the Board of
Trustees. Affiliates of the Adviser manage approximately $62 billion for a
limited number of individual and institutional clients. KAM also is the
investment adviser of The Victory Variable Insurance Funds, a registered
investment company currently offering three mutual funds, exclusively for
variable annuity or variable life insurance contracts that are offered by the
separate
12
<PAGE>
accounts of participating insurance companies. KAM's address is 127 Public
Square, Cleveland, Ohio 44114. McDonald & Co. Securities Inc. was the former
adviser of the Fund. Since the merger with KeyCorp, Gradison McDonald became a
subsidiary of KeyCorp. KAM will be paid a management fee based upon the average
daily net assets of the Fund at an annual rate of .50% on the first $400
million, .45% on the next $600 million, .40% on the next $1 billion, and .35% in
excess of $2 billion.
Under a Sub-Administration Agreement, BISYS Fund Services Ohio, Inc., the Fund's
administrator, pays KAM a fee at the annual rate of up to 0.05% of the Fund's
average daily net assets to perform some of the administrative duties for the
Fund.
Distribution and Service Plan:
Under the terms of a Distribution and Service Plan adopted according to Rule
12b-1 under the 1940 Act, the Fund pays to the Distributor a monthly
distribution fee at an annual rate of 0.10% of the average daily net assets of
the Fund. The Rule 12b-1 fee is paid to securities broker dealers or other
financial intermediaries for providing personal services to shareholders of the
Fund, including responding to inquiries, providing information to shareholders
about their Fund accounts, establishing and maintaining accounts and records,
processing dividend and distribution payments, arranging for bank wires,
assisting in transactions, and changing account information. The Fund may enter
into agreements with various shareholder servicing agents, including KeyCorp and
its affiliates, and with other financial institutions that provide such
services.
Because Rule 12b-1 fees are paid out of the Fund's assets on an on-going basis,
over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you
more than paying other types of sales charges.
13
<PAGE>
OPERATIONAL STRUCTURE
OF THE FUND
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C>
----------- ----------------------------------
-----------------
Trustees Adviser
----------- ----------------------------------
-------------------------
Shareholders
-------------------------
-----------------------------------------------
Financial Services Firms and
their Investment Professionals
Advise current and prospective
shareholders on their Fund investments.
-----------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------
Transfer Agent/Servicing Agent
----------------------------------
State Street Bank and Trust Company Servicing Agent
225 Franklin Street
Boston, MA 02110 Gradison Division of
McDonald Investments Inc.
Boston Financial Data Services Will provide services to
Two Heritage Drive certain shareholders
Quincy, MA 02171
----------------------------------
Handles services such as record-keeping,
statements, processing of buy and
sell requests, distribution of dividends,
and servicing of shareholder accounts.
-----------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
Administrator,
Distributor, and Fund
Accountant Custodian
BISYS Fund Services Key Trust Company of Ohio, NA
and its affiliates 127 Public Square
3435 Stelzer Road Cleveland, OH 44114
---------------------
Columbus, OH 43219
Provides for safekeeping of the
Markets the Fund, distributes shares through Fund's investments and cash, and
Investment Professionals, and calculates the settles trades made by the Fund.
value of shares. As Administrator, handles the
day-to-day activities of the Fund.
- ---------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------
Sub-Administrator
14
<PAGE>
Key Asset Management Inc.
127 Public Square
Cleveland, OH 44114
Performs certain
sub-administrative services.
----------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
Additional Information
****Some additional information you should know about the Fund.****
****If you would like to receive additional copies of any materials, please call
the Fund at 800-539-FUND or Gradison McDonald at 513-579-5700 or
800-869-5999.****
o Share Classes
The Fund offers only the Shares described in this Prospectus. At some future
date, the Fund may offer additional classes of shares through a separate
prospectus. The Fund is the successor to Gradison U.S. Government Reserves since
the completion of a reorganization with The Victory Portfolios.
Code of Ethics
The Fund and the Adviser have each adopted a Code of Ethics to which all
investment personnel and all other access persons of the Fund must conform.
Investment personnel must refrain from certain trading practices and are
required to report certain personal investment activities. Violations of the
Code of Ethics can result in penalties, suspension, or termination of
employment.
o Banking Laws
The Adviser is a subsidiary of a bank holding company. Banking laws, including
the Glass-Steagall Act, currently prevent a bank holding company or its
affiliates from sponsoring, organizing, or controlling a registered, open-end
investment company. However, bank holding company subsidiaries may act as an
investment adviser, transfer agent, custodian, or shareholder servicing agent.
They also may pay third parties for performing these functions and buy shares of
such an investment company for their customers. Should these laws change in the
future, the Trustees would consider selecting another qualified firm so that all
services would continue.
o Year 2000 Issues
Like all mutual funds, the Fund could be adversely affected if the computer
systems used by its service providers, including shareholder servicing agents,
are unable to recognize dates after 1999. The Fund's service providers have been
actively updating their systems to be able to process Year 2000 data. There can
be no assurance, however, that these steps will be adequate to avoid a temporary
service disruption or other adverse impact on the Fund. In addition, an issuer's
failure to process accurately Year 2000 data may cause that issuer's securities
to decline in value.
o Shareholder Communications
In order to eliminate duplicate mailings to an address at which two or more
shareholders with the same last name reside, the Fund will send only one copy of
any financial reports, prospectuses and their supplements.
15
<PAGE>
Other securities and investment practices
The following table lists the types of securities the Fund may purchase under
normal market conditions. For a more complete description of the different types
of securities, see the SAI. For cash management or for temporary defensive
purposes in response to market conditions, the Fund may hold all of its assets
in cash. This may reduce the benefit from any upswing in the market and may
cause the Fund to fail to meet its investment objective. For detailed
descriptions of each of the investments, see the SAI.
Derivative Instruments: Indicates a "derivative instrument," whose value is
linked to, or derived from another security, instrument, or index. The Fund may,
but is not required to, use derivative instruments for any of the following
reasons:
o To hedge against adverse changes in the market value of securities
o As a temporary substitute for purchasing or selling securities
o In limited situations, to attempt to profit from anticipated market
developments
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Government Securities. Securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S.
Government, its agencies, or instrumentalities. Some are direct obligations of
the U.S. Treasury; others are obligations only of the U.S. agency or
intrumentality.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When-Issued and Delayed-Delivery Securities. A security that is purchased for
delivery at a later time. The market value may change before the delivery date,
and the value is included in the NAV of the Fund.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Repurchase Agreements. An agreement to sell and repurchase a security at a
stated price plus interest. The seller's obligation to the Fund is secured by
collateral. Subject to the receipt of an exemptive order from the SEC, the
Adviser may combine repurchase transactions among one or more Victory funds into
a single transaction.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Variable & Floating Rate Securities. Investment grade instruments, some of which
may be illiquid, with interest rates that reset periodically.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Zero Coupon Bonds. These securities are purchased at a discount from face value.
The bond's face value is received at maturity, with no interest payments before
then. These securities may be subject to greater risks of price fluctuation than
securities that periodically pay interest.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
16
<PAGE>
[Icon 3] Financial Highlights
The Financial Highlights table is intended to help you understand the Fund's
financial performance for the past five years. Certain information shows the
results of an investment in one share of the Fund. The total returns in the
table represent the rate that an investor would have earned on an investment in
the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions).
These financial highlights reflect historical information about Gradison U.S.
Government Reserves, the predecessor to the Fund. The financial highlights were
audited by Arthur Andersen LLP, whose report, along with the financial
statements of Gradison U.S. Government Reserves, are included in that fund's
annual report, which is available by calling Gradison McDonald at 800-869-5999
or 513-579-5700.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year Year Year Year Year
Ended Ended Ended Ended Ended
Sept. 30, Sept. 30, Sept. 30, Sept. 30, Sept. 30,
1998 1997 1996 1995 1994
Net asset value at beginning of year $1.000 $1.000 $1.000 $1.000 $1.000
------ ------ ------ ------ ------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net investment income .049 .047 .047 .050 .029
Dividends from net investment income (.049) (.047) (.047) (.050) (.029)
------ ------ ------ ------ ------
Net asset value at end of year $1.000 $1.000 $1.000 $1.000 $1.000
====== ====== ====== ======= ======
Total Return 4.98% 4.85% 4.86% 5.10% 2.97%
===== ===== ===== ===== =====
Ratios/Supplemental Data:
Net Assets at end of year
(in millions) $1,933.8 $1,610.1 $1,333.1 $1,224.1 $1,001.2
Ratio of gross expenses to average .73% .73% .76% .80% --
net assets(1)
Ratio of net expenses to average .72% .72% .75% .78% .80%
net assets(2)
Ratio of net investment income to 4.86% 4.75% 4.72% 5.00% 2.90%
average net assets (2)
</TABLE>
(1) Effective for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1995, this ratio reflects
gross expenses before reduction for earnings credits on cash balances; such
reductions are included in the ratio of net expenses.
(2) During the year ended September 30, 1994, Gradison U.S. Government
Reserves' investment adviser absorbed expenses of that fund through waiver
of a portion of the investment advisory fee. Assuming no waiver of
expenses, the ratio of expenses to average net assets was 0.81% and the
ratio of net investment income to average net assets was 2.89%.
17
<PAGE>
Bulk Rate
U.S. Postage
PAID
Cleveland, OH
Permit No. 469
LOGO(R)
Victory Funds
================================================================================
If you would like a free copy of any of the following documents or would like to
request other information regarding the Fund, you can call or write the Fund or
Gradison McDonald.
Statement of Additional Information (SAI): Contains more details describing the
Fund and its policies. The SAI has been filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC), and is incorporated by reference in this Prospectus.
Annual and Semi-annual Reports: Describe the Fund's performance, lists portfolio
holdings, and discusses market conditions and investment strategies that
significantly affected the Fund's performance during its last fiscal year or
6-month period.
How to Obtain Information:
By telephone: Call Victory Funds at 800-539-FUND or Gradison McDonald at
513-579-5700 or 800-869-5999. You also may obtain copies of materials from the
SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. (Call 800-SEC-0330 for
information on the operation of the SEC's Public Reference Room).
By mail: Write: The Victory Funds or Gradison McDonald
P. O. Box 8527 580 Walnut Street
Boston, MA 02266-8527 Cincinnati, OH 45202
You also may write the Public Reference Section of the SEC, 450 Fifth St., N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20549-6009, and pay the costs of duplication.
On the Internet: Text only versions of Fund documents can be viewed on-line or
downloaded from the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.
The securities described in this Prospectus and the SAI are not offered in any
state in which they may not lawfully be sold. No sales representative, dealer,
or other person is authorized to give any information or make any representation
other than those contained in this Prospectus and the SAI.
****If you would like to receive copies of the annual and semi-annual reports
and/or the SAI at no charge, please call the Fund at 800-539-FUND or Gradison
McDonald at 513-579-5700 or 800-869-5999.****
(R)PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER
VF-GGR-PRO (4/99)
Investment Company Act File Number 811-4852
18
<PAGE>
The information in this Prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may
not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This Prospectus is not an offer
to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities
in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
THE VICTORY FUNDS
ESTABLISHED VALUE FUND
Class G Shares
PROSPECTUS
Call Victory at:
800-539-FUND
(800-539-3863)
Or Call:
Gradison McDonald
513-579-5700
or
800-869-5999
As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission has not
approved the Fund's securities or determined whether this Prospectus is accurate
or complete. Anyone who tells you otherwise is committing a crime.
April _, 1999
<PAGE>
THE VICTORY PORTFOLIOS
Established Value Fund
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
Risk/Return Summary of the Fund
An analysis which includes the investment objective, principal strategies,
principal risks, performance and expenses
Risk Factors
Share Price
Dividends, Distributions, and Taxes
Investing With Victory
How to Buy Shares
How to Exchange Shares
How to Sell Shares
Organization and Management of the Fund
Additional Information
Other Securities and Investment Practices
Financial Highlights
Key to Fund Information:
[Icon 1] Objective and Strategies: The goals and the strategies that
the Fund plans to use to pursue its
investment objective.
[Icon 2] Risk Factors: The risks you may assume as an
investor in the Fund.
[Icon 3] Performance: A summary of the historical
performance of the Fund in comparison
to an unmanaged index.
[Icon 4] Expenses: The costs you will pay, directly or
indirectly, as an investor in the
Fund, including ongoing expenses.
The following pages provide you with an overview of the Fund. Please look at the
objective, policies, strategies, and risks to determine if the Fund will suit
your risk tolerance and investment needs. You also should review "Other
Securities and Investment Practices" for additional information about the
individual securities in which the Fund can invest.
Shares of the Fund are:
o Not insured by the FDIC; [FDIC icon]
o Not deposits or other obligations of, or guaranteed by KeyBank, any of its
affiliates, or any other bank; [Bank icon]
o Subject to possible investment risks, including possible loss of the principal
amount invested.
2
<PAGE>
RISK/RETURN SUMMARY
[Icon 1] Investment Objective
The investment objective of the Fund is long-term capital growth by investing
primarily in common stocks.
[Icon 1] Principal Investment Strategies: The Fund pursues its investment
objective by investing primarily in equity securities of companies with market
capitalization of $1 billion or more. The companies are usually selected from
those in the Standard & Poor's Composite Stock Price Index (S&P 500).
In making investment decisions, Key Asset Management Inc., the Fund's investment
adviser (KAM or the Adviser), looks for companies whose values are less than
what the Adviser believes are the true values. The Adviser may consider a
company's earnings, price-to-earnings ratios, price-to-book ratios, return on
equity, and other factors. The Adviser uses a computer model to select
securities that appear favorably priced.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund:
o Will invest at least 80% of its total assets in equity securities of companies
with market capitalization of $1 billion or more. These equity investments
include:
o Common stock
o Convertible preferred stock
o Debt convertible or exchangeable into equity securities
o Securities convertible into common stock
o May invest up to 20% of its total assets in:
o Short-term U.S. Government obligations
o Repurchase agreements
o Other money market obligations
[Icon 2] Principal Risks:
The Fund is subject to the following principal risks, more fully described in
"Risk Factors." The Fund's net asset value or total return may be adversely
affected if any of the following occurs:
o The market value of securities acquired by the Fund declines
o Value stocks fall out of favor relative to growth stocks or other types of
stocks
o A particular strategy does not produce the intended result or the portfolio
manager does not execute the strategy effectively
o A company's earnings do not increase as expected
o Interest rates rise
o An issuer's credit quality is downgraded
o The Fund must reinvest interest or sale proceeds at lower rates
o The rate of inflation increases
By itself, the Fund does not constitute a complete investment plan and should be
considered a long-term investment for investors who can afford to weather
changes in the value of their investment.
<PAGE>
Who May Want to Invest In the Fund:
o Investors who want a diversified portfolio of equity securities
o Investors willing to accept the risk of price and dividend fluctuations
o Investors willing to accept higher short-term risk along with higher potential
long-term returns
o Long-term investors with a particular goal, like saving for retirement or a
child's education
o Investors who want potential growth over time
[Icon 3] INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE
The chart and table shown below give an indication of the risks of investing in
the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year for the
last ten years. The table below shows how the Fund's average annual returns for
one year, five years and ten years compare to the returns of a broad-based
securities market index. The figures shown assume reinvestment of dividends and
distributions. The performance information below reflects the performance of the
Gradison Established Value Fund, the predecessor to the Fund. Returns for the
Fund would be substantially similar because the shares will be invested in the
same portfolio of securities.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ------------ ---------- --------- ---------- ---------- --------- ---------- --------- ---------- ---------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
30.00% 22.23% 20.77% 26.44% 22.65%
---------- --------- ---------- ---------- --------- ---------- --------- ---------- ---------- ---------
20.00% 16.05% 10.20% 19.32%
---------- --------- ---------- ---------- --------- ---------- --------- ---------- ---------- ---------
10.00% 0.32% 6.12%
---------- --------- ---------- ---------- --------- ---------- --------- ---------- ---------- ---------
0.00%
---------- --------- ---------- ---------- --------- ---------- --------- ---------- ---------- ---------
-10.00% -8.11%
---------- --------- ---------- ---------- --------- ---------- --------- ---------- ---------- ---------
-20.00%
---------- --------- ---------- ---------- --------- ---------- --------- ---------- ---------- ---------
1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
- ------------ ---------- --------- ---------- ---------- --------- ---------- --------- ---------- ---------- ---------
****Past performance does not indicate future results.****
During the period shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a quarter was
14.12% (quarter ending December 31, 1998) and the lowest return for a quarter
was -13.23% (quarter ending September 30, 1998).
- ----------------------------------------------------------- ------------------- ------------------ -------------------
Average Annual Total Returns
(for the Periods ended December 31, 1998) Past One Year Past 5 Years Past 10 Years
- ----------------------------------------------------------- ------------------- ------------------ -------------------
Established Value Fund 6.12% 14.52% 13.08%
- ----------------------------------------------------------- ------------------- ------------------ -------------------
S&P 500 Index 28.58% 24.06% 19.18%
- ----------------------------------------------------------- ------------------- ------------------ -------------------
* The S&P 500 Index of large capitalization companies, is a widely recognized,
unmanaged index of common stock prices.
2
<PAGE>
[Icon 4] FUND EXPENSES
This section will help you understand the costs and expenses you would pay,
directly or indirectly, if you invest in the Fund.
Shareholder Transaction Expenses (paid directly from your investment)* Class G
-------
Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) None
Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Reinvested Dividends None
Deferred Sales Charge None
Redemption Fees None
Exchange Fees None
* You may be charged additional fees if you purchase, exchange, or redeem
shares through a broker or agent other than the Gradison McDonald
Investments, a division of McDonald Investments Inc. (Gradison McDonald).
The Annual Fund Operating Expenses table below illustrates the estimated
operating expenses that you will incur as a shareholder of the Fund. The Fund
pays these expenses from its assets.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
Class G
-------
Management Fees (1) 0.51%
Distribution (12b-1) Fees 0.50%
Other Expenses 0.26%
-----
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 1.27%
=====
Fee Waiver (0.17)%
Net Expenses (2) 1.10%
=====
(1) The management fees are based upon the average daily net assets of the Fund
at an annual rate of .65% on the first $100 million, .55% on the next $100
million and .45% in excess of $200 million.
(2) The expenses shown are estimated based on historical expenses of the Fund
adjusted to reflect anticipated expenses. KAM has agreed to waive its
management fee or to reimburse expenses, as allowed by law, to the extent
necessary to maintain the net total operating expenses at a maximum of
1.10% until at least April 1, 2001.
Example
The following Example is designed 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 shown and then redeem
all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that
your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses
remain the same.* Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on
these assumptions your costs would be:
1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years
Class G $112 $367 $660 $1,494
*
This Example assumes that Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses will equal
1.10% until April 1, 2001 and will equal 1.27% thereafter.
</TABLE>
3
<PAGE>
[Icon 2] RISK FACTORS
This Prospectus describes the principal risks that you may assume as an investor
in the Fund. The "Other Securities and Investment Practices" section in this
Prospectus provides additional information on the securities mentioned in the
Risk/Return Summary for the Fund. As with any mutual fund, there is no guarantee
that the Fund will earn income or show a positive total return over time. The
Fund's price, yield, and total return will fluctuate.
An investment in the Fund not a complete investment program.
*****By matching your investment objective with an acceptable level of risk, you
can create your own customized investment plan.*****
****It is important to keep in mind one basic principle of investing: in
general, the greater the risk, the greater the potential reward. The reverse is
also generally true: the lower the risk, the lower the potential reward.****
General risks:
o Market risk is the risk that the market value of a security may fluctuate,
depending on the supply and demand for that type of security. As a result
of this fluctuation, a security may be worth more or less than the price
the Fund originally paid for the security, or more or less than the
security was worth at an earlier time. Market risk may affect a single
issuer, an industry, a sector of the economy, or the entire market and is
common to all investments.
o Manager risk is the risk that the Fund's portfolio manager may use a
strategy that does not produce the intended result. Manager risk also
refers to the possibility that the portfolio manager may fail to execute
the Fund's investment strategy effectively and, thus, fail to achieve its
objective.
Risk associated with investing in equity securities:
o Equity risk is the risk that the value of the security will fluctuate in
response to changes in earnings or other conditions affecting the issuer's
profitability or as a result of a general market decline. Unlike debt
securities, which have preference to a company's earnings and cash flow in
case of liquidation, equity securities are entitled to the residual value
after the company meets its other obligations. For example, in the event of
bankruptcy, holders of debt securities have priority over holders of equity
securities to a company's assets.
Risks associated with investing in debt securities:
o Interest rate risk. The value of a debt security typically changes in the
opposite direction from a change in interest rates. When interest rates go
up, the value of a debt security typically goes down. When interest rates
go down, the value of a debt security typically goes up. Generally, the
market values of securities with longer maturities are more sensitive to
changes in interest rates.
o Inflation risk is the risk that inflation will erode the purchasing power
of the cash flows generated by debt securities held by the Fund. Fixed-rate
debt securities are more susceptible to this risk than floating-rate debt
securities or equity securities that have a record of dividend growth.
4
<PAGE>
o Credit (or default) risk is the risk that the issuer of a debt security
will be unable to make timely payments of interest or principal. Although
the Fund generally invest in only high-quality securities, the interest or
principal payments may not be insured or guaranteed on all securities.
Credit risk is measured by nationally recognized statistical ratings
organizations, such as S&P, Fitch, or Moody's.
Share Price
The Fund calculates its share price, called its "net asset value" (NAV), each
business day, at the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
(NYSE), which is normally at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The share price of Class G
Shares is equal to the Fund's Class G NAV. You may buy, exchange, and sell your
shares at the next share price calculated after the Fund receives and accepts
your investment instructions. A business day is a day on which the Federal
Reserve Bank of Cleveland and the NYSE are open or any day in which enough
trading has occurred in the securities held by the Fund to materially affect the
NAV. You may not be able to buy or sell shares on certain holidays when the
Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland is closed, but the NYSE and other financial
markets are open.
The Fund values its investments based on market value. When market quotations
are not readily available, the Fund values its investments based on fair value
methods approved by the Board of Trustees of The Victory Portfolios. The Fund
calculates its NAV by adding up the total value of its investments and other
assets, subtracting its liabilities, and then dividing that figure by the number
of outstanding shares of the Fund.
NAV = Total Assets - Liabilities
--------------------------
Number of Shares Outstanding
You can find the Fund's net asset value each day in the Wall Street Journal and
other newspapers. Newspapers do not normally publish fund information until a
fund reaches a specific number of shareholders or level of assets.
Dividends, Distributions, and Taxes
****Buying a Dividend. You should check the Fund's distribution schedule before
you invest. If you buy shares of the Fund shortly before it makes a
distribution, some of your investment may come back to you as a taxable
distribution.****
As a shareholder, you are entitled to your share of net income and capital gains
on the Fund's investments. The Fund passes its earnings along to investors in
the form of dividends. Dividend distributions are the net income earned on
investments after expenses. As with any investment, you should consider the tax
consequences of an investment in the Fund.
Ordinarily, the Fund declares and pays dividends quarterly. Generally, the Fund
pays realized capital gains, if any, at least once a year.
You can receive distributions in one of the following ways. Please check with
your Investment Professional to find out if these options are available to you.
An Investment Professional is an investment consultant, salesperson, financial
planner, investment adviser, or trust officer who provides you with investment
information.
5
<PAGE>
o Reinvestment Option. You can have distributions automatically reinvested in
additional shares of the Fund. If you do not indicate another choice on
your Account Application, you will be assigned this option automatically.
o Cash Option. The Fund will send you a check no later than seven days after
the dividend payment date.
o Income Earned Option. You can automatically reinvest your dividends in your
Fund and have your capital gains paid in cash, or reinvest capital gains
and have your dividends paid in cash.
o Directed Dividends Option. In most cases, you can automatically reinvest
distributions in shares of another fund of The Victory Portfolios. If you
reinvest your distributions in a different class of another fund, you may
pay a sales charge on the reinvested distributions.
o Directed Bank Account Option. In most cases, you can automatically transfer
distributions to your bank checking or savings account. Under normal
circumstances, the Fund will transfer your distributions within seven days
of the dividend payment date. The bank account must have a registration
identical to that of your Fund account.
Important Information about Taxes
The Fund pays no federal income tax on the earnings and capital gains it
distributes to shareholders.
o Ordinary dividends from the Fund are taxable to shareholders as ordinary
income; dividends from the Fund's long-term capital gains are taxable as
capital gain. Capital gains may be taxable at different rates depending
upon how long the Fund holds certain assets.
o Dividends are treated in the same manner for federal income tax purposes
whether you receive them in cash or in additional shares. They also may be
subject to state and local taxes.
o Dividends from the Fund that are attributable to interest on certain U.S.
Government obligations may be exempt from certain state and local income
taxes. The extent to which ordinary dividends are attributable to these
U.S. Government obligations will be provided on the tax statements you
receive from the Fund.
o An exchange of the Fund's shares for shares of another fund will be treated
as a sale. When you sell or exchange shares of the Fund, you must recognize
any gain or loss.
o Certain dividends paid to you in January will be taxable as if they had
been paid to you the previous December.
o Tax statements will be mailed from the Fund every January showing the
amounts and tax status of distributions made to you.
o Because your tax treatment depends on your purchase price and tax position,
you should keep your regular account statements for use in determining your
tax
o You should review the more detailed discussion of federal income tax
considerations in the Statement of Additional Information.
****The tax information in this Prospectus is provided as general information.
You should consult your tax adviser about the tax consequences of an investment
in the Fund.****
INVESTING WITH VICTORY
****All you need to do to get started is to fill out an application.****
If you are looking for a convenient way to open an account or to add money to an
existing account, Victory can help. The
6
<PAGE>
sections that follow will serve as a guide to your investments with Victory. The
following sections will describe how to access information on your account, how
to open an account, and how to buy, exchange and sell shares of the Fund. We
want to make it simple for you to do business with us. If you have questions
about any of this information, please call your Investment Professional or one
of our customer service representatives at 800-539-FUND or Gradison McDonald at
513-579-5700 or 800-869-5999. They will be happy to assist you.
HOW TO BUY SHARES
You can buy shares in a number of different ways. All you need to do to get
started is to fill out an application. The minimum initial investment required
to open an account is $500 ($100 for IRAs), with additional investments of at
least $25. The Fund offers only Class G Shares, which do not have a sales
charge. You can send in your payment by check, wire transfer, exchange from
another Victory Fund, or through arrangements with Gradison McDonald or your
Investment Professional. Sometimes an Investment Professional will charge you a
fee for these services. This fee will be in addition to, and unrelated to, the
fees and expenses charged by the Fund. If you maintain a brokerage account with
Gradison McDonald, you may buy or sell Fund shares without incurring any fees.
If you buy shares directly from the Fund and your investment is received and
accepted by the close of trading on the NYSE (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time),
your purchase will be processed the same day using that day's share price.
Make your check payable to:
The Victory Funds
Keep the following addresses handy for purchases, exchanges, or redemptions:
Regular U.S. Mail Address:
Send completed Account Applications with your check, bank draft, or money order
to:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
The Victory Funds Or: Gradison McDonald Investments
P. O. Box 8527 580 Walnut Street
Boston, MA 02266-8527 Cincinnati, OH 45202
Overnight Mail Address:
Use the following address ONLY for overnight packages:
The Victory Funds Or: Gradison McDonald Investments
c/o Boston Financial Data Services 580 Walnut Street
66 Brooks Drive Cincinnati, OH 45202
Braintree, MA 02184 PHONE: 513-579-5700
PHONE: 800-539-FUND 800-869-5999
Wire Address:
The Transfer Agent does not charge a wire fee, but your originating bank may
charge a fee. Always call the Transfer Agent at 800-539-FUND or Gradison
McDonald at 513-579-5700 or 800-869-5999 BEFORE wiring funds to obtain a control
number.
Telephone Number:
Victory at: FAX Number:
7
<PAGE>
800-539-FUND (800-539-3863) 800-529-2244
Or Gradison McDonald at: Telecommunication Device for the Deaf (TDD):
513-579-5700 or 800-869-5999 800-970-5296
</TABLE>
ACH. After your account is set up, your purchase amount can be transferred by
Automated Clearing House (ACH). Only domestic member banks may be used. It takes
about 15 days to set up an ACH account. Currently, the Fund does not charge a
fee for ACH transfers.
Statements and Reports. You will receive a periodic statement reflecting any
transactions that affect the balance or registration of your account. You will
receive a confirmation after any purchase, exchange, or redemption. If your
account has been set up by an Investment Professional, account activity will be
detailed in your account statements. Share certificates are not issued. Twice a
year, you will receive the financial reports of the Fund. By January 31 of each
year, you will be mailed an IRS form reporting distributions for the previous
year, which also will be filed with the IRS.
Systematic Investment Plan. To enroll in the Systematic Investment Plan, you
should check this box on the Account Application. We will need your bank
information and the amount and frequency of your investment. You can select
monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, or annual investments. You should attach a
voided personal check so the proper information can be obtained. You must first
meet the minimum initial investment requirement of $500 ($100 for IRA's), then
we will make automatic withdrawals of the amount you indicate ($25 or more) from
your bank account and invest it in shares of the Fund.
Retirement Plans. You can use the Fund as part of your retirement portfolio.
Your Investment Professional can set up your new account under one of several
tax-deferred retirement plans. Please contact your Investment Professional or
the Fund for details regarding an IRA or other retirement plan that works best
for your financial situation.
****If you would like to make additional investments after your account is
already established, use the Investment Stub attached to your confirmation
statement and send it with your check to the address indicated.****
You must make all purchases in U.S. dollars and drawn on U.S. banks. The
Transfer Agent may reject any purchase order in its sole discretion. If your
check is returned for any reason, you will be charged for any resulting fees
and/or losses. Third party checks will not be accepted. You may only buy or
exchange into fund shares legally available in your state. If your account falls
below $500 ($100 for IRAs), we may ask you to re-establish the minimum
investment. If you do not do so within 60 days, we may close your account and
send you the value of your account.
HOW TO EXCHANGE SHARES
You can sell shares of one fund of the Victory Portfolios to buy shares of
another. This is considered an exchange. You may exchange shares of one Victory
fund for shares of the same class of any other, generally without paying any
additional sales charges.
You can exchange shares of the Fund by writing or calling the Transfer Agent at
800-539-FUND or Gradison McDonald at 513-579-5700 or 800-869-5999. When you
exchange shares of the Fund, you should keep the following in mind:
8
<PAGE>
o Shares of the Fund selected for exchange must be available for sale in your
state of residence.
o The Fund whose shares you would like to exchange and the fund whose shares you
want to buy must offer the exchange privilege.
o Shares of the Fund may be exchanged at relative net asset value if they are
the same class.
o If you own Class G Shares, you can exchange into Class G Shares, Select
Shares, or any single class money market fund shares of a Victory Fund without
paying a sales charge. If a Victory Fund has both Class G and Class A Shares,
you can exchange into only Class G Shares. If you owned Gradison Shares on the
reorganization date, you can exchange into Class A Shares of any Victory Fund
that does not offer Class G Shares without paying a sales charge.
o You must meet the minimum purchase requirements for the fund you purchase by
exchange.
o The registration and tax identification numbers of the two accounts must be
identical.
o You must hold the shares you buy when you establish your account for at least
seven days before you can exchange them; after the account is open seven days,
you can exchange shares on any business day.
o Before exchanging, read the prospectus of the fund you wish to purchase by
exchange.
****You can obtain a list of funds available for exchange by calling the
Transfer Agent at 800-539-FUND or Gradison McDonald at 513-579-5700 or
800-869-5999.****
HOW TO SELL SHARES
If your request is received and accepted by the close of trading on the NYSE
(usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time), your redemption will be processed the same
day.
****There are a number of convenient ways to sell your shares. You can use the
same mailing and wiring addresses listed for purchases. You will earn dividends
up to the date the Fund processes your redemption request.****
By Telephone. The easiest way to sell shares is by calling 800-539-FUND or
Gradison McDonald at 513-579-5700 or 800-869-5999. When you fill out your
original application, be sure to check the box marked "Telephone Authorization."
Then when you are ready to sell, call and tell us which one of the following
options you would like to use:
o Mail a check to the address of record;
o Wire funds to a domestic financial institution;
o Mail a check to a previously designated alternate address; or
o Electronically transfer your redemption via the Automated Clearing House
(ACH).
The Transfer Agent records all telephone calls for your protection and takes
measures to verify the identity of the caller. If the Transfer Agent properly
acts on telephone instructions and follows reasonable procedures to ensure
against unauthorized transactions, neither Victory, its servicing agents, the
Adviser, nor the Transfer Agent will be responsible for any losses. If the
Transfer Agent does not follow these procedures, it may be liable to you for
losses resulting from unauthorized instructions.
If there is an unusual amount of market activity and you cannot reach the
Transfer Agent or your Investment Professional by telephone, consider placing
your order by mail.
9
<PAGE>
By Mail. Use the Regular U.S. Mail or Overnight Mail Address to sell shares.
Send us a letter of instruction indicating your Fund account number, amount of
redemption, and where to send the proceeds. A signature guarantee is required
for the following redemption requests:
o Redemptions over $10,000;
o Your account registration has changed within the last 15 days;
o The check is not being mailed to the address on your account;
o The check is not being made payable to the owner of the account; or
o The redemption proceeds are being transferred to another Victory Fund
account with a different registration.
You can get a signature guarantee from a financial institution such as a bank,
broker-dealer, credit union, clearing agency, or savings association.
By Wire. If you want to sell shares by wire, you must establish a Fund account
that will accommodate wire transactions. If you call by 4:00 p.m. Eastern time,
your funds will be wired on the next business day.
By ACH. Normally, your redemption will be processed on the same day or the next
day if received after 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. It will be transferred by ACH as
long as the transfer is to a domestic bank.
Systematic Withdrawal Plan. If you check this box on the Account Application, we
will send monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, or annual payments to the person you
designate. The minimum withdrawal is $25, and you must have a balance of $5,000
or more. Once again, we will need a voided personal check to activate this
feature. You should be aware that your account eventually may be depleted.
However, you cannot automatically close your account using the Systematic
Withdrawal Plan. If your balance falls below $500, we may ask you to bring the
account back to the minimum balance. If you decide not to increase your account
to the minimum balance, your account may be closed and the proceeds mailed to
you.
Additional Information about Redemptions
o Redemption proceeds from the sale of shares purchased by a check may be
held until the purchase check has cleared.
o If you request a complete redemption, the Fund will include any dividends
declared will be included with the redemption proceeds.
o The Fund may suspend your right to redeem your shares in the following
circumstances:
o During non-routine closings of the NYSE, or when trading on the NYSE is
restricted;
o When an emergency prevents the sale or valuation of the Fund's securities;
or
o When the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) orders a suspension to
protect the Fund's shareholders.
o The Fund will pay redemptions by any one shareholder during any 90-day period
in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the Fund's net assets. The Fund
reserves the right to pay the remaining portion "in kind," that is, in
portfolio securities rather than cash.
10
<PAGE>
Organization and Management of the Fund
*****We want you to know who plays what role in your investment and how they are
related. This section discusses the organizations employed by the Fund to
provide services to the Fund's shareholders. Each of these organizations is paid
a fee for its services.*****
About Victory:
The Fund is a member of The Victory Portfolios, a group of over 30 distinct
investment portfolios. The Board of Trustees of Victory has the overall
responsibility for the management of the Fund.
The Investment Adviser and Sub-Administrator:
One of the Fund's most important contracts is its Advisory Agreement with Key
Asset Management Inc. (KAM), a New York corporation registered as an investment
adviser with the SEC. KAM, a subsidiary of KeyCorp, oversees the operations of
the Fund according to investment policies and procedures adopted by the Board of
Trustees. Affiliates of the Adviser manage approximately $62 billion for a
limited number of individual and institutional clients. KAM also is the
investment adviser of The Victory Variable Insurance Funds, a registered
investment company currently offering three mutual funds, exclusively for
variable annuity or variable life insurance contracts that are offered by the
separate accounts of participating insurance companies. KAM's address is 127
Public Square, Cleveland, Ohio 44114. McDonald & Co. Securities Inc. was the
former adviser of the Fund. Since the merger with KeyCorp, Gradison McDonald
became subsidiary of KeyCorp. KAM will be paid a management fee based upon the
average daily net assets of the Fund at an annual rate of .65% on the first $100
million, .55% on the next $100 million and .45% in excess of $200 million.
Under a Sub-Administration Agreement, BISYS Fund Services Ohio, Inc., the Fund's
administrator, pays KAM a fee at the annual rate of up to 0.05% of the Fund's
average daily net assets to perform some of the administrative duties for the
Fund.
Portfolio Management:
William J. Leugers, Jr., Daniel R. Shick and Gary H. Miller have been the
Co-Portfolio Managers of the Established Value Fund since its inception, and
together are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund's
portfolio. Messrs. Leugers and Shick are Portfolio Managers and Managing
Directors of Gradison McDonald and have also served as Co-Portfolio Managers of
the Fund's predecessor, the Gradison Established Value Fund, since 1984 and
1993, respectively. Mr. Miller is a Vice President and Portfolio Manager of
Gradison McDonald and has been with Gradison McDonald since 1987. Messrs.
Leugers, Shick and Miller are also Co-Portfolio Managers of the Small Company
Opportunity Fund, a series of The Victory Variable Insurance Funds, and of the
Victory Small Company Opportunity Fund.
Distribution and Service Plan:
Under the terms of a Distribution and Service Plan adopted according to Rule
12b-1 under the 1940 Act, the Fund pays to the Distributor a monthly service fee
at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Fund. The
service fee is paid to securities broker dealers or other financial
intermediaries for providing personal services to shareholders of the Fund,
including responding to inquiries, providing information to shareholders about
their Fund accounts, establishing and maintaining accounts and records,
processing dividend and distribution payments, arranging for bank wires,
assisting in transactions, and changing account information. The Fund may enter
into agreements with various
11
<PAGE>
shareholder servicing agents, including KeyCorp and its affiliates, and with
other financial institutions that provide such services.
The Fund also annually pays the Distributor a monthly distribution fee in an
additional amount up to 0.25% of the Fund's average daily net assets. The
distribution fee is paid to the Distributor for general distribution services
and for selling shares of the Fund. The Distributor makes payments to agents who
provide these services.
Because Rule 12b-1 fees are paid out of the Fund's assets on an on-going basis,
over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you
more than paying other types of sales charges.
OPERATIONAL STRUCTURE
OF THE FUND
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C>
----------- ----------------------------------
-----------------
Trustees Adviser
----------- ----------------------------------
-------------------------
Shareholders
-------------------------
-----------------------------------------------
Financial Services Firms and
their Investment Professionals
Advise current and prospective
shareholders on their Fund investments.
-----------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------
Transfer Agent/Servicing Agent
----------------------------------
State Street Bank and Trust Company Servicing Agent
225 Franklin Street
Boston, MA 02110 Gradison Division of
McDonald Investments Inc.
Boston Financial Data Services Will provide services to
Two Heritage Drive certain shareholders
Quincy, MA 02171
----------------------------------
Handles services such as record-keeping,
statements, processing of buy and
sell requests, distribution of dividends,
and servicing of shareholder accounts.
-----------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
Administrator,
Distributor, and Fund
Accountant Custodian
BISYS Fund Services Key Trust Company of Ohio, NA
and its affiliates 127 Public Square
12
<PAGE>
3435 Stelzer Road Cleveland, OH 44114
---------------------
Columbus, OH 43219
Provides for safekeeping of the
Markets the Fund, distributes shares through Fund's investments and cash, and
Investment Professionals, and calculates the settles trades made by the Fund.
value of shares. As Administrator, handles the
day-to-day activities of the Fund.
- ---------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------
Sub-Administrator
Key Asset Management Inc.
127 Public Square
Cleveland, OH 44114
Performs certain
sub-administrative services.
----------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
Additional Information
****Some additional information you should know about the Fund.****
*****If you would like to receive additional copies of any materials, please
call the Fund at 800-539-FUND or Gradison McDonald at 513-579-5700 or
800-869-5999.****
o Share Classes
The Fund offers only the Class G Shares described in this Prospectus. At some
future date, the Fund may offer additional classes of shares through a separate
prospectus. The Fund is the successor to the Gradison Established Value Fund
since the completion of a reorganization with the Victory Portfolios.
o Code of Ethics
The Fund and the Adviser have each adopted a Code of Ethics to which all
investment personnel and all other access persons of the Fund must conform.
Investment personnel must refrain from certain trading practices and are
required to report certain personal investment activities. Violations of the
Code of Ethics can result in penalties, suspension, or termination of
employment.
o Banking Laws
The Adviser is a subsidiary of a bank holding company. Banking laws, including
the Glass-Steagall Act, currently prevent a bank holding company or its
affiliates from sponsoring, organizing, or controlling a registered, open-end
investment company. However, bank holding company subsidiaries may act as an
investment adviser, transfer agent, custodian, or shareholder servicing agent.
They also may pay third parties for performing these functions and buy shares of
such an investment company for their customers. Should these laws change in the
future, the Trustees would consider selecting another qualified firm so that all
services would continue.
o Year 2000 Issues
Like all mutual funds, the Fund could be adversely affected if the computer
systems used by its service providers, including shareholder servicing agents,
are unable to recognize dates after 1999. The Fund's service providers have been
actively updating their systems to be able to process Year 2000 data. There can
be no assurance, however, that these steps will be adequate to avoid a temporary
service disruption
13
<PAGE>
or other adverse impact on the Fund. In addition, an issuer's failure to process
accurately Year 2000 data may cause that issuer's securities to decline in
value.
o Shareholder Communications
In order to eliminate duplicate mailings to an address at which two or more
shareholders with the same last name reside, the Fund will send only one copy of
any financial reports, prospectuses and their supplements.
OTHER SECURITIES AND INVESTMENT PRACTICES
The following table describes some of the types of securities the Fund may
choose to buy under normal market conditions. The Fund primarily invests in
equity securities. However, for cash management or for temporary defensive
purposes in response to market conditions, the Fund may hold all of its assets
in cash or short-term money market instruments. This may reduce the benefit from
any upswing in the market and may cause the Fund to fail to meet its investment
objective. For more information on ratings and detailed descriptions of each of
the investments, see the Statement of Additional Information.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Equity Securities. Includes common stock, preferred stock, and securities
that are convertible or exchangeable into common stock of U.S. corporations.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Government Securities. Securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S.
government, its agencies, or instrumentalities. Some are direct obligations of
the U.S. Treasury; others are obligations only of the U.S. agency or
intrumentality.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Short-Term Debt Obligations. Includes bankers' acceptances, certificates of
deposit, prime quality commercial paper, Eurodollar obligations, variable and
floating rate notes, cash, and cash equivalents.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Securities Lending. To generate additional income, the Fund may lend its
portfolio securities. The Fund will receive collateral for the value of the
security plus any interest due. The Fund only will enter into loan arrangements
with entities that the Adviser has determined are creditworthy. According to an
exemptive order received from the SEC, Key Trust Company of Ohio, N.A., the
Fund's Custodian and lending agent, may earn a fee based on the amount of income
earned on the investment of collateral.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Repurchase Agreements. An agreement to sell and repurchase a security at a
stated price plus interest. The seller's obligation to the Fund is secured by
collateral. Subject to the receipt of an exemptive order from the SEC, the
Adviser may combine repurchase transactions among one or more Victory funds into
a single transaction.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14
<PAGE>
Financial Highlights
The Financial Highlights table is intended to help you understand the Fund's
financial performance for the past five years. Certain information shows the
results of an investment in one share of the Fund. The total returns in the
table represent the rate that an investor would have earned on an investment in
the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions).
These financial highlights reflect historical information about the Gradison
Established Value Fund, the predecessor to the Fund. The financial highlights
for the four fiscal years or period ended March 31, 1998 and the fiscal year
ended April 30, 1994 were audited by Arthur Andersen LLP, whose report, along
with the financial statements of the Gradison Established Value Fund, are
included in that fund's annual report, which is available by calling Gradison
McDonald at 513-579-5700 or 800-869-5999.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
6 Months 11 Months
Ended Year Year Year Year Year
September 30, Ended Ended Ended Ended Ended
1998 March 31, March 31, March 31, March 31, April 30,
(unaudited) 1998 1997 1996 1995 (1) 1994
----------- ---- ---- ---- -------- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period
$33.941 $28.827 $27.567 $23.381 $22.515 $21.375
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Income from Investment Operations:
Net investment income .212 .465 .445 .436 .376 .256
Net gains or losses on securities
(both realized and unrealized) (4.889) 7.699 3.615 5.190 1.520 2.104
------- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total from Investment Operations (4.677) 8.164 4.060 5.626 1.896 2.360
------- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Less Distributions
Dividends (from net investment
income) (.220) (.480) (.450) (.430) (.370) (.220)
Distributions (from realized
capital gains) (.980) (2.570) (2.350) (1.010) (.660) (1.000)
------- ------- ------- ------ -------
Total Distributions (1.200) (3.050) (2.800) (1.440) (1.030) (1.220)
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Net Asset Value, End of Period $28.064 $33.941 $28.827 $27.567 $23.381 $22.515
======= ======= ======= ======= ======= =======
Total Return (14.23%) (2) 29.67% 15.14% 24.84% 8.85% (2) 11.30%
============ ====== ====== ====== ========= ======
Ratios/Supplemental Data:
Net Assets, End of Period (in
millions) $471.2 $567.3 $429.7 $366.4 $277.4 $253.3
Ratio of gross expenses to
average net assets (3) 1.09% (4) 1.10% 1.12% 1.16% --- ---
Ratio of net expenses to average
net assets 1.09% (4) 1.10% 1.12% 1.15% 1.20%(4) 1.22%
Ratio of net investment income to
average net assets 1.31% (4) 1.44% 1.57% 1.70% 1.87%(4) 1.15%
Portfolio Turnover 18% 20% 31% 18% 24% 38%
</TABLE>
1. The Fund changed its fiscal year to March 31.
2. Total return represents the actual return over the period and has not been
annualized.
3. Effective March 31, 1996 this ratio reflects gross expenses before reduction
for earnings credits; such reductions are included in the ratio of net
expenses.
4. Annualized.
15
<PAGE>
Bulk Rate
U.S. Postage
PAID
Cleveland, OH
Permit No. 469
LOGO(R)
Victory Funds
================================================================================
If you would like a free copy of any of the following documents or would like to
request other information regarding the Fund, you can call or write the Fund or
Gradison McDonald.
Statement of Additional Information (SAI): Contains more details describing the
Fund and its policies. The SAI has been filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC), and is incorporated by reference in this Prospectus.
Annual and Semi-annual Reports: Describe the Fund's performance, lists portfolio
holdings, and discusses market conditions and investment strategies that
significantly affected the Fund's performance during its last fiscal year or
6-month period.
How to Obtain Information:
By telephone: Call Victory Funds at 800-539-FUND or Gradison McDonald at
513-579-5700 or 800-869-5999. You also may obtain copies of materials from the
SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. (Call 800-SEC-0330 for
information on the operation of the SEC's Public Reference Room).
By mail: Write: The Victory Funds or Gradison McDonald Investments
P. O. Box 8527 580 Walnut Street
Boston, MA 02266-8527 Cincinnati, OH 45202
You also may write the Public Reference Section of the SEC, 450 Fifth St., N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20549-6009, and pay the costs of duplication.
On the Internet: Text only versions of Fund documents can be viewed on-line or
downloaded from the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.
The securities described in this Prospectus and the SAI are not offered in any
state in which they may not lawfully be sold. No sales representative, dealer,
or other person is authorized to give any information or make any representation
other than those contained in this Prospectus and the SAI.
****If you would like to receive copies of the annual and semi-annual reports
and/or the SAI at no charge, please call the Fund at 800-539-FUND or Gradison
McDonald at 513-579-5700 or 800-869-5999.****
(R)PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER
VF-EVF-PRO (4/99)
Investment Company Act File Number 811-4852
16
<PAGE>
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
THE VICTORY PORTFOLIOS
Gradison Government Reserves Fund
Established Value Fund
April ___, 1999
This Statement of Additional Information is not a prospectus, but should be read
in conjunction with the prospectuses of the Gradison Government Reserves Fund
and Established Value Fund (individually, a "Prospectus," and collectively, the
"Prospectuses") dated April ___, 1999, as amended or supplemented from time to
time.
This Statement of Additional Information is incorporated by reference in its
entirety into the Prospectuses. Copies of the Prospectuses may be obtained by
writing The Victory Portfolios at P.O Box 8527, Boston, MA 02266-8527, or by
calling toll free 800-539-FUND (800-539-3863) or Gradison McDonald at
513-579-5700 or 800-869-5999.
INVESTMENT ADVISER and SUB-ADMINISTRATOR DIVIDEND DISBURSING AGENT
Key Asset Management Inc. and SERVICING AGENT
Boston Financial Data Services, Inc.
ADMINISTRATOR and DISTRIBUTOR
BISYS Fund Services CUSTODIAN
Key Trust Company of Ohio, N.A.
TRANSFER AGENT
State Street Bank and Trust Company INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
COUNSEL
Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP
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Table of Contents
INVESTMENT POLICIES AND LIMITATIONS...........................................1
FUNDAMENTAL RESTRICTIONS OF THE FUNDS.........................................2
NON-FUNDAMENTAL RESTRICTIONS OF THE FUNDS.....................................4
INSTRUMENTS IN WHICH THE FUNDS CAN INVEST.....................................5
Temporary Defensive Measures.........................................6
Bank Deposit Instruments.............................................6
Commercial Paper.....................................................6
Repurchase Agreements................................................6
Variable Amount Master Demand Notes..................................6
Variable and Floating Rate Notes.....................................7
Extendible Debt Securities...........................................7
Receipts.............................................................8
Zero-Coupon Bonds....................................................8
U.S. Government Obligations..........................................8
When-Issued Securities...............................................8
Delayed-Delivery Transactions........................................8
Mortgage-Backed Securities...........................................9
In General..................................................9
Federal Farm Credit Bank Securities.........................9
Federal Home Loan Bank Securities...........................9
U.S. Government Mortgage-Backed Securities..................9
GNMA Certificates..........................................10
FHLMC Securities...........................................10
FNMA Securities............................................10
SLMA Securities.....................................................10
Illiquid Investments................................................11
Securities Lending Transactions.....................................11
Investment Grade and High Quality Securities........................11
Valuation of Portfolio Securities for the Funds..............................12
DETERMINING NET ASSET VALUE FOR THE GRADISON GOVERNMENT RESERVES FUND........12
VALUATION OF PORTFOLIO SECURITIES FOR THE ESTABLISHED VALUE FUND.............13
PERFORMANCE OF THE GRADISON GOVERNMENT RESERVES FUND.........................14
PERFORMANCE OF THE ESTABLISHED VALUE FUND....................................15
ADDITIONAL PURCHASE, EXCHANGE, AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION....................18
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS..................................................19
TAXES ....................................................................19
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS........................................................24
ADVISORY AND OTHER CONTRACTS.................................................27
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.......................................................33
APPENDIX ....................................................................A-1
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STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The Victory Portfolios (the "Trust") is an open-end management investment
company. The Trust consists of 38 series (each a "Fund," and collectively, the
"Funds") of units of beneficial interest ("shares"). The outstanding shares
represent interests in the 38 separate investment portfolios. The two Funds
described in this statement of additional information (the "SAI"), the Gradison
Government Reserves Fund and the Established Value Fund (each a "Fund" and
collectively, the "Funds"), are diversified mutual funds.
Much of the information contained in this SAI expands on subjects discussed in
the Prospectuses. Capitalized terms not defined herein are used as defined in
the Prospectuses. No investment in shares of a Fund should be made without first
reading that Fund's Prospectus.
INVESTMENT POLICIES AND LIMITATIONS
Each Fund's investment objective is fundamental and may not be changed without a
vote of the holders of a majority of the Fund's outstanding voting securities.
There can be no assurance that a Fund will achieve its investment objective.
Additional Information Regarding Fund Investments.
The following policies and limitations supplement the Funds' investment policies
set forth in the Prospectuses. The Funds' investments in the following
securities and other financial instruments are subject to the other investment
policies and limitations described in the Prospectuses and this SAI.
Unless otherwise noted in the prospectus or this SAI, a Fund may invest no more
than 5% of its total assets in any of the securities or financial instruments
described below (unless the context requires otherwise).
Unless otherwise noted, whenever an investment policy or limitation states a
maximum percentage of a Fund's assets that may be invested in any security or
other asset, or sets forth a policy regarding quality standards, such standard
or percentage limitation will be determined immediately after and as a result of
the Fund's acquisition of such security or other asset except in the case of
borrowing (or other activities that may be deemed to result in the issuance of a
"senior security" under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the
"1940 Act")). Accordingly, any subsequent change in values, net assets, or other
circumstances will not be considered when determining whether the investment
complies with a Fund's investment policies and limitations. If the value of a
Fund's holdings of illiquid securities at any time exceeds the percentage
limitation applicable at the time of acquisition due to subsequent fluctuations
in value or other reasons, the Trustees will consider what actions, if any, are
appropriate to maintain adequate liquidity.
The investment policies of a Fund may be changed without an affirmative vote of
the holders of a majority of that Fund's outstanding voting securities unless
(1) a policy expressly is deemed to be a fundamental policy of the Fund or (2) a
policy expressly is deemed to be changeable only by such majority vote. A Fund
may, following notice to its shareholders, take advantage of other investment
practices which currently are not contemplated for use by the Fund or which
currently are not available but which may be developed to the extent such
investment practices are both consistent with the Fund's investment objective
and legally permissible for the Fund. Such investment practices, if they arise,
may involve risks that exceed those involved in the activities described in a
Fund's Prospectus.
The following sections list each Fund's investment policies, limitations, and
restrictions. The securities in which the Funds can invest and the risks
associated with these securities are discussed in the section "Instruments in
Which the Funds Can Invest."
Defined Terms. All capitalized terms listed in a Fund's Investment Policies and
Limitations section referring to permissible investments are described in the
section "Instruments in Which the Funds Can Invest."
The following terms are used throughout the Investment Policies and Limitations
sections.
S&P: Standard & Poor's
Moody's: Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
NRSRO: Nationally recognized statistical ratings organization
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Fundamental Restrictions of the Funds
Gradison Government Reserves Fund
1. Senior Securities
The Gradison Government Reserves Fund will not issue senior securities as
defined in the 1940 Act, except to the extent that such issuance might be
involved with respect to borrowings subject to fundamental restriction no. 3
below or with respect to transactions involving futures contracts or the writing
of options and provided that the Trust may issue shares of additional series or
classes that the Trustees may establish.
2. Underwriting
The Gradison Government Reserves Fund will not underwrite the securities of
other issuers, except insofar as the Fund may technically be deemed an
underwriter under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"),
in connection with the disposition of portfolio securities.
3. Borrowing
The Gradison Government Reserves Fund will not borrow money, except from banks
as a temporary measure or for extraordinary or emergency purposes such as to
enable the Fund to satisfy redemption requests where liquidation of portfolio
securities is considered disadvantageous, and not for leverage purposes, and
then only in amounts not exceeding 15% of the total assets of the Fund at the
time of the borrowing. While any borrowing of greater than 5% of the assets is
outstanding, the Fund will not purchase additional portfolio securities.
4. Real Estate
The Gradison Government Reserves Fund will not purchase or sell real estate. The
purchase of securities secured by real estate which are otherwise allowed by the
Fund's investment objective and other investment restrictions shall not be
prohibited by this restriction.
5. Lending
The Gradison Government Reserves Fund will not make loans, except that the
purchase of debt securities as allowed by the Fund's investment objective and
other investment restrictions, entering into repurchase agreements, and the
lending of portfolio securities in an amount not to exceed 30% of the value of
its total assets with the collateral value of loaned securities marked-to-market
daily and in accordance with applicable regulations or guidelines established by
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") shall not be prohibited by
this restriction.
6. Commodities
The Gradison Government Reserves Fund will not purchase or sell commodities,
commodity contracts or interests in oil, gas or other mineral exploration or
development programs or leases, except that the purchase or sale of financial
futures contracts or options on financial futures contracts is permissible.
7. Concentration
The Gradison Government Reserves Fund will not invest more than 25% of its total
assets in the securities of issuers in any single industry, provided that there
shall be no limitation on investments in obligations issued or guaranteed by the
U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities.
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Established Value Fund
1. Underwriting
The Established Value Fund will not underwrite the securities of other issuers,
except insofar as the Trust may technically be deemed an underwriter under the
Securities Act in connection with the disposition of portfolio securities.
2. Borrowing
The Established Value Fund will not borrow money, except as a temporary measure
for extraordinary or emergency purposes, and then only in amounts not exceeding
5% of the total assets of the Fund, taken at the lower of acquisition cost or
market value.
3. Real Estate
The Established Value Fund will not purchase or sell real estate, except that it
is permissible to purchase securities secured by real estate or real estate
interests or issued by companies that invest in real estate or real estate
interests.
4. Lending
The Established Value Fund will not make loans, except (a) through the purchase
of publicly distributed corporate securities, U.S. Government obligations,
certificates of deposit, high-grade commercial paper and other money market
instruments, and (b) loans of portfolio securities to persons unaffiliated with
the Trust not in excess of 20% of the value of the Fund's total assets (taken at
market value) made in accordance with the guidelines of the SEC and with any
standards established from time to time by the Trust's Board of Trustees,
including the maintenance of collateral from the borrower at all times in an
amount at least equal to the current market value of the securities loaned.
5. Mortgage, Pledge or Hypothecation of Securities
The Established Value Fund will not mortgage, pledge or hypothecate securities,
except in connection with a permissible borrowing as set forth in fundamental
investment restriction no. 2 above, and then only in amounts not exceeding 10%
of the value of the assets of a Fund (taken at the lower of acquisition cost or
market value).
6. Commodities
The Established Value Fund will not purchase or sell commodities, commodity
contracts, or interests in oil, gas or other mineral exploration or development
programs, except that it is permissible to purchase securities issued by
companies that hold interests in oil, gas or other mineral exploration or
development programs.
7. Diversification
The Established Value Fund will not purchase any securities (other than
obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its agencies or
instrumentalities) if immediately after such purchase, more than 5% of the
Fund's total assets would be invested in securities of any one issuer or more
than 10% of the outstanding securities of any one issuer would be owned by the
Trust and held by the Fund. The Established Value Fund will not concentrate more
than 25% of its total assets in any one industry.
8. Short Sales, Margin
The Established Value Fund will not make short sales of securities, or purchase
securities on margin, except for short-term credit as is necessary for the
clearance of transactions.
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9. Other Investment Companies
The Established Value Fund will not purchase the securities of other investment
companies, except in connection with a merger, consolidation, reorganization or
acquisition of assets, and except by purchase in the open market of securities
of closed-end investment companies involving only customary broker's
commissions, and then only if immediately after such purchase, no more than 10%
of the value of the total assets of the Fund would be invested in such
securities.
10. Control
The Established Value Fund will not invest in companies for the purpose of
exercising control or management.
11. Restricted Securities
The Established Value Fund will not purchase securities subject to restrictions
on disposition under the Securities Act.
12. Illiquid Securities
The Established Value Fund will not purchase securities for which no readily
available market quotation exists, if at the time of acquisition more than 5% of
the total assets of the Fund would be invested in such securities (repurchase
agreements maturing in more than seven days are included within this
restriction).
13. Joint Trading
The Established Value Fund will not participate on a joint, or a joint and
several, basis in any securities trading account.
14. Options
The Established Value Fund will not write, purchase or sell puts, calls or
combinations thereof.
15. Ownership of Portfolio Securities by Trustees or Officers
The Established Value Fund will not purchase or retain the securities of any
issuer if any Trustee or officer of the Trust is or becomes a director or
officer of such issuer and owns beneficially more than 1/2 of 1% of the
securities of such issuer, or if those directors, trustees and officers of the
Trust and its investment adviser who are directors or officers of such issuer
together own or acquire more than 5% of the securities of such issuer.
16. Unseasoned Issuers
The Established Value Fund will not purchase any securities of companies which
have (with their predecessors) a record of less than three years of continuous
operation, if at the time of acquisition more than 5% of a Fund's total assets
would be invested in such securities.
NON-FUNDAMENTAL RESTRICTIONS
Gradison Government Reserves Fund
1. Short Sales, Purchases on Margin
The Gradison Government Reserves Fund will not make short sales of securities,
or purchase securities on margin, except for short-term credit as is necessary
for the clearance of transactions.
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2. Other Investment Companies
The Gradison Government Reserves Fund will not purchase securities of other
investment companies except in connection with a reorganization, merger, or
consolidation with another open-end investment company.
3. Mortgage, Pledge or Hypothecation of Securities
The Gradison Government Reserves Fund will not mortgage, pledge or hypothecate
securities except in connection with permitted borrowings. The Fund has no
current intention of engaging in the lending of portfolio securities.
INSTRUMENTS IN WHICH THE FUNDS CAN INVEST
The following tables list some of the types of securities each of the Funds may
choose to purchase under normal market conditions. Unless otherwise stated, the
indicated percentage relates to a Fund's total assets that may be committed to
the stated investment.
Gradison Government Reserves Fund
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Repurchase o No limit Borrowing from o 15%
Agreements Banks
- ---------------------------- -------------------------------- ------------------------ -------------------------------
When-Issued and o 33 1/3%/only U.S. Government U.S. Government o No limit
Delayed Delivery Securities Securities
- ---------------------------- -------------------------------- ------------------------ -------------------------------
Zero Coupon Bonds o No limit/only U.S. Government Variable and o No limit/only U.S.
Securities Floating Rate Government Securities
Securities
- ---------------------------- -------------------------------- ------------------------ -------------------------------
Securities of o No limit/only U.S. Government Mortgage-Backed o No limit/only U.S.
Any One Issuer Securities Securities Government Securities
- ---------------------------- -------------------------------- ------------------------ -------------------------------
Illiquid o 10% of total assets/only U.S.
Securities. Government Securities
- ---------------------------- -------------------------------- ------------------------ -------------------------------
Established Value Fund
- ---------------------------- -------------------------------- ------------------------ -------------------------------
U.S. Equity Securities o 80 to 100% Repurchase Agreements o 20%
- ---------------------------- -------------------------------- ------------------------ -------------------------------
Borrowing from Banks o 5% Real Estate Investment o 25% industry
Trusts concentration
- ---------------------------- -------------------------------- ------------------------ -------------------------------
Illiquid Securities. o 5% of total assets Variable and Floating o 20%
Rate Securities
- ---------------------------- -------------------------------- ------------------------ -------------------------------
Securities Lending o 20% Investment Company o 10% in closed-end
Securities funds only
- ---------------------------- -------------------------------- ------------------------ -------------------------------
Receipts o 20% Short-Term Debt o 20%
Obligations
- ---------------------------- -------------------------------- ------------------------ -------------------------------
When-Issued and Delayed o 33 1/3% U.S. Government o 20%
Delivery Securities Securities
- ---------------------------- -------------------------------- ------------------------ -------------------------------
</TABLE>
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The instruments in which the Funds can invest, according to their investment
policies and limitations are described below.
The following paragraphs provide a brief description of some of the types of
securities in which the Funds may invest in accordance with their investment
objective, policies, and limitations, including certain transactions the Funds
may make and strategies they may adopt. The following also contains a brief
description of the risk factors related to these securities. The Funds may,
following notice to their shareholders, take advantage of other investment
practices which currently are not contemplated for use by the Funds or which
currently are not available but which may be developed, to the extent such
investment practices are both consistent with a Fund's investment objective and
are legally permissible for the Fund. Such investment practices, if they arise,
may involve risks which exceed those involved in the activities described in a
Fund's Prospectus and this SAI.
Temporary Defensive Measures. For temporary defensive purposes in response to
market conditions, the Gradison Government Reserves Fund may hold all of its
assets in cash and the Established Value Fund may hold up to 100% of its assets
in cash or high quality, short-term obligations such as domestic commercial
paper (including variable-amount master demand notes), bankers' acceptances,
certificates of deposit, and repurchase agreements. These temporary defensive
measures may result in performance that is inconsistent with a Fund's investment
objective.
Bank Deposit Instruments. Certificates of Deposit are negotiable certificates
issued against funds deposited in a commercial bank or a savings and loan
association for a definite period of time and earning a specified return.
Certificates of Deposit and demand and time deposits invested in by a Fund will
be those of domestic and foreign banks and savings and loan associations, if (a)
at the time of purchase such financial institutions have capital, surplus, and
undivided profits in excess of $100,000,000 (as of the date of their most
recently published financial statements) or (b) the principal amount of the
instrument is insured in full by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the
"FDIC") or the Savings Association Insurance Fund.
Commercial Paper. Commercial paper is comprised of unsecured promissory notes,
usually issued by corporations. Except as noted below with respect to variable
amount master demand notes, issues of commercial paper normally have maturities
of less than nine months and fixed rates of return.
The Funds will purchase only commercial paper rated in one of the two highest
categories at the time of purchase by an NRSRO or, if not rated, found by the
Trustees to present minimal credit risks and to be of comparable quality to
instruments that are rated high quality (i.e., in one of the two top ratings
categories) by an NRSRO that is neither controlling, controlled by, or under
common control with the issuer of, or any issuer, guarantor, or provider of
credit support for, the instruments. For a description of the rating symbols of
each NRSRO see the Appendix to this SAI.
Repurchase Agreements. Securities held by a Fund may be subject to Repurchase
Agreements. Under the terms of a Repurchase Agreement, a Fund would acquire
securities from financial institutions or registered broker-dealers deemed
creditworthy by the Adviser pursuant to guidelines adopted by the Trustees,
subject to the seller's agreement to repurchase such securities at a mutually
agreed upon date and price. The seller is required to maintain the value of
collateral held pursuant to the agreement at not less than the repurchase price
(including accrued interest).
If the seller were to default on its repurchase obligation or become insolvent,
a Fund would suffer a loss to the extent that the proceeds from a sale of the
underlying portfolio securities were less than the repurchase price, or to the
extent that the disposition of such securities by the Fund is delayed pending
court action.
Variable Amount Master Demand Notes. Variable Amount Master Demand Notes are
unsecured demand notes that permit the indebtedness thereunder to vary and
provide for periodic adjustments in the interest rate according to the terms of
the instrument. Although there is no secondary market for these notes, a Fund
may demand payment of principal and accrued interest at any time and may resell
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the notes at any time to a third party. The absence of an active secondary
market, however, could make it difficult for a Fund to dispose of a Variable
Amount Master Demand Note if the issuer defaulted on its payment obligations,
and the Fund could, for this or other reasons, suffer a loss to the extent of
the default. While the notes typically are not rated by credit rating agencies,
issuers of Variable Amount Master Demand Notes must satisfy the same criteria as
set forth above for unrated commercial paper, and the Adviser will monitor
continuously the issuer's financial status and ability to make payments due
under the instrument. Where necessary to ensure that a note is of "high
quality," a Fund will require that the issuer's obligation to pay the principal
of the note be backed by an unconditional bank letter or line of credit,
guarantee or commitment to lend. For purposes of a Fund's investment policies, a
Variable Amount Master Demand Note will be deemed to have a maturity equal to
the longer of the period of time remaining until the next readjustment of its
interest rate or the period of time remaining until the principal amount can be
recovered from the issuer through demand.
Variable and Floating Rate Notes. A Variable Rate Note is one whose terms
provide for the readjustment of its interest rate on set dates and which, upon
such readjustment, reasonably can be expected to have a market value that
approximates its par value. A Floating Rate Note is one whose terms provide for
the readjustment of its interest rate whenever a specified interest rate changes
and which, at any time, reasonably can be expected to have a market value that
approximates its par value. Such notes frequently are not rated by credit rating
agencies; however, unrated Variable and Floating Rate Notes purchased by the
Fund will only be those determined by the Adviser, under guidelines established
by the Trustees, to pose minimal credit risks and to be of comparable quality,
at the time of purchase, to rated instruments eligible for purchase under the
Fund's investment policies. In making such determinations, the Adviser will
consider the earning power, cash flow and other liquidity ratios of the issuers
of such notes (such issuers include financial, merchandising, bank holding and
other companies) and will continuously monitor their financial condition.
Although there may be no active secondary market with respect to a particular
Variable or Floating Rate Note purchased by a Fund, the Fund may resell the note
at any time to a third party. The absence of an active secondary market,
however, could make it difficult for a Fund to dispose of a Variable or Floating
Rate Note in the event that the issuer of the note defaulted on its payment
obligations and a Fund could, for this or other reasons, suffer a loss to the
extent of the default. Variable or Floating Rate Notes may be secured by bank
letters of credit.
The maturities of Variable or Floating Rate Notes are determined as follows:
1. A Variable or Floating Rate Note that is issued or guaranteed by the United
States government or any agency thereof and which has a variable rate of
interest readjusted no less frequently than annually will be deemed to have a
maturity equal to the period remaining until the next readjustment of the
interest rate.
2. A Variable or Floating Rate Note, the principal amount of which is scheduled
on the face of the instrument to be paid in one year or less, will be deemed by
the Fund to have a maturity equal to the period remaining until the next
readjustment of the interest rate.
3. A Variable or Floating Rate Note that is subject to a demand feature
scheduled to be paid in one year or more will be deemed to have a maturity equal
to the longer of the period remaining until the next readjustment of the
interest rate or the period remaining until the principal amount can be
recovered through demand.
4. A Variable or Floating Rate Note that is subject to a demand feature will be
deemed to have a maturity equal to the period remaining until the principal
amount can be recovered through demand.
As used above, a note is "subject to a demand feature" where a Fund is entitled
to receive the principal amount of the note either at any time on no more than
30 days' notice or at specified intervals not exceeding one year and upon no
more than 30 days' notice.
Extendible Debt Securities. Extendible Debt Securities are securities that can
be retired at the option of a Fund at various dates prior to maturity. In
calculating average portfolio maturity, a Fund may treat Extendible Debt
Securities as maturing on the next optional retirement date.
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Receipts. Receipts are separately traded interest and principal component parts
of bills, notes, and bonds issued by the U.S. Treasury that are transferable
through the Federal book entry system, known as Separately Traded Registered
Interest and Principal Securities ("STRIPS") and Coupon Under Book Entry
Safekeeping ("CUBES"). These instruments are issued by banks and brokerage firms
and are created by depositing Treasury notes and Treasury bonds into a special
account at a custodian bank; the custodian holds the interest and principal
payments for the benefit of the registered owners of the certificates or
receipts. The custodian arranges for the issuance of the certificates or
receipts evidencing ownership and maintains the register. Receipts include
Treasury Receipts ("TRs"), Treasury Investment Growth Receipts ("TIGRs"), and
Certificates of Accrual on Treasury Securities ("CATS").
Zero-Coupon Bonds. Zero-Coupon Bonds are purchased at a discount from the face
amount because the buyer receives only the right to a fixed payment on a certain
date in the future and does not receive any periodic interest payments. The
effect of owning instruments which do not make current interest payments is that
a fixed yield is earned not only on the original investment but also, in effect,
on accretion during the life of the obligations. This implicit reinvestment of
earnings at the same rate eliminates the risk of being unable to reinvest
distributions at a rate as high as the implicit yields on the Zero-Coupon Bond,
but at the same time eliminates the holder's ability to reinvest at higher
rates. For this reason, Zero-Coupon Bonds are subject to substantially greater
price fluctuations during periods of changing market interest rates than are
comparable securities which pay interest currently. This fluctuation increases
in accordance with the length of the period to maturity.
U.S. Government Obligations. U.S. Government Obligations are obligations issued
or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies, and instrumentalities.
Obligations of certain agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. Government are
supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury; others are
supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury; others
are supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. Government to purchase
the agency's obligations; and still others are supported only by the credit of
the agency or instrumentality. No assurance can be given that the U.S.
Government will provide financial support to U.S. Government-sponsored agencies
or instrumentalities if it is not obligated to do so by law.
When-Issued Securities. A Fund may purchase securities on a when-issued basis
(i.e., for delivery beyond the normal settlement date at a stated price and
yield). When a Fund agrees to purchase securities on a when issued basis, the
custodian will set aside cash or liquid securities equal to the amount of the
commitment in a separate account. Normally, the custodian will set aside
portfolio securities to satisfy the purchase commitment, and in such a case, the
Fund may be required subsequently to place additional assets in the separate
account in order to assure that the value of the account remains equal to the
amount of the Fund's commitment. It may be expected that a Fund's net assets
will fluctuate to a greater degree when it sets aside portfolio securities to
cover such purchase commitments than when it sets aside cash. When a Fund
engages in when-issued transactions, it relies on the seller to consummate the
trade. Failure of the seller to do so may result in the Fund incurring a loss or
missing the opportunity to obtain a price considered to be advantageous. The
Funds do not intend to purchase when-issued securities for speculative purposes,
but only in furtherance of their investment objectives.
Delayed-Delivery Transactions. A Fund may buy and sell securities on a
delayed-delivery basis. These transactions involve a commitment by the Fund to
purchase or sell specific securities at a predetermined price or yield, with
payment and delivery taking place after the customary settlement period for that
type of security (and more than seven days in the future). Typically, no
interest accrues to the purchaser until the security is delivered. The Fund may
receive fees for entering into delayed delivery transactions.
When purchasing securities on a delayed-delivery basis, a Fund assumes the
rights and risks of ownership, including the risks of price and yield
fluctuations in addition to the risks associated with the Fund's other
investments. Because a Fund is not required to pay for securities until the
delivery date, these delayed-delivery purchases may result in a form of
leverage. When delayed-delivery purchases are outstanding, the Fund will set
aside cash and appropriate liquid assets in a segregated custodial account to
cover its purchase obligations. When a Fund has sold a security on a
delayed-delivery basis, it does not participate in further gains or losses with
respect to the security. If the other party to a delayed-delivery transaction
fails to deliver or pay for the securities, the Fund could miss a favorable
price or yield opportunity or suffer a loss.
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A Fund may renegotiate delayed-delivery transactions after they are entered into
or may sell underlying securities before they are delivered, either of which may
result in capital gains or losses.
Mortgage-Backed Securities--In General. Mortgage-Backed Securities are backed by
mortgage obligations including, among others, conventional 30-year fixed rate
mortgage obligations, graduated payment mortgage obligations, 15-year mortgage
obligations, and adjustable-rate mortgage obligations. All of these mortgage
obligations can be used to create pass-through securities. A pass-through
security is created when mortgage obligations are pooled together and undivided
interests in the pool or pools are sold. The cash flow from the mortgage
obligations is passed through to the holders of the securities in the form of
periodic payments of interest, principal, and prepayments (net of a service
fee).
Prepayments occur when the holder of an individual mortgage obligation prepays
the remaining principal before the mortgage obligation's scheduled maturity
date. As a result of the pass-through of prepayments of principal on the
underlying securities, Mortgage-Backed Securities are often subject to more
rapid prepayment of principal than their stated maturity indicates. In addition,
during periods of falling interest rates, the rate of prepayment tends to
increase, thereby shortening the actual average life of the pool. Conversely, in
periods of rising interest rates, prepayment rates tend to decrease, lengthening
a pool's average life. Because the prepayment characteristics of the underlying
mortgage obligations vary, it is not possible to predict accurately the realized
yield or average life of a particular issue of pass-through certificates.
Prepayment rates are important because of their effect on the yield and price of
the securities.
A Fund may purchase Mortgage-Backed Securities at a premium or at a discount.
Accelerated prepayments have an adverse impact on yields for pass-throughs
purchased at a premium (i.e., a price in excess of principal amount) and may
involve additional risk of loss of principal because the premium may not have
been fully amortized at the time the obligation is repaid. The opposite is true
for pass-throughs purchased at a discount. Among the U.S. Government securities
in which a Fund may invest are Government Mortgage-Backed Securities (or
government guaranteed mortgage-related securities). Such guarantees do not
extend to the value of yield of the Mortgage-Backed Securities themselves or of
the Fund's shares.
Federal Farm Credit Bank Securities. A U.S. Government-sponsored institution,
the Federal Farm Credit Bank consolidates the financing activities of the
component banks of the Federal Farm Credit System, established by the Farm
Credit Act of 1971 to provide credit to farmers and farm-related enterprises.
The Federal Farm Credit Bank sells short-term discount notes maturing in 1 to
365 days, short-term bonds with 3- and 6-month maturities, and adjustable rate
securities through a national syndicate of securities dealers. Several dealers
also maintain an active secondary market in these securities. Federal Farm
Credit Bank Securities are not guaranteed by the U.S. Government and no
assurance can be given that the U.S. Government will provide financial support
to this instrumentality.
Federal Home Loan Bank Securities. Similar to the role played by the Federal
Reserve System with respect to U.S. commercial banks, the Federal Home Loan Bank
System (the "FHLB"), created in 1932, supplies credit reserves to savings and
loans, cooperative banks and other mortgage lenders. The FHLB sells short-term
discount notes maturing in 1 to 360 days and variable rate securities, and lends
the money to mortgage lenders based on the amount of collateral provided by the
institution. FHLB securities are not guaranteed by the U.S. Government and no
assurance can be given that the U.S. Government will provide financial support
to this instrumentality.
U.S. Government Mortgage-Backed Securities. Certain obligations of certain
agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. Government are Mortgage-Backed
Securities. Some such obligations, such as those issued by GNMA are supported by
the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury; others, such as those of FNMA,
are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the Treasury; others are
supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. Government to purchase the
agency's obligations; still others, such as those of the Federal Farm Credit
Banks or FHLMC, are supported only by the credit of the instrumentality. No
assurance can be given that the U.S. Government would provide financial support
to U.S. Government-sponsored agencies and instrumentalities if it is not
obligated to do so by law.
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The principal governmental (i.e., backed by the full faith and credit of the
U.S. Government) guarantor of Mortgage-Backed Securities is GNMA. GNMA is a
wholly owned U.S. Government corporation within the Department of Housing and
Urban Development. GNMA is authorized to guarantee, with the full faith and
credit of the U.S. Government, the timely payment of principal and interest on
securities issued by institutions approved by GNMA (such as savings and loan
institutions, commercial banks, and mortgage bankers) and pools of FHA-insured
or VA-guaranteed mortgages. Government-related (i.e., not backed by the full
faith and credit of the U.S. Government) guarantors include FNMA and FHLMC. FNMA
and FHLMC are government-sponsored corporations owned entirely by private
stockholders. Pass-through securities issued by FNMA and FHLMC are guaranteed as
to timely payment of principal and interest by FNMA and FHLMC, respectively, but
are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government.
GNMA Certificates. Certificates of the GNMA are mortgage-backed securities which
evidence an undivided interest in a pool or pools of mortgages. GNMA
Certificates that a Fund may purchase are the "modified pass-through" type,
which entitle the holder to receive timely payment of all interest and principal
payments due on the mortgage pool, net of fees paid to the "issuer" and GNMA,
regardless of whether or not the mortgagor actually makes the payment.
The National Housing Act authorizes GNMA to guarantee the timely payment of
principal and interest on securities backed by a pool of mortgages insured by
the Federal Housing Administration ("FHA") or guaranteed by the Veterans
Administration ("VA"). The GNMA guarantee is backed by the full faith and credit
of the U.S. Government. GNMA is also empowered to borrow without limitation from
the U.S. Treasury if necessary to make any payments required under its
guarantee.
The estimated average life of a GNMA Certificate is likely to be substantially
shorter than the original maturity of the mortgages underlying the securities.
Prepayments of principal by mortgagors and mortgage foreclosures usually will
result in the return of the greater part of principal investment long before the
maturity of the mortgages in the pool. Foreclosures impose no risk to principal
investment because of the GNMA guarantee, except to the extent that a Fund has
purchased the certificates above par in the secondary market.
FHLMC Securities. The FHLMC was created in 1970 to promote development of a
nationwide secondary market in conventional residential mortgages. The FHLMC
issues two types of mortgage pass-through securities ("FHLMC Certificates"),
mortgage participation certificates, and collateralized mortgage obligations
("CMOs"). Participation Certificates resemble GNMA Certificates in that each
Participation Certificate represents a pro rata share of all interest and
principal payments made and owed on the underlying pool. The FHLMC guarantees
timely monthly payment of interest on PCs and the ultimate payment of principal.
Recently introduced FHLMC Gold Participation Certificates guarantee the timely
payment of both principal and interest.
FHLMC CMOs are backed by pools of agency mortgage-backed securities and the
timely payment of principal and interest of each tranche is guaranteed by the
FHLMC. The FHLMC guarantee is not backed by the full faith and credit of the
U.S. Government.
FNMA Securities. The FNMA was established in 1938 to create a secondary market
in mortgages insured by the FHA, but has expanded its activity to the secondary
market for conventional residential mortgages. FNMA primarily issues two types
of mortgage-backed securities, guaranteed mortgage pass-through certificates
("FNMA Certificates") and CMOs. FNMA Certificates resemble GNMA Certificates in
that each FNMA Certificate represents a pro rata share of all interest and
principal payments made and owed on the underlying pool. FNMA guarantees timely
payment of interest and principal on FNMA Certificates and CMOs. The FNMA
guarantee is not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government.
SLMA Securities. Established by federal decree in 1972 to increase the
availability of education loans to college and university students, the Student
Loan Marketing Association ("SLMA") is a publicly traded corporation that
guarantees student loans traded in the secondary market. SLMA purchases student
loans from participating financial institutions that originate these loans and
provides financing to state education loan agencies. SLMA issues short- and
medium-term notes and floating rate securities. SLMA securities are not
guaranteed by the U.S.
10
<PAGE>
Government and no assurance can be given that the U.S. Government will provide
financial support to this instrumentality.
Illiquid Investments. Illiquid investments are investments that cannot be sold
or disposed of, within seven business days, in the ordinary course of business
at approximately the prices at which they are valued.
Under the supervision of the Trust's Board of Trustees, the Adviser determines
the liquidity of the Funds' investments and, through reports from the Adviser,
the Trustees monitor investments in illiquid instruments. In determining the
liquidity of a Fund's investments, the Adviser may consider various factors,
including (1) the frequency of trades and quotations, (2) the number of dealers
and prospective purchasers in the marketplace, (3) dealer undertakings to make a
market, (4) the nature of the security (including any demand or tender
features), and (5) the nature of the marketplace for trades (including the
ability to assign or offset the Funds' rights and obligations relating to the
investment).
Investments currently considered by a Fund to be illiquid include repurchase
agreements not entitling the holder to payment of principal and interest within
seven days, over the counter options, non-government stripped fixed-rate
mortgage-backed securities, and Restricted Securities.
Also, the Adviser may determine some securities to be illiquid.
However, with respect to over-the-counter options a Fund writes, all or a
portion of the value of the underlying instrument may be illiquid depending on
the assets held to cover the option and the nature and terms of any agreement a
Fund may have to close out the option before expiration.
In the absence of market quotations, illiquid investments are priced at fair
value as determined in good faith by a committee appointed by the Trustees.
If through a change in values, net assets, or other circumstances, the
Established Value Fund were in a position where more than 5% of its total assets
were invested in illiquid securities, the Fund would seek to take appropriate
steps to protect liquidity.
Securities Lending Transactions. The Established Value Fund may from time to
time lend securities from its portfolio to broker-dealers, banks, financial
institutions and institutional borrowers of securities and receive collateral in
the form of cash or U.S. Government Obligations. Key Trust Company of Ohio,
N.A., an affiliate of the Adviser, serves as lending agent for the Fund,
pursuant to a Securities Lending Agency Agreement that was adopted by the
Trustees of the Trust. Under the Established Value Fund's current practices
(which are subject to change), the Fund must receive initial collateral equal to
102% of the market value of the loaned securities, plus any interest due in the
form of cash or U.S. Government Obligations. The Established Value Fund will not
lend portfolio securities to: (a) any "affiliated person" (as that term is
defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund; (b) any affiliated person of the Adviser;
or (c) any affiliated person of such an affiliated person. This collateral must
be valued daily and should the market value of the loaned securities increase,
the borrower must furnish additional collateral to the Established Value Fund
sufficient to maintain the value of the collateral equal to at least 100% of the
value of the loaned securities. During the time portfolio securities are on
loan, the borrower will pay the Established Value Fund any dividends or interest
paid on such securities plus any interest negotiated between the parties to the
lending agreement. Loans will be subject to termination by the Established Value
Fund or the borrower at any time. While the Established Value Fund will not have
the right to vote securities on loan, it intends to terminate loans and regain
the right to vote if that is considered important with respect to the
investment. The Established Value Fund will only enter into loan arrangements
with broker-dealers, banks or other institutions that the Adviser has determined
are creditworthy under guidelines established by the Trustees. The Established
Value Fund will limit its securities lending to 20% of total assets.
Investment Grade and High Quality Securities. The Established Value Fund may
invest in high-quality short-term obligations, which are those that, at the time
of purchase, (1) possess a rating in one of the two highest ratings categories
from at least one NRSRO (for example, commercial paper rated "A-1" or "A-2" by
S&P or "P-1" or "P-2" by Moody's) or (2) are unrated by an NRSRO but are
determined by the Adviser to present minimal credit risks and to be of
comparable quality to rated instruments eligible for purchase by the Fund under
guidelines adopted by the Board of Trustees. The applicable securities ratings
are described in the Appendix.
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<PAGE>
VALUATION OF PORTFOLIO SECURITIES FOR THE FUNDS
The net asset value of each Fund is determined as of the time(s) indicated in
the Prospectuses on each Business Day. A "Business Day" is a day on which the
New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (the "NYSE") and the Federal Reserve Bank of
Cleveland are open and any other day (other than a day on which no shares of a
Fund are tendered for redemption and no order to purchase any shares is
received) during which there is sufficient trading in portfolio instruments that
a Fund's net assets value per share might be materially affected. The NYSE will
not open in observance of the following holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther
King, Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day,
Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
DETERMINING NET ASSET VALUE FOR THE GRADISON GOVERNMENT RESERVES FUND
The Gradison Government Reserves Fund uses the amortized cost method to
determine its net asset value.
Use of the Amortized Cost Method. The Gradison Government Reserves Fund's use of
the amortized cost method of valuing its investments depends on its compliance
with certain conditions contained in Rule 2a-7 of the 1940 Act. Under Rule 2a-7,
the Trustees must establish procedures reasonably designed to stabilize the net
asset value per share ("NAV"), as computed for purposes of distribution and
redemption, at $1.00 per share, taking into account current market conditions
and the Gradison Government Reserves Fund's investment objective.
The Gradison Government Reserves Fund has elected to use the amortized cost
method of valuation pursuant to Rule 2a-7. This involves valuing an instrument
at its cost initially and thereafter assuming a constant amortization to
maturity of any discount or premium, regardless of the impact of fluctuating
interest rates on the market value of the instrument. This method may result in
periods during which value, as determined by amortized cost, is higher or lower
than the price the Gradison Government Reserves Fund would receive if it sold
the instrument. The value of securities in the Gradison Government Reserves Fund
can be expected to vary inversely with changes in prevailing interest rates.
Pursuant to Rule 2a-7, the Gradison Government Reserves Fund will maintain a
dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity appropriate to its objective of
maintaining a stable net asset value per share, provided that the Gradison
Government Reserves Fund will not purchase any security with a remaining
maturity of more than 397 days (securities subject to repurchase agreements may
bear longer maturities) nor maintain a dollar-weighted average portfolio
maturity which exceeds 90 days. Should the disposition of the Gradison
Government Reserves Fund's security result in a dollar weighted average
portfolio maturity of more than 90 days, the Fund will invest its available cash
to reduce the average maturity to 90 days or less as soon as possible.
The Trust's Trustees also have established procedures reasonably designed,
taking into account current market conditions and the Trust's investment
objectives, to stabilize the net asset value per share of the Gradison
Government Reserves Fund for purposes of sales and redemptions at $1.00. These
procedures include review by the Trustees, at such intervals as they deem
appropriate, to determine the extent, if any, to which the net asset value per
share of the Gradison Government Reserves Fund calculated by using available
market quotations deviates from $1.00 per share. In the event such deviation
exceeds one-half of one percent, Rule 2a-7 requires that the Board promptly
consider what action, if any, should be initiated. If the Trustees believe that
the extent of any deviation from the Gradison Government Reserves Fund's $1.00
amortized cost price per share may result in material dilution or other unfair
results to new or existing investors, they will take such steps as they consider
appropriate to eliminate or reduce to the extent reasonably practicable any such
dilution or unfair results. These steps may include selling portfolio
instruments prior to maturity, shortening the dollar-weighted average portfolio
maturity, withholding or reducing dividends, reducing the number of the Gradison
Government Reserves Fund's outstanding shares without monetary consideration, or
using a net asset value per share determined by using available market
quotations.
The Gradison Government Reserves Fund may attempt to increase yield by trading
portfolio securities to take advantage of short-term market variations. This
policy may, from time to time, result in high portfolio turnover. Under the
amortized cost method of valuation, the net asset value usually is not affected
by any realized appreciation or depreciation of the portfolio.
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<PAGE>
In periods of declining interest rates, the indicated daily yield on shares of
the Gradison Government Reserves Fund computed by dividing the annualized daily
income on the Fund's portfolio by the net asset value computed as above may tend
to be higher than a similar computation made using a method of valuation based
upon market prices and estimates.
In periods of rising interest rates, the indicated daily yield on shares of the
Gradison Government Reserves Fund computed the same way may tend to be lower
than a similar computation made using a method of calculation based upon market
prices and estimates.
Monitoring Procedures
The Trustee's procedures include monitoring the relationship between the
amortized cost value per share and the net asset value per share based upon
available indications of market value. The Trustees will decide what, if any,
steps should be taken if there is a difference of more than 0.5% between the two
values. The Trustees will take any steps they consider appropriate (such as
redemption in kind or shortening the Gradison Government Reserves Fund's average
maturity) to minimize any material dilution or other unfair results arising from
differences between the two methods of determining net asset value.
VALUATION OF PORTFOLIO SECURITIES FOR THE ESTABLISHED VALUE FUND
Each equity security held by the Established Value Fund is valued at the last
sales price on the exchange where the security is principally traded or, lacking
any sales on a particular day, the security is valued at the last available bid
quotation on that day. Exchange listed convertible debt securities are valued at
the bid obtained from broker-dealers or a comparable alternative, such as
Bloomberg, based upon pricing procedures approved by the Board of Trustees. Each
security traded in the over-the-counter market (but not including securities
reported on the Nasdaq National Market System) is valued at the bid based upon
quotes furnished by market makers for such securities. Each security reported on
the Nasdaq National Market System is valued at the sales price on the valuation
date or absent a last sales price, at the mean between the closing bid and asked
prices on that day. Non-convertible debt securities are valued on the basis of
prices provided by independent pricing services. Prices provided by the pricing
service may be determined without exclusive reliance on quoted prices, and may
reflect appropriate factors such as institution-sized trading in similar groups
of securities, developments related to special securities, yield, quality,
coupon rate, maturity, type of issue, individual trading characteristics and
other market data. Securities for which market quotations are not readily
available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by or under the
supervision of The Victory Portfolios' officers in a manner specially authorized
by the Board of Trustees. Short-term obligations having 60 days or less to
maturity are valued on the basis of amortized cost. For purposes of determining
net asset value per share, futures and options contracts generally will be
valued 15 minutes after the close of trading of the NYSE.
Generally, trading in U.S. Government securities and money market instruments is
substantially completed each day at various times prior to the close of the
NYSE. The values of such securities used in computing the net asset value of
each Fund's shares are determined at such times. Occasionally, events affecting
the values of such securities and such exchange rates may occur between the
times at which such values are determined and the close of the NYSE which will
not be reflected in the computation of a Fund's net asset value. If events
materially affecting the value of such securities occur during such period, then
these securities will be valued at their fair value as determined in good faith
by or under the supervision of the Board of Trustees.
PERFORMANCE
Class G Shares. The Funds discussed in this SAI offer Class G shares. This Class
was established in October 1998 to facilitate the reorganization of the Gradison
Funds, a family of mutual funds advised by the Gradison Division of McDonald &
Company Securities, Inc. See "Purchasing Shares -- Class G Shares -- The
Gradison Fund Reorganization" in this SAI. The following table lists each
Gradison Fund and its corresponding Victory Fund.
GRADISON FUND: VICTORY FUND (CLASS G):
U.S. Government Reserves -> Gradison Government Reserves Fund
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Government Income Fund -> Fund for Income*
Ohio Tax-Free Income Fund -> Ohio Municipal Bond Fund*
Established Value Fund -> Established Value Fund
Growth & Income Fund -> Diversified Stock Fund*
Opportunity Value Fund -> Small Company Opportunity Fund*
International Fund -> International Growth Fund*
- ---------------------
* Described in a separate statement of additional information.
No performance information for the corresponding Class G shares has been
provided in this SAI. Because financial information relating to each Fund will
survive the planned reorganization, performance information relating to the
Gradison Government Reserves Fund and the Established Value Fund will be updated
after the reorganization is completed to reflect the historical performance of
these Funds when they were Gradison Funds.
PERFORMANCE OF THE GRADISON GOVERNMENT RESERVES FUND
Performance for a class of shares of the Gradison Government Reserves Fund
depends upon such variables as:
o portfolio quality;
o average portfolio maturity;
o type of instruments in which the portfolio is invested;
o changes in interest rates on money market instruments;
o changes in Fund expenses; and
o the relative amount of Fund cash flow.
From time to time the Gradison Government Reserves Fund may advertise its
performance compared to similar funds or portfolios using certain indices,
reporting services, and financial publications.
Yield. The Gradison Government Reserves Fund calculates its yield daily, based
upon the seven days ending on the day of the calculation, called the "base
period." This yield is computed by:
o determining the net change in the value of a hypothetical account
with a balance of one share at the beginning of the base period,
with the net change excluding capital changes but including the
value of any additional shares purchased with dividends earned
from the original one share and all dividends declared on the
original and any purchased shares;
o dividing the net change in the account's value by the value of the
account at the beginning of the base period to determine the base
period return; and
o multiplying the base period return by (365/7).
To the extent that financial institutions and broker/dealers charge fees in
connection with services provided in conjunction with the Gradison Government
Reserves Fund, the yield will be reduced for those shareholders paying those
fees.
Effective Yield. The Gradison Government Reserves Fund's effective yield is
computed by compounding the unannualized base period return by:
o adding 1 to the base period return;
o raising the sum to the 365/7th power; and
o subtracting 1 from the result.
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<PAGE>
Total Return Calculations. Total returns quoted in advertising reflect all
aspects of the Gradison Government Reserves Fund's return, including the effect
of reinvesting dividends and net capital gain distributions (if any), and any
change in the net asset value per share of the Gradison Government Reserves Fund
over the period. Average annual total returns are calculated by determining the
growth or decline in value of a hypothetical historical investment in the
Gradison Government Reserves Fund over a stated period, and then calculating the
annually compounded percentage rate that would have produced the same result if
the rate of growth or decline in value had been constant over the period. For
example, a cumulative total return of 100% over ten years would produce an
average annual total return of 7.18%, which is the steady annual rate of return
that would equal 100% growth on an annually compounded basis in ten years. While
average annual total returns (or "annualized total return") are a convenient
means of comparing investment alternatives, investors should realize that
performance for the Gradison Government Reserves Fund is not constant over time,
but changes from year to year, and that average annual total returns represent
averaged figures as opposed to the actual year-to-year performance of the Fund.
When using total return and yield to compare the Gradison Government Reserves
Fund with other mutual funds, investors should take into consideration permitted
portfolio composition methods used to value portfolio securities and computing
offering price.
In addition to average annual total returns, the Gradison Government Reserves
Fund may quote unaveraged or cumulative total returns reflecting the total
income over a stated period. Average annual and cumulative total returns may be
quoted as a percentage or as a dollar amount, and may be calculated for a single
investment, a series of investments, or a series of redemptions, over any time
period. Total returns may be broken down into their components of income and
capital (including capital gains and changes in share price) in order to
illustrate the relationship of these factors and their contributions to total
return. Total returns, yields, and other performance information may be quoted
numerically or in a table, graph, or similar illustration.
PERFORMANCE OF THE ESTABLISHED VALUE FUND
From time to time, the "standardized yield," "distribution return," "dividend
yield," and "total return," of an investment in Established Value Fund shares
may be advertised. An explanation of how yields and total returns are calculated
for each class and the components of those calculations are set forth below.
Yield and total return information may be useful to investors in reviewing the
Established Value Fund's performance. The Established Fund's advertisement of
its performance must, under applicable SEC rules, include the average annual
total returns for each class of shares of the Fund for the 1, 5, and 10-year
period (or the life of the class, if less) as of the most recently ended
calendar quarter. This enables an investor to compare the Established Value
Fund's performance to the performance of other funds for the same periods.
However, a number of factors should be considered before using such information
as a basis for comparison with other investments. Investments in the Established
Value Fund are not insured; its yield and total return are not guaranteed and
normally will fluctuate on a daily basis. When redeemed, an investor's shares
may be worth more or less than their original cost. Yield and total return for
any given past period are not a prediction or representation by the Trust of
future yields or rates of return on its shares. The yield and total returns of
the Established Value Fund are affected by portfolio quality, portfolio
maturity, the type of investments the Fund holds, and operating expenses.
Standardized Yield. The "yield" (referred to as "standardized yield") of the
Established Value Fund for a given 30-day period for a class of shares is
calculated using the following formula set forth in rules adopted by the SEC
that apply to all funds that quote yields:
Standardized Yield = 2 [(a-b + 1)^6 - 1]
---
cd
The symbols above represent the following factors:
a = dividends and interest earned during the 30-day period.
b = expenses accrued for the period (net of any expense reimbursements).
15
<PAGE>
c = the average daily number of shares of that class outstanding
during the 30-day period that were entitled to receive
dividends.
d = the maximum offering price per share of the class on the
last day of the period, adjusted for undistributed net
investment income.
The standardized yield of a class of shares for a 30-day period may differ from
its yield for any other period. The SEC formula assumes that the standardized
yield for a 30-day period occurs at a constant rate for a six-month period and
is annualized at the end of the six-month period. This standardized yield is not
based on actual distributions paid by the Established Value Fund to shareholders
in the 30-day period, but is a hypothetical yield based upon the net investment
income from the Fund's portfolio investments calculated for that period. The
standardized yield may differ from the "dividend yield" of that class, described
below.
Dividend Yield and Distribution Returns. From time to time the Established Value
Fund may quote a "dividend yield" or a "distribution return." Dividend yield is
based on the dividends derived from net investment income during a one-year
period. Distribution return includes dividends derived from net investment
income and from net realized capital gains declared during a one-year period.
The "dividend yield" is calculated as follows:
Dividend Yield = Dividends for a Period of One-Year
----------------------------------
Max. Offering Price (last day of period)
For Class G shares, the maximum offering price is the net asset value per share.
Total Returns. The "average annual total return" of the Established Value Fund
is an average annual compounded rate of return for each year in a specified
number of years. It is the rate of return based on the change in value of a
hypothetical initial investment of $1,000 ("P" in the formula below) held for a
number of years ("n") to achieve an Ending Redeemable Value ("ERV"), according
to the following formula:
(ERV)^1n - 1 = Average Annual Total Return
---
(P)
The cumulative "total return" calculation measures the change in value of a
hypothetical investment of $1,000 over an entire period greater than one year.
Its calculation uses some of the same factors as average annual total return,
but it does not average the rate of return on an annual basis. Total return is
determined as follows:
ERV - P = Total Return
-------
P
Total returns also assume that all dividends and net capital gains distributions
during the period are reinvested to buy additional shares at net asset value per
share, and that the investment is redeemed at the end of the period.
Other Performance Comparisons.
From time to time the Established Value Fund may publish the ranking of its
performance or the performance of its shares by Lipper Analytical Services, Inc.
("Lipper"), a widely-recognized independent mutual fund monitoring service.
Lipper monitors the performance of regulated investment companies, including the
Established Value Fund, and ranks the performance of the Fund against all other
funds in similar categories. The Lipper performance rankings are based on total
return that includes the reinvestment of capital gains distributions and income
dividends but does not take sales charges or taxes into consideration.
From time to time the Established Value Fund may publish the ranking of its
performance or performance of its shares by Morningstar, Inc., an independent
mutual fund monitoring service that ranks mutual funds, including the Fund, in
broad investment categories (domestic equity, international equity taxable bond,
municipal bond or other) monthly, based upon each fund's three, five, and
ten-year average annual total returns (when available) and a risk adjustment
factor that reflects fund performance relative to three-month U.S. Treasury bill
monthly returns. Such returns are
16
<PAGE>
adjusted for fees and sales loads. There are five ranking categories with a
corresponding number of stars: highest (5), above average (4), neutral (3),
below average (2), and lowest (1). Ten percent of the funds, series or classes
in an investment category receive five stars, 22.5% receive four stars, 35%
receive three stars, 22.5% receive two stars, and the bottom 10% receive one
star.
The total return on an investment made in the Established Value Fund may be
compared with the performance for the same period of the Consumer Price Index
and/or the Standard & Poor's 500 Index. Other indices may be used from time to
time. The Consumer Price Index generally is considered to be a measure of
inflation. The S&P 500 Index is a composite index of 500 common stocks generally
regarded as an index of U.S. stock market performance. These indices are
unmanaged indices of securities that do not reflect reinvestment of capital
gains or take investment costs into consideration, as these items are not
applicable to indices.
From time to time, the yields and the total returns of the Established Value
Fund may be quoted in and compared to other mutual funds with similar investment
objectives in advertisements, shareholder reports or other communications to
shareholders. The Established Value Fund also may include calculations in such
communications that describe hypothetical investment results. (Such performance
examples are based on an express set of assumptions and are not indicative of
the performance of the Established Value Fund.) Such calculations may from time
to time include discussions or illustrations of the effects of compounding in
advertisements. "Compounding" refers to the fact that, if dividends or other
distributions on the Established Value Fund's investment are reinvested by being
paid in additional Established Value Fund shares, any future income or capital
appreciation of the Fund would increase the value, not only of the original Fund
investment, but also of the additional Fund shares received through
reinvestment. As a result, the value of the Established Value Fund investment
would increase more quickly than if dividends or other distributions had been
paid in cash.
The Established Value Fund also may include discussions or illustrations of the
potential investment goals of a prospective investor (including but not limited
to tax and/or retirement planning), investment management techniques, policies
or investment suitability of the Fund, economic conditions, legislative
developments (including pending legislation), the effects of inflation and
historical performance of various asset classes, including but not limited to
stocks, bonds and Treasury bills.
From time to time advertisements or communications to shareholders may summarize
the substance of information contained in shareholder reports (including the
investment composition of the Established Value Fund, as well as the views of
the investment adviser as to current market, economic, trade and interest rate
trends, legislative, regulatory and monetary developments, investment strategies
and related matters believed to be of relevance to the Fund.) The Established
Value Fund may also include in advertisements, charts, graphs or drawings which
illustrate the potential risks and rewards of investment in various investment
vehicles, including but not limited to stock, bonds, and Treasury bills, as
compared to an investment in shares of the Fund, as well as charts or graphs
which illustrate strategies such as dollar cost averaging, and comparisons of
hypothetical yields of investment in tax-exempt versus taxable investments. In
addition, advertisements or shareholder communications may include a discussion
of certain attributes or benefits to be derived by an investment in the
Established Value Fund. Such advertisements or communications may include
symbols, headlines or other material which highlight or summarize the
information discussed in more detail therein. With proper authorization, the
Established Value Fund may reprint articles (or excerpts) written regarding the
Fund and provide them to prospective shareholders. Performance information with
respect to the Established Value Fund is generally available by calling McDonald
Investments Inc. ("Gradison McDonald") at 513-579-5700 or 800-869-5999 or the
Trust at 800-539-FUND.
Investors also may judge, and the Established Value Fund may at times advertise,
its performance by comparing it to the performance of other mutual funds or
mutual fund portfolios with comparable investment objectives and policies, which
performance may be contained in various unmanaged mutual fund or market indices
or rankings such as those prepared by Dow Jones & Co., Inc. and Standard &
Poor's and in publications issued by Lipper Analytical Services, Inc. and in the
following publications: IBC's Money Fund Reports, Value Line Mutual Fund Survey,
Morningstar, CDA/Wiesenberger, Money Magazine, Forbes, Barron's, The Wall Street
Journal, The New York Times, Business Week, American Banker, Fortune,
Institutional Investor, Ibbotson Associates, and U.S.A. Today. In addition to
17
<PAGE>
yield information, general information about the Established Value Fund that
appears in a publication such as those mentioned above may also be quoted or
reproduced in advertisements or in reports to shareholders.
Advertisements and sales literature may include discussions of specifics of a
portfolio manager's investment strategy and process, including, but not limited
to, descriptions of security selection and analysis. Advertisements also may
include descriptive information about the investment adviser, including, but not
limited to, its status within the industry, other services and products it makes
available, total assets under management, and its investment philosophy.
When comparing yield, total return, and investment risk of an investment in
shares of the Established Value Fund with other investments, investors should
understand that certain other investments have different risk characteristics
than an investment in shares of the Fund. For example, certificates of deposit
may have fixed rates of return and may be insured as to principal and interest
by the FDIC, while the Established Value Fund's returns will fluctuate and its
share values and returns are not guaranteed. Money market accounts offered by
banks also may be insured by the FDIC and may offer stability of principal. U.S.
Treasury securities are guaranteed as to principal and interest by the full
faith and credit of the U.S. Government. Money market mutual funds may seek to
maintain a fixed price per share.
ADDITIONAL PURCHASE, EXCHANGE, AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION
The NYSE holiday closing schedule indicated in this SAI under "Valuation of
Portfolio Securities for the Funds" is subject to change.
When the NYSE or the Federal Reserve Board of Cleveland is closed, or when
trading is restricted for any reason other than its customary weekend or holiday
closings, or under emergency circumstances as determined by the SEC to warrant
such action, the Funds may not be able to accept purchase or redemption
requests. A Fund's net asset value may be affected to the extent that its
securities are traded on days that are not Business Days.
The Trust has elected, pursuant to Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act, to redeem
shares of each Fund solely in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the net
asset value of the Fund during any 90-day period for any one shareholder. The
remaining portion of the redemption may be made in securities or other property,
valued for this purpose as they are valued in computing the net asset value of
each class of the Fund. Shareholders receiving securities or other property on
redemption may realize a gain or loss for tax purposes and may incur additional
costs as well as the associated inconveniences of holding and/or disposing of
such securities or other property.
Pursuant to Rule 11a-3 under the 1940 Act, the Funds are required to give
shareholders at least 60 days' notice prior to terminating or modifying a Fund's
exchange privilege. The 60-day notification requirement may, however, be waived
if (1) the only effect of a modification would be to reduce or eliminate an
administrative fee, redemption fee, or deferred sales charge ordinarily payable
at the time of exchange or (2) a Fund temporarily suspends the offering of
shares as permitted under the 1940 Act or by the SEC or because it is unable to
invest amounts effectively in accordance with its investment objective and
policies.
The Funds reserve the right at any time without prior notice to shareholders to
refuse exchange purchases by any person or group if, in the Adviser's judgment,
a Fund would be unable to invest effectively in accordance with its investment
objective and policies, or would otherwise be adversely affected.
Purchasing Shares.
Class G Shares -- The Gradison Fund Reorganization. KeyCorp, the parent of Key
Asset Management Inc. ("KAM" or the "Adviser"), recently completed the
acquisition of McDonald & Company Investments, Inc., the corporate parent of
McDonald & Company Securities Inc., a major regional broker-dealer. In October
1998, McDonald & Company Securities Inc. changed its name to McDonald
Investments Inc. The Gradison Division of McDonald Securities Inc. (the
"Gradison Division") will join KAM. To achieve economies of scale, the Trust's
Board of Trustees, on December 11, 1998, approved Agreements and Plans of
Reorganization by which the Trust, on behalf of certain of its series, will
acquire the portfolio securities of seven funds previously managed by the
Gradison Division in a tax-free exchange for Class G shares of these series (the
"Gradison Fund Reorganization"),
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<PAGE>
subject to various conditions, such as approval by the shareholders of the
Gradison Funds. The Gradison Fund Reorganization was scheduled to take place in
March, 1999.
As outlined in the table under "Performance -- Class G Shares" in this SAI, each
of five of the seven Gradison funds will transfer all of its assets to its
corresponding existing Victory Fund in exchange for newly established Class G
shares of such corresponding Fund and the assumption of its liabilities by such
corresponding Fund, followed by the constructive distribution pro rata to its
shareholders of the corresponding Fund's Class G shares received in the
reorganization. The two remaining Gradison Funds, Gradison U.S. Government
Reserves and Gradison Established Value Fund will participate in a similar
reorganization involving the two Funds that are described in this SAI, the
Gradison Government Reserves Fund and the Established Value Fund. The Funds were
established as new series of the Trust in October 1998.
No sales charge is imposed on the purchase of Class G shares. Gradison McDonald
compensates its own employees, and may compensate its affiliates, for Class G
share sales, some of which compensation may be recouped in the event of share
redemptions made during the first nine months after sale.
In addition, Class G shares of the Gradison Government Reserves Fund are subject
to an annual Rule 12b-1 fee of up to 0.10% of average daily net assets and Class
G shares of the Established Value Fund are subject to an annual Rule 12b-1 fee
of up to 0.50% of average daily net assets. There is no conversion feature
applicable to Class G shares. Distributions paid to holders of a Fund's Class G
shares may be reinvested in additional Class G shares of that Fund or Class G
shares of a different Fund.
Exchanging Shares.
Class G shares of any Fund may be exchanged for Class G shares, Select shares,
or any single class money market shares of a Fund offered by the Trust.
Shareholders who owned Class G shares on the closing date of the Gradison Fund
reorganization can exchange into Class A shares of any other series of the Trust
that does not offer Class G Shares without paying a sales charge.
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
The Funds distribute substantially all of their net investment income and net
capital gains, if any, to shareholders within each calendar year as well as on a
fiscal year basis to the extent required for the Funds to qualify for favorable
federal tax treatment. The Gradison Government Reserves Fund declares dividends
daily and pays them monthly. The Established Value Fund declares and pays
dividends quarterly. The amount of a Fund's distributions may vary from time to
time depending on market conditions and the composition of a Fund's portfolio.
For this purpose, the net income of a Fund, from the time of the immediately
preceding determination thereof, shall consist of all interest income accrued on
the portfolio assets of the Fund, dividend income, if any, income from
securities loans, if any, and realized capital gains and losses on the Fund's
assets, less all expenses and liabilities of the Fund chargeable against income.
Interest income shall include discount earned, including both original issue and
market discount, on discount paper accrued ratably to the date of maturity.
Expenses, including the compensation payable to the Adviser, are accrued each
day. The expenses and liabilities of a Fund shall include those appropriately
allocable to the Fund as well as a share of the general expenses and liabilities
of the Trust in proportion to the Fund's share of the total net assets of the
Trust.
TAXES
Information set forth in the Prospectuses and this SAI that relates to federal
income taxation is only a summary of certain key federal income tax
considerations generally affecting each Fund and its shareholders that are not
described in the Prospectuses. No attempt has been made to present a complete
explanation of the federal tax treatment of the Funds or the implications to
shareholders, and the discussions here and in each Fund's prospectus are not
intended as substitutes for careful tax planning. Accordingly, potential
purchasers of shares of the Funds are urged to consult their tax advisers with
specific reference to their own tax circumstances. In addition, the tax
19
<PAGE>
discussion in the Prospectuses and this SAI is based on tax law in effect on the
date of the Prospectuses and this SAI; such laws and regulations may be changed
by legislative, judicial, or administrative action, sometimes with retroactive
effect.
Qualification as a Regulated Investment Company
Each Fund has elected to be taxed as a regulated investment company under
Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). As a
regulated investment company, a Fund is not subject to federal income tax on the
portion of its net investment income (i.e., taxable interest, dividends, and
other taxable ordinary income, net of expenses) and capital gain net income
(i.e., the excess of capital gains over capital losses) that it distributes to
shareholders, provided that it distributes at least 90% of its investment
company taxable income (i.e., net investment income and the excess of net
short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss) and at least 90% of its
tax-exempt income (net of expenses allocable thereto) for the taxable year (the
"Distribution Requirement"), and satisfies certain other requirements of the
Code that are described below. Distributions by a Fund made during the taxable
year or, under specified circumstances, within twelve months after the close of
the taxable year, will be considered distributions of income and gains for the
taxable year and will therefore count toward satisfaction of the Distribution
Requirement.
If a Fund has a net capital loss (i.e., an excess of capital losses over capital
gains) for any year, the amount thereof may be carried forward up to eight years
and treated as a short-term capital loss which can be used to offset capital
gains in such future years. As of September 30, 1998, the Gradison Government
Reserves Fund had capital loss carryforwards of approximately $244,412, which
expire in 2002, and $3,000, which expire in 2006; and the Established Value Fund
had no capital loss carryforwards. Under Code Sections 382 and 383, if a Fund
has an "ownership change," then the Fund's use of its capital loss carryforwards
in any year following the ownership change will be limited to an amount equal to
the net asset value of the Fund immediately prior to the ownership change
multiplied by the long-term tax-exempt rate (which is published monthly by the
Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS")) in effect for the month in which the
ownership change occurs (the rate for February, 1999 is 4.71%). The Funds will
use their best efforts to avoid having an ownership change. However, because of
circumstances which may be beyond the control or knowledge of a Fund, there can
be no assurance that a Fund will not have, or has not already had, an ownership
change. If a Fund has or has had an ownership change, then any capital gain net
income for any year following the ownership change in excess of the annual
limitation on the capital loss carryforwards will have to be distributed by the
Fund and will be taxable to shareholders as described under "Fund Distributions"
below.
In addition to satisfying the Distribution Requirement, a regulated investment
company must derive at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest,
certain payments with respect to securities loans, gains from the sale or other
disposition of stock or securities or foreign currencies (to the extent such
currency gains are directly related to the regulated investment company's
principal business of investing in stock or securities) and other income
(including but not limited to gains from options, futures, or forward contracts)
derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities, or
currencies (the "Income Requirement").
In general, gain or loss recognized by a Fund on the disposition of an asset
will be a capital gain or loss. In addition, gain will be recognized as a result
of certain constructive sales, including short sales "against the box." However,
gain recognized on the disposition of a debt obligation (including municipal
obligations) purchased by a Fund at a market discount (generally, at a price
less than its principal amount) will be treated as ordinary income to the extent
of the portion of the market discount which accrued while the Fund held the debt
obligation. In addition, under the rules of Code Section 988, gain or loss
recognized on the disposition of a debt obligation denominated in a foreign
currency or an option with respect thereto (but only to the extent attributable
to changes in foreign currency exchange rates), and gain or loss recognized on
the disposition of a foreign currency forward contract, futures contract, option
or similar financial instrument, or of foreign currency itself, except for
regulated futures contracts or non-equity options subject to Code Section 1256
(unless a Fund elects otherwise), generally will be treated as ordinary income
or loss.
Further, the Code also treats as ordinary income a portion of the capital gain
attributable to a transaction where substantially all of the return realized is
attributable to the time value of a Fund's net investment in the transaction
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<PAGE>
and: (1) the transaction consists of the acquisition of property by the Fund and
a contemporaneous contract to sell substantially identical property in the
future; (2) the transaction is a straddle within the meaning of Section 1092 of
the Code; (3) the transaction is one that was marketed or sold to the Fund on
the basis that it would have the economic characteristics of a loan but the
interest-like return would be taxed as capital gain; or (4) the transaction is
described as a conversion transaction in the Treasury Regulations. The amount of
such gain that is treated as ordinary income generally will not exceed the
amount of the interest that would have accrued on the net investment for the
relevant period at a yield equal to 120% of the applicable federal rate, reduced
by the sum of: (1) prior inclusions of ordinary income items from the conversion
transaction and (2) the capitalized interest on acquisition indebtedness under
Code Section 263(g). However, if a Fund has a built-in loss with respect to a
position that becomes a part of a conversion transaction, the character of such
loss will be preserved upon a subsequent disposition or termination of the
position. No authority exists that indicates that the character of the income
treated as ordinary under this rule will not pass through to the Funds'
shareholders.
In general, for purposes of determining whether capital gain or loss recognized
by a Fund on the disposition of an asset is long-term or short-term, the holding
period of the asset may be affected (as applicable, depending on the type of the
Fund involved) if (1) the asset is used to close a "short sale" (which includes
for certain purposes the acquisition of a put option) or is substantially
identical to another asset so used, (2) the asset is otherwise held by the Fund
as part of a "straddle" (which term generally excludes a situation where the
asset is stock and the Fund grants a qualified covered call option (which, among
other things, must not be deep-in-the-money) with respect thereto), or (3) the
asset is stock and the Fund grants an in-the-money qualified covered call option
with respect thereto. In addition, a Fund may be required to defer the
recognition of a loss on the disposition of an asset held as part of a straddle
to the extent of any unrecognized gain on the offsetting position.
Any gain recognized by a Fund on the lapse of, or any gain or loss recognized by
a Fund from a closing transaction with respect to, an option written by the Fund
will be treated as a short-term capital gain or loss.
In addition to satisfying the requirements described above, each Fund must
satisfy an asset diversification test in order to qualify as a regulated
investment company. Under this test, at the close of each quarter of a Fund's
taxable year, at least 50% of the value of the Fund's assets must consist of
cash and cash items, U.S. Government securities, securities of other regulated
investment companies, and securities of other issuers (provided that, with
respect to each issuer, the Fund has not invested more than 5% of the value of
the Fund's total assets in securities of each such issuer and the Fund does not
hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of each such issuer),
and no more than 25% of the value of its total assets may be invested in the
securities of any one issuer (other than U.S. Government securities and
securities of other regulated investment companies), or in two or more issuers
which the Fund controls and which are engaged in the same or similar trades or
businesses. Generally, an option (call or put) with respect to a security is
treated as issued by the issuer of the security, not the issuer of the option.
For purposes of asset diversification testing, obligations issued or guaranteed
by certain agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. Government, such as the
Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation, the Farm Credit System Financial
Assistance Corporation, a Federal Home Loan Bank, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage
Corporation, the Federal National Mortgage Association, the Government National
Mortgage Corporation, and the Student Loan Marketing Association, are treated as
U.S. Government securities.
If for any taxable year a Fund does not qualify as a regulated investment
company, all of its taxable income (including its net capital gain) will be
subject to tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for
distributions to shareholders, and such distributions will be taxable to the
shareholders as ordinary dividends to the extent of the Fund's current and
accumulated earnings and profits. Such distributions may be eligible for the
dividends-received deduction in the case of corporate shareholders.
Excise Tax on Regulated Investment Companies
A 4% non-deductible excise tax is imposed on a regulated investment company that
fails to distribute in each calendar year an amount equal to 98% of its ordinary
taxable income for the calendar year and 98% of its capital gain net income for
the one-year period ended on October 31 of such calendar year (or, at the
election of a regulated investment company having a taxable year ending November
30 or December 31, for its taxable year (a "taxable year election")).
(Tax-exempt interest on municipal obligations is not subject to the excise tax.)
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The balance of such income must be distributed during the next calendar year.
For the foregoing purposes, a regulated investment company is treated as having
distributed any amount on which it is subject to income tax for any taxable year
ending in such calendar year.
For purposes of calculating the excise tax, a regulated investment company: (1)
reduces its capital gain net income (but not below its net capital gain) by the
amount of any net ordinary loss for the calendar year and (2) excludes foreign
currency gains and losses and ordinary gains or losses arising as a result of a
PFIC mark-to-market election (or upon the actual disposition of the PFIC stock
subject to such election) incurred after October 31 of any year (or after the
end of its taxable year if it has made a taxable year election) in determining
the amount of ordinary taxable income for the current calendar year (and,
instead, include such gains and losses in determining the company's ordinary
taxable income for the succeeding calendar year).
Each Fund intends to make sufficient distributions or deemed distributions of
its ordinary taxable income and capital gain net income prior to the end of each
calendar year to avoid liability for the excise tax. However, investors should
note that a Fund may in certain circumstances be required to liquidate portfolio
investments to make sufficient distributions to avoid excise tax liability.
Fund Distributions
Each Fund anticipates distributing substantially all of its investment company
taxable income for each taxable year. Such distributions will be taxable to
shareholders as ordinary income and treated as dividends for federal income tax
purposes. Distributions attributable to dividends received by a Fund from
domestic corporations will qualify for the 70% dividends-received deduction for
corporate shareholders only to the extent discussed below. Distributions
attributable to interest received by the Funds will not, and distributions
attributable to dividends paid by a foreign corporation generally should not,
qualify for the dividend-received deduction.
Ordinary income dividends paid by a Fund with respect to a taxable year will
qualify for the 70% dividends-received deduction generally available to
corporations (other than corporations such as S corporations, which are not
eligible for the deduction because of their special characteristics, and other
than for purposes of special taxes such as the accumulated earnings tax and the
personal holding company tax) to the extent of the amount of qualifying
dividends received by the Fund from domestic corporations for the taxable year.
A dividend received by a Fund will not be treated as a qualifying dividend (1)
if it has been received with respect to any share of stock that the Fund has
held for less than 46 days (91 days in the case of certain preferred stock),
excluding for this purpose under the rules of Code Section 246(c)(3) and (4):
(i) any day more than 45 days (or 90 days in the case of certain preferred
stock) after the date on which the stock becomes ex-dividend and (ii) any period
during which the Fund has an option to sell, is under a contractual obligation
to sell, has made and not closed a short sale of, is the grantor of a
deep-in-the-money or otherwise nonqualified option to buy, or has otherwise
diminished its risk of loss by holding other positions with respect to, such (or
substantially identical) stock; (2) to the extent that the Fund is under an
obligation (pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with
respect to positions in substantially similar or related property; or (3) to the
extent the stock on which the dividend is paid is treated as debt-financed under
the rules of Code Section 246A. Moreover, the dividends-received deduction for a
corporate shareholder may be disallowed or reduced (1) if the corporate
shareholder fails to satisfy the foregoing requirements with respect to its
shares of the Fund or (2) by application of Code Section 246(b) which in general
limits the dividends-received deduction to 70% of the shareholder's taxable
income (determined without regard to the dividends-received deduction and
certain other items).
A Fund may either retain or distribute to shareholders its net capital gain for
each taxable year. Each Fund currently intends to distribute any such amounts.
If net capital gain is distributed and designated as a capital gain dividend, it
will be taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gain, regardless of the
length of time the shareholder has held his or her shares or whether such gain
was recognized by the Fund prior to the date on which the shareholder acquired
his shares. The Code provides, however, that under certain conditions only 50%
of the capital gain recognized upon a Fund's disposition of domestic qualified
"small business" stock will be subject to tax.
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Conversely, if a Fund elects to retain its net capital gain, the Fund will be
subject to tax thereon (except to the extent of any available capital loss
carryovers) at the 35% corporate tax rate. If a Fund elects to retain its net
capital gain, it is expected that the Fund also will elect to have shareholders
of record on the last day of its taxable year treated as if each received a
distribution of his pro rata share of such gain, with the result that each
shareholder will be required to report his pro rata share of such gain on his
tax return as long-term capital gain, will receive a refundable tax credit for
his pro rata share of tax paid by the Fund on the gain, and will increase the
tax basis for his shares by an amount equal to the deemed distribution less the
tax credit.
Distributions by a Fund will be treated in the manner described above regardless
of whether such distributions are paid in cash or reinvested in additional
shares of the Fund (or of another fund). Shareholders receiving a distribution
in the form of additional shares will be treated as receiving a distribution in
an amount equal to the fair market value of the shares received, determined as
of the reinvestment date. In addition, if the net asset value at the time a
shareholder purchases shares of a Fund reflects undistributed net investment
income, recognized net capital gain, or unrealized appreciation in the value of
the assets of the Fund, distributions of such amounts will be taxable to the
shareholder in the manner described above, although such distributions
economically constitute a return of capital to the shareholder.
Ordinarily, shareholders are required to take distributions by a Fund into
account in the year in which the distributions are made. However, dividends
declared in October, November or December of any year and payable to
shareholders of record on a specified date in such a month will be deemed to
have been received by the shareholders (and made by a Fund) on December 31 of
such calendar year if such dividends are actually paid in January of the
following year. Shareholders will be advised annually as to the U.S. federal
income tax consequences of distributions made (or deemed made) during the year.
Each Fund will be required in certain cases to withhold and remit to the U.S.
Treasury 31% of ordinary income dividends and capital gain dividends, and the
proceeds of redemption of shares, paid to any shareholder (1) who has failed to
provide a correct taxpayer identification number, (2) who is subject to backup
withholding for failure to report the receipt of interest or dividend income
properly, or (3) who has failed to certify to the Fund that it is not subject to
backup withholding or is an "exempt recipient" (such as a corporation).
Sale or Redemption of Shares
The Gradison Government Reserves Fund seeks to maintain a stable net asset value
of $1.00 per share; however, there can be no assurance that this Fund will do
this. In such a case, and for the Established Value Fund, a shareholder will
recognize gain or loss on the sale or redemption of shares of a Fund in an
amount equal to the difference between the proceeds of the sale or redemption
and the shareholder's adjusted tax basis in the shares. All or a portion of any
loss so recognized may be disallowed if the shareholder purchases other shares
of a Fund within 30 days before or after the sale or redemption. In general, any
gain or loss arising from (or treated as arising from) the sale or redemption of
shares of a Fund will be considered capital gain or loss and will be long-term
capital gain or loss if the shares were held for longer than one year. However,
any capital loss arising from the sale or redemption of shares held for six
months or less will be disallowed to the extent of the amount of exempt-interest
dividends received on such shares and (to the extent not disallowed) will be
treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of the amount of capital gain
dividends received on such shares. For this purpose, the special holding period
rules of Code Section 246(c)(3) and (4) (discussed above in connection with the
dividends-received deduction for corporations) generally will apply in
determining the holding period of shares. Capital losses in any year are
deductible only to the extent of capital gains plus, in the case of a
noncorporate taxpayer, $3,000 of ordinary income.
If a shareholder (1) incurs a sales load in acquiring shares of a Fund, (2)
disposes of such shares less than 91 days after they are acquired and (3)
subsequently acquires shares of the Fund or another fund at a reduced sales load
pursuant to a right acquired in connection with the acquisition of the shares
disposed of, then the sales load on the shares disposed of (to the extent of the
reduction in the sales load on the shares subsequently acquired) shall not be
taken into account in determining gain or loss on such shares but shall be
treated as incurred on the acquisition of the subsequently acquired shares.
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Foreign Shareholders
Taxation of a shareholder who, as to the United States, is a nonresident alien
individual, foreign trust or estate, foreign corporation, or foreign partnership
("foreign shareholder"), depends on whether the income from a Fund is
"effectively connected" with a U.S. trade or business carried on by such
shareholder.
If the income from a Fund is not effectively connected with a U.S. trade or
business carried on by a foreign shareholder, ordinary income dividends paid to
such foreign shareholder will be subject to U.S. withholding tax at the rate of
30% (or lower applicable treaty rate) upon the gross amount of the dividend.
Such a foreign shareholder would generally be exempt from U.S. federal income
tax on gains realized on the sale of shares of a Fund, capital gain dividends
and exempt-interest dividends, and amounts retained by the Fund that are
designated as undistributed capital gains.
If the income from a Fund is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business
carried on by a foreign shareholder, then ordinary income dividends, capital
gain dividends, and any gains realized upon the sale of shares of the Fund will
be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the rates applicable to U.S. citizens
or domestic corporations.
In the case of foreign noncorporate shareholders, a Fund may be required to
withhold U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 31% on distributions that are
otherwise exempt from withholding tax (or taxable at a reduced treaty rate)
unless such shareholders furnish the Fund with proper notification of their
foreign status.
The tax consequences to a foreign shareholder entitled to claim the benefits of
an applicable tax treaty may be different from those described herein. Foreign
shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisers with respect to the
particular tax consequences to them of an investment in a Fund, including the
applicability of foreign taxes.
Effect of Future Legislation, Local Tax Considerations
The foregoing general discussion of U.S. federal income tax consequences is
based on the Code and the Treasury Regulations issued thereunder as in effect on
the date of this SAI. Future legislative or administrative changes or court
decisions may significantly change the conclusions expressed herein, and any
such changes or decisions may have a retroactive effect.
Rules of state and local taxation of ordinary income and capital gain dividends
from regulated investment companies may differ from the rules for U.S. federal
income taxation described above. Shareholders are urged to consult their tax
advisers as to the consequences of these and other state and local tax rules
affecting investment in a Fund.
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS
Board of Trustees.
Overall responsibility for management of the Trust rests with the Trustees, who
are elected by the shareholders of the Trust. The Trust is managed by the
Trustees in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware. There are
currently seven Trustees, five of whom are not "interested persons" of the Trust
within the meaning of that term under the 1940 Act ("Independent Trustees"). The
Trustees, in turn, elect the officers of the Trust to supervise actively its
day-to-day operations. There are also two Advisory Trustees who attend meetings
and serve on committees but do not vote.
The Trustees and the Advisory Trustees of the Trust, their ages, addresses, and
their principal occupations during the past five years are as follows. Each of
the following individuals, except Theodore H. Emmerich and Donald E. Weston,
holds the same position with The Victory Variable Insurance Funds, a registered
investment company in the same fund complex as the Trust. Whereas Messrs.
Emmerich and Weston serve as Advisory Trustees of the Trust, each of them serves
as a Trustee of The Victory Variable Insurance Funds.
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<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
POSITION(S)
HELD WITH
NAME, AGE AND ADDRESS THE TRUST PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION DURING PAST 5 YEARS
- --------------------- --------- ----------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Roger Noall,* 63 Chairman and Since 1996, Executive of KeyCorp; from
c/o Brighton Apt. 1603 Trustee 1995 to 1996, General Counsel and
8231 Bay Colony Drive Secretary of KeyCorp; from 1994 to 1996,
Naples, FL 34108 Senior Executive Vice President and
Chief Administrative Officer of KeyCorp;
from 1985 to 1994, Vice Chairman of the
Board and Chief Administrative Officer
of Society Corporation (now known as
KeyCorp).
Leigh A. Wilson,** 54 President and Since 1989, Chairman and Chief Executive
New Century Care, Inc. Trustee Officer, New Century Care, Inc.
53 Sylvan Road North (merchant bank); since 1995, Principal
Westport, CT 06880 of New Century Living, Inc.; since 1989,
Director of Chimney Rock Vineyard and
Chimney Rock Winery.
Dr. Harry Gazelle, 71 Trustee Retired radiologist, Drs. Hill and
17822 Lake Road Thomas Corporation.
Lakewood, OH 44107
Eugene J. McDonald, 66 Trustee Since 1990, Executive Vice President and
Duke Management Company Chief Investment Officer for Asset
2200 West Main Street Management of Duke University and
Suite 1000 President and CEO of Duke Management
Durham, NC 27705 Company; Director of CCB Financial
Corporation, Flag Group of Mutual Funds,
DP Mann Holdings, Greater Triangle
Community Foundation, and NC Bar
Association Investment Committee.
Dr. Thomas F. Morrissey, 65 Trustee Since 1970, Professor, Weatherhead
Weatherhead School of Management School of Management, Case Western
Case Western Reserve University Reserve University; from 1989 to 1995,
10900 Euclid Avenue Associate Dean of Weatherhead School of
Cleveland, OH 44106-7235 Management; from 1987 to December 1994,
Member of the Supervisory Committee of
Society's Collective Investment
Retirement Fund; from May 1991 to August
1994, Trustee, Financial Reserves Fund
and from May 1993 to August 1994,
Trustee, Ohio Municipal Money Market
H. Patrick Swygert, 55 Trustee Since 1995, President, Howard
Howard University University; since May 1996, Director,
2400 6th Street, N.W. Hartford Financial Services Group; since
Suite 402 May 1997, Director, Hartford Life
Washington, DC 20059 Insurance Company; from 1990 to 1995,
President, State University of New York
at Albany.
Frank A. Weil, 67 Trustee Since 1984, Chairman and Chief Executive
Abacus & Associates Officer of Abacus & Associates, Inc.
147 E. 47th Street (private investment firm); Director and
New York, NY 10017 President of the Norman and Hickrill
Foundations; Director, Trojan
Industries; from 1977 to 1979, United
States Assistant Secretary of Commerce
for Industry and Trade.
- --------
* Mr. Noall is an "interested person" and an "affiliated person" of the
Trust.
** Mr. Wilson is deemed to be an "interested person" of the Trust under the
1940 Act solely by reason of his position as President.
25
<PAGE>
ADVISORY TRUSTEES
Theodore H. Emmerich, 72 Advisory Retired; until 1986, managing partner
1201 Edgecliff Place Trustee (Cincinnati office) Ernst & Young LLP;
Cincinnati, Ohio 45206 Director of Carillon Fund, Inc.
(investment company), American Financial
Group (insurance), and Cincinnati
Milacron Commercial Corporation
(financing arm of Cincinnati Milacron
Corporation, a machine tool
manufacturer); Trustee of Summit
Investment Trust and Carillon Investment
Trust.
Donald E. Weston, 63* Advisory Since October 1998, Chairman of Gradison
McDonald Investments Inc. Trustee McDonald Investments, a division of
580 Walnut Street McDonald Investments Inc.; until October
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 1998, Chairman of the Gradison Division
of McDonald & Company Securities, Inc.
and a Director of McDonald & Company
Investments Inc.; Director of Cincinnati
Milacron Commercial Corporation.
</TABLE>
The Board currently has an Investment Committee, a Business, Legal, and Audit
Committee, and a Board Process and Nominating Committee. The members of the
Investment Committee are Messrs. Wilson (Chairman), Morrissey, Swygert, Weston
and Weil, who will serve until August 1999. The function of the Investment
Committee is to review the existing investment policies of the Trust, including
the levels of risk and types of funds available to shareholders, and make
recommendations to the Trustees regarding the revision of such policies or, if
necessary, the submission of such revisions to the Trust's shareholders for
their consideration. The members of the Business, Legal and Audit Committee are
Messrs. McDonald (Chairman), Emmerich, and Gazelle who will serve until August
1999. The function of the Business, Legal, and Audit Committee is to recommend
independent auditors and monitor accounting and financial matters and to review
compliance and contract matters. Mr. Swygert is the Chairman of the Board
Process and Nominating Committee (consisting of all the Trustees and Advisory
Trustees), which nominates persons to serve as Independent Trustees and Trustees
to serve on committees of the Board. This Committee also reviews Trustee
performance and compensation issues.
Remuneration of Trustees and Certain Executive Officers.
Each Trustee (other than Mr. Wilson) receives an annual fee of $31,500 for
serving as Trustee of all the Funds of the Trust, and an additional per meeting
fee ($3,500 in person and $1,500 per telephonic meeting). Mr. Wilson receives an
annual fee of $37,500 for serving as President and Trustee for all of the Funds
of the Trust, and an additional per meeting fee ($4,100 in person and $1,800 per
telephonic meeting). The Adviser pays the expenses of Messrs. Noall and Weston.
The following table indicates the estimated compensation received by each
Trustee from the Victory "Fund Complex"(1) for the fiscal year ended October 31,
1998.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Aggregate
Pension or Retirement Estimated Annual Aggregate Compensation from
Benefits Accrued as Benefits Upon Compensation from Victory "Fund
Portfolio Expenses Retirement Victory Portfolios Complex"
------------------ ---------- ------------------ --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Leigh A. Wilson................. -0- -0- $45,000 $53,250
Robert G. Brown*................ -0- -0- $18,300 $18,300
Edward P. Campbell**............ -0- -0- $36,600 $43,500
Theordore H. Emmerich# -0- -0- None None
Harry Gazelle................... -0- -0- $36,600 $39,000
Eugene J. McDonald+............. -0- -0- $25,050 $43,050
Thomas F. Morrissey............. -0- -0- $36,600 $39,000
- -----------
* Mr. Weston is an "interested person" and an "affiliated person" of the Trust.
26
<PAGE>
H. Patrick Swygert.............. -0- -0- $36,600 $39,000
Frank A. Weil+.................. -0- -0- $25,050 $44,250
(1) There are currently 41 mutual funds in the Victory "Fund Complex" for which the above-named Trustees are
compensated, but not all of these Trustees serve on the board of each fund of the "Fund Complex."
* Mr. Brown resigned as of April 4, 1998.
** Mr. Campbell resigned as of December 31, 1998.
# Mr. Emmerich commenced service on the Board as of January 1, 1999.
+ Mr. McDonald and Mr. Weil commenced service on the Board as of January 1, 1998.
</TABLE>
Officers.
The officers of the Trust, their ages, and principal occupations during the past
five years, are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Position(s)
with the
Name and Age Trust Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years
------------ ----- ----------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Leigh A. Wilson, 54 President See biographical information under "Board
and Trustee of Trustees" above.
William B. Blundin, 60 Vice Senior Vice President of BISYS Fund
President Services Inc. ("BISYS"); officer of
other investment companies administered
by BISYS.
J. David Huber, 52 Vice President of BISYS; officer of BISYS since June 1987.
President
Robert D. Hingston,46 Secretary Since November 1998, Vice President of
BISYS; from January 1995 to October
1998, founder and principal of RDH
Associates (mutual fund management
consulting firm); from June 1980 to
January 1995, Vice President of
Investors Bank & Trust Company.
Joel B. Engle, 33 Treasurer Since September 1998, Vice President of
BISYS; from March 1995 to September
1998, Vice President, Northern Trust
Company; from July 1994 to February
1995, General Accountant, Wanger Asset
Management; from September 1988 to June
1994, Audit Manager with Ernst & Young
LLP.
</TABLE>
The mailing address of each officer of the Trust is 3435 Stelzer Road, Columbus,
Ohio 43219-3035.
The officers of the Trust (other than Mr. Wilson) receive no compensation
directly from the Trust for performing the duties of their offices. BISYS
receives fees from the Trust as Administrator.
As of December 31, 1998, the Trustees and officers as a group owned beneficially
less than 1% of all classes of outstanding shares of the Funds.
ADVISORY AND OTHER CONTRACTS
Investment Adviser.
One of the Fund's most important contracts is with its investment adviser, KAM,
a New York corporation registered as an investment adviser with the SEC. KAM is
a wholly owned subsidiary of KeyCorp. On October 23, 1998, the corporate parent
27
<PAGE>
of McDonald & Company Securities, Inc. merged with KeyCorp, as a result of which
KAM is expected to acquire certain of the investment advisory operations of
McDonald & Company Securities, Inc., including its Gradison Division. Affiliates
of the Adviser manage approximately $62 billion for numerous clients including
large corporate and public retirement plans, Taft-Hartley plans, foundations and
endowments, high net worth individuals, and mutual funds.
KeyCorp, a financial services holding company, is headquartered at 127 Public
Square, Cleveland, Ohio 44114. As of September 30, 1998, KeyCorp had an asset
base of $78 billion, with banking offices in 13 states from Maine to Alaska, and
trust and investment offices in 14 states. KeyCorp's McDonald., a registered
broker dealer, is located primarily in the midwestern United States. KeyCorp's
major business activities include providing traditional banking and associated
financial services to consumer, business and commercial markets. Its non-bank
subsidiaries include investment advisory, securities brokerage, insurance, bank
credit card processing, and leasing companies.
The following schedule lists the advisory fees for each of the Funds.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
Gradison Government Reserves Fund: 0.50% of the first $400 million of average daily net assets,
0.45% of the next $600 million,
0.40 of the next $1 billion and
0.35% thereafter
Established Value Fund: 0.65% of the first $100 million of average daily net assets,
0.55% of the next $100 million and
0.45% thereafter
</TABLE>
The Investment Advisory Agreement.
Unless sooner terminated, the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Adviser
and the Trust, on behalf of the Funds (the "Investment Advisory Agreement"),
provides that it will continue in effect as to the Funds for an initial two-year
term and for consecutive one-year terms thereafter, provided that such renewal
is approved at least annually by the Trustees or by vote of a majority of the
outstanding shares of each Fund (as defined under "Additional Information -
Miscellaneous"), and, in either case, by a majority of the Trustees who are not
parties to the Investment Advisory Agreement or interested persons (as defined
in the 1940 Act) of any party to the Investment Advisory Agreement, by votes
cast in person at a meeting called for such purpose.
The Investment Advisory Agreement is terminable as to any particular Fund at any
time on 60 days' written notice without penalty by the Trustees, by vote of a
majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund, by vote of the Board of Trustees
of the Trust, or by the Adviser. The Investment Advisory Agreement also
terminates automatically in the event of any assignment, as defined in the 1940
Act.
The Investment Advisory Agreement provides that the Adviser shall not be liable
for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the
Funds in connection with the performance of services pursuant to the Investment
Advisory Agreement, except a loss resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty with
respect to the receipt of compensation for services or a loss resulting from
willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence on the part of the Adviser
in the performance of its duties, or from reckless disregard by the Adviser of
its duties and obligations thereunder. The Adviser pays a fee to Disciplined
Investment Advisers, P.O. Box 112, Evanston, Illinois 60204, in connection with
the computer modeling methodology and the related database used by the
Established Value Fund.
Glass-Steagall Act.
In 1971 the United States Supreme Court held in Investment Company Institute v.
Camp that the federal statute commonly referred to as the Glass-Steagall Act
prohibits a national bank from operating a fund for the collective investment of
managing agency accounts. Subsequently, the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System (the "Board") issued a regulation and interpretation to the
effect that the Glass-Steagall Act and such decision: (a) forbid a bank holding
company registered under the Federal Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (the
28
<PAGE>
"Holding Company Act") or any non-bank affiliate thereof from sponsoring,
organizing, or controlling a registered, open-end investment company
continuously engaged in the issuance of its shares, but (b) do not prohibit such
a holding company or affiliate from acting as investment adviser, transfer
agent, and custodian to such an investment company. In 1981 the United States
Supreme Court held in Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System v.
Investment Company Institute that the Board did not exceed its authority under
the Holding Company Act when it adopted its regulation and interpretation
authorizing bank holding companies and their non-bank affiliates to act as
investment advisers to registered closed-end investment companies. In the Board
of Governors case, the Supreme Court also stated that if a national bank
complied with the restrictions imposed by the Board in its regulation and
interpretation authorizing bank holding companies and their non-bank affiliates
to act as investment advisers to investment companies, a national bank
performing investment advisory services for an investment company would not
violate the Glass-Steagall Act.
From time to time, advertisements, supplemental sales literature and information
furnished to present or prospective shareholders of the Funds may include
descriptions of Key Trust Company of Ohio, N.A. and the Adviser including, but
not limited to, (1) descriptions of the operations of Key Trust Company of Ohio,
N.A. and the Adviser; (2) descriptions of certain personnel and their functions;
and (3) statistics and rankings related to the operations of Key Trust Company
of Ohio, N.A. and the Adviser.
Portfolio Transactions.
Gradison Government Reserves Fund. Pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement
between the Adviser and the Trust, on behalf of the Gradison Government Reserves
Fund, the Adviser determines, subject to the general supervision of the Trustees
of the Trust, and in accordance with the Fund's investment objective, policies
and restrictions, which securities are to be purchased and sold by the Fund, and
which brokers are to be eligible to execute its portfolio transactions. Since
purchases and sales of portfolio securities by the Gradison Government Reserves
Fund are usually principal transactions, the Fund incurs little or no brokerage
commissions. Securities of the Gradison Government Reserves Fund are normally
purchased directly from the issuer or from a market maker for the securities.
The purchase price paid to dealers serving as market makers may include a spread
between the bid and asked prices. The Gradison Government Reserves Fund also may
purchase securities from underwriters at prices which include the spread
retained by the underwriter from the proceeds of the offering to the issuer.
The Gradison Government Reserves Fund will generally (but not always) hold
portfolio securities to maturity, but the Adviser may seek to enhance the yield
of the Fund by taking advantage of yield disparities or other factors that occur
in the money markets. For example, market conditions frequently result in
similar securities trading at different prices. The Adviser may dispose of any
portfolio security prior to its maturity if such disposition and reinvestment of
proceeds are expected to enhance yield consistent with the Adviser's judgment as
to desirable portfolio maturity structure or if such disposition is believed to
be advisable due to other circumstances or conditions. The investment policies
of the Gradison Government Reserves Fund require that investments mature in 397
days or less. Thus, there is likely to be relatively high portfolio turnover,
but since brokerage commissions are not normally paid on money market
instruments, the high rate of portfolio turnover is not expected to have a
material effect on the net income or expenses of the Gradison Government
Reserves Fund.
The Adviser's primary consideration in effecting a security transaction is to
obtain the best net price and the most favorable execution of the order.
Allocation of transactions, including their frequency, among various dealers is
determined by the Adviser in its best judgment and in a manner deemed fair and
reasonable to shareholders.
Established Value Fund. Pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement, the
Adviser determines, subject to the general supervision of the Trustees of the
Trust, and in accordance with the Established Value Fund's investment objective
and restrictions, which securities are to be purchased and sold by the Fund, and
which brokers are to be eligible to execute its portfolio transactions.
Purchases from underwriters and/or broker-dealers of portfolio securities
include a commission or concession paid by the issuer to the underwriter and/or
broker-dealer and purchases from dealers serving as market makers may include
the spread between the bid and asked price. While the Adviser generally seeks
competitive spreads or commissions, each Fund may not necessarily pay the lowest
spread or commission available on each transaction, for reasons discussed below.
29
<PAGE>
Allocation of transactions to dealers is determined by the Adviser in its best
judgment and in a manner deemed fair and reasonable to shareholders. The primary
consideration is prompt execution of orders in an effective manner at the most
favorable price. Subject to this consideration, dealers who provide supplemental
investment research to the Adviser may receive orders for transactions by the
Trust. Information so received is in addition to and not in lieu of services
required to be performed by the Adviser and does not reduce the investment
advisory fees payable to the Adviser by the Funds. Such information may be
useful to the Adviser in serving both the Trust and other clients and,
conversely, such supplemental research information obtained by the placement of
orders on behalf of other clients may be useful to the Adviser in carrying out
its obligations to the Trust. The Trustees have authorized the allocation of
brokerage to affiliated broker-dealers on an agency basis to effect portfolio
transactions. The Trustees have adopted procedures incorporating the standards
of Rule 17e-1 of the 1940 Act, which require that the commission paid to
affiliated broker-dealers must be "reasonable and fair compared to the
commission, fee or other remuneration received, or to be received, by other
brokers in connection with comparable transactions involving similar securities
during a comparable period of time." At times, the Established Value Fund may
also purchase portfolio securities directly from dealers acting as principals,
underwriters or market makers. As these transactions are usually conducted on a
net basis, no brokerage commissions are paid by the Established Value Fund.
Both Funds. The Trust will not execute portfolio transactions through, acquire
portfolio securities issued by, make savings deposits in, or enter into
repurchase agreements with the Adviser, Key Trust Company of Ohio, N.A. ("Key
Trust") or their affiliates, or BISYS or its affiliates, and will not give
preference to Key Trust's correspondent banks or affiliates, or BISYS with
respect to such transactions, securities, savings deposits, and repurchase
agreements.
Investment decisions for each Fund are made independently from those made for
the other Funds of the Trust or any other investment company or account managed
by the Adviser. Such other investment companies or accounts may also invest in
the securities and may follow similar investment strategies as the Funds. When a
purchase or sale of the same security is made at substantially the same time on
behalf of a Fund and any other Fund, investment company or account, the
transaction will be averaged as to price, and available investments allocated as
to amount, in a manner which the Adviser believes to be equitable to such Funds,
investment company or account. In some instances, this investment procedure may
affect the price paid or received by a Fund or the size of the position obtained
by the Fund in an adverse manner relative to the result that would have been
obtained if only that particular Fund had participated in or been allocated such
trades. To the extent permitted by law, the Adviser may aggregate the securities
to be sold or purchased for a Fund with those to be sold or purchased for the
other Funds of the Trust or for other investment companies or accounts in order
to obtain best execution. In making investment recommendations for the Trust,
the Adviser will not inquire or take into consideration whether an issuer of
securities proposed for purchase or sale by a Fund is a customer of the Adviser,
their parents or subsidiaries or affiliates and, in dealing with their
commercial customers, the Adviser, its parents, subsidiaries, and affiliates
will not inquire or take into consideration whether securities of such customers
are held by the Trust.
Portfolio Turnover.
The portfolio turnover rates stated in the Prospectuses are calculated by
dividing the lesser of each Fund's purchases or sales of portfolio securities
for the year by the monthly average value of the portfolio securities. The
calculation excludes all securities whose maturities, at the time of
acquisition, were one year or less. Portfolio turnover is calculated on the
basis of the Fund as a whole without distinguishing between the classes of
shares issued.
Administrator.
BISYS Fund Services Ohio, Inc. (the "Administrator")) serves as administrator to
the Funds pursuant to an administration agreement dated October 1, 1997 (the
"Administration Agreement"). The Administrator assists in supervising all
operations of the Funds (other than those performed by the Adviser under the
Investment Advisory Agreement), subject to the supervision of the Board of
Trustees.
For the services rendered to the Funds and related expenses borne by the
Administrator, each Fund pays the Administrator an annual fee, computed daily
and paid monthly, at the following annual rates based on each Fund's average
daily net assets:
30
<PAGE>
.15% for portfolio assets of $300 million and less,
.12% for the next $300 million through $600 million of portfolio
assets, and .10% for portfolio assets greater than $600 million.
The Administrator may periodically waive all or a portion of its fee with
respect to any Fund in order to increase the net income of one or more of the
Funds available for distribution to shareholders.
Unless sooner terminated, the Administration Agreement will continue in effect
as to each Fund for a period of two years, and for consecutive one-year terms
thereafter, provided that such continuance is ratified at least annually by the
Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of each Fund, and in
either case by a majority of the Trustees who are not parties to the
Administration Agreement or interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of
any party to the Administration Agreement, by votes cast in person at a meeting
called for such purpose.
The Administration Agreement provides that the Administrator shall not be liable
for any error of judgment or mistake of law or any loss suffered by the Trust in
connection with the matters to which the Administration Agreement relates,
except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence
in the performance of its duties, or from the reckless disregard by it of its
obligations and duties thereunder.
Under the Administration Agreement, the Administrator assists in each Fund's
administration and operation, including providing statistical and research data,
clerical services, internal compliance and various other administrative
services, including among other responsibilities, forwarding certain purchase
and redemption requests to the Transfer Agent, participation in the updating of
the prospectus, coordinating the preparation, filing, printing and dissemination
of reports to shareholders, coordinating the preparation of income tax returns,
arranging for the maintenance of books and records and providing the office
facilities necessary to carry out the duties thereunder. Under the
Administration Agreement, the Administrator may delegate all or any part of its
responsibilities thereunder.
Sub-Administrator.
KAM serves as sub-administrator to the Trust pursuant to a sub-administration
agreement dated October 1, 1997 (the "Sub-Administration Agreement"). As
sub-administrator, KAM assists the Administrator in all aspects of the
operations of the Trust, except those performed by KAM under its Investment
Advisory Agreement.
For services provided under the Sub-Administration Agreement, the Administrator
pays KAM a fee, with respect to each Fund, calculated at the annual rate of up
to five one-hundredths of one percent (.05%) of such Fund's average daily net
assets. Except as otherwise provided in the Administration Agreement, KAM shall
pay all expenses incurred by it in performing its services and duties as
sub-administrator. Unless sooner terminated, the Sub-Administration Agreement
will continue in effect as to each Fund for a period of two years, and for
consecutive one-year terms thereafter, unless written notice not to renew is
given by the non-renewing party.
Under the Sub-Administration Agreement, KAM's duties include maintaining office
facilities, furnishing statistical and research data, compiling data for various
state and federal filings by the Trust, assist in mailing and filing the Trust's
annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders, providing support for board
meetings, and arranging for the maintenance of books and records and providing
the office facilities necessary to carry out the duties thereunder.
Distributor.
BISYS Fund Services Limited Partnership serves as distributor (the
"Distributor") for the continuous offering of the shares of the Funds pursuant
to a Distribution Agreement between the Distributor and the Trust. Unless
otherwise terminated, the Distribution Agreement will remain in effect with
respect to each Fund for two years, and will continue thereafter for consecutive
one-year terms, provided that the renewal is approved at least annually (1) by
the Trustees or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of each
Fund, and (2) by the vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are not
parties to the Distribution Agreement or interested persons of any such party,
cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
The Distribution Agreement will terminate in the event of its assignment, as
defined under the 1940 Act.
31
<PAGE>
Transfer Agent.
State Street Bank and Trust Company ("State Street") serves as transfer agent
for the Funds. Boston Financial Data Services, Inc. serves as the dividend
disbursing agent and shareholder servicing agent for the Funds, pursuant to a
Transfer Agency and Service Agreement. Under its agreement with the Trust, State
Street has agreed (1) to issue and redeem shares of the Funds; (2) to address
and mail all communications by the Funds to their shareholders, including
reports to shareholders, dividend and distribution notices, and proxy material
for its meetings of shareholders; (3) to respond to correspondence or inquiries
by shareholders and others relating to its duties; (4) to maintain shareholder
accounts and certain sub-accounts; and (5) to make periodic reports to the
Trustees concerning the Trust's operations.
Class G Shares Distribution and Service Plan.
The Trust has adopted a Distribution and Service Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1
under the 1940 Act for Class G shares of each Fund (the "Plan"). Class G shares
of the Gradison Government Reserves Fund pay the Distributor a service fee of up
to 0.10 % (the Plan allows a maximum charge of up to 0.20%, but only a 0.10% fee
has been authorized). In addition, Class G shares of the Established Value Fund
pay the Distributor a service fee of up to 0.25% and a distribution fee of up to
0.25%.
The personal services for which these service fees are used are described in the
Prospectuses.
The distribution fees may be used by the Distributor for: (a) costs of printing
and distributing each Fund's prospectus, statement of additional information and
reports to prospective investors in the Funds; (b) costs involved in preparing,
printing and distributing sales literature pertaining to the Funds; (c) an
allocation of overhead and other branch office distribution-related expenses of
the Distributor; (d) payments to persons who provide support services in
connection with the distribution of each Fund's Class G shares, including but
not limited to, office space and equipment, telephone facilities, answering
routine inquiries regarding the Funds, processing shareholder transactions and
providing any other shareholder services not otherwise provided by the Funds'
transfer agent; (e) accruals for interest on the amount of the foregoing
expenses that exceed the distribution fee received by the Distributor; and (f)
any other expense primarily intended to result in the sale of the Funds' Class G
shares, including, without limitation, payments to salespersons and selling
dealers at the time of the sale of such shares, if applicable, and continuing
fees to each such salespersons and selling dealers, which fee shall begin to
accrue immediately after the sale of such shares.
The amount of the fees payable by any Fund under the Plan is not related
directly to expenses incurred by the Distributor and the Plan does not obligate
the Funds to reimburse the Distributor for such expenses. The fees set forth in
the Plan will be paid by each Fund to the Distributor unless and until the Plan
is terminated or not renewed with respect to such Fund; any distribution or
service expenses incurred by the Distributor on behalf of the Funds in excess of
payments of the distribution fees specified above which the Distributor has
accrued through the termination date are the sole responsibility and liability
of the Distributor and not an obligation of the Funds.
The Plan specifically recognizes that either the Adviser or the Distributor,
directly or through an affiliate, may use its fee revenue, past profits, or
other resources, without limitation, to pay promotional and administrative
expenses in connection with the offer and sale of shares of the Funds. In
addition, the Plan provides that the Adviser and the Distributor may use their
respective resources, including fee revenues, to make payments to third parties
that provide assistance in selling the Funds' Class G shares, or to third
parties, including banks, that render shareholder support services.
The Plan was approved by the Trustees, including the independent Trustees, at a
meeting called for that purpose. As required by Rule 12b-1, the Trustees
carefully considered all pertinent factors relating to the implementation of the
Plan prior to its approval, and have determined that there is a reasonable
likelihood that the Plan will benefit the Funds and their Class G shareholders.
To the extent that the Plan gives the Adviser or the Distributor greater
flexibility in connection with the distribution of Class G shares of the Funds,
additional sales of the Funds' Class G shares may result. Additionally, certain
Class G shareholder support services may be provided more effectively under the
Plan by local entities with whom shareholders have other relationships.
32
<PAGE>
Fund Accountant.
BISYS Fund Services Ohio, Inc. ("BISYS, Inc.") serves as fund accountant for the
Funds, pursuant to a fund accounting agreement with the Trust dated May 31, 1995
(the "Fund Accounting Agreement"). As fund accountant for the Trust, BISYS, Inc.
calculates each Fund's net asset value, the dividend and capital gain
distribution, if any, and the yield. BISYS, Inc. also provides a current
security position report, a summary report of transactions and pending
maturities, a current cash position report, and maintains the general ledger
accounting records for the Funds. Under the Fund Accounting Agreement, BISYS,
Inc. is entitled to receive annual fees of .03% of the first $100 million of the
Fund's daily average net assets, .02% of the next $100 million of the Fund's
daily average net assets, and .01% of the Fund's remaining daily average net
assets. These annual fees are subject to a minimum monthly assets charge of
$2,500 per taxable fund, $2,917 per tax-free fund and $3,333 per international
fund and does not include out-of-pocket expenses or multiple class charges of
$833 per month assessed for each class of shares after the first class.
Custodian.
Cash and securities owned by each of the Funds are held by Key Trust as
custodian pursuant to a Custodian Agreement dated August 1, 1996. Under this
Agreement, Key Trust (1) maintains a separate account or accounts in the name of
each respective fund; (2) makes receipts and disbursements of money on behalf of
each Fund; (3) collects and receives all income and other payments and
distributions on account of portfolio securities; (4) responds to correspondence
from security brokers and others relating to its duties; and (5) makes periodic
reports to the Trustees concerning the Trust's operations. Key Trust may, with
the approval of a fund and at the custodian's own expense, open and maintain a
sub-custody account or accounts on behalf of a fund, provided that Key Trust
shall remain liable for the performance of all of its duties under the Custodian
Agreement.
Independent Accountants.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP serves as the Trust's auditors.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP's address is 100 East Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio
43215.
Legal Counsel.
Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP, 919 Third Avenue, New York, New York 10022,
is the counsel to the Trust.
Expenses.
The Funds bear the following expenses relating to its operations, including:
taxes, interest, brokerage fees and commissions, fees of the Trustees, SEC fees,
state securities qualification fees, costs of preparing and printing
prospectuses for regulatory purposes and for distribution to current
shareholders, outside auditing and legal expenses, advisory and administration
fees, fees and out-of-pocket expenses of the custodian and transfer agent,
certain insurance premiums, costs of maintenance of the Funds' existence, costs
of shareholders' reports and meetings, and any extraordinary expenses incurred
in the Funds' operation.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Description of Shares.
The Trust is a Delaware business trust. The Delaware Trust Instrument authorizes
the Trustees to issue an unlimited number of shares, which are units of
beneficial interest, without par value. The Trust currently has 36 series of
shares, which represent interests in the Funds and their respective classes
listed below (described in separate statements of additional information) in
addition to those listed on the first page of this SAI.
33
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Balanced Fund Investment Quality Bond Fund Ohio Municipal Bond Fund
Class A Shares Class A Shares Class A Shares
Class B Shares Class G Shares
Lakefront Fund
Convertible Securities Fund Class A Shares Ohio Municipal Money Market Fund
Class A Shares Class A Shares
LifeChoice Conservative Investor Fund
Diversified Stock Fund Class A Shares Ohio Regional Stock Fund
Class A Shares Class A Shares
Class B Shares LifeChoice Moderate Investor Fund Class B Shares
Class G Shares Class A Shares
Prime Obligations Fund
Equity Income Fund LifeChoice Growth Investor Fund Class A Shares
Class A Shares Class A Shares
Federal Money Market Fund Real Estate Investment Fund
Select Shares Limited Term Income Fund Class A Shares
Investor Shares Class A Shares
Small Company Opportunity Fund
Financial Reserves Fund Maine Municipal Bond Fund Class A Shares
Class A Shares (Intermediate) Class G Shares
Class A Shares
Fund for Income Maine Municipal Bond Fund Special Value Fund
Class A Shares (Short-Intermediate) Class A Shares
Class G Shares Class A Shares Class B Shares
Government Mortgage Fund Michigan Municipal Bond Fund Stock Index Fund
Class A Shares Class A Shares Class A Shares
National Municipal Bond Fund
Growth Fund Class A Shares Tax-Free Money Market Fund
Class A Shares Class B Shares Class A Shares
Institutional Money Market Fund National Municipal Bond Fund (Long) U.S. Government Obligations Fund
Select Shares Class A Shares Select Shares
Investor Shares National Municipal Bond Fund Investor Shares
(Short-Intermediate)
Intermediate Income Fund Class A Shares Value Fund
Class A Shares Class A Shares
New York Tax-Free Fund
International Growth Fund Class A Shares
Class A Shares Class B Shares
Class G Shares
- ------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
</TABLE>
The Trust Instrument authorizes the Trustees to divide or redivide any unissued
shares of the Trust into one or more additional series by setting or changing in
any one or more aspects their respective preferences, conversion or other
rights, voting power, restrictions, limitations as to dividends, qualifications,
and terms and conditions of redemption.
Shares have no subscription or preemptive rights and only such conversion or
exchange rights as the Trustees may grant in their discretion. When issued for
payment as described in the Prospectuses and this SAI, the Trust's shares will
be fully paid and non-assessable. In the event of a liquidation or dissolution
of the Trust, shares of a Fund are entitled to receive the assets available for
distribution belonging to the Fund, and a proportionate distribution, based upon
the relative asset values of the respective Funds, of any general assets not
belonging to any particular Fund that are available for distribution.
Shares of the Funds are entitled to one vote per share (with proportional voting
for fractional shares) on such matters as shareholders are entitled to vote.
Shareholders vote as a single class on all matters except (1) when required by
the 1940 Act, shares shall be voted by individual series or class, and (2) when
the Trustees have determined that the matter affects only the interests of one
or more series, then only shareholders of such series shall be entitled to vote
34
<PAGE>
thereon. There will normally be no meetings of shareholders for the purpose of
electing Trustees unless and until such time as less than a majority of the
Trustees have been elected by the shareholders, at which time the Trustees then
in office will call a shareholders' meeting for the election of Trustees. A
meeting shall be held for such purpose upon the written request of the holders
of not less than 10% of the outstanding shares. Upon written request by ten or
more shareholders meeting the qualifications of Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act,
(i.e., persons who have been shareholders for at least six months, and who hold
shares having a net asset value of at least $25,000 or constituting 1% of the
outstanding shares) stating that such shareholders wish to communicate with the
other shareholders for the purpose of obtaining the signatures necessary to
demand a meeting to consider removal of a Trustee, the Trust will provide a list
of shareholders or disseminate appropriate materials (at the expense of the
requesting shareholders). Except as set forth above, the Trustees shall continue
to hold office and may appoint their successors.
Rule 18f-2 under the 1940 Act provides that any matter required to be submitted
to the holders of the outstanding voting securities of an investment company
such as the Trust shall not be deemed to have been effectively acted upon unless
approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of each Fund of
the Trust affected by the matter. For purposes of determining whether the
approval of a majority of the outstanding shares of a Fund will be required in
connection with a matter, a Fund will be deemed to be affected by a matter
unless it is clear that the interests of each Fund in the matter are identical,
or that the matter does not affect any interest of the Fund. Under Rule 18f-2,
the approval of an investment advisory agreement or any change in investment
policy would be effectively acted upon with respect to a fund only if approved
by a majority of the outstanding shares of such Fund. However, Rule 18f-2 also
provides that the ratification of independent accountants, the approval of
principal underwriting contracts, and the election of Trustees may be
effectively acted upon by shareholders of the Trust voting without regard to
series.
Shareholder and Trustee Liability.
The Trust is organized as a Delaware business trust. The Delaware Business Trust
Act provides that a shareholder of a Delaware business trust shall be entitled
to the same limitation of personal liability extended to shareholders of
Delaware corporations, and the Delaware Trust Instrument provides that
shareholders of the Trust shall not be liable for the obligations of the Trust.
The Delaware Trust Instrument also provides for indemnification out of the trust
property of any shareholder held personally liable solely by reason of his or
her being or having been a shareholder. The Delaware Trust Instrument also
provides that the Trust shall, upon request, assume the defense of any claim
made against any shareholder for any act or obligation of the Trust, and shall
satisfy any judgment thereon. Thus, the risk of a shareholder incurring
financial loss on account of shareholder liability is considered to be extremely
remote.
The Delaware Trust Instrument states further that no Trustee, officer, or agent
of the Trust shall be personally liable in connection with the administration or
preservation of the assets of the funds or the conduct of the Trust's business;
nor shall any Trustee, officer, or agent be personally liable to any person for
any action or failure to act except for his own bad faith, willful misfeasance,
gross negligence, or reckless disregard of his duties. The Declaration of Trust
also provides that all persons having any claim against the Trustees or the
Trust shall look solely to the assets of the Trust for payment.
Financial Statements.
The audited financial statements of Gradison U.S. Government Reserves and the
Gradison Established Value Fund for the fiscal years ended September 30, 1998
and March 31, 1998, respectively, are incorporated by reference herein. These
financial statements have been audited by Arthur Andersen L.L.P., as set forth
in their report incorporated by reference herein, and are included in reliance
upon such report and on the authority of such firm as experts in auditing and
accounting. Arthur Andersen LLP's address is 425 Walnut Street, Cincinnati, Ohio
45202. In addition, the unaudited semi-annual report to shareholders of the
Gradison Established Value Fund for the six months ended September 30, 1998 is
incorporated herein in its entirety.
Miscellaneous.
As used in the Prospectuses and in this SAI, "assets belonging to a fund" (or
"assets belonging to the Fund") means the consideration received by the Trust
35
<PAGE>
upon the issuance or sale of shares of a Fund, together with all income,
earnings, profits, and proceeds derived from the investment thereof, including
any proceeds from the sale, exchange, or liquidation of such investments, and
any funds or payments derived from any reinvestment of such proceeds and any
general assets of the Trust, which general liabilities and expenses are not
readily identified as belonging to a particular Fund that are allocated to that
Fund by the Trustees. The Trustees may allocate such general assets in any
manner they deem fair and equitable. It is anticipated that the factor that will
be used by the Trustees in making allocations of general assets to a particular
fund of the Trust will be the relative net asset value of each respective fund
at the time of allocation. Assets belonging to a particular Fund are charged
with the direct liabilities and expenses in respect of that Fund, and with a
share of the general liabilities and expenses of each of the Funds not readily
identified as belonging to a particular Fund, which are allocated to each Fund
in accordance with its proportionate share of the net asset values of the Trust
at the time of allocation. The timing of allocations of general assets and
general liabilities and expenses of the Trust to a particular fund will be
determined by the Trustees and will be in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles. Determinations by the Trustees as to the timing of the
allocation of general liabilities and expenses and as to the timing and
allocable portion of any general assets with respect to a particular fund are
conclusive.
As used in the Prospectuses and in this SAI, a "vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities" of the Fund means the affirmative vote of the
lesser of (a) 67% or more of the shares of the Fund present at a meeting at
which the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are
represented in person or by proxy, or (b) more than 50% of the outstanding
shares of the Fund.
The Trust is registered with the SEC as an open-end management investment
company. Such registration does not involve supervision by the SEC of the
management or policies of the Trust.
The Prospectuses and this SAI omit certain of the information contained in the
Registration Statement filed with the SEC. Copies of such information may be
obtained from the SEC upon payment of the prescribed fee.
The Prospectuses and this SAI are not an offering of the securities described in
these documents in any state in which such offering may not lawfully be made. No
salesman, dealer, or other person is authorized to give any information or make
any representation other than those contained in the Prospectuses and this SAI.
36
<PAGE>
APPENDIX
Description of Security Ratings.
The nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (individually, an
"NRSRO") that may be utilized by the Adviser with regard to portfolio
investments for the Established Value Fund include Moody's Investors Service,
Inc. ("Moody's") and Standard & Poor's ("S&P"). Set forth below is a description
of the relevant ratings of each such NRSRO. The NRSROs that may be utilized by
the Adviser and the description of each NRSRO's ratings is as of the date of
this SAI, and may subsequently change.
Short-Term Debt Ratings (may be assigned, for example, to commercial paper,
master demand notes, bank instruments, and letters of credit).
Moody's description of its three highest short-term debt ratings:
Prime-1. Issuers rated Prime-1 (or supporting institutions) have a superior
capacity for repayment of senior short-term promissory obligations. Prime-1
repayment capacity will normally be evidenced by many of the following
characteristics:
- - Leading market positions in well-established industries.
- - High rates of return on funds employed.
- - Conservative capitalization structures with moderate reliance on debt and
ample asset protection.
- - Broad margins in earnings coverage of fixed financial charges and high
internal cash generation.
- - Well-established access to a range of financial markets and assured
sources of alternate liquidity.
Prime-2. Issuers rated Prime-2 (or supporting institutions) have a strong
capacity for repayment of senior short-term debt obligations. This will normally
be evidenced by many of the characteristics cited above but to a lesser degree.
Earnings trends and coverage ratios, while sound, may be more subject to
variation. Capitalization characteristics, while still appropriate, may be more
affected by external conditions. Ample alternate liquidity is maintained.
Prime-3. Issuers rated Prime-3 (or supporting institutions) have an acceptable
ability for repayment of senior short-term obligations. The effect of industry
characteristics and market compositions may be more pronounced. Variability in
earnings and profitability may result in changes in the level of debt protection
measurements and may require relatively high financial leverage. Adequate
alternate liquidity is maintained.
S&P's description of its three highest short-term debt ratings:
A-1. This designation indicates that the degree of safety regarding timely
payment is strong. Those issues determined to have extremely strong safety
characteristics are denoted with a plus sign (+).
A-2. Capacity for timely payment on issues with this designation is
satisfactory. However, the relative degree of safety is not as high as for
issues designated "A-1."
A-3. Issues carrying this designation have adequate capacity for timely payment.
They are, however, more vulnerable to the adverse effects of changes in
circumstances than obligations carrying the higher designations.
A-1
<PAGE>
Registration Statement
of
THE VICTORY PORTFOLIOS
on
Form N-1A
PART C. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 23.
Exhibits:
(a)(1) Certificate of Trust (1)
(a)(2) Delaware Trust Instrument dated December 6, 1995, as amended. (2)
(b) Bylaws, Amended and Restated as of August 28, 1998.(3)
(c) The rights of holders of the securities being registered are set out in
Articles II, VII, IX and X of the Trust Instrument referenced in
Exhibit (a)(2) above and in Article IV of the Bylaws referenced in
Exhibit (b) above.
(d)(1) Investment Advisory Agreement dated as of March 1, 1997 between
Registrant and Key Asset Management Inc. ("KAM"), with Schedule A
amended as of March 1, 1997, March 2, 1998 and May 29, 1998. (4)
(d)(2) Investment Advisory Agreement dated March 1, 1997 between Registrant
and KAM regarding Lakefront Fund and Real Estate Investment Fund. (5)
(d)(3) Schedule A to the Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and
KAM amended as of December 11, 1998, including the Gradison Government
Reserves Fund and Established Value Fund.
(d)(4) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement dated March 1, 1997 between KAM and
Lakefront Capital Investors, Inc. regarding the Lakefront Fund. (5)
- ---------------
1 Filed as an Exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 26 to
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed
electronically on December 28, 1995, accession number
0000950152-95-003085.
2 Filed as an Exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 36 to
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed
electronically on February 26, 1998, accession number
0000922423-98-000264.
3 Filed as an Exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 44 to
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed
electronically on November 19, 1998, accession number
0000922423-98-001323.
4 Filed as an Exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 42 to
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed
electronically on July 29, 1998, accession number
0000922423-98-000725.
5 Filed as an Exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 34 to
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed
electronically on December 12, 1997, accession number
0000922423-97-001015.
C-1
<PAGE>
(d)(5) Investment Advisory Agreement dated June 1, 1998 between Registrant and
KAM regarding the International Growth Fund. (4)
(d)(6) Portfolio Management Agreement dated June 1, 1998 between Registrant,
KAM and Indocam International Investment Services, S.A. regarding the
International Growth Fund. (6)
(e) Distribution Agreement dated June 1, 1996 between Registrant and BISYS
Fund Services Limited Partnership, with Schedule I amended as of March
2, 1998 and May 29, 1998. (4)
(f) None.
(g)(1) Amended and Restated Mutual Fund Custody Agreement dated August 1, 1996
between Registrant and Key Trust of Ohio, Inc., with Schedule A revised
as of March 1998 and May 29, 1998 and Attachment B revised as of March
2, 1998. (4)
(g)(2) Custody Agreement dated May 31, 1996 between Morgan Stanley Trust
Company and Key Trust Company of Ohio. (7)
(h)(1) Form of Broker-Dealer Agreement. (8)
(h)(2) Administration Agreement dated October 1, 1997 between Registrant and
BISYS Fund Services Limited Partnership ("BISYS"), with Schedule I
amended as of March 2, 1998 and May 29, 1998 and Schedule II-B amended
as of March 2, 1998. (4)
(h)(3) Sub-Administration Agreement dated October 1, 1997 between BISYS and
KAM, with Schedule A amended as of March 2, 1998 and May 29, 1998. (4)
(h)(4) Transfer Agency and Service Agreement dated July 12, 1996 between
Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company, with Schedule A
revised as of August 1, 1996, March 2, 1998 and May 29, 1998. (4)
(h)(5) Fund Accounting Agreement dated May 31, 1995 between Registrant and
BISYS Fund Services Ohio, Inc., with Amended Schedule A as of February
19, 1997 and March 2, 1998 and May 29, 1998, and Schedule B as of March
2, 1998. (4)
(h)(6) Purchase Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 13(c)
to Post-Effective Amendment No. 7 to Registrant's Registration
Statement on Form N-1A filed on December 1, 1989.
(i)(1) Opinion of Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell, Delaware Counsel to
Registrant. (3)
- -----------------
6 Filed as an Exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 40 to
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed
electronically on June 12, 1998, accession number
0000922423-98-000602.
7 Filed as an Exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 30 to
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed
electronically on July 30, 1996, accession number
0000922423-96-000344.
8 Filed as an Exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 27 to
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed
electronically on January 31, 1996, accession number
0000922423-96-000047.
C-2
<PAGE>
(i)(2) Opinion of Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP ("Kramer Levin") as to
the legality of the securities being registered. (3)
(i)(3) Consent of Kramer Levin.
(j)(1) Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.
(j)(2) Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
(k) Not applicable.
(l)(1) Purchase Agreement dated November 12, 1986 between Registrant and
Physicians Insurance Company of Ohio is incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 13 to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on November 13,
1986.
(l)(2) Purchase Agreement dated October 15, 1989 is incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 13(b) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 7 to
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on December 1,
1989.
(m)(1) Distribution and Service Plan dated June 5, 1995 for the Class A Shares
of Registrant with Schedule I amended as of February 19, 1997, March 2,
1998 and May 29, 1998. (4)
(m)(2) Distribution Plan dated June 5, 1995 for Class B Shares of Registrant
with Schedule I amended as of February 1, 1996. (6)
(m)(3) Distribution and Service Plan dated December 11, 1998 for Class G
Shares of Registrant. (9)
(m)(4) Shareholder Servicing Plan dated June 5, 1995 with Schedule I amended
as of March 1, 1997, March 2, 1998 and May 29, 1998.(4)
(m)(5) Form of Shareholder Servicing Agreement. (1)
(n) Financial Data Schedules of Gradison U.S. Government Reserves and
Gradison Established Value Fund dated September 30, 1998.
(o) Amended and Restated Rule 18f-3 Multi-Class Plan as of December 11,
1998.(9)
Powers of Attorney of Roger Noall and Frank A. Weil.(10)
Powers of Attorney of Leigh A. Wilson, Harry Gazelle, Thomas F.
Morrissey, H. Patrick Swygert and Eugene J. McDonald. (2)
- -----------------
9 Filed as an Exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 45 to
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed
electronically on January 26, 1998, accession number
0000922423-99-000059.
10 Filed as an Exhibit to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-14 filed
electronically on February 3, 1998, accession number
0000922423-98-000095.
C-3
<PAGE>
Item 24. Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with Registrant.
None.
Item 25. Indemnification
Article X, Section 10.02 of Registrant's Delaware Trust Instrument, as amended,
incorporated herein as Exhibit (a)(2) hereto, provides for the indemnification
of Registrant's Trustees and officers, as follows:
Section 10.02 Indemnification.
(a) Subject to the exceptions and limitations contained in Subsection
10.02(b):
(i) every person who is, or has been, a Trustee or officer of the
Trust (hereinafter referred to as a "Covered Person") shall be indemnified by
the Trust to the fullest extent permitted by law against liability and against
all expenses reasonably incurred or paid by him in connection with any claim,
action, suit or proceeding in which he becomes involved as a party or otherwise
by virtue of his being or having been a Trustee or officer and against amounts
paid or incurred by him in the settlement thereof;
(ii) the words "claim," "action," "suit," or "proceeding" shall
apply to all claims, actions, suits or proceedings (civil, criminal or other,
including appeals), actual or threatened while in office or thereafter, and the
words "liability" and "expenses" shall include, without limitation, attorneys'
fees, costs, judgments, amounts paid in settlement, fines, penalties and other
liabilities.
(b) No indemnification shall be provided hereunder to a Covered Person:
(i) who shall have been adjudicated by a court or body before which
the proceeding was brought (A) to be liable to the Trust or its Shareholders by
reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard
of the duties involved in the conduct of his office or (B) not to have acted in
good faith in the reasonable belief that his action was in the best interest of
the Trust; or
(ii) in the event of a settlement, unless there has been a
determination that such Trustee or officer did not engage in willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties
involved in the conduct of his office, (A) by the court or other body approving
the settlement; (B) by at least a majority of those Trustees who are neither
Interested Persons of the Trust nor are parties to the matter based upon a
review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry); or
(C) by written opinion of independent legal counsel based upon a review of
readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry).
(c) The rights of indemnification herein provided may be insured against by
policies maintained by the Trust, shall be severable, shall not be exclusive of
or affect any other rights to which any Covered Person may now or hereafter be
entitled, shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a Covered Person
and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of
such a person. Nothing contained herein shall affect any rights to
indemnification to which Trust personnel, other than Covered Persons, and other
persons may be entitled by contract or otherwise under law.
(d) Expenses in connection with the preparation and presentation of a defense to
any claim, action, suit or proceeding of the character described in Subsection
(a) of this Section 10.02 may be paid by the Trust or Series from time to time
prior to final disposition thereof upon receipt of an undertaking by or on
behalf of such Covered Person that such amount will be paid over by him to the
Trust or Series if it is
C-4
<PAGE>
ultimately determined that he is not entitled to indemnification under this
Section 10.02; provided, however, that either (i) such Covered Person shall have
provided appropriate security for such undertaking, (ii) the Trust is insured
against losses arising out of any such advance payments or (iii) either a
majority of the Trustees who are neither Interested Persons of the Trust nor
parties to the matter, or independent legal counsel in a written opinion, shall
have determined, based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a
trial-type inquiry or full investigation), that there is reason to believe that
such Covered Person will be found entitled to indemnification under this Section
10.02."
Indemnification of the Fund's principal underwriter, custodian, fund accountant,
and transfer agent is provided for, respectively, in Section V of the
Distribution Agreement incorporated by reference as Exhibit 6(a) hereto, Section
28 of the Custody Agreement incorporated by reference as Exhibit 8(a) hereto,
Section 5 of the Fund Accounting Agreement incorporated by reference as Exhibit
9(d) hereto, and Section 7 of the Transfer Agency Agreement incorporated by
reference as Exhibit 9(c) hereto. Registrant has obtained from a major insurance
carrier a trustees' and officers' liability policy covering certain types of
errors and omissions. In no event will Registrant indemnify any of its trustees,
officers, employees or agents against any liability to which such person would
otherwise be subject by reason of his willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross
negligence in the performance of his duties, or by reason of his reckless
disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office or under his
agreement with Registrant. Registrant will comply with Rule 484 under the
Securities Act of 1933 and Release 11330 under the Investment Company Act of
1940 in connection with any indemnification.
Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the Securities Act of
1933 may be permitted to trustees, officers, and controlling persons or
Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, Registrant has
been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Investment Company
Act of 1940, as amended, and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a
claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by
Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a trustee, officer, or controlling
person of Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit, or
proceeding) is asserted by such trustee, officer, or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, Registrant will, unless in the
opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will
be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
Item 26. Business and Other Connections of the Investment Adviser
KAM is the investment adviser to each Fund of The Victory Portfolios. KAM is a
wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of KeyCorp, a bank holding company which had
total assets of approximately $76 billion as of June 30, 1998. KeyCorp is a
leading financial institution doing business in 13 states from Maine to Alaska,
providing a full array of trust, commercial, and retail banking services. Its
non-bank subsidiaries include investment advisory, securities brokerage,
insurance, bank credit card processing, mortgage and leasing companies. KAM and
its affiliates have over $64 billion in assets under management, and provides a
full range of investment management services to personal and corporate clients.
Lakefront Capital Investors, Inc. ("Lakefront"), sub-adviser of the Lakefront
Fund, 127 Public Square, 15th Floor, Cleveland, Ohio 44114, was incorporated in
1991.
Indocam International Investment Services, S.A. ("IIIS") serves as the
sub-adviser to the International Growth Fund. IIIS and its advisory affiliates
("Indocam") are the global asset management component
C-5
<PAGE>
of the Credit Agricole banking and financial services group. IIIS is a
registered investment adviser with the SEC and also serves as the investment
adviser to the France Growth Fund and as subadviser for the BNY Hamilton
International Equity Fund and the John Hancock European Equity Fund. Indocam has
affiliates which are engaged in the brokerage business. The principal office of
IIIS is 9, rue Louis Murat, Paris, France 75008.
To the knowledge of Registrant, none of the directors or officers of KAM,
Lakefront, or IIIS, except those set forth below, is or has been at any time
during the past two calendar years engaged in any other business, profession,
vocation or employment of a substantial nature, except that certain directors
and officers of KAM also hold positions with KeyCorp or its subsidiaries.
The principal executive officers and directors of KAM are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Directors:
<S> <C> <C>
William G. Spears o Senior Managing Director, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
Richard J. Buoncore o Senior Managing Director, President and Chief Operating Officer.
Anthony Aveni o Senior Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer of Society Asset
Management Division.
Vincent DeP. Farrell o Senior Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer of Spears, Benzak,
Salomon & Farrell Division.
Richard E. Salomon o Senior Managing Director.
Gary R. Martzolf o Senior Managing Director.
Other Officers:
Charles G. Crane o Senior Managing Director and Chief Market Strategist.
James D. Kacic o Chief Financial Officer, Chief Administrative Officer, and Senior Managing
Director.
William R. Allen o Managing Director.
Michael Foisel o Assistant Treasurer.
Michael Stearns o Chief Compliance Officer.
William J. Blake o Secretary.
Steven N. Bulloch o Assistant Secretary. Also, Senior Vice President and Senior Counsel of
KeyCorp Management Company.
Kathleen A. Dennis o Senior Managing Director.
The business address of each of the foregoing individuals is 127 Public Square,
Cleveland, Ohio 44114.
The principal executive officer and director of Lakefront is:
Nathaniel E. Carter o President and Chief Investment Officer.
The business address of the foregoing individual is 127 Public Square, Cleveland, Ohio 44114.
C-6
<PAGE>
The principal executive officers and directors of IIIS are as follows:
Jean-Claude Kaltenbach o Chairman and CEO.
Ian Gerald McEvatt o Director. Claude Doumic o Director.
Didier Guyot de la Pommeraye o Director. Charles Vergnot o Director.
Eric Jostrom o Director. Gerard Sutterlin o Secretary General.
</TABLE>
The business address of each of the foregoing individuals is 90 Blvd. Pasteur,
75730 Paris, CEDEX 15 -- France.
Item 27. Principal Underwriter
(a) BISYS Fund Services, Registrant's administrator, also acts as the
distributor for the following investment companies as of December 22, 1998.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
Alpine Equity Trust The Kent Funds
American Performance Funds Magna Funds
AmSouth Mutual Funds Meyers Investment Trust
The ARCH Fund, Inc. MMA Praxis Mutual Funds
The BB&T Mutual Funds Group M.S.D. & T. Funds
The Coventry Group Pacific Capital Funds
ESC Strategic Funds, Inc. The Parkstone Advantage Fund
The Eureka Funds Pegasus Funds
Gradison-McDonald Cash Reserves Trust Puget Sound Alternative Investment Series Trust
Gradison-McDonald Municipal Custodian Trust Republic Advisor Funds Trust
Gradison Custodian Trust Republic Funds Trust
Gradison Growth Trust The Riverfront Funds, Inc.
Fifth Third Funds Sefton Funds
Hirtle Callaghan Trust SSgA Liquidity Fund
HSBC Funds Trust The Sessions Group
HSBC Mutual Funds Trust Summit Investment Trust
The Infinity Mutual Funds, Inc. Variable Insurance Funds
INTRUST Funds Trust The Victory Variable Insurance Funds
Vintage Mutual Funds, Inc.
(b) Directors, officers and partners of BISYS Fund Services, Inc., the General
Partner of BISYS Fund Services, as of June 15, 1998 were as follows:
Lynn J. Mangum o Chairman and CEO. William Tomko o Senior Vice
President.
Dennis Sheehan o Director, Executive Vice Michael D. Burns o Vice President.
President and Treasurer.
J. David Huber o President. David Blackmore o Vice President.
Kevin J. Dell o Vice President and Secretary. Steve Ludwig o Compliance Officer.
Mark Rybarczyk o Senior Vice President. Robert Tuch o Assistant Secretary.
</TABLE>
C-7
<PAGE>
The business address of each of the foregoing individuals is BISYS Fund
Services, Inc., 3435 Stelzer Road, Columbus, Ohio 43215.
Item 28. Location of Accounts and Records
(1) Key Asset Management Inc., 127 Public Square, Cleveland, Ohio 44114-1306
(records relating to its functions as investment adviser and
sub-administrator).
(2) Lakefront Capital Investors, Inc., 127 Public Square, Cleveland, Ohio
44114 (records relating to its function as investment sub-adviser for the
Lakefront Fund only).
(3) Indocam International Investment Services, S.A., 9, rue Louis Murat,
Paris, France 75008 (records relating to its function as investment
sub-adviser for the International Growth Fund only).
(4) KeyBank National Association, 127 Public Square, Cleveland, Ohio
44114-1306 (records relating to its function as shareholder servicing
agent).
(5) BISYS Fund Services Ohio, Inc., 3435 Stelzer Road, Columbus, Ohio 43219
(records relating to its functions as administrator and fund accountant).
(6) BISYS Fund Services Limited Partnership, 3435 Stelzer Road, Columbus,
Ohio 43219 (records relating to its function as distributor).
(7) State Street Bank and Trust Company, 225 Franklin Street, Boston,
Massachusetts 02110-3875 (records relating to its function as transfer
agent).
(8) Boston Financial Data Services, Inc. Two Heritage Drive, Quincy,
Massachusetts 02171 (records relating to its functions as dividend
disbursing agent and shareholder servicing agent).
(9) Key Trust Company of Ohio, N.A., 127 Public Square, Cleveland, Ohio
44114-1306 (records relating to its functions as custodian and securities
lending agent).
(10) Morgan Stanley Trust Company, 1585 Broadway, New York, New York 10036
(records relating to its function as sub-custodian of the Balanced Fund,
Convertible Securities Fund, International Growth Fund, Lakefront Fund,
and Real Estate Investment Fund).
Item 29. Management Services
None.
Item 30. Undertakings
None.
NOTICE
A copy of the Certificate of Trust of Registrant is on file with the Secretary
of State of Delaware and notice is hereby given that this Post-Effective
Amendment to Registrant's Registration Statement has been executed on behalf of
Registrant by officers of, and Trustees of, Registrant as officers and as
Trustees, respectively, and not individually, and that the obligations of or
arising out of this instrument
C-8
<PAGE>
are not binding upon any of the Trustees, officers or shareholders of Registrant
individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of Registrant.
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Investment
Company Act, Registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City of New York, and
the State of New York on this 9th day of February, 1999.
THE VICTORY PORTFOLIOS
By: /s/ Leigh A. Wilson
-------------------
Leigh A. Wilson, President and Trustee
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration
statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and
on the date indicated:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Signature Title Date
--------- ----- ----
<S> <C> <C>
/s/ Roger Noall Chairman of the Board and Trustee February 9, 1999
- ---------------
Roger Noall
/s/ Leigh A. Wilson Trustee February 9, 1999
- -------------------
Leigh A. Wilson
/s/ Joel B. Engle Treasurer February 9, 1999
- -----------------
Joel B. Engle
/s/ Harry Gazelle* Trustee February 9, 1999
- ------------------
Harry Gazelle
/s/ Thomas F. Morissey* Trustee February 9, 1999
- -----------------------
Thomas F. Morrissey
/s/ H. Patrick Swygert* Trustee February 9, 1999
- -----------------------
H. Patrick Swygert
/s/ Frank A. Weil* Trustee February 9, 1999
- ------------------
Frank A. Weil
/s/ Eugene J. McDonald* Trustee February 9, 1999
- -----------------------
Eugene J. McDonald
</TABLE>
- --------------------------------
*
By: /s/ Carl Frischling
-------------------
Carl Frischling
Attorney-in-fact
<PAGE>
THE VICTORY PORTFOLIOS
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Item 23.
Exhibit Number
EX-99.B5 Schedule A to the Investment Advisory Agreement
between Registrant and KAM amended as of April
1, 1999, including the Gradison Government Reserves
Fund and Established Value Fund.
EX-99.B10 Consent of Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP.
EX-99.B11.1 Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.
EX-99.B11.2 Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
EX.99.B27.1-2 Financial Data Schedules of Gradison U.S. Government
Reserves and Gradison Established Value Fund dated
September 30, 1998.
Schedule A to the
Investment Advisory Agreement between
The Victory Portfolio and Key Asset Management Inc.
dated March 1, 1997
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name of Fund Fee*
- --------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
1. The Victory Lakefront Fund 1.00%
2. The Victory Real Estate Investment Fund 1.10%
As of March 1, 1997
- --------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------
1. Gradison Government Reserves Fund 0.50% on the first $400 million,
0.45% on the next $600 million,
0.40% on the next $1 billion, and
0.35% in excess of $2 billion
2. The Victory Established Value Fund 0.65% on the first $100 million,
0.55% on the next $100 million and
0.45% in excess of $200 million
As of April 1, 1999
- --------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
* As a percentage of average daily net assets. Note, however, that the
Adviser shall have the right, but not the obligation, to voluntarily
waive any portion of the advisory fee from time to time. Any such
voluntary waiver will be irrevocable and determined in advance of
rendering investment advisory services by the Adviser, and shall be in
writing and signed by the parties hereto.
[LETTERHEAND OF KRAMER LEVIN NAFTALIS & FRANKEL LLP]
February 9, 1999
The Victory Portfolios
3435 Stelzer Road
Columbus, Ohio 43219
Re: The Victory Portfolios
File Nos. 33-8892;811-4582
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:
We hereby consent to the reference of our firm as Counsel in this
Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation by
reference in this Post Effective Amendment No. 46 Form N-1A filing of The
Victory Portfolios of our auditors' reports on the financial statements of
Gradison Opportunity Value Fund dated May 6, 1998 and Gradison Government Income
Fund dated January 30, 1998 and to all references to our Firm included in or
made a part of this Post Effective Amendment No. 46 Form N-1A.
/s/ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
Cincinnati, Ohio
February 4, 1999
Consent of Independent Accountants
February 4, 1999
We consent to the reference to our Firm under the caption "Independent
Accountants" in the Statement of Additional Information in this Post-Effective
Amendment No. 46 to the Registration Statement of The Victory Portfolios on Form
N-1A (File No. 33-8982).
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Columbus, Ohio
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 1
<NAME> GRADISON U.S. GOVERNMENT RESERVES
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 1946230163
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 1946230163
<RECEIVABLES> 7293972
<ASSETS-OTHER> 6743161
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 1960267296
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 25000000
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 1443600
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 26443600
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 1933823696
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 1933823696
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 1610058135
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 0
<NET-ASSETS> 1933823696
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 100139720
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 12974220
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 87165500
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 0
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 0
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 87165500
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 87165500
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 9220288201
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 8981894940
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 85372300
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 323765561
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 7875357
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 13141182
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 1793839364
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 1.000
<PER-SHARE-NII> .049
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> .049
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 1.000
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .723
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 1
<NAME> ESTABLISHED VALUE FUND
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 381,987,699
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 474,865,020
<RECEIVABLES> 783,500
<ASSETS-OTHER> 160,127
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 475,808,647
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 4,569,284
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 4,569,284
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 349,813,290
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 16,791,768
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 16,713,114
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 166,828
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 28,381,924
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 92,877,321
<NET-ASSETS> 471,239,363
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 2,664,466
<INTEREST-INCOME> 3,812,693
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 2,949,351
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 3,527,808
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 29,654,308
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (112,416,595)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (79,234,479)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 3,666,827
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 16,117,209
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 4,425,284
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 4,947,469
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 600,839
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (96,015,189)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 305,847
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 14,844,825
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 13,665,527
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 2,951,125
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 539,019,385
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 33.941
<PER-SHARE-NII> .212
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (4.889)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> .220
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> .980
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 28.064
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.09
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>