1933 Act File No. 33-13388
1940 Act File No. 811-5114
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 X
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Pre-Effective Amendment No. .............................
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Post-Effective Amendment No. 22 ........................... X
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and/or
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 X
Amendment No. 25 ....................................... X
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FEDERATED UTILITY FUND, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
Federated Investors Funds
5800 Corporate Drive
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15237-7000
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(412) 288-1900
(Registrant's Telephone Number)
John W. McGonigle, Esquire
Federated Investors Tower
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222-3779
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
(Notices should be sent to the Agent for Service)
It is proposed that this filing will become effective:
_ _ immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
on pursuant to paragraph (b)
60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(i)
_X_ on APRIL 30, 1999 pursuant to paragraph (a)(i) ___ 75 days after filing
pursuant to paragraph (a)(ii)
_ on pursuant to paragraph (a)(ii) 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.
Copies to:
Matthew G. Maloney, Esquire
Dickstein Shapiro Morin & Oshinsky, L.L.P.
2101 L Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20037
PROSPECTUS
FEDERATED UTILITY FUND, INC.
CLASS A SHARES
CLASS B SHARES
CLASS C SHARES
A mutual fund seeking current income and long-term growth of income. Capital
appreciation is a secondary objective. The Fund will seek to achieve its
investment objectives by investing primarily in securities of utility companies.
As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission has not
approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this
prospectus, and any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
CONTENTS
Risk/Return Summary
What are the Fund's Fees and Expenses?
What are the Fund's Investment Strategies?
What are the Principal Securities in Which the Fund Invests?
What are the Specific Risks of Investing in the Fund?
What do Shares Cost?
How is the Fund Sold?
How to Purchase Shares
How to Redeem and Exchange Shares
Account and Share Information
Who Manages the Fund?
Financial Information
April 30, 1999
RISK/RETURN SUMMARY
WHAT IS THE FUND'S INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE?
The Fund's primary investment objectives are current income and long-term growth
of income. Capital appreciation is a secondary objective. While there is no
assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objectives, it endeavors to
do so by following the strategies and policies described in this prospectus.
WHAT ARE THE FUND'S MAIN INVESTMENT STRATEGIES?
The Fund pursues its investment objective by investing primarily in equity
securities of companies engaged in providing utility services such as
electricity, gas and telecommunications.
WHAT ARE THE MAIN RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUND?
All mutual funds take investment risks. Therefore, it is possible to lose
money by investing in the Fund. The primary factors that may reduce the Fund's
returns include:
O the possibility that the utilities sector may under perform other sectors
or the market as a whole; and
O fluctuations in the value of equity securities.
An investment in the Fund involves additional risks such as Stock Market Risk,
Sector Risk, Liquidity Risk, Risks Relating to Investing for Value, Currency
Risk, and Risks of Foreign Investing.
The Shares offered by this prospectus are not deposits or obligations of any
bank, are not endorsed or guaranteed by any bank and are not insured or
guaranteed by the U.S. government, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation,
the Federal Reserve Board, or any other government agency.
RISK/RETURN BAR CHART AND TABLE
The graphic presentation displayed here consists of a bar chart representing the
annual total returns of Class A Shares for the Fund as of the calendar year-end
for each of 10 years. The `y' axis reflects the "% Total Return" beginning with
"-10.00" and increasing in increments of 5.00% up to 30.00%. The `x' axis
represents calculation periods for the last ten calendar years of the Fund,
beginning with the earliest year. The light gray shaded chart features 10
distinct vertical bars, each shaded in charcoal, and each visually representing
by height the total return percentages for the calendar year stated directly at
its base. The calculated total return percentage for the Class A Shares for each
calendar year is stated directly at the top of each respective bar, for the
calendar years 1989 through 1998. The percentages noted are: 23.63%, 1.99%,
25.83%, 9.11%, 15.11%, (7.96)%, 25.46%, 11.90%, 26.62%, and 13.68%,
respectively.
The bar chart shows the variability of the Fund's Class A Shares total return on
a calendar year-end basis.
The Fund's Class A Shares are sold subject to a sales charge (load). The impact
of the sales charges are not reflected in the total returns above, and if these
amounts were reflected, returns would be less than those shown.
The Fund's total return from January 1, 1999 to March 31, 1999 was ____%.
Within the period shown in the Chart, the Fund's Class A Shares' highest
quarterly return was 12.89% (quarter ended December 31, 1998). Its lowest
quarterly return was (7.17)% (quarter ended March 31, 1994).
AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN
1 Year 5 Years 10 Years Life of the Fund(1)
Class A 7.45% 11.93% 13.35% --
Class B 7.68% -- -- 16.34%
Class C 11.90% 12.37% -- 12.09%
S&P 500 28.61% 24.07% 19.19% --
S&PUI 14.78% 14.04% 14.65% --
DJUA 18.81% 12.26% 11.74% --
1. The Fund's Class A, Class B and Class C Shares start of performance dates
were May 27, 1988, September 28, 1994, and April 27, 1993, respectively. The
table shows the Fund's Class A, Class B and Class C Shares average annual total
returns compared to the Standard & Poor's 500 Index (S&P 500), a broad-based
market index and the Standard & Poor's Utility Index (S&PUI), and the Dow Jones
Utility Average (DJUA) for the calendar periods ending December 31, 1998. The
S&PUI and the DJUA are averages of funds with similar investment objectives.
Past performance does not necessarily predict future performance. This
information provides you with historical performance information so that you can
analyze whether the Fund's investment risks are balanced by its potential
rewards.
WHAT ARE THE FUND'S FEES AND EXPENSES?
FEDERATED UTILITY FUND, INC.
FEES AND EXPENSES
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold
shares of the Fund's Class A, Class B, and Class C Shares.
SHAREHOLDER FEES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FEES PAID DIRECTLY FROM YOUR INVESTMENT CLASS CLASS B CLASS
A C
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a 5.50% None None
percentage of offering price)
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of 0.00% 5.50% 1.00%
original purchase price or redemption proceeds, as applicable)
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends (and None None None
other Distributions) (as a percentage of offering price)
Redemption Fee (as a percentage of amount redeemed, if None None None
applicable)
Exchange Fee None None None
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES (Before Waivers )(1)
EXPENSES THAT ARE DEDUCTED FROM FUND ASSETS (AS A PERCENTAGE OF
AVERAGE NET ASSETS)
Management Fee 0.75% 0.75% 0.75%
Distribution (12b-1) Fee None 0.75% 0.75%
Shareholder Services Fee(2) 0.25% 0.25% 0.25%
Other Expenses % % %
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses % %(3) %
1 Although not contractually obligated to do so, the
shareholder services provider waived certain amounts. These
are shown below along with the net expenses the Fund ACTUALLY
PAID for the fiscal year ended February 28, 1999.
Waivers of Fund Expenses % % %
Total Actual Annual Fund Operating Expenses (after waivers) % % %
2 The shareholder services fee for Class A Shares has been voluntarily reduced.
This voluntary reduction can be terminated at any time. The shareholder
services fee paid by the Fund's Class A Shares (after the voluntary reduction
was 0.24% for the year ended February 28, 1999.
3 Class B Shares convert to Class A Shares (which pay lower ongoing expenses)
approximately eight years after purchase.
</TABLE>
EXAMPLE
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's
Class A, B, and C Shares with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The
Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund's Class A, B, and C Shares
for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your Shares at the end
of those
periods. Expenses assuming no redemption are also shown. The Example also
assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's Class
A, B, and C Shares operating expenses are BEFORE WAIVERS as shown in the table
and remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on
these assumptions your costs would be:
SHARE CLASS 1 YEAR 3 YEARS 5 YEARS 10 YEARS
CLASS A SHARES
Expenses assuming redemption $ $ $ $
Expenses assuming no $ $ $ $
redemption
CLASS B SHARES
Expenses assuming redemption $ $ $ $
Expenses assuming no $ $ $ $
redemption
CLASS C SHARES
Expenses assuming redemption $ $ $ $
Expenses assuming no $ $ $ $
redemption
WHAT ARE THE FUND'S INVESTMENT STRATEGIES?
The Fund pursues its investment objective by investing primarily in equity
securities of companies engaged in providing utility services such as
electricity, gas and telecommunications. Under normal market conditions, the
Fund will invest at least 65% of its total assets in securities of utility
companies that derive 50% of their revenues from utilities or assets relating to
the utility industry.
The Adviser's strategy is to seek high current income and moderate capital
appreciation by investing primarily utility stocks. The Adviser seeks to invest
in utility companies that offer high dividend yields, which are trading at a low
historical valuation relative to the market and to industry peers, and which do
not reflect positive changes in the companies' outlooks. The Adviser uses a
model to attempt to identify companies which have these attributes, as well as
financial and earnings strength, and the prospect of comparatively low
volatility in share prices. In addition, the Adviser performs traditional
fundamental and credit analyses to select the most promising companies for the
Fund. To determine the timing of purchases and sales of portfolio securities,
the Adviser looks at recent stock price performance.
The Adviser may invest a portion of the Fund's assets in securities of utility
companies based outside the U.S. to diversify the Fund's utility holdings and to
gain exposure to the foreign market. Among non-utility securities, the Adviser
seeks to invest in companies which offer enhanced dividend yield and the
potential for capital appreciation such as real estate investment trusts
("REITs").
Companies with similar characteristics may be grouped together in broad
categories called sectors. In determining the amount to invest in a security,
the Adviser limits the Fund's exposure to each sector that comprises both the
Standard & Poor's (S&P) Utility and S&P Communications Indices. The Fund's
allocation to a sector will be no more than 300% of the Indices' allocation to
that sector. The Fund attempts to manage risk by purchasing securities of
companies that tend to experience lower volatility relative to securities of
other companies in their sector.
INDUSTRY CONCENTRATION
The Fund may invest 25% or more of its assets in the utility industry.
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER
The Fund actively trades its portfolio securities in an attempt to achieve its
investment objective. Active trading will cause the Fund to have an increased
portfolio turnover rate, which is likely to generate shorter-term gains (losses)
for its shareholders, which are taxed at a higher rate than longer-term gains
(losses). Actively trading portfolio securities increases the Fund's trading
costs and may have an adverse impact on the Fund's performance.
TEMPORARY DEFENSIVE INVESTMENTS
The Fund may temporarily depart from its principal investment strategies by
investing its assets in cash, cash items, and shorter-term, higher quality debt
securities and similar obligations. It may do this to minimize potential losses
and maintain liquidity to meet shareholder redemptions during adverse market
conditions. This may cause the Fund to give up greater investment returns to
maintain the safety of principal, that is, the original amount invested by
shareholders.
WHAT ARE THE PRINCIPAL SECURITIES IN WHICH THE FUND INVESTS?
EQUITY SECURITIES
Equity securities represent a share of an issuer's earnings and assets, after
the issuer pays its liabilities. The Fund cannot predict the income it will
receive from equity securities because issuers generally have discretion as to
the payment of any dividends or distributions. However, equity securities offer
greater potential for appreciation than many other types of securities, because
their value increases directly with the value of the issuer's business. The
following describes the types of equity securities in which the Fund invests.
COMMON STOCKS
Common stocks are the most prevalent type of equity security. Common stocks
receive the issuer's earnings after the issuer pays its creditors and any
preferred stockholders. As a result, changes in an issuer's earnings directly
influence the value of its common stock.
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS (REITS)
REITs are real estate investment trusts that lease, operate and finance
commercial real estate. REITs are exempt from federal corporate income tax if
they limit their operations and distribute most of their income. Such tax
requirements limit a REIT's ability to respond to changes in the commercial real
estate market.
DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS
Depositary receipts represent interests in underlying securities issued by a
foreign company. Depositary receipts are not traded in the same market as the
underlying security. The foreign securities underlying American Depositary
Receipts (ADRs) are traded in the United States. ADRs provide a way to buy
shares of foreign-based companies in the United States rather than in overseas
markets. ADRs are also traded in U.S. dollars, eliminating the need for foreign
exchange transactions. The foreign securities underlying European Depositary
Receipts (EDRs), Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs), and International Depositary
Receipts (IDRs), are traded globally or outside the United States. Depositary
receipts involve many of the same risks of investing directly in foreign
securities, including currency risks and risks of foreign investing.
CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES
Convertible securities are fixed income securities that the Fund has the option
to exchange for equity securities at a specified conversion price. The option
allows the Fund to realize additional returns if the market price of the equity
securities exceeds the conversion price. For example, the Fund may hold fixed
income securities that are convertible into shares of common stock at a
conversion price of $10 per share. If the market value of the shares of common
stock reached $12, the Fund could realize an additional $2 per share by
converting its fixed income securities.
Convertible securities have lower yields than comparable fixed income
securities. In addition, at the time a convertible security is issued the
conversion price exceeds the market value of the underlying equity securities.
Thus, convertible securities may provide lower returns than non-convertible
fixed income securities or equity securities depending upon changes in the price
of the underlying equity securities. However, convertible securities permit the
Fund to realize some of the potential appreciation of the underlying equity
securities with less risk of losing its initial investment.
The Fund treats convertible securities as both fixed income and equity
securities for purposes of its investment policies and limitations, because of
their unique characteristics.
WHAT ARE THE SPECIFIC RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUND?
STOCK MARKET RISKS
The value of equity securities in the Fund's portfolio will rise and fall. These
fluctuations could be a sustained trend or a drastic movement. The Fund's
portfolio will reflect changes in prices of individual portfolio stocks or
general changes in stock valuations. Consequently, the Fund's share price may
decline.
The Adviser attempts to manage market risk by limiting the amount the Fund
invests in each company's equity securities. However, diversification will not
protect the Fund against widespread or prolonged declines in the stock market.
SECTOR RISKS
Companies with similar characteristics may be grouped together in broad
categories called sectors. Sector risk is the possibility that a certain sector
may underperform other sectors or the market as a whole. As the Adviser
allocates more of the Fund's portfolio holdings to a particular sector, the
Fund's performance will be more susceptible to any economic, business or other
developments which generally affect that sector. For example, a global increase
in the cost of natural resources used by utility companies would reduce the
value of utility companies more than companies in other business sectors. This
would cause the Fund to under perform other mutual funds that do not concentrate
in the utility sector.
LIQUIDITY RISKS
Trading opportunities are more limited for equity securities that are not widely
held. This may make it more difficult to sell or buy a security at a favorable
price or time. Consequently, the Fund may have to accept a lower price to sell a
security, sell other securities to raise cash or give up an investment
opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on the Fund's
performance. Infrequent trading of securities may also lead to an increase in
their price volatility.
Liquidity risk also refers to the possibility that the Fund may not be able to
sell a security when it wants to. If this happens, the Fund will be required to
continue to hold the security or keep the position open, and the Fund could
incur losses.
RISKS RELATED TO INVESTING FOR VALUE
Due to their relatively low valuations, value stocks are typically less volatile
than growth stocks. For instance, the price of a value stock may experience a
smaller increase on a forecast of higher earnings, a positive fundamental
development, or positive market development. Further, value stocks tend to have
higher dividends than growth stocks. This means they depend less on price
changes for returns and may lag behind growth stocks in an up market.
CURRENCY RISKS
Exchange rates for currencies fluctuate daily. The combination of currency risk
and market risk tends to make securities traded in foreign markets more volatile
than securities traded exclusively in the U.S. The Adviser attempts to manage
currency risk by limiting the amount the Fund invests in securities denominated
in a particular currency. However, diversification will not protect the Fund
against a general increase in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to other
currencies.
RISKS OF FOREIGN INVESTING
Foreign securities pose additional risks because foreign economic or political
conditions may be less favorable than those of the United States. Securities in
foreign markets may also be subject to taxation policies that reduce returns for
U.S. investors.
Foreign companies may not provide information (including financial statements)
as frequently or to as great an extent as companies in the United States.
Foreign companies may also receive less coverage than United States companies by
market analysts and the financial press. In addition, foreign countries may lack
uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards or regulatory
requirements comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies. These factors may
prevent the Fund and its Adviser from obtaining information concerning foreign
companies that is as frequent, extensive and reliable as the information
available concerning companies in the United States.
Foreign countries may have restrictions on foreign ownership of securities or
may impose exchange controls, capital flow restrictions or repatriation
restrictions which could adversely affect the liquidity of the Fund's
investments.
WHAT DO SHARES COST?
You can purchase, redeem, or exchange Shares any day the New York Stock Exchange
(NYSE) is open. When the Fund receives your transaction request in proper form,
it is processed at the next calculated net asset value (NAV) plus any applicable
front-end sales charge (public offering price). NAV is determined at the end of
regular trading (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) each day the NYSE is open.
The Fund's current NAV and public offering price may be found in the mutual
funds section of local newspapers under "Federated" and the appropriate class
designation listing.
The following table summarizes the minimum required investment amount and the
maximum sales charge, if any, that you will pay on an investment in the Fund.
Keep in mind that investment professionals may charge you fees for their
services in connection with your Share transactions.
MAXIMUM SALES CHARGE
MINIMUM FRONT-END CONTINGENT
SHARES OFFERED INITIAL/SUBSEQUENT SALES CHARGE2 DEFERRED SALES
INVESTMENT AMOUNTS1 CHARGE3
Class A $1,500/$100 5.50% 0.00%
Class B $1,500/$100 None 5.50%
Class C $1,500/$100 None 1.00%
1 THE MINIMUM INITIAL AND SUBSEQUENT INVESTMENT AMOUNTS FOR RETIREMENT PLANS ARE
$250 AND $100, RESPECTIVELY. THE MINIMUM SUBSEQUENT INVESTMENT AMOUNTS FOR
SYSTEMATIC INVESTMENT PROGRAMS IS $50. INVESTMENT PROFESSIONALS MAY IMPOSE
HIGHER OR LOWER MINIMUM INVESTMENT REQUIREMENTS ON THEIR CUSTOMERS THAN THOSE
IMPOSED BY THE FUND. ORDERS FOR $250,000 OR MORE WILL BE INVESTED IN CLASS A
SHARES INSTEAD OF CLASS B SHARES TO MAXIMIZE YOUR RETURN AND MINIMIZE THE SALES
CHARGES AND MARKETING FEES. ACCOUNTS HELD IN THE NAME OF AN INVESTMENT
PROFESSIONAL MAY BE TREATED DIFFERENTLY. CLASS B SHARES WILL AUTOMATICALLY
CONVERT INTO CLASS A SHARES AFTER EIGHT FULL YEARS FROM THE PURCHASE DATE. THIS
CONVERSION IS A NON-TAXABLE EVENT. 2 FRONT-END SALES CHARGE IS EXPRESSED AS A
PERCENTAGE OF PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE. SEE "SALES CHARGE WHEN YOU PURCHASE." 3 SEE
"SALES CHARGE WHEN YOU REDEEM."
SALES CHARGE WHEN YOU PURCHASE
CLASS A SHARES
Sales Charge as a Sales Charge as a
Purchase Amount Percentage of Public Percentage of NAV
Offering Price
Less than $50,000 5.50% 5.82%
$50,000 but less than $100,000 4.50% 4.71%
$100,000 but less than $250,000 3.75% 3.90%
$250,000 but less than $500,000 2.50% 2.56%
$500,000 but less than $1 million 2.00% 2.04%
$1 million or greater1 0.00% 0.00%
1 A CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE OF 0.75% OF THE REDEMPTION AMOUNT APPLIES
TO CLASS A SHARES REDEEMED UP TO 24 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE UNDER CERTAIN
INVESTMENT PROGRAMS WHERE AN INVESTMENT PROFESSIONAL RECEIVED AN ADVANCE PAYMENT
ON THE TRANSACTION.
THE SALES CHARGE AT PURCHASE MAY BE REDUCED OR ELIMINATED BY:
o purchasing Shares in greater quantities to reduce the applicable sales
charge;
o combining concurrent purchases of Shares:
- - by you, your spouse, and your children under age 21; or
- - of the same share class of two or more Federated Funds (other than money
market funds);
o accumulating purchases (in calculating the sales charge on an additional
purchase, include the current value of previous Share purchases still
invested in the Fund); or
o signing a letter of intent to purchase a specific dollar amount of Shares
within 13 months (call your investment professional or the Fund for more
information).
THE SALES CHARGE WILL BE ELIMINATED WHEN YOU PURCHASE SHARES:
o within 120 days of redeeming Shares of an equal or lesser amount;
O by exchanging shares from the same share class of another Federated Fund
(other than a money market fund);
o through wrap accounts or other investment programs where you pay the
investment professional directly for services;
o through investment professionals that receive no portion of the sales
charge;
o as a Federated Life Member (Class A Shares only) and their immediate family
members; or
o as a Director or employee of the Fund, the Adviser, the Distributor and their
affiliates, and the immediate family members of these individuals.
If your investment qualifies for a reduction or elimination of the sales charge,
you or your investment professional should notify the Fund's Distributor,
Federated Securities Corp., at the time of purchase. If the Distributor is not
notified, you will receive the reduced sales charge only on additional
purchases, and not retroactively on previous purchases.
SALES CHARGE WHEN YOU REDEEM
Your redemption proceeds may be reduced by a sales charge, commonly referred to
as a contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC).
CLASS A SHARES
A contingent deferred sales charge of 0.75% of the redemption amount applies to
Class A Shares redeemed up to 24 months after purchase under certain investment
programs where an investment professional received an advance payment on the
transaction.
CLASS B SHARES
Shares Held Up To: CDSC
1 year 5.50%
2 years 4.75%
3 years 4.00%
4 years 3.00%
5 years 2.00%
6 years 1.00%
7 years or more 0.00%
CLASS C SHARES
You will pay a 1% CDSC if you redeem Shares within one year of the purchase
date.
YOU WILL NOT BE CHARGED A CDSC WHEN REDEEMING SHARES:
o purchased with reinvested dividends or capital gains;
o purchased within 120 days of redeeming Shares of an equal or lesser amount;
o that you exchanged into the same share class of another Federated Fund
where the shares were held for the applicable CDSC holding period (other
than a money market fund);
o purchased through investment professionals that did not receive advanced
sales payments; or
O if, after you purchase Shares, you become disabled as defined by the IRS.
IN ADDITION, YOU WILL NOT BE CHARGED A CDSC:
o if the Fund redeems your Shares and closes your account for not meeting the
minimum balance requirement;
o if your redemption is a required retirement plan distribution;
o upon the death of the last surviving shareholder of the account.
If your redemption qualifies, you or your investment professional should notify
the Distributor at the time of redemption to eliminate the CDSC. If the
Distributor is not notified, the CDSC will apply.
TO KEEP THE SALES CHARGE AS LOW AS POSSIBLE, THE FUND REDEEMS YOUR SHARES IN
THIS ORDER:
o Shares that are not subject to a CDSC;
o Shares held the longest (to determine the number of years your Shares have
been held, include the time you held shares of other Federated Funds that
have been exchanged for Shares of this Fund); and
o then, the CDSC is calculated using the share price at the time of purchase or
redemption, whichever is lower.
HOW IS THE FUND SOLD?
The Fund offers four share classes: Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C
Shares, and Class F Shares, each representing interests in a single portfolio of
securities. This prospectus relates only to Class A Shares, Class B Shares, and
Class C Shares. Each share class has different sales charges and other expenses,
which affect their performance. Contact your investment professional or call
1-800-341-7400 for more information concerning the other class.
The Fund's Distributor markets the Shares described in this prospectus to
institutions or individuals, directly or through investment professionals.
When the Distributor receives sales charges and marketing fees, it may pay some
or all of them to investment professionals. The Distributor and its affiliates
may pay out of their assets other amounts (including items of material value) to
investment professionals for marketing and servicing Shares. The Distributor is
a subsidiary of Federated Investors, Inc. (Federated).
RULE 12B-1 PLAN
The Fund has adopted a Rule 12b-1 Plan, which allows it to pay marketing fees to
the Distributor and investment professionals for the sale, distribution and
customer servicing of the Fund's Class B Shares and Class C Shares. Because
these Shares pay marketing fees on an ongoing basis, your investment cost may be
higher over time than other shares with different sales charges and marketing
fees.
HOW TO PURCHASE SHARES
You may purchase Shares through an investment professional, directly from the
Fund, or through an exchange from another Federated Fund. The Fund reserves the
right to reject any request to purchase or exchange Shares.
Where the Fund offers more than one Share Class and you do not specify the Class
choice on your New Account Form or form of payment (e.g., Federal Reserve wire
or check) you automatically will receive Class A Shares.
THROUGH AN INVESTMENT PROFESSIONAL
o Establish an account with the investment professional; and
o Submit your purchase order to the investment professional before the end of
regular trading on the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time). You will
receive the next calculated NAV if the investment professional forwards the
order to the Fund on the same day and the Fund receives payment within three
business days. You will become the owner of Shares and receive dividends when
the Fund receives your payment.
Investment professionals should send payments according to the instructions in
the sections "By Wire" or "By Check."
DIRECTLY FROM THE FUND
o Establish your account with the Fund by submitting a completed New Account
Form; and
o Send your payment to the Fund by Federal Reserve wire or check.
You will become the owner of Shares and your Shares will be priced at the next
calculated NAV after the Fund receives your wire or your check. If your check
does not clear, your purchase will be canceled and you could be liable for any
losses or fees the Fund or its transfer agent incurs.
An institution may establish an account and place an order by calling the Fund
and the Shares will be priced at the next calculated NAV after the Fund receives
the order.
BY WIRE Send your wire to:
State Street Bank and Trust Company
Boston, MA
Dollar Amount of Wire
ABA Number 011000028
Attention: EDGEWIRE
Wire Order Number, Dealer Number, or Group Number
Nominee/Institution Name
Fund Name and Number and Account Number
You cannot purchase Shares by wire on holidays when wire transfers are
restricted.
BY CHECK
Make your check payable to THE FEDERATED FUNDS, note your account number on the
check, and mail it to:
Federated Shareholder Services Company
P.O. Box 8600
Boston, MA 02266-8600
If you send your check by a PRIVATE COURIER OR OVERNIGHT DELIVERY SERVICE that
requires a street address, mail it to:
Federated Shareholder Services Company
1099 Hingham Street
Rockland, MA 02370-3317
Payment should be made in U.S. dollars and drawn on a U.S. bank. The Fund
will not accept third-party checks (checks originally payable to someone other
than you or The Federated Funds).
THROUGH AN EXCHANGE
You may purchase Shares through an exchange from the same Share class of another
Federated Fund. You must meet the minimum initial investment requirement for
purchasing Shares and both accounts must have identical registrations.
BY SYSTEMATIC INVESTMENT PROGRAM
Once you have opened an account, you may automatically purchase additional
Shares on a regular basis by completing the Systematic Investment Program
section of the New Account Form or by contacting the Fund or your investment
professional.
BY AUTOMATED CLEARING HOUSE (ACH)
Once you have opened an account, you may purchase additional Shares through a
depository institution that is an ACH member. This purchase option can be
established by completing the appropriate sections of the New Account Form.
RETIREMENT INVESTMENTS
You may purchase Shares as retirement investments (such as qualified plans and
IRAs or transfer or rollover of assets). Call your investment professional or
the Fund for information on retirement investments. We suggest that you discuss
retirement investments with your tax adviser. You may be subject to an annual
IRA account fee.
HOW TO REDEEM AND EXCHANGE SHARES
You should redeem or exchange Shares:
o through an investment professional if you purchased Shares through an
investment professional; or
o directly from the Fund if you purchased Shares directly from the Fund.
THROUGH AN INVESTMENT PROFESSIONAL
Submit your redemption or exchange request to your investment professional by
the end of regular trading on the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time). The
redemption amount you will receive is based upon the next calculated NAV after
the Fund receives the order from your investment professional.
DIRECTLY FROM THE FUND
BY TELEPHONE
You may redeem or exchange Shares by calling the Fund once you have completed
the appropriate authorization form for telephone transactions.
If you call before the end of regular trading on the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m.
Eastern time) you will receive a redemption amount based on that day's NAV.
BY MAIL
You may redeem or exchange Shares by mailing a written request to the Fund.
You will receive a redemption amount based on the next calculated NAV after the
Fund receives your written request in proper form.
Send requests by mail to:
Federated Shareholder Services Company
P.O. Box 8600
Boston, MA 02266-8600
Send requests by PRIVATE COURIER OR OVERNIGHT DELIVERY SERVICE to:
Federated Shareholder Services Company
1099 Hingham Street
Rockland, MA 02370-3317 All requests must include:
o Fund Name and Share Class, account number and account registration;
o amount to be redeemed or exchanged;
o signatures of all Shareholders exactly as registered; and
o IF EXCHANGING, the Fund Name and Share Class, account number and account
registration into which you are exchanging.
Call your investment professional or the Fund if you need special instructions.
SIGNATURE GUARANTEES Signatures must be guaranteed if:
o your redemption will be sent to an address other than the address of
record;
o your redemption will be sent to an address of record that was changed
within the last 30 days;
o a redemption is payable to someone other than the shareholder(s) of record;
or
o IF EXCHANGING (TRANSFERRING) into another fund with a different shareholder
registration.
A signature guarantee is designed to protect your account from fraud. Obtain a
signature guarantee from a bank or trust company, savings association, credit
union or broker, dealer, or securities exchange member. A NOTARY PUBLIC CANNOT
PROVIDE A SIGNATURE GUARANTEE.
PAYMENT METHODS FOR REDEMPTIONS
Your redemption proceeds will be mailed by check to your address of record. The
following payment options are available if you complete the appropriate section
of the New Account Form or an Account Service Options Form. These payment
options require a signature guarantee if they were not established when the
account was opened:
o an electronic transfer to your account at a financial institution that is
an ACH member; or
o wire payment to your account at a domestic commercial bank that is a Federal
Reserve System member.
REDEMPTION IN KIND
Although the Fund intends to pay Share redemptions in cash, it reserves the
right to pay the redemption price in whole or in part by a distribution of the
Fund's portfolio securities.
LIMITATIONS ON REDEMPTION PROCEEDS
Redemption proceeds normally are wired or mailed within one business day after
receiving a request in proper form. Payment may be delayed up to seven days:
o to allow your purchase to clear;
o during periods of market volatility; or
o when a shareholder's trade activity or amount adversely impacts the Fund's
ability to manage its assets.
You will not accrue interest or dividends on uncashed checks from the Fund if
those checks are undeliverable and returned to the Fund.
REDEMPTIONS FROM RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS
In the absence of your specific instructions, 10% of the value of your
redemption from a retirement account in the Fund may be withheld for taxes. This
withholding only applies to certain types of retirement accounts.
EXCHANGE PRIVILEGES
You may exchange Shares of the Fund into Shares of the same class of another
Federated Fund. To do this, you must:
o ensure that the account registrations are identical;
o meet any minimum initial investment requirements; and
o receive a prospectus for the fund into which you wish to exchange.
An exchange is treated as a redemption and a subsequent purchase, and is a
taxable transaction.
The Fund may modify or terminate the exchange privilege at any time. The Fund's
management or investment adviser may determine from the amount, frequency and
pattern of exchanges that a shareholder is engaged in excessive trading that is
detrimental to the Fund and other shareholders. If this occurs, the Fund may
terminate the availability of exchanges to that shareholder and may bar that
shareholder from purchasing other Federated Funds.
SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PROGRAM
You may automatically redeem or exchange Shares in a minimum amount of $100 on a
regular basis. Complete the appropriate section of the New Account Form or an
Account Service Options Form or contact your investment professional or the
Fund. Your account value must meet the minimum initial investment amount at the
time the program is established. This program may reduce, and eventually
deplete, your account. Payments should not be considered yield or income.
Generally, it is not advisable to continue to purchase Shares subject to a sales
charge while redeeming Shares using this program.
SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PROGRAM (SWP) ON CLASS B SHARES You will not be charged a
CDSC on SWP redemptions if:
o you redeem 12% or less of your account value in a single year;
o your account is at least one year old;
o you reinvest all dividends and capital gains distributions; and
o your account has at least a $10,000 balance when you establish the SWP.
(You cannot aggregate multiple Class B Share accounts to meet this minimum
balance).
You will be subject to a CDSC on redemption amounts that exceed the 12% annual
limit. In measuring the redemption percentage, your account is valued when you
establish the SWP and then annually at calendar year-end. You can redeem only at
a rate of 1% monthly, 3% quarterly, or 6% semi-annually.
ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS
TELEPHONE TRANSACTIONS
The Fund will record your telephone instructions. If the Fund does not follow
reasonable procedures, it may be liable for losses due to unauthorized or
fraudulent telephone instructions.
SHARE CERTIFICATES
The Fund no longer issues share certificates. If you are redeeming or exchanging
Shares represented by certificates previously issued by the Fund, you must
return the certificates with your written redemption or exchange request. For
your protection, send your certificates by registered or certified mail, but do
not endorse them.
ACCOUNT AND SHARE INFORMATION
CONFIRMATIONS AND ACCOUNT STATEMENTS
You will receive confirmation of purchases, redemptions and exchanges (except
for systematic transactions). In addition, you will receive periodic statements
reporting all account activity, including systematic transactions, dividends and
capital gains paid.
DIVIDENDS AND CAPITAL GAINS
The Fund declares and pays any dividends monthly to shareholders. Dividends are
paid to all shareholders invested in the Fund on the record date. The record
date is the date on which a shareholder must officially own shares in order to
earn a dividend.
In addition, the Fund pays any capital gains at least annually. Your dividends
and capital gains distributions will be automatically reinvested in additional
Shares without a sales charge, unless you elect cash payments.
If you purchase Shares just before a Fund declares a dividend or capital gain
distribution, you will pay the full price for the Shares and then receive a
portion of the price back in the form of a taxable distribution, whether or not
you reinvest the distribution in Shares. Therefore, you should consider the tax
implications of purchasing Shares shortly before the Fund declares a dividend or
capital gain. Contact your investment professional or the Fund for information
concerning when dividends and capital gains will be paid.
ACCOUNTS WITH LOW BALANCES
Due to the high cost of maintaining accounts with low balances, non-retirement
accounts may be closed if redemptions or exchanges cause the account balance to
fall below the minimum initial investment amount. Before an account is closed,
you will be notified and allowed 30 days to purchase additional Shares to meet
the minimum.
TAX INFORMATION
The Fund sends an annual statement of your account activity to assist you in
completing your federal, state and local tax returns. Fund distributions of
dividends and capital gains are taxable to you whether paid in cash or
reinvested in the Fund. Dividends are taxable as ordinary income; capital gains
are taxable at different rates depending upon the length of time the Fund holds
its assets.
Fund distributions are expected to be both dividends and capital gains.
Redemptions and exchanges are taxable sales. Please consult your tax adviser
regarding your federal, state, and local tax liability.
WHO MANAGES THE FUND?
The Board of Directors governs the Fund. The Board selects and oversees the
Adviser, Passport Research, Ltd. The Adviser manages the Fund's assets,
including buying and selling portfolio securities. The Adviser's address is
Federated Investors Tower, 1001 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779.
The Adviser has delegated daily management of some Fund assets to the
Sub-Adviser, Federated Global Investment Management Corp., who is paid by the
Adviser and not by the Fund, based on the portion of foreign securities the
Sub-adviser manages.
The Fund's portfolio managers are:
Steven J. Lehman has been the Fund's portfolio manager since July 1997. He
is Vice President of the Corporation. Mr. Lehman joined the Fund's Adviser in
May 1997 as a Portfolio Manager and Vice President. He has been a Senior
Portfolio Manager since 1998. From 1986 to May 1997, Mr. Lehman served as a
Portfolio Manager, then Vice President/Senior Portfolio Manager, at First
Chicago NBD. Mr. Lehman is a Chartered Financial Analyst; he received his M.A.
from the University of Chicago.
Linda A. Duessel has been the Fund's portfolio manager since April 1995.
Ms. Duessel joined Federated in 1991 and has been a Portfolio Manager and a Vice
President of the Fund's Adviser since 1995. Ms. Duessel was a Senior Investment
Analyst and an Assistant Vice President of the Fund's investment adviser from
1991 until 1995. Ms. Duessel is a Chartered Financial Analyst and received her
M.S. in Industrial Administration from Carnegie Mellon University.
Drew J. Collins and Richard J. Lazarchic are the portfolio managers for
foreign securities.
Drew J. Collins has been the Fund's portfolio manager since July 1997. Mr.
Collins joined Federated in 1995 as a Senior Portfolio Manager and a Senior Vice
President of the Fund's Adviser. Mr. Collins served as Vice President/Portfolio
Manager of international equity portfolios at Arnhold and Bleichroeder, Inc.
from 1994 to 1995. He served as an Assistant Vice President/Portfolio Manager
for international equities at the College Retirement Equities Fund from 1986 to
1994. Mr. Collins is a Chartered Financial Analyst and received his M.B.A. in
finance from the Wharton School of The University of Pennsylvania.
Richard J. Lazarchic has been a portfolio manager of the Fund since April
1, 1998. Mr. Lazarchic joined Federated in 1998 as a Portfolio Manager and Vice
President of the Fund's Adviser. From May 1979 through October 1997, Mr.
Lazarchic was employed with American Express Financial Corp., initially as an
Analyst and then as a Vice President/Senior Portfolio Manager. Mr. Lazarchic is
a Chartered Financial Analyst. He received his M.B.A. from Kent State
University.
The Adviser and other subsidiaries of Federated advise approximately 175 mutual
funds and separate accounts, which total approximately $111 billion in assets as
of December 31, 1998. Federated was established in 1955 and is one of the
largest mutual fund investment managers in the United States with approximately
1,900 employees.
More than 4,000 investment professionals make Federated Funds available to their
customers.
ADVISORY FEES
The Adviser receives an annual investment advisory fee of 0.75% of the Fund's
average daily net assets. The Adviser may voluntarily waive a portion of its fee
or reimburse the Fund for certain operating expenses.
YEAR 2000 READINESS
The "Year 2000" problem is the potential for computer errors or failures because
certain computer systems may be unable to interpret dates after December 31,
1999. The Year 2000 problem may cause systems to process information incorrectly
and could disrupt businesses that rely on computers, like the Fund.
While it is impossible to determine in advance all of the risks to the Fund, the
Fund could experience interruptions in basic financial and operational
functions. Fund shareholders could experience errors or disruptions in Fund
share transactions or Fund communications.
The Fund's service providers are making changes to their computer systems to fix
any Year 2000 problems. In addition, they are working to gather information from
third-party providers to determine their Year 2000 readiness.
Year 2000 problems would also increase the risks of the Fund's investments. To
assess the potential effect of the Year 2000 problem, the Adviser is reviewing
information regarding the Year 2000 readiness of issuers of securities the Fund
may purchase. However, this may be difficult with certain issuers. For example,
funds dealing with foreign service providers or investing in foreign securities,
will have difficulty determining the Year 2000 readiness of those entities. This
is especially true of entities or issuers in emerging markets.
The financial impact of these issues for the Fund is still being determined.
There can be no assurance that potential Year 2000 problems would not have a
material adverse effect on the Fund.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The Financial Highlights will help you understand the Fund's financial
performance for its past five fiscal years, or since inception, if the life of
the Fund is shorter. Some of the information is presented on a per share basis.
Total returns represent the rate an investor would have earned (or lost) on an
investment in the Fund, assuming reinvestment of any dividends and capital
gains.
This information has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, whose report, along with
the Fund's audited financial statements, is included in the Annual Report.
(Financial Highlights to be filed by Amendment)
FEDERATED UTILITY FUND, INC.
CLASS A SHARES
CLASS B SHARES
CLASS C SHARES
A Statement of Additional Information (SAI) dated April 30, 1999, is
incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Additional information about the
Fund's investments is contained in the Fund's annual and semi-annual reports to
shareholders as they become available. The annual report discusses market
conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund's
performance during its last fiscal year. To obtain the SAI, the annual report,
semi-annual report and other information without charge, call your investment
professional or the Fund at 1-800-341-7400.
You can obtain information about the Fund (including the SAI) by visiting or
writing the Public Reference Room of the Securities and Exchange Commission in
Washington, DC 20549-6009 or from the Commission's Internet site at
http://www.sec.gov. You can call 1-800-SEC-0330 for information on the Public
Reference Room's operations and copying charges.
INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT FILE NO. 811-5114
CUSIP 314286105
CUSIP 314286204
CUSIP 314286303
G01154-01 (4/99)
PROSPECTUS
FEDERATED UTILITY FUND, INC.
CLASS F SHARES
A mutual fund seeking current income and long-term growth of income. Capital
appreciation is a secondary objective. The Fund will seek to achieve its
investment objectives by investing primarily in securities of utility companies.
As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission has not
approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this
prospectus, and any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
CONTENTS
Risk/Return Summary
What are the Fund's Fees and Expenses?
What are the Fund's Investment Strategies?
What are the Principal Securities in Which the Fund Invests?
What are the Specific Risks of Investing in the Fund?
What do Shares Cost?
How is the Fund Sold?
How to Purchase Shares
How to Redeem and Exchange Shares
Account and Share Information
Who Manages the Fund?
Financial Information
April 30, 1999
RISK/RETURN SUMMARY
WHAT IS THE FUND'S INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE?
The Fund's primary investment objectives are current income and long-term growth
of income. Capital appreciation is a secondary objective. While there is no
assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objectives, it endeavors to
do so by following the strategies and policies described in this prospectus.
WHAT ARE THE FUND'S MAIN INVESTMENT STRATEGIES?
The Fund pursues its investment objective by investing primarily in equity
securities of companies engaged in providing utility services such as
electricity, gas and telecommunications.
WHAT ARE THE MAIN RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUND?
All mutual funds take investment risks. Therefore, it is possible to lose
money by investing in the Fund. The primary factors that may reduce the Fund's
returns include:
O the possibility that the utilities sector may under perform other sectors
or the market as a whole; and
O fluctuations in the value of equity securities.
An investment in the Fund involves additional risks such as Stock Market Risk,
Sector Risk, Liquidity Risk, Risks Relating to Investing for Value, Currency
Risk, and Risks of Foreign Investing.
The Shares offered by this prospectus are not deposits or obligations of any
bank, are not endorsed or guaranteed by any bank and are not insured or
guaranteed by the U.S. government, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation,
the Federal Reserve Board, or any other government agency.
Risk/Return Bar Chart and Table
The graphic presentation displayed here consists of a bar chart representing the
annual total returns of Class F Shares as of the calendar year-end for each of
two years. The `y' axis reflects the "% Total Return" beginning with "0" and
increasing in increments of 5% up to 30%. The `x' axis represents calculation
periods from the earliest calendar year end of the Fund's start of business
through the calendar year ended December 31, 1998. The light gray shaded chart
features two distinct vertical bars, each shaded in charcoal, and each visually
representing by height the total return percentages for the calendar year stated
directly at its base. The calculated total return percentage for the Fund's
Class F Shares for each calendar year is stated directly at the top of each
respective bar, for the calendar years 1997 through 1998. The percentages noted
are: 25.56% and 13.80%, respectively.
The bar chart shows the variability of the Fund's Class F Shares' total returns
on a calendar year-end basis.
The Fund's Class F Shares are sold subject to a sales charge and a contingent
deferred sales charge (load). The impact of the sales charges are not reflected
in the total returns above, and if these amounts were reflected, returns would
be less than those shown.
The Fund's total return from January 1, 1999 to March 31, 1999 was ____%.
Within the period shown in the Chart, the Fund's Class F Shares' highest
quarterly return was 12.83% (quarter ended December 31, 1997). Its lowest
quarterly return was (1.39)% (quarter ended June 30, 1998).
AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN
1YEAR LIFE OF THE FUND (1)
Class F Shares 11.76% 18.75%
S&P 500 28.61% %
S&PUI 14.78% %
DJUA 18.81% %
1 The Fund's Class F Shares start of performance date was June 1, 1996.
The table shows the Fund's Class F Shares average annual total returns compared
to the Standard & Poor's 500 Index (S&P 500), a broad-based market index, and
the Standard & Poor's Utility Index (S&PUI), and the Dow Jones Utility Average
(DJUA) for the calendar periods ending December 31, 1998. The S&PUI and the DJUA
are averages of funds with similar investment objectives.
Past performance does not necessarily predict future performance. This
information provides you with historical performance so that you can analyze
whether the Fund's investment risks are balanced by its potential rewards.
WHAT ARE THE FUND'S FEES AND EXPENSES?
FEDERATED UTILITY FUND, INC.
FEES AND EXPENSES
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold
shares of the Fund's Class F Shares.
SHAREHOLDER FEES
FEES PAID DIRECTLY FROM YOUR INVESTMENT
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a 1.00%
percentage of offering price)
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of 1.00%
original purchase price or redemption proceeds, as applicable)
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends (and None
other Distributions) (as a percentage of offering price)
Redemption Fee (as a percentage of amount redeemed, if None
applicable)
Exchange Fee None
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES (Before Waivers)(1)
EXPENSES THAT ARE DEDUCTED FROM FUND ASSETS (AS A PERCENTAGE OF
AVERAGE NET ASSETS)
Management Fee 0.75%
Distribution (12b-1) Fee None
Shareholder Services Fee(2) 0.25%
Other Expenses %
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses %
1 Although not contractually obligated to do so, the
shareholder services provider will waive certain amounts.
These are shown below along with the net expenses the Fund
ACTUALLY PAID for the fiscal year ended February 28, 1999.
Waiver of Fund Expenses %
Total Actual Annual Fund Operating Expenses (after waivers) %
2 The shareholder services fee for Class F Shares has been voluntarily reduced.
This voluntary reduction can be terminated at any time. The shareholder
services fee paid by the Fund's Class F Shares (after the voluntary
reduction) was 0.22% for the year ended February 28, 1999,
EXAMPLE
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's
Class F Shares with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund's Class F Shares for
the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your Shares at the end of
those periods. Expenses assuming no redemption are also shown. The Example also
assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's Class
F Shares operating expenses are BEFORE WAIVERS as shown in the table and 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
Expenses assuming redemption $ $ $ $
Expenses assuming no $ $ $ $
redemption
WHAT ARE THE FUND'S INVESTMENT STRATEGIES?
The Fund pursues its investment objective by investing primarily in equity
securities of companies engaged in providing utility services such as
electricity, gas and telecommunications. Under normal market conditions, the
Fund will invest at least 65% of its total assets in securities of utility
companies that derive 50% of their revenues from utilities or assets relating to
the utility industry.
The Adviser's strategy is to seek high current income and moderate capital
appreciation by investing primarily utility stocks. The Adviser seeks to invest
in utility companies that offer high dividend yields, which are trading at a low
historical valuation relative to the market and to industry peers, and which do
not reflect positive changes in the companies' outlooks. The Adviser uses a
model to attempt to identify companies which have these attributes, as well as
financial and earnings strength, and the prospect of comparatively low
volatility in share prices. In addition, the Adviser performs traditional
fundamental and credit analyses to select the most promising companies for the
Fund. To determine the timing of purchases and sales of portfolio securities,
the Adviser looks at recent stock price performance.
The Adviser may invest a portion of the Fund's assets in securities of utility
companies based outside the U.S. to diversify the Fund's utility holdings and to
gain exposure to the foreign market. Among non-utility securities, the Adviser
seeks to invest in companies which offer enhanced dividend yield and the
potential for capital appreciation such as real estate investment trusts
("REITs").
Companies with similar characteristics may be grouped together in broad
categories called sectors. In determining the amount to invest in a security,
the Adviser limits the Fund's exposure to each sector that comprises both the
Standard & Poor's (S&P) Utility and S&P Communications Indices. The Fund's
allocation to a sector will be no more than 300% of the Indices' allocation to
that sector. The Fund attempts to manage risk by purchasing securities of
companies that tend to experience lower volatility relative to securities of
other companies in their sector.
INDUSTRY CONCENTRATION
The Fund may invest 25% or more of its assets in the utility industry.
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER
The Fund actively trades its portfolio securities in an attempt to achieve its
investment objective. Active trading will cause the Fund to have an increased
portfolio turnover rate, which is likely to generate shorter-term gains (losses)
for its shareholders, which are taxed at a higher rate than longer-term gains
(losses). Actively trading portfolio securities increases the Fund's trading
costs and may have an adverse impact on the Fund's performance.
TEMPORARY DEFENSIVE INVESTMENTS
The Fund may temporarily depart from its principal investment strategies by
investing its assets in cash, cash items, and shorter-term, higher quality debt
securities and similar obligations. It may do this to minimize potential losses
and maintain liquidity to meet shareholder redemptions during adverse market
conditions. This may cause the Fund to give up greater investment returns to
maintain the safety of principal, that is, the original amount invested by
shareholders.
WHAT ARE THE PRINCIPAL SECURITIES IN WHICH THE FUND INVESTS?
EQUITY SECURITIES
Equity securities represent a share of an issuer's earnings and assets, after
the issuer pays its liabilities. The Fund cannot predict the income it will
receive from equity securities because issuers generally have discretion as to
the payment of any dividends or distributions. However, equity securities offer
greater potential for appreciation than many other types of securities, because
their value increases directly with the value of the issuer's business. The
following describes the types of equity securities in which the Fund invests.
COMMON STOCKS
Common stocks are the most prevalent type of equity security. Common stocks
receive the issuer's earnings after the issuer pays its creditors and any
preferred stockholders. As a result, changes in an issuer's earnings directly
influence the value of its common stock.
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS (REITS)
REITs are real estate investment trusts that lease, operate and finance
commercial real estate. REITs are exempt from federal corporate income tax if
they limit their operations and distribute most of their income. Such tax
requirements limit a REIT's ability to respond to changes in the commercial real
estate market.
DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS
Depositary receipts represent interests in underlying securities issued by a
foreign company. Depositary receipts are not traded in the same market as the
underlying security. The foreign securities underlying American Depositary
Receipts (ADRs) are traded in the United States. ADRs provide a way to buy
shares of foreign-based companies in the United States rather than in overseas
markets. ADRs are also traded in U.S. dollars, eliminating the need for foreign
exchange transactions. The foreign securities underlying European Depositary
Receipts (EDRs), Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs), and International Depositary
Receipts (IDRs), are traded globally or outside the United States. Depositary
receipts involve many of the same risks of investing directly in foreign
securities, including currency risks and risks of foreign investing.
CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES
Convertible securities are fixed income securities that the Fund has the option
to exchange for equity securities at a specified conversion price. The option
allows the Fund to realize additional returns if the market price of the equity
securities exceeds the conversion price. For example, the Fund may hold fixed
income securities that are convertible into shares of common stock at a
conversion price of $10 per share. If the market value of the shares of common
stock reached $12, the Fund could realize an additional $2 per share by
converting its fixed income securities.
Convertible securities have lower yields than comparable fixed income
securities. In addition, at the time a convertible security is issued the
conversion price exceeds the market value of the underlying equity securities.
Thus, convertible securities may provide lower returns than non-convertible
fixed income securities or equity securities depending upon changes in the price
of the underlying equity securities. However, convertible securities permit the
Fund to realize some of the potential appreciation of the underlying equity
securities with less risk of losing its initial investment.
The Fund treats convertible securities as both fixed income and equity
securities for purposes of its investment policies and limitations, because of
their unique characteristics.
WHAT ARE THE SPECIFIC RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUND?
STOCK MARKET RISKS
The value of equity securities in the Fund's portfolio will rise and fall. These
fluctuations could be a sustained trend or a drastic movement. The Fund's
portfolio will reflect changes in prices of individual portfolio stocks or
general changes in stock valuations. Consequently, the Fund's share price may
decline.
The Adviser attempts to manage market risk by limiting the amount the Fund
invests in each company's equity securities. However, diversification will not
protect the Fund against widespread or prolonged declines in the stock market.
SECTOR RISKS
Companies with similar characteristics may be grouped together in broad
categories called sectors. Sector risk is the possibility that a certain sector
may underperform other sectors or the market as a whole. As the Adviser
allocates more of the Fund's portfolio holdings to a particular sector, the
Fund's performance will be more susceptible to any economic, business or other
developments which generally affect that sector. For example, a global increase
in the cost of natural resources used by utility companies would reduce the
value of utility companies more than companies in other business sectors. This
would cause the Fund to under perform other mutual funds that do not concentrate
in the utility sector.
LIQUIDITY RISKS
Trading opportunities are more limited for equity securities that are not widely
held. This may make it more difficult to sell or buy a security at a favorable
price or time. Consequently, the Fund may have to accept a lower price to sell a
security, sell other securities to raise cash or give up an investment
opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on the Fund's
performance. Infrequent trading of securities may also lead to an increase in
their price volatility.
Liquidity risk also refers to the possibility that the Fund may not be able to
sell a security when it wants to. If this happens, the Fund will be required to
continue to hold the security or keep the position open, and the Fund could
incur losses.
RISKS RELATED TO INVESTING FOR VALUE
Due to their relatively low valuations, value stocks are typically less volatile
than growth stocks. For instance, the price of a value stock may experience a
smaller increase on a forecast of higher earnings, a positive fundamental
development, or positive market development. Further, value stocks tend to have
higher dividends than growth stocks. This means they depend less on price
changes for returns and may lag behind growth stocks in an up market.
CURRENCY RISKS
Exchange rates for currencies fluctuate daily. The combination of currency risk
and market risk tends to make securities traded in foreign markets more volatile
than securities traded exclusively in the U.S. The Adviser attempts to manage
currency risk by limiting the amount the Fund invests in securities denominated
in a particular currency. However, diversification will not protect the Fund
against a general increase in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to other
currencies.
RISKS OF FOREIGN INVESTING
Foreign securities pose additional risks because foreign economic or political
conditions may be less favorable than those of the United States. Securities in
foreign markets may also be subject to taxation policies that reduce returns for
U.S. investors.
Foreign companies may not provide information (including financial statements)
as frequently or to as great an extent as companies in the United States.
Foreign companies may also receive less coverage than United States companies by
market analysts and the financial press. In addition, foreign countries may lack
uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards or regulatory
requirements comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies. These factors may
prevent the Fund and its Adviser from obtaining information concerning foreign
companies that is as frequent, extensive and reliable as the information
available concerning companies in the United States.
Foreign countries may have restrictions on foreign ownership of securities or
may impose exchange controls, capital flow restrictions or repatriation
restrictions which could adversely affect the liquidity of the Fund's
investments.
WHAT DO SHARES COST?
You can purchase, redeem, or exchange Shares any day the New York Stock Exchange
(NYSE) is open. When the Fund receives your transaction request in proper form,
it is processed at the next calculated net asset value (NAV) plus any applicable
front-end sales charge (public offering price). NAV is determined at the end of
regular trading (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) each day the NYSE is open.
The Fund's current NAV and public offering price may be found in the mutual
funds section of local newspapers under "Federated" and the appropriate class
designation listing.
The following table summarizes the minimum required investment amount and the
maximum sales charge, if any, that you will pay on an investment in the Fund.
Keep in mind that investment professionals may charge you fees for their
services in connection with your Share transactions.
MAXIMUM SALES CHARGE
MINIMUM FRONT-END CONTINGENT
SHARES OFFERED INITIAL/SUBSEQUENT SALES CHARGE2 DEFERRED SALES
INVESTMENT AMOUNTS1 CHARGE3
Class F $1,500/$100 1.00% 1.00%
1 THE MINIMUM INITIAL AND SUBSEQUENT INVESTMENT AMOUNTS FOR RETIREMENT PLANS ARE
$250 AND $100, RESPECTIVELY. THE MINIMUM SUBSEQUENT INVESTMENT AMOUNTS FOR
SYSTEMATIC INVESTMENT PROGRAMS IS $50. INVESTMENT PROFESSIONALS MAY IMPOSE
HIGHER OR LOWER MINIMUM INVESTMENT REQUIREMENTS ON THEIR CUSTOMERS THAN THOSE
IMPOSED BY THE FUND. 2 FRONT-END SALES CHARGE IS EXPRESSED AS A PERCENTAGE OF
PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE. SEE "SALES CHARGE WHEN YOU PURCHASE." 3 SEE "SALES CHARGE
WHEN YOU REDEEM."
SALES CHARGE WHEN YOU PURCHASE
CLASS F SHARES
Sales Charge as a Sales Charge as a
Purchase Amount Percentage of Public Percentage of NAV
Offering Price
Less than $1 million 1.00% 1.01%
$1 million or greater 0.00% 0.00%
THE SALES CHARGE AT PURCHASE MAY BE ELIMINATED BY:
o purchasing Shares in greater quantities to reduce the applicable sales
charge;
o combining concurrent purchases of Shares:
- - by you, your spouse, and your children under age 21; or
- - of the same share class of two or more Federated Funds (other than money
market funds); o accumulating purchases (in calculating the sales charge on
an additional purchase, include the current value of previous Share
purchases still invested in the Fund); or
o signing a letter of intent to purchase a specific dollar amount of Shares
within 13 months (call your investment professional or the Fund for more
information).
THE SALES CHARGE WILL BE ELIMINATED WHEN YOU PURCHASE SHARES:
o as a shareholder who owned Shares on September 30, 1989;
o within 120 days of redeeming Shares of an equal or lesser amount;
o when the Fund's Distributor does not advance payment to the investment
professional for your purchase;
o by exchanging shares from the same share class of another Federated Fund;
o for trusts or pension or profit-sharing plans where the third-party
administrator has an arrangement with the Fund's Distributor or its
affiliates to purchase shares without a sales charge; or
o through investment professionals that receive no portion of the sales
charge.
If your investment qualifies for an elimination of the sales charge, you or your
investment professional should notify the Fund's Distributor, Federated
Securities Corp., at the time of purchase. If the Distributor is not notified,
you will receive the reduced sales charge only on additional purchases, and not
retroactively on previous purchases.
SALES CHARGE WHEN YOU REDEEM
Your redemption proceeds may be reduced by a sales charge, commonly referred to
as a contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC).
CLASS F SHARES
Purchase Amount Shares Held CDSC
Up to $2 million 4 years or 1.00%
less
$2 - $5 million 2 years or 0.50%
less
$5 million or more 1 year or less 0.25%
YOU WILL NOT BE CHARGED A CDSC WHEN REDEEMING SHARES:
o as a shareholder who owned Shares on September 30, 1989;
o purchased with reinvested dividends or capital gains;
o purchased within 120 days of redeeming Shares of an equal or lesser amount;
o that you exchanged into the same share class of another Federated Fund
where the shares were held for the applicable CDSC holding period (other
than a money market fund);
o purchased through investment professionals that did not receive advanced
sales payments; or
O if, after you purchase Shares, you become disabled as defined by the IRS.
IN ADDITION, YOU WILL NOT BE CHARGED A CDSC:
o if the Fund redeems your Shares and closes your account for not meeting the
minimum balance requirement;
o if your redemption is a required retirement plan distribution;
o upon the death of the last surviving shareholder of the account.
If your redemption qualifies, you or your investment professional should notify
the Distributor at the time of redemption to eliminate the CDSC. If the
Distributor is not notified, the CDSC will apply.
TO KEEP THE SALES CHARGE AS LOW AS POSSIBLE, THE FUND REDEEMS YOUR SHARES IN
THIS ORDER:
o Shares that are not subject to a CDSC;
o Shares held the longest (to determine the number of years your Shares have
been held, include the time you held shares of other Federated Funds that
have been exchanged for Shares of this Fund); and
o then, the CDSC is calculated using the share price at the time of purchase
or redemption, whichever is lower.
HOW IS THE FUND SOLD?
The Fund offers four share classes: Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C
Shares, and Class F Shares, each representing interests in a single portfolio of
securities. This prospectus relates only to Class F Shares. Each share class has
different sales charges and other expenses, which affect their performance.
Contact your investment professional or call 1-800-341-7400 for more information
concerning the other classes.
The Fund's Distributor markets the Shares described in this prospectus to
institutions or individuals, directly or through investment professionals.
HOW TO PURCHASE SHARES
You may purchase Shares through an investment professional, directly from the
Fund, or through an exchange from another Federated Fund. The Fund reserves the
right to reject any request to purchase or exchange Shares. Where the Fund
offers more than one Share Class and you do not specify the Class choice on your
New Account Form or form of payment (e.g., Federal Reserve wire or check) you
automatically will receive Class A Shares.
THROUGH AN INVESTMENT PROFESSIONAL
o Establish an account with the investment professional; and
o Submit your purchase order to the investment professional before the end of
regular trading on the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time). You will
receive the next calculated NAV if the investment professional forwards the
order to the Fund on the same day and the Fund receives payment within three
business days. You will become the owner of Shares and receive dividends when
the Fund receives your payment.
Investment professionals should send payments according to the instructions in
the sections "By Wire" or "By Check."
DIRECTLY FROM THE FUND
o Establish your account with the Fund by submitting a completed New Account
Form; and
o Send your payment to the Fund by Federal Reserve wire or check.
You will become the owner of Shares and your Shares will be priced at the next
calculated NAV after the Fund receives your wire or your check. If your check
does not clear, your purchase will be canceled and you could be liable for any
losses or fees the Fund or its transfer agent incurs.
An institution may establish an account and place an order by calling the Fund
and the Shares will be priced at the next calculated NAV after the Fund receives
the order.
BY WIRE Send your wire to:
State Street Bank and Trust Company
Boston, MA
Dollar Amount of Wire
ABA Number 011000028
Attention: EDGEWIRE
Wire Order Number, Dealer Number, or Group Number
Nominee/Institution Name
Fund Name and Number and Account Number
You cannot purchase Shares by wire on holidays when wire transfers are
restricted.
BY CHECK
Make your check payable to THE FEDERATED FUNDS, note your account number on the
check, and mail it to:
Federated Shareholder Services Company
P.O. Box 8600
Boston, MA 02266-8600
If you send your check by a PRIVATE COURIER OR OVERNIGHT DELIVERY SERVICE that
requires a street address, mail it to:
Federated Shareholder Services Company
1099 Hingham Street
Rockland, MA 02370-3317
Payment should be made in U.S. dollars and drawn on a U.S. bank. The Fund
will not accept third-party checks (checks originally payable to someone other
than you or The Federated Funds).
THROUGH AN EXCHANGE
You may purchase Shares through an exchange from the same Share class of another
Federated Fund. You must meet the minimum initial investment requirement for
purchasing Shares and both accounts must have identical registrations.
BY SYSTEMATIC INVESTMENT PROGRAM
Once you have opened an account, you may automatically purchase additional
Shares on a regular basis by completing the Systematic Investment Program
section of the New Account Form or by contacting the Fund or your investment
professional.
BY AUTOMATED CLEARING HOUSE (ACH)
Once you have opened an account, you may purchase additional Shares through a
depository institution that is an ACH member. This purchase option can be
established by completing the appropriate sections of the New Account Form.
RETIREMENT INVESTMENTS
You may purchase Shares as retirement investments (such as qualified plans and
IRAs or transfer or rollover of assets). Call your investment professional or
the Fund for information on retirement investments. We suggest that you discuss
retirement investments with your tax adviser. You may be subject to an annual
IRA account fee.
HOW TO REDEEM AND EXCHANGE SHARES
You should redeem or exchange Shares:
o through an investment professional if you purchased Shares through an
investment professional; or
o directly from the Fund if you purchased Shares directly from the Fund.
THROUGH AN INVESTMENT PROFESSIONAL
Submit your redemption or exchange request to your investment professional by
the end of regular trading on the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time). The
redemption amount you will receive is based upon the next calculated NAV after
the Fund receives the order from your investment professional.
DIRECTLY FROM THE FUND
BY TELEPHONE
You may redeem or exchange Shares by calling the Fund once you have completed
the appropriate authorization form for telephone transactions.
If you call before the end of regular trading on the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m.
Eastern time) you will receive a redemption amount based on that day's NAV.
BY MAIL
You may redeem or exchange Shares by mailing a written request to the Fund.
You will receive a redemption amount based on the next calculated NAV after the
Fund receives your written request in proper form.
Send requests by mail to:
Federated Shareholder Services Company
P.O. Box 8600
Boston, MA 02266-8600
Send requests by PRIVATE COURIER OR OVERNIGHT DELIVERY SERVICE to:
Federated Shareholder Services Company
1099 Hingham Street
Rockland, MA 02370-3317
All requests must include:
o Fund Name and Share Class, account number and account registration;
o amount to be redeemed or exchanged;
o signatures of all Shareholders exactly as registered; and
o IF EXCHANGING, the Fund Name and Share Class, account number and account
registration into which you are exchanging.
Call your investment professional or the Fund if you need special instructions.
SIGNATURE GUARANTEES Signatures must be guaranteed if:
o your redemption will be sent to an address other than the address of
record;
o your redemption will be sent to an address of record that was changed
within the last 30 days;
o a redemption is payable to someone other than the shareholder(s) of record;
or
o IF EXCHANGING (TRANSFERRING) into another fund with a different shareholder
registration.
A signature guarantee is designed to protect your account from fraud. Obtain a
signature guarantee from a bank or trust company, savings association, credit
union or broker, dealer, or securities exchange member. A NOTARY PUBLIC CANNOT
PROVIDE A SIGNATURE GUARANTEE.
PAYMENT METHODS FOR REDEMPTIONS
Your redemption proceeds will be mailed by check to your address of record. The
following payment options are available if you complete the appropriate section
of the New Account Form or an Account Service Options Form. These payment
options require a signature guarantee if they were not established when the
account was opened:
o an electronic transfer to your account at a financial institution that is
an ACH member; or
o wire payment to your account at a domestic commercial bank that is a
Federal Reserve System member.
REDEMPTION IN KIND
Although the Fund intends to pay Share redemptions in cash, it reserves the
right to pay the redemption price in whole or in part by a distribution of the
Fund's portfolio securities.
LIMITATIONS ON REDEMPTION PROCEEDS
Redemption proceeds normally are wired or mailed within one business day after
receiving a request in proper form. Payment may be delayed up to seven days:
o to allow your purchase to clear;
o during periods of market volatility; or
o when a shareholder's trade activity or amount adversely impacts the Fund's
ability to manage its assets.
You will not accrue interest or dividends on uncashed checks from the Fund if
those checks are undeliverable and returned to the Fund.
REDEMPTIONS FROM RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS
In the absence of your specific instructions, 10% of the value of your
redemption from a retirement account in the Fund may be withheld for taxes. This
withholding only applies to certain types of retirement accounts.
EXCHANGE PRIVILEGES
You may exchange Shares of the Fund into Shares of the same class of another
Federated Fund. To do this, you must:
o ensure that the account registrations are identical;
o meet any minimum initial investment requirements; and
o receive a prospectus for the fund into which you wish to exchange.
An exchange is treated as a redemption and a subsequent purchase, and is a
taxable transaction.
The Fund may modify or terminate the exchange privilege at any time. The Fund's
management or investment adviser may determine from the amount, frequency and
pattern of exchanges that a shareholder is engaged in excessive trading that is
detrimental to the Fund and other shareholders. If this occurs, the Fund may
terminate the availability of exchanges to that shareholder and may bar that
shareholder from purchasing other Federated Funds.
SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PROGRAM
You may automatically redeem Shares in a minimum amount of $100 on a regular
basis. Complete the appropriate section of the New Account Form or an Account
Service Options Form or contact your investment professional or the Fund. Your
account value must meet the minimum initial investment amount at the time the
program is established. This program may reduce, and eventually deplete, your
account. Payments should not be considered yield or income.
Generally, it is not advisable to continue to purchase Shares subject to a sales
charge while redeeming Shares using this program.
ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS
TELEPHONE TRANSACTIONS
The Fund will record your telephone instructions. If the Fund does not follow
reasonable procedures, it may be liable for losses due to unauthorized or
fraudulent telephone instructions.
SHARE CERTIFICATES
The Fund no longer issues share certificates. If you are redeeming or exchanging
Shares represented by certificates previously issued by the Fund, you must
return the certificates with your written redemption or exchange request. For
your protection, send your certificates by registered or certified mail, but do
not endorse them.
ACCOUNT AND SHARE INFORMATION
CONFIRMATIONS AND ACCOUNT STATEMENTS
You will receive confirmation of purchases, redemptions and exchanges (except
for systematic transactions). In addition, you will receive periodic statements
reporting all account activity, including systematic transactions, dividends and
capital gains paid.
DIVIDENDS AND CAPITAL GAINS
The Fund declares and pays any dividends monthly to shareholders. Dividends are
paid to all shareholders invested in the Fund on the record date. The record
date is the date on which a shareholder must officially own shares in order to
earn a dividend.
In addition, the Fund pays any capital gains at least annually. Your dividends
and capital gains distributions will be automatically reinvested in additional
Shares without a sales charge, unless you elect cash payments.
If you purchase Shares just before a Fund declares a dividend or capital gain
distribution, you will pay the full price for the Shares and then receive a
portion of the price back in the form of a taxable distribution, whether or not
you reinvest the distribution in Shares. Therefore, you should consider the tax
implications of purchasing Shares shortly before the Fund declares a dividend or
capital gain. Contact your investment professional or the Fund for information
concerning when dividends and capital gains will be paid.
ACCOUNTS WITH LOW BALANCES
Due to the high cost of maintaining accounts with low balances, non-retirement
accounts may be closed if redemptions or exchanges cause the account balance to
fall below the minimum initial investment amount. Before an account is closed,
you will be notified and allowed 30 days to purchase additional Shares to meet
the minimum.
TAX INFORMATION
The Fund sends an annual statement of your account activity to assist you in
completing your federal, state and local tax returns. Fund distributions of
dividends and capital gains are taxable to you whether paid in cash or
reinvested in the Fund. Dividends are taxable as ordinary income; capital gains
are taxable at different rates depending upon the length of time the Fund holds
its assets.
Fund distributions are expected to be both dividends and capital gains.
Redemptions and exchanges are taxable sales. Please consult your tax adviser
regarding your federal, state, and local tax liability.
WHO MANAGES THE FUND?
The Board of Directors governs the Fund. The Board selects and oversees the
Adviser, Passport Research, Ltd. The Adviser manages the Fund's assets,
including buying and selling portfolio securities. The Adviser's address is
Federated Investors Tower, 1001 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779.
The Adviser has delegated daily management of some Fund assets to the
Sub-Adviser, Federated Global Investment Management Corp., who is paid by the
Adviser and not by the Fund, based on the portion of foreign securities the
Sub-adviser manages.
The Fund's portfolio managers are:
Steven J. Lehman has been the Fund's portfolio manager since July 1997. He
is Vice President of the Corporation. Mr. Lehman joined the Fund's Adviser in
May 1997 as a Portfolio Manager and Vice President. He has been a Senior
Portfolio Manager since 1998. From 1986 to May 1997, Mr. Lehman served as a
Portfolio Manager, then Vice President/Senior Portfolio Manager, at First
Chicago NBD. Mr. Lehman is a Chartered Financial Analyst; he received his M.A.
from the University of Chicago.
Linda A. Duessel has been the Fund's portfolio manager since April 1995.
Ms. Duessel joined Federated in 1991 and has been a Portfolio Manager and a Vice
President of the Fund's Adviser since 1995. Ms. Duessel was a Senior Investment
Analyst and an Assistant Vice President of the Fund's investment adviser from
1991 until 1995. Ms. Duessel is a Chartered Financial Analyst and received her
M.S. in Industrial Administration from Carnegie Mellon University.
Drew J. Collins and Richard J. Lazarchic are the portfolio managers for
foreign securities.
Drew J. Collins has been the Fund's portfolio manager since July 1997. Mr.
Collins joined Federated in 1995 as a Senior Portfolio Manager and a Senior Vice
President of the Fund's Adviser. Mr. Collins served as Vice President/Portfolio
Manager of international equity portfolios at Arnhold and Bleichroeder, Inc.
from 1994 to 1995. He served as an Assistant Vice President/Portfolio Manager
for international equities at the College Retirement Equities Fund from 1986 to
1994. Mr. Collins is a Chartered Financial Analyst and received his M.B.A. in
finance from the Wharton School of The University of Pennsylvania.
Richard J. Lazarchic has been a portfolio manager of the Fund since April
1, 1998. Mr. Lazarchic joined Federated in 1998 as a Portfolio Manager and Vice
President of the Adviser. From May 1979 through October 1997, Mr. Lazarchic was
employed with American Express Financial Corp., initially as an Analyst and then
as a Vice President/Senior Portfolio Manager. Mr. Lazarchic is a Chartered
Financial Analyst. He received his M.B.A. from Kent State University.
The Adviser and other subsidiaries of Federated advise approximately 175 mutual
funds and separate accounts, which total approximately $111 billion in assets as
of December 31, 1998. Federated was established in 1955 and is one of the
largest mutual fund investment managers in the United States with approximately
1,900 employees.
More than 4,000 investment professionals make Federated Funds available to their
customers.
ADVISORY FEES
The Adviser receives an annual investment advisory fee of 0.75% of the Fund's
average daily net assets. The Adviser may voluntarily waive a portion of its fee
or reimburse the Fund for certain operating expenses.
YEAR 2000 READINESS
The "Year 2000" problem is the potential for computer errors or failures because
certain computer systems may be unable to interpret dates after December 31,
1999. The Year 2000 problem may cause systems to process information incorrectly
and could disrupt businesses that rely on computers, like the Fund.
While it is impossible to determine in advance all of the risks to the Fund, the
Fund could experience interruptions in basic financial and operational
functions. Fund shareholders could experience errors or disruptions in Fund
share transactions or Fund communications.
The Fund's service providers are making changes to their computer systems to fix
any Year 2000 problems. In addition, they are working to gather information from
third-party providers to determine their Year 2000 readiness.
Year 2000 problems would also increase the risks of the Fund's investments. To
assess the potential effect of the Year 2000 problem, the Adviser is reviewing
information regarding the Year 2000 readiness of issuers of securities the Fund
may purchase. However, this may be difficult with certain issuers. For example,
funds dealing with foreign service providers or investing in foreign securities,
will have difficulty determining the Year 2000 readiness of those entities. This
is especially true of entities or issuers in emerging markets.
The financial impact of these issues for the Fund is still being determined.
There can be no assurance that potential Year 2000 problems would not have a
material adverse effect on the Fund.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The Financial Highlights will help you understand the Fund's financial
performance for its past five fiscal years, or since inception, if the life of
the Fund is shorter. Some of the information is presented on a per share basis.
Total returns represent the rate an investor would have earned (or lost) on an
investment in the Fund, assuming reinvestment of any dividends and capital
gains.
This information has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, whose report, along with
the Fund's audited financial statements, is included in the Annual Report.
(Financial Highlights to be filed by Amendment)
FEDERATED UTILITY FUND, INC.
CLASS F SHARES
A Statement of Additional Information (SAI) dated April 30, 1999, is
incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Additional information about the
Fund's investments is contained in the Fund's annual and semi-annual reports to
shareholders as they become available. The annual report discusses market
conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund's
performance during its last fiscal year. To obtain the SAI, the annual report,
semi-annual report and other information without charge, call your investment
professional or the Fund at 1-800-341-7400.
You can obtain information about the Fund (including the SAI) by visiting or
writing the Public Reference Room of the Securities and Exchange Commission in
Washington, DC 20549-6009 or from the Commission's Internet site at
http://www.sec.gov. You can call 1-800-SEC-0330 for information on the Public
Reference Room's operations and copying charges.
INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT FILE NO. 811-5114
CUSIP 314286402
G01154-03-F (4/99)
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
FEDERATED UTILITY FUND, INC.
CLASS A SHARES
CLASS B SHARES
CLASS C SHARES
CLASS F SHARES
This Statement of Additional Information (SAI) is not a prospectus. Read this
SAI in conjunction with the prospectuses for Federated Utility Fund, Inc.
(Fund), dated April 30, 1999.
This SAI incorporates by reference the Fund's Annual Report. Obtain the
prospectuses or the Annual Report without charge by calling 1-800-341-7400.
April 30, 1999
CONTENTS
How is the Fund Organized?
Securities in Which the Fund Invests
What do Shares Cost?
How is the Fund Sold?
Subaccounting Services
Redemption in Kind
Account and Share Information
Tax Information
Who Manages and Provides Services to the Fund?
How Does the Fund Measure Performance?
Who is Federated Investors, Inc.?
Financial Information
Investment Ratings
Addresses
CUSIP 314286105
CUSIP 314286204
CUSIP 314286303
CUSIP 314286402
G01154-02 (4/99)
HOW IS THE FUND ORGANIZED?
The Fund is a diversified open-end, management investment company that was
established under the laws of the State of Maryland on April 20, 1987. The Fund
changed its name from "Progressive Income Equity Fund, Inc." to "Liberty Utility
Fund, Inc." on January 18, 1990. On March 30, 1996, the Fund's name was changed
to "Federated Utility Fund, Inc."
The Board of Directors (the Board) has established four classes of shares of the
Fund, known as Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, and Class F
Shares (Shares). This SAI relates to all classes of the above-mentioned Shares.
The Fund's investment adviser is Passport Research, Ltd. (Adviser).
SECURITIES IN WHICH THE FUND INVESTS
In pursuing its investment strategy, the Fund may invest in the following
securities for any purpose that is consistent with its investment objective.
SECURITY DESCRIPTIONS AND TECHNIQUES
EQUITY SECURITIES
Equity securities represent a share of an issuer's earnings and assets, after
the issuer pays its liabilities. The Fund cannot predict the income it will
receive from equity securities because issuers generally have discretion as to
the payment of any dividends or distributions. However, equity securities offer
greater potential for appreciation than many other types of securities, because
their value increases directly with the value of the issuer's business. The
following describes the types of equity securities in which the Fund invests.
PREFERRED STOCKS
Preferred stocks have the right to receive specified dividends or distributions
before the issuer makes payments on its common stock. Some preferred stocks also
participate in dividends and distributions paid on common stock. Preferred
stocks may also permit the issuer to redeem the stock. The Fund may also treat
such redeemable preferred stock as a fixed income security.
WARRANTS
Warrants give the Fund the option to buy the issuer's equity securities at a
specified price (the exercise price) at a specified future date (the expiration
date). The Fund may buy the designated securities by paying the exercise price
before the expiration date. Warrants may become worthless if the price of the
stock does not rise above the exercise price by the expiration date. This
increases the market risks of warrants as compared to the underlying security.
Rights are the same as warrants, except companies typically issue rights to
existing stockholders.
FIXED INCOME SECURITIES
Fixed income securities pay interest, dividends or distributions at a specified
rate. The rate may be a fixed percentage of the principal or adjusted
periodically. In addition, the issuer of a fixed income security must repay the
principal amount of the security, normally within a specified time. Fixed income
securities provide more regular income than equity securities. However, the
returns on fixed income securities are limited and normally do not increase with
the issuer's earnings. This limits the potential appreciation of fixed income
securities as compared to equity securities.
A security's yield measures the annual income earned on a security as a
percentage of its price. A security's yield will increase or decrease depending
upon whether it costs less (a discount) or more (a premium) than the principal
amount. If the issuer may redeem the security before its scheduled maturity, the
price and yield on a discount or premium security may change based upon the
probability of an early redemption. Securities with higher risks generally have
higher yields.
The following describes the types of fixed income securities in which the Fund
invests.
TREASURY SECURITIES
Treasury securities are direct obligations of the federal government of the
United States. Treasury securities are generally regarded as having the lowest
credit risks.
AGENCY SECURITIES
Agency securities are issued or guaranteed by a federal agency or other
government sponsored entity acting under federal authority (a GSE). The United
States supports some GSEs with its full, faith and credit. Other GSEs receive
support through federal subsidies, loans or other benefits. A few GSEs have no
explicit financial support, but are regarded as having implied support because
the federal government sponsors their activities. Agency securities are
generally regarded as having low credit risks, but not as low as treasury
securities.
The Fund treats mortgage backed securities guaranteed by GSEs as agency
securities. Although a GSE guarantee protects against credit risks, it does not
reduce the market and prepayment risks of these mortgage backed securities.
CORPORATE DEBT SECURITIES
Corporate debt securities are fixed income securities issued by businesses.
Notes, bonds, debentures and commercial paper are the most prevalent types of
corporate debt securities. The Fund may also purchase interests in bank loans to
companies. The credit risks of corporate debt securities vary widely among
issuers.
In addition, the credit risk of an issuer's debt security may vary based on its
priority for repayment. For example, higher ranking (senior) debt securities
have a higher priority than lower ranking (subordinated) securities. This means
that the issuer might not make payments on subordinated securities while
continuing to make payments on senior securities. In addition, in the event of
bankruptcy, holders of senior securities may receive amounts otherwise payable
to the holders of subordinated securities. Some subordinated securities, such as
trust preferred and capital securities notes, also permit the issuer to defer
payments under certain circumstances. For example, insurance companies issue
securities known as surplus notes that permit the insurance company to defer any
payment that would reduce its capital below regulatory requirements.
COMMERCIAL PAPER
Commercial paper is an issuer's obligation with a maturity of less than nine
months. Companies typically issue commercial paper to pay for current
expenditures. Most issuers constantly reissue their commercial paper and use the
proceeds (or bank loans) to repay maturing paper. If the issuer cannot continue
to obtain liquidity in this fashion, its commercial paper may default. The short
maturity of commercial paper reduces both the market and credit risks as
compared to other debt securities of the same issuer.
DEMAND INSTRUMENTS
Demand instruments are corporate debt securities that the issuer must repay upon
demand. Other demand instruments require a third party, such as a dealer or
bank, to repurchase the security for its face value upon demand. The Fund treats
demand instruments as short-term securities, even though their stated maturity
may extend beyond one year.
INVESTMENT RATINGS FOR INVESTMENT GRADE SECURITIES
The Adviser will determinate whether a security is investment grade based upon
the credit ratings given by one or more nationally recognized rating services.
For example, Standard and Poor's, a rating service, assigns ratings to
investment grade securities (AAA, AA, A, and BBB) based on their assessment of
the likelihood of the issuer's inability to pay interest or principal (default)
when due on each security. Lower credit ratings correspond to higher credit
risk. If a security has not received a rating, the Fund must rely entirely upon
the Adviser's credit assessment that the security is comparable to investment
grade.
FOREIGN SECURITIES
Foreign securities are securities of issuers based outside the United States.
The Fund considers an issuer to be based outside the United States if:
it is organized under the laws of, or has a principal office located in,
another country;
the principal trading market for its securities is in another country; or
it (or its subsidiaries) derived in its most current fiscal year at least 50% of
its total assets, capitalization, gross revenue or profit from goods produced,
services performed, or sales made in another country.
Foreign securities are primarily denominated in foreign currencies. Along with
the risks normally associated with domestic securities of the same type, foreign
securities are subject to currency risks and risks of foreign investing. Trading
in certain foreign markets is also subject to liquidity risks.
DERIVATIVE CONTRACTS
Derivative contracts are financial instruments that require payments based upon
changes in the values of designated (or underlying) securities, currencies,
commodities, financial indices or other assets. Some derivative contracts (such
as futures, forwards and options) require payments relating to a future trade
involving the underlying asset. Other derivative contracts (such as swaps)
require payments relating to the income or returns from the underlying asset.
The other party to a derivative contract is referred to as a counterparty.
Many derivative contracts are traded on securities or commodities exchanges. In
this case, the exchange sets all the terms of the contract except for the price.
Investors make payments due under their contracts through the exchange. Most
exchanges require investors to maintain margin accounts through their brokers to
cover their potential obligations to the exchange. Parties to the contract make
(or collect) daily payments to the margin accounts to reflect losses (or gains)
in the value of their contracts. This protects investors against potential
defaults by the counterparty. Trading contracts on an exchange also allows
investors to close out their contracts by entering into offsetting contracts.
For example, the Fund could close out an open contract to buy an asset at a
future date by entering into an offsetting contract to sell the same asset on
the same date. If the offsetting sale price is more than the original purchase
price, the Fund realizes a gain; if it is less, the Fund realizes a loss.
Exchanges may limit the amount of open contracts permitted at any one time. Such
limits may prevent the Fund from closing out a position. If this happens, the
Fund will be required to keep the contract open (even if it is losing money on
the contract), and to make any payments required under the contract (even if it
has to sell portfolio securities at unfavorable prices to do so). Inability to
close out a contract could also harm the Fund by preventing it from disposing of
or trading any assets it has been using to secure its obligations under the
contract.
The Fund may also trade derivative contracts over-the-counter (OTC) in
transactions negotiated directly between the Fund and the counterparty. OTC
contracts do not necessarily have standard terms, so they cannot be directly
offset with other OTC contracts. In addition, OTC contracts with more
specialized terms may be more difficult to price than exchange traded contracts.
Depending upon how the Fund uses derivative contracts and the relationships
between the market value of a derivative contract and the underlying asset,
derivative contracts may increase or decrease the Fund's exposure to market and
currency risks, and may also expose the Fund to liquidity and leverage risks.
OTC contracts also expose the Fund to credit risks in the event that a
counterparty defaults on the contract.
The Fund may trade in the following types of derivative contracts.
FUTURES CONTRACTS
Futures contracts provide for the future sale by one party and purchase by
another party of a specified amount of an underlying asset at a specified price,
date, and time. Entering into a contract to buy an underlying asset is commonly
referred to as buying a contract or holding a long position in the asset.
Entering into a contract to sell an underlying asset is commonly referred to as
selling a contract or holding a short position in the asset. Futures contracts
are considered to be commodity contracts. Futures contracts traded OTC are
frequently referred to as forward contracts.
The Fund will enter into futures contracts directly only when it desires to
exercise a financial futures put option in its portfolio rather than either
closing out the option or allowing it to expire. The Fund will only purchase
puts on financial futures contracts which are traded on a nationally recognized
exchange.
OPTIONS
Options are rights to buy or sell an underlying asset for a specified price (the
exercise price) during, or at the end of, a specified period. A call option
gives the holder (buyer) the right to buy the underlying asset from the seller
(writer) of the option. A put option gives the holder the right to sell the
underlying asset to the writer of the option. The writer of the option receives
a payment, or premium, from the buyer, which the writer keeps regardless of
whether the buyer uses (or exercises) the option.
The Fund may:
o write call options on all or any portion of its portfolio to generate
revenue for the Fund;
o buy put options financial futures contracts including index futures in
anticipation of a decrease in the value of the underlying asset;
o buy put options, including OTC options, on portfolio securities in
anticipation of a decrease in the value of the underlying asset; and
o buy or write options to close out existing options positions.
If a call written by the Fund is exercised, the Fund foregoes any possible
profit from an increase in the market price of the underlying asset over the
exercise price plus the premium received.
When the Fund writes options on futures contracts, it will be subject to margin
requirements similar to those applied to futures contracts.
Although the Fund reserves the right to write covered call options on its entire
portfolio, it will not write such options on more than 25% of its total assets
unless a higher limit is authorized by the Board.
SPECIAL TRANSACTIONS
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS
Repurchase agreements are transactions in which the Fund buys a security from a
dealer or bank and agrees to sell the security back at a mutually agreed upon
time and price. The repurchase price exceeds the sale price, reflecting the
Fund's return on the transaction. This return is unrelated to the interest rate
on the underlying security. The Fund will enter into repurchase agreements only
with banks and other recognized financial institutions, such as securities
dealers, deemed creditworthy by the Adviser.
The Fund's custodian or subcustodian will take possession of the securities
subject to repurchase agreements. The Adviser or subcustodian will monitor the
value of the underlying security each day to ensure that the value of the
security always equals or exceeds the repurchase price.
Repurchase agreements are subject to credit risks.
REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS
Reverse repurchase agreements are repurchase agreements in which the Fund is the
seller (rather than the buyer) of the securities, and agrees to repurchase them
at an agreed upon time and price. A reverse repurchase agreement may be viewed
as a type of borrowing by the Fund. Reverse repurchase agreements are subject to
credit risks. In addition, reverse repurchase agreements create leverage risks
because the Fund must repurchase the underlying security at a higher price,
regardless of the market value of the security at the time of repurchase.
DELAYED DELIVERY TRANSACTIONS
Delayed delivery transactions, including when issued transactions, are
arrangements in which the Fund buys securities for a set price, with payment and
delivery of the securities scheduled for a future time. During the period
between purchase and settlement, no payment is made by the Fund to the issuer
and no interest accrues to the Fund. The Fund records the transaction when it
agrees to buy the securities and reflects their value in determining the price
of its shares. Settlement dates may be a month or more after entering into these
transactions so that the market values of the securities bought may vary from
the purchase prices. Therefore, delayed delivery transactions create market
risks for the Fund. Delayed delivery transactions also involve credit risks in
the event of a counterparty default.
RESTRICTED AND ILLIQUID SECURITIES
The Fund may invest in restricted securities. Restricted securities are any
securities that are subject to restrictions on resale under federal securities
law. Under criteria established by the Directors certain restricted securities
are determined to be liquid. To the extent that restricted securities are not
determined to be liquid the Fund will limit their purchase, together with other
illiquid securities, to 15% of its net assets.
SECURITIES LENDING
The Fund may lend portfolio securities to borrowers that the Adviser deems
creditworthy. In return, the Fund receives cash or liquid securities from the
borrower as collateral. The borrower must furnish additional collateral if the
market value of the loaned securities increases. Also, the borrower must pay the
Fund the equivalent of any dividends or interest received on the loaned
securities.
The Fund will reinvest cash collateral in securities that qualify as an
acceptable investment for the Fund. However, the Fund must pay interest to the
borrower for the use of cash collateral.
Loans are subject to termination at the option of the Fund or the borrower. The
Fund will not have the right to vote on securities while they are on loan, but
it will terminate a loan in anticipation of any important vote. The Fund may pay
administrative and custodial fees in connection with a loan and may pay a
negotiated portion of the interest earned on the cash collateral to a securities
lending agent or broker.
Securities lending activities are subject to market risks and credit risks.
ASSET COVERAGE
In order to secure its obligations in connection with derivatives contracts or
special transactions, the Fund will either own the underlying assets, enter into
an offsetting transaction or set aside readily marketable securities with a
value that equals or exceeds the Fund's obligations. Unless the Fund has other
readily marketable assets to set aside, it cannot trade assets used to secure
such obligations entering into an offsetting derivative contract or terminating
a special transaction. This may cause the Fund to miss favorable trading
opportunities or to realize losses on derivative contracts or special
transactions.
INVESTING IN SECURITIES OF OTHER INVESTMENT COMPANIES
The Fund may invest its assets in securities of other investment companies as an
efficient means of carrying out its investment policies. It should be noted that
investment companies incur certain expenses, such as management fees, and,
therefore, any investment by the Fund in shares of other investment companies
may be subject to such duplicate expenses. At the present time, the Fund expects
that its investments in other investment companies will be limited to shares of
money market funds, including funds affiliated with the Fund's investment
adviser.
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH NONINVESTMENT GRADE SECURITIES
Securities rated below investment grade, also known as junk bonds, generally
entail greater market, credit and liquidity risks than investment grade
securities. For example, their prices are more volatile, economic downturns and
financial setbacks may affect their prices more negatively, and their trading
market may be more limited.
EQUITY SECURITIES INVESTMENT RISKS
There are many factors which may effect an investment in the Fund. The
Fund's principal risks are described in its prospectus. Additional risk factors
are outlined below.
RISKS RELATED TO COMPANY SIZE
Generally, the smaller the market capitalization of a company, the fewer the
number of shares traded daily, the less liquid its stock and the more volatile
its price. Market capitalization is determined by multiplying the number of its
outstanding shares by the current market price per share.
Companies with smaller market capitalizations also tend to have unproven track
records, a limited product or service base and limited access to capital. These
factors also increase risks and make these companies more likely to fail than
larger, well capitalized companies.
CURRENCY RISKS
Exchange rates for currencies fluctuate daily. The combination of currency risk
and market risk tends to make securities traded in foreign markets more volatile
than securities traded exclusively in the U.S.
The Adviser attempts to manage currency risk by limiting the amount the Fund
invests in securities denominated in a particular currency. However,
diversification will not protect the Fund against a general increase in the
value of the U.S. dollar relative to other currencies.
EURO RISKS
The Fund may make significant investments in securities denominated in the Euro,
the new single currency of the European Monetary Union (EMU). Therefore, the
exchange rate between the Euro and the U.S. dollar will have a significant
impact on the value of the Fund's investments.
With the advent of the Euro, the participating countries in the EMU can no
longer follow independent monetary policies. This may limit these countries'
ability to respond to economic downturns or political upheavals, and
consequently reduce the value of their foreign government securities.
RISKS OF FOREIGN INVESTING
Foreign securities pose additional risks because foreign economic or political
conditions may be less favorable that those of the United States. Securities in
foreign markets may also be subject to taxation policies that reduce returns for
U.S. investors.
Foreign countries may have restrictions on foreign ownership or may impose
exchange controls, capital flow restrictions or repatriation restrictions which
could adversely affect the Fund's investments.
Foreign financial markets may have fewer investor protections than U.S. markets.
For instance, there may be less publicly available information about foreign
companies, and the information that is available may be difficult to obtain or
may not be current. In addition, foreign countries may lack financial controls
and reporting standards, or regulatory requirements, comparable to those
applicable to U.S. companies.
Due to these risk factors, foreign securities may be more volatile and less
liquid than similar securities traded in the U.S.
RISKS OF INVESTING IN EMERGING MARKET COUNTRIES
Securities issued or traded in emerging markets generally entail greater risks
than securities issued or traded in developed markets. For example, their prices
may be significantly more volatile than prices in developed countries. Emerging
market economies may also experience more severe downturns (with corresponding
currency devaluations) than developed economies.
Emerging market countries may have relatively unstable governments and may
present the risk of nationalization of businesses, expropriation, confiscatory
taxation or, in certain instances, reversion to closed market, centrally planned
economies.
CREDIT RISKS
Credit risk includes the possibility that a party to a transaction involving the
Fund will fail to meet its obligations. This could cause the Fund to lose the
benefit of the transaction or prevent the Fund from selling or buying other
securities to implement its investment strategy.
FIXED INCOME INVESTMENT RISKS
There are many factors which may effect an investment in the Fund. The Fund's
principal risks are described in its respective prospectuses. Additional risk
factors are outlined below.
BOND MARKET RISKS
Prices of fixed income securities rise and fall in response to interest rate
changes for similar securities. Generally, when interest rates rise, prices of
fixed income securities fall.
Interest rate changes have a greater effect on the price of fixed income
securities with longer durations. Duration measures the price sensitivity of a
fixed income security to changes in interest rates.
CREDIT RISKS
Credit risk is the possibility that an issuer will default on a security by
failing to pay interest or principal when due. If an issuer defaults, the Fund
will lose money.
Many fixed income securities receive credit ratings from services such as
Standard & Poor's and Moody's Investor Services, Inc. These services assign
ratings to securities by assessing the likelihood of issuer default. Lower
credit ratings correspond to higher credit risk. If a security has not received
a rating, the Fund must rely entirely upon the Adviser's credit assessment.
Fixed income securities generally compensate for greater credit risk by paying
interest at a higher rate. The difference between the yield of a security and
the yield of a U.S. Treasury security with a comparable maturity (the spread)
measures the additional interest paid for risk. Spreads may increase generally
in response to adverse economic or market conditions. A security's spread may
also increase if the security's rating is lowered, or the security is perceived
to have an increased credit risk. An increase in the spread will cause the price
of the security to decline.
Credit risk includes the possibility that a party to a transaction involving the
Fund will fail to meet its obligations. This could cause the Fund to lose the
benefit of the transaction or prevent the Fund from selling or buying other
securities to implement its investment strategy.
CALL RISKS
Call risk is the possibility that an issuer may redeem a fixed income security
before maturity (a call) at a price below its current market price. An increase
in the likelihood of a call may reduce the security's price.
If a fixed income security is called, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds
in other fixed income securities with lower interest rates, higher credit risks,
or other less favorable characteristics.
LIQUIDITY RISKS
Trading opportunities are more limited for fixed income securities that have not
received any credit ratings, have received ratings below investment grade or are
not widely held. Trading opportunities are more limited for CMOs that have
complex terms or that are not widely held. These features may make it more
difficult to sell or buy a security at a favorable price or time. Consequently,
the Fund may have to accept a lower price to sell a security, sell other
securities to raise cash or give up an investment opportunity, any of which
could have a negative effect on the Fund's performance. Infrequent trading of
securities may also lead to an increase in their price volatility.
Liquidity risk also refers to the possibility that the Fund may not be able to
sell a security or close out a derivative contract when it wants to. If this
happens, the Fund will be required to continue to hold the security or keep the
position open, and the Fund could incur losses.
OTC derivative contracts generally carry greater liquidity risk than
exchange-traded contracts.
SECTOR RISKS
A substantial part of the Fund's portfolio may be comprised of securities issued
or credit enhanced by companies in similar businesses, or with other similar
characteristics. As a result, the Fund will be more susceptible to any economic,
business, political, or other developments which generally affect these issuers.
EURO RISKS
The Fund may make significant investments in securities denominated in the Euro,
the new single currency of the European Monetary Union (EMU). Therefore, the
exchange rate between the Euro and the U.S. dollar will have a significant
impact on the value of the Fund's investments.
With the advent of the Euro, the participating countries in the EMU can no
longer follow independent monetary policies. This may limit these countries'
ability to respond to economic downturns or political upheavals, and
consequently reduce the value of their foreign government securities.
LEVERAGE RISKS
Leverage risk is created when an investment exposes the Fund to a level of risk
that exceeds the amount invested. Changes in the value of such an investment
magnify the Fund's risk of loss and potential for gain.
FUNDAMENTAL POLICIES
The following investment policies cannot be changed without shareholder
approval.
The Fund will seek to achieve its investment objectives by investing primarily
in common stocks, preferred stocks, units of participation in master limited
partnerships which are traded on national securities exchanges, securities
convertible into stock, and debt securities issued by companies in the utilities
industry. Under normal conditions, the Fund will invest at least 65% of its
total assets in securities issued by companies in the utilities industry, which
include companies engaged in the production, transmission, or distribution of
electric energy or gas, or in communications facilities such as telephone or
telegraph services.
Debt obligations in the portfolio, at the time they are purchased, shall be
limited to those which fall in one or the following categories: (i) rated
investment grade by either Moody's Investor Services, Inc. (Moody's ) or
Standard & Poor's (S&P) or (ii) determined by the Investment Adviser to be of
investment grade and not rated by either of the aforementioned rating services,
or (iii) the subordinated debt of issuers whose senior debt obligations are
deemed to be investment grade by either of the aforementioned rating services.
These subordinated debt securities may be unrated or rated below investment
grade by Moody's or S&P.
For temporary or defensive purposes, the Fund may be primarily invested in
short-term money market instruments including certificates of deposit,
obligations issued or guaranteed by they United States government or its
agencies or instrumentalities, commercial paper rated not lower than A-1 by S&P
or Prime-1 by Moody's or repurchase agreements.
INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS
CONCENTRATION OF INVESTMENTS
The Fund will not invest more than 25% of its total assets (valued at
the time of investment) in securities of companies engaged principally
in any one industry other than the utilities industry, except that this
restriction does not apply to cash or cash items and securities issued
or guaranteed by the United States government or its agencies or
instrumentalities.
SELLING SHORT AND BUYING ON MARGIN
The Fund will not purchase securities on margin, or make short sales of
securities, except for the use of short-term credit necessary for the
clearance of purchases and sales of portfolio securities.
ISSUING SENIOR SECURITIES AND BORROWING MONEY
The Fund will not borrow money, issue senior securities, or pledge
assets, except that under certain circumstances the Fund may borrow
money and engage in reverse repurchase transactions in amounts up to
one-third of the value of its net assets, including the amounts
borrowed, and pledge up to 10% of the value of those assets to secure
such borrowings.
The Fund will not borrow money or engage in reverse repurchase
agreements for investment leverage, but rather as a temporary,
extraordinary, or emergency measure to facilitate management of the
portfolio by enabling the Fund to meet redemption requests when the
liquidation of portfolio securities is deemed to be inconvenient or
disadvantageous. During the period any reverse repurchase agreements are
outstanding, but only to the extent necessary to assure completion of
the reverse repurchase agreements, the Fund will restrict the purchase
of portfolio instruments to money market instruments maturing on or
before the expiration date of the reverse repurchase agreements.
PLEDGING ASSETS
The Fund will not pledge, mortgage, or hypothecate its assets, except to
secure permitted borrowings. In those cases, it may pledge, mortgage, or
hypothecate up to 10% of the value of assets to secure such borrowings
(the deposit in escrow of securities in connection with the writing of
call options or collateralizing loans of securities is not deemed to be
a pledge or hypothecation for any purpose).
The preceding limitations regarding buying on margin, borrowing money, and
pledging assets do not apply to intra-day cash advances made by the Fund's
custodian, or the grant of a security interest in securities by the Fund to its
custodian to collateralize such intra-day cash advances in order to enable the
Fund to settle securities purchases or to redeem shares of the Fund.
UNDERWRITING
The Fund will not underwrite any issue of securities, except as it may
deemed to be an underwriter under the Securities Act of 1933 in
connection with the sale of restricted securities which the Fund may
purchase pursuant to its investment objectives, policies, and
limitations.
DIVERSIFICATION OF INVESTMENTS
With respect to securities comprising 75% of the value of its total
assets, the Fund will not purchase securities of any one issuer (other
than cash, cash items, securities issued or guaranteed by the government
of the United States or its agencies or instrumentalities and repurchase
agreements collateralized by such U.S. government securities, and
securities of other investment companies) if as a result more than 5% of
the value of its total assets would be invested in the securities of
that issuer, or it would own more than 10% of the outstanding voting
securities of that issuer.
LENDING CASH OR SECURITIES
The Fund will not lend any of its assets except portfolio securities up
to one-third of the value of its total assets. This shall not prevent
the purchase or holding of corporate bonds, debentures, notes,
certificates of indebtedness or other debt securities of an issuer,
repurchase agreements, or other transactions which are permitted by the
Fund's investment objectives and policies.
WRITING COVERED CALL OPTIONS
The Fund will not write call options on securities unless the securities
are held in the Fund's portfolio or unless the Fund is entitled to them
in deliverable form without further payment or after segregating cash in
the amount of any further payment.
INVESTING IN REAL ESTATE
The Fund will not purchase or sell real estate or any interest therein,
except that the Fund may invest in securities secured by real estate or
interests therein, such as mortgage pass-throughs, pay-throughs,
collateralized mortgage obligations, and securities issued by companies
that invest in real estate or interests therein. The Fund will not invest
in limited partnerships investing in real estate or real estate
investments.
INVESTING IN COMMODITIES
The Fund will not purchase or sell commodities or commodity contracts.
The above limitations cannot be changed unless authorized by the "vote of a
majority of its outstanding voting securities," as defined by the Investment
Company Act. The following limitation, however, may be changed by the Board
without shareholder approval. Shareholders will be notified before any material
change in this limitation becomes effective.
PURCHASING SECURITIES TO EXERCISE CONTROL
The Fund will not invest for the purpose of exercising control over or
management of any company.
If a percentage restriction set forth above is adhered to at the time a
transaction is effected, later changes in percentage resulting from changes in
value or in the number of outstanding securities of an issuer will not be
considered a violation.
The Fund will not purchase any securities while borrowings in excess of 5% of
the value of its total assets are outstanding.
The Fund did not borrow money or invest in reverse repurchase agreements in
excess of 5% of the value of its net assets during the last fiscal year and has
no present intention to do so in the current fiscal year.
For purposes of its policies and limitations, the Fund considers certificates of
deposit and demand and time deposits issued by a U.S. branch of a domestic bank
or savings association having capital, surplus, and undivided profits in excess
of $100,000,000 at the time of investment to be "cash items." In addition,
consistent with its policies and limitations, the Fund may purchase put options
on financial futures contracts including index futures.
DETERMINING MARKET VALUE OF SECURITIES
Market values of the Fund's portfolio securities are determined as follows:
for equity securities, according to the last sale price in the market in
which they are primarily traded (either a national securities exchange or the
over-the-counter market), if available;
in the absence of recorded sales for equity securities, according to the
mean between the last closing bid and asked prices;
for bonds and other fixed income securities, at the last sale price on a
national securities exchange, if available, otherwise, as determined by an
independent pricing service;
o futures contracts and options are valued at market values established by the
exchanges on which they are traded at the close of trading on such exchanges.
Options traded in the over-the-counter market are valued according to the
mean between the last bid and the last asked price for the option as provided
by an investment dealer or other financial institution that deals in the
option. The Board may determine in good faith that another method of valuing
such investments is necessary to appraise their fair market value;
for short-term obligations, according to the mean between bid and asked
prices as furnished by an independent pricing service, except that short-term
obligations with remaining maturities of less than 60 days at the time of
purchase may be valued at amortized cost or at fair market value as
determined in good faith by the Board; and
for all other securities, at fair value as determined in good faith by the
Board.
Prices provided by independent pricing services may be determined without
relying exclusively on quoted prices and may consider: institutional trading in
similar groups of securities, yield, quality, stability, risk, coupon rate,
maturity, type of issue, trading characteristics, and other market data or
factors. From time to time, when prices cannot be obtained from an independent
pricing service, securities may be valued based on quotes from broker-dealers or
other financial institutions that trade the securities.
TRADING IN FOREIGN SECURITIES
Trading in foreign securities may be completed at times which vary from the
closing of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). In computing its NAV, the Fund
values foreign securities at the latest closing price on the exchange on which
they are traded immediately prior to the closing of the NYSE. Certain foreign
currency exchange rates may also be determined at the latest rate prior to the
closing of the NYSE. Foreign securities quoted in foreign currencies are
translated into U.S. dollars at current rates. Occasionally, events that affect
these values and exchange rates may occur between the times at which they are
determined and the closing of the NYSE. If such events materially affect the
value of portfolio securities, these securities may be valued at their fair
value as determined in good faith by the Fund's Board, although the actual
calculation may be done by others.
WHAT DO SHARES COST?
The Fund's net asset value (NAV) per Share fluctuates and is based on the market
value of all securities and other assets of the Fund.
The NAV for each class of Shares may differ due to the variance in daily net
income realized by each class. Such variance will reflect only accrued net
income to which the shareholders of a particular class are entitled.
REDUCING OR ELIMINATING THE FRONT-END SALES CHARGE
You can reduce or eliminate the applicable front-end sales charge, as follows.
QUANTITY DISCOUNTS
Larger purchases of the same Share class reduce or eliminate the sales charge
you pay. You can combine purchases of Shares made on the same day by you, your
spouse, and your children under age 21. In addition, purchases made at one time
by a trustee or fiduciary for a single trust estate or a single fiduciary
account can be combined.
ACCUMULATED PURCHASES
If you make an additional purchase of Shares, you can count previous Share
purchases still invested in the Fund in calculating the applicable sales charge
on the additional purchase.
CONCURRENT PURCHASES
You can combine concurrent purchases of the same Share class of two or more
Federated Funds in calculating the applicable sales charge.
LETTER OF INTENT - CLASS A SHARES AND CLASS F SHARES
You can sign a Letter of Intent committing to purchase a certain amount of the
same class of Shares within a 13 month period to combine such purchases in
calculating the sales charge. The Fund's custodian will hold Shares in escrow
equal to the maximum applicable sales charge. If you complete the Letter of
Intent, the Custodian will release the Shares in escrow to your account. If you
do not fulfill the Letter of Intent, the Custodian will redeem the appropriate
amount from the Shares held in escrow to pay the sales charges that were not
applied to your purchases.
REINVESTMENT PRIVILEGE
You may reinvest, within 120 days, your Share redemption proceeds at the next
determined NAV, without any sales charge.
PURCHASES BY AFFILIATES OF THE FUND
The following individuals and their immediate family members may buy Shares at
NAV without any sales charge because there are nominal sales efforts associated
with their purchases:
o the Directors, employees, and sales representatives of the Fund, the
Adviser, the Distributor and their affiliates;
o Employees of State Street Bank Pittsburgh who started their employment on
January 1, 1998, and were employees of Federated Investors, Inc.
(Federated) on December 31, 1997;
o any associated person of an investment dealer who has a sales agreement
with the Distributor; and
o trusts, pension or profit-sharing plans for these individuals.
FEDERATED LIFE MEMBERS
Shareholders of the Fund known as "Federated Life Members" are exempt from
paying any front-end sales charge. These shareholders joined the Fund
originally:
o through the "Liberty Account," an account for Liberty Family of Funds
shareholders on February 28, 1987 (the Liberty Account and Liberty Family
of Funds are no longer marketed); or
o as Liberty Account shareholders by investing through an affinity group
prior to August 1, 1987.
REDUCING OR ELIMINATING THE CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE
These reductions or eliminations are offered because: no sales commissions have
been advanced to the investment professional selling Share; the shareholder has
already paid a Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (CDSC); or nominal sales efforts
are associated with the original purchase of Shares.
Upon notification to the Distributor or the Fund's transfer agent, no CDSC will
be imposed on redemptions:
o following the death or post-purchase disability, as defined in Section
72(m)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, of the last surviving
shareholder;
o representing minimum required distributions from an Individual Retirement
Account or other retirement plan to a shareholder who has attained the age
of 70-1/2;
o representing a total or partial distribution from a qualified plan. A total
or partial distribution does not include an account transfer, rollover or
other redemption made for purposes of reinvestment. A qualified plan does
not include an Individual Retirement Account, Keogh Plan, or a custodial
account, following retirement;
o which are involuntary redemptions processed by the Fund because the
accounts do not meet the minimum balance requirements;
o which are qualifying redemptions of Class B Shares under a Systematic
Withdrawal Program;
o of Shares that represent a reinvestment within 120 days of a previous
redemption;
o of Shares held by the Directors, employees, and sales representatives of
the Fund, the Adviser, the Distributor and their affiliates; employees of
any investment professional that sells Shares according to a sales
agreement with the Distributor; and the immediate family members of the
above persons; and
o of Shares originally purchased through a bank trust department, a registered
investment adviser or retirement plans where the third party administrator
has entered into certain arrangements with the Distributor or its affiliates,
or any other investment professional, to the extent that no payments were
advanced for purchases made through these entities.
HOW IS THE FUND SOLD?
Under the Distributor's Contract with the Fund, the Distributor (Federated
Securities Corp.), located at Federated Investors Tower, 1001 Liberty Avenue,
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779, offers Shares on a continuous, best-efforts basis.
FRONT-END SALES CHARGE REALLOWANCES
The Distributor receives a front-end sales charge on certain Share sales. The
Distributor generally pays up to 90% (and as much as 100%) of this charge to
investment professionals for sales and/or administrative services. Any payments
to investment professionals in excess of 90% of the front-end sales charge are
considered supplemental payments. The Distributor retains any portion not paid
to an investment professional.
RULE 12B-1 PLAN (CLASS B AND C SHARES)
As a compensation-type plan, the Rule 12b-1 Plan is designed to pay the
Distributor (who may then pay investment professionals such as banks,
broker/dealers, trust departments of banks, and registered investment advisers)
for marketing activities (such as advertising, printing and distributing
prospectuses, and providing incentives to investment professionals) to promote
sales of Shares so that overall Fund assets are maintained or increased. This
helps the Fund achieve economies of scale, reduce per share expenses, and
provide cash for orderly portfolio management and Share redemptions. Also, the
Fund's service providers that receive asset-based fees also benefit from stable
or increasing Fund assets.
The Fund may compensate the Distributor more or less than its actual marketing
expenses. In no event will the Fund pay for any expenses of the Distributor that
exceed the maximum Rule 12b-1 Plan fee.
For some classes of Shares, the maximum Rule 12b-1 Plan fee that can be paid in
any one year may not be sufficient to cover the marketing related expenses the
Distributor has incurred. Therefore, it may take the Distributor a number of
years to recoup these expenses.
Federated and its subsidiaries may benefit from arrangements where the Rule
12b-1 Plan fees related to Class B Shares may be paid to third-parties who have
advanced commissions to investment professionals.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
The Fund may pay Federated Shareholder Services Company, a subsidiary of
Federated, for providing shareholder services and maintaining shareholder
accounts. Federated Shareholder Services Company may select others to perform
these services for their customers and may pay them fees.
SUPPLEMENTAL PAYMENTS
Investment professionals may be paid fees out of the assets of the Distributor
and/or Federated Shareholder Services Company (but not out of Fund assets). The
Distributor and/or Federated Shareholder Services Company may be reimbursed by
the Adviser or its affiliates.
Investment professionals receive such fees for providing distribution-related or
shareholder services such as sponsoring sales, providing sales literature,
conducting training seminars for employees, and engineering sales-related
computer software programs and systems. Also, investment professionals may be
paid cash or promotional incentives, such as reimbursement of certain expenses
relating to attendance at informational meetings about the Fund or other special
events at recreational-type facilities, or items of material value. These
payments will be based upon the amount of Shares the investment professional
sells or may sell and/or upon the type and nature of sales or marketing support
furnished by the investment professional.
When an investment professional's customer purchases shares, the investment
professional may receive:
o an amount equal to 0.50% of the NAV of Class A Shares under certain
qualified retirement plans as approved by the Distributor. (Such payments
are subject to a reclaim from the investment professional should the assets
leave the program within 12 months after purchase.)
o an amount up to 5.50% and 1.00%, respectively, of the NAV of Class B and C
Shares.
o an amount on the NAV of Class F Shares purchased as follows: up to 1% on
purchases below $2 million; 0.50% on purchases from $2 million but below $5
million; and 0.25% on purchases of $5 million or more.
In addition, the Distributor may pay investment professionals 0.25% of the
purchase price of $1 million or more of Class A and Class F Shares that its
customer has not redeemed over the first year.
CLASS A SHARES
Investment professionals purchasing Class A Shares for their customers are
eligible to receive an advance payment from the Distributor based on the
following breakpoints:
AMOUNT ADVANCE PAYMENTS AS A PERCENTAGE OF PUBLIC
OFFERING PRICE
First $1 - $5 0.75%
million
Next $5 - $20 0.50%
million
Over $20 million 0.25%
For accounts with assets over $1 million, the dealer advance payments resets
annually to the first breakpoint on the anniversary of the first purchase.
Class A Share purchases under this program may be made by Letter of Intent or by
combining concurrent purchases. The above advance payments will be paid only on
those purchases that were not previously subject to a front-end sales charge and
dealer advance payments. Certain retirement accounts may not be eligible for
this program.
A contingent deferred sales charge of 0.75% of the redemption amount applies to
Class A Shares redeemed up to 24 months after purchase. The CDSC does not apply
under certain investment programs where the investment professional does not
receive an advance payment on the transaction including, but not limited to,
trust accounts and wrap programs where the investor pays an account level fee
for investment management.
CLASS F SHARES
Investment professionals purchasing Class F Shares for their customers are
eligible to receive an advance payment from the distributor of 0.25% of the
purchase price.
SUBACCOUNTING SERVICES
Certain investment professionals may wish to use the transfer agent's
subaccounting system to minimize their internal recordkeeping requirements. The
transfer agent may charge a fee based on the level of subaccounting services
rendered. Investment professionals holding Shares in a fiduciary, agency,
custodial, or similar capacity may charge or pass through subaccounting fees as
part of or in addition to normal trust or agency account fees. They may also
charge fees for other services that may be related to the ownership of Shares.
This information should, therefore, be read together with any agreement between
the customer and the investment professional about the services provided, the
fees charged for those services, and any restrictions and limitations imposed.
REDEMPTION IN KIND
Although the Fund intends to pay Share redemptions in cash, it reserves the
right, as described below, to pay the redemption price in whole or in part by a
distribution of the Fund's portfolio securities.
Because the Fund has elected to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, the Fund is obligated to pay Share redemptions to any one
shareholder in cash only up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the net assets
represented by such Share class during any 90-day period.
Any Share redemption payment greater than this amount will also be in cash
unless the Fund's Board determines that payment should be in kind. In such a
case, the Fund will pay all or a portion of the remainder of the redemption in
portfolio securities, valued in the same way as the Fund determines its NAV. The
portfolio securities will be selected in a manner that the Fund's Board deems
fair and equitable and, to the extent available, such securities will be readily
marketable.
Redemption in kind is not as liquid as a cash redemption. If redemption is made
in kind, shareholders receiving the portfolio securities and selling them before
their maturity could receive less than the redemption value of the securities
and could incur certain transaction costs.
ACCOUNT AND SHARE INFORMATION
VOTING RIGHTS
Each share of the Fund gives the shareholder one vote in Director elections and
other matters submitted to shareholders for vote. All Shares of the Fund have
equal voting rights, except that in matters affecting only a particular class,
only Shares of that class are entitled to vote.
Directors may be removed by the Board or by shareholders at a special meeting. A
special meeting of shareholders will be called by the Board upon the written
request of shareholders who own at least 10% of the Fund's outstanding shares.
As of February 8, 1999, the following shareholders owned of record,
beneficially, or both, 5% or more of outstanding Class B Shares: Merill Lynch
Pierce Fenner & Smith (as record owner holding Class B Shares for its clients),
Jacksonville, Florida, owned approximately 1,061,196 Shares (9.36%).
As of February 8, 1999, the following shareholders owned of record,
beneficially, or both, 5% or more of outstanding Class C Shares: Merill Lynch
Pierce Fenner & Smith (as record owner holding Class C Shares for its clients),
Jacksonville, Florida, owned approximately 1,340,202 Shares (28.75%).
As of February 8, 1999, the following shareholders owned of record,
beneficially, or both, 5% or more of outstanding Class F Shares: Merill Lynch
Pierce Fenner & Smith (as record owner holding Class F Shares for its clients),
Jacksonville, Florida, owned approximately 10,041,153 Shares (22.18%).
Shareholders owning 25% or more of outstanding Shares may be in control and be
able to affect the outcome of certain matters presented for a vote of
shareholders.
TAX INFORMATION
FEDERAL INCOME TAX
The Fund intends to meet requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue
Code applicable to regulated investment companies. If these requirements are not
met, it will not receive special tax treatment and will pay federal income tax.
FOREIGN INVESTMENTS
If the Fund purchases foreign securities, their investment income may be subject
to foreign withholding or other taxes that could reduce the return on these
securities. Tax treaties between the United States and foreign countries,
however, may reduce or eliminate the amount of foreign taxes to which the Fund
would be subject. The effective rate of foreign tax cannot be predicted since
the amount of Fund assets to be invested within various countries is uncertain.
However, the Fund intends to operate so as to qualify for treaty-reduced tax
rates when applicable.
Distributions from a Fund may be based on estimates of book income for the year.
Book income generally consists solely of the coupon income generated by the
portfolio, whereas tax basis income includes gains or losses attributable to
currency fluctuation. Due to differences in the book and tax treatment of fixed
income securities denominated in foreign currencies, it is difficult to project
currency effects on an interim basis. Therefore, to the extent that currency
fluctuations cannot be anticipated, a portion of distributions to shareholders
could later be designated as a return of capital, rather than income, for income
tax purposes, which may be of particular concern to simple trusts.
If the Fund invests in the stock of certain foreign corporations, they may
constitute Passive Foreign Investment Companies (PFIC), and the Fund may be
subject to Federal income taxes upon disposition of PFIC investments.
If more than 50% of the value of the Fund's assets at the end of the tax year is
represented by stock or securities of foreign corporations, the Fund intends to
qualify for certain Code stipulations that would allow shareholders to claim a
foreign tax credit or deduction on their U.S. income tax returns. The Code may
limit a shareholder's ability to claim a foreign tax credit. Shareholders who
elect to deduct their portion of the Fund's foreign taxes rather than take the
foreign tax credit must itemize deductions on their income tax returns.
WHO MANAGES AND PROVIDES SERVICES TO THE FUND?
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board is responsible for managing the Fund's business affairs and for
exercising all the Fund's powers except those reserved for the shareholders.
Information about each Board member is provided below and includes each
person's: name, address, birthdate, present position(s) held with the Fund,
principal occupations for the past five years and positions held prior to the
past five years, total compensation received as a Director from the Fund for its
most recent fiscal year, and the total compensation received from the Federated
Fund Complex for the most recent calendar year. The Fund is comprised of one
fund and the Federated Fund Complex is comprised of 54 investment companies,
whose investment advisers are affiliated with the Fund's Adviser.
As of February 8, 1999, the Fund's Board and Officers as a group owned less than
1% of the Fund's outstanding Class A, B, C, and F Shares.
An asterisk (*) denotes a Director who is deemed to be an interested person as
defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940. The following symbol (#) denotes
a Member of the Board's Executive Committee, which handles the Board's
responsibilities between its meetings.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AGGREGATE TOTAL
BIRTHDATE COMPENSATION COMPENSATION
ADDRESS PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS FROM FUND FROM FUND
POSITION WITH FUND FOR PAST 5 YEARS AND FUND COMPLEX
<S> <C> <C> <C>
JOHN F. DONAHUE*+ Chief Executive Officer and Director or $0 $0 for the
Birthdate: July 28, 1924 Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex; Fund and
Federated Investors Chairman and Director, Federated Investors, 54 other
Tower Inc.; Chairman and Trustee, Federated investment
1001 Liberty Avenue Advisers, Federated Management, and companies
Pittsburgh, PA Federated Research; Chairman and Director, in the Fund
CHAIRMAN AND DIRECTOR Federated Research Corp., and Federated Complex
Global Management Corp.; Chairman, Passport
Research, Ltd.
THOMAS G. BIGLEY Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund $ $113,860.22 for
Birthdate: February 3, Complex; Director, Member of Executive the
1934 Committee, Children's Hospital of Fund and
15 Old Timber Trail Pittsburgh; formerly: Senior Partner, Ernst 54 other
Pittsburgh, PA & Young LLP; Director, MED 3000 Group, investment
DIRECTOR Inc.; Director, Member of Executive companies
Committee, University of Pittsburgh. in the Fund
Complex
JOHN T. CONROY, JR. Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund $ $125,264.48 for
Birthdate: June 23, 1937 Complex; President, Investment Properties the
Wood/IPC Commercial Corporation; Senior Vice President, Fund and
Dept. John R. Wood and Associates, Inc., 54 other
John R. Wood Realtors; Partner or Trustee in private investment
Associates, Inc. real estate ventures in Southwest Florida; companies
Realtors formerly: President, Naples Property in the Fund
3255 Tamiami Trial Management, Inc. and Northgate Village Complex
North Naples, FL Development Corporation.
DIRECTOR
NICHOLAS CONSTANTAKIS Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund $ $47,958.02 for
Birthdate: September 3, Complex; formerly: Partner, Andersen the
1939 Worldwide SC. Fund and
175 Woodshire Drive 29 other
Pittsburgh, PA investment
DIRECTOR companies
in the Fund
Complex
JOHN F. CUNNINGHAM Director or Trustee of some of the $ $0 for the
Birthdate: March 5, 1943 Federated Funds; Chairman, President and Fund and
353 El Brillo Way Chief Executive Officer, Cunningham & Co., 26 other
Palm Beach, FL Inc. ; Trustee Associate, Boston College; investment
DIRECTOR Director, EMC Corporation; formerly: companies
Director, Redgate Communications. in the Fund
Complex
Previous Positions: Chairman of the Board
and Chief Executive Officer, Computer
Consoles, Inc.; President and Chief
Operating Officer, Wang Laboratories;
Director, First National Bank of Boston;
Director, Apollo Computer, Inc.
LAWRENCE D. ELLIS, M.D.* Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund $ $113,860.22 for
Birthdate: October 11, Complex; Professor of Medicine, University the
1932 of Pittsburgh; Medical Director, University Fund and
3471 Fifth Avenue of Pittsburgh Medical Center - Downtown; 54 other
Suite 1111 Hematologist, Oncologist, and Internist, investment
Pittsburgh, PA University of Pittsburgh Medical Center; companies
DIRECTOR Member, National Board of Trustees, in the Fund
Leukemia Society of America. Complex
PETER E. MADDEN Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund $ $113,860.22 for
Birthdate: March 16, Complex; formerly: Representative, the
1942 Commonwealth of Massachusetts General Fund and
One Royal Palm Way Court; President, State Street Bank and 54 other
100 Royal Palm Way Trust Company and State Street Corporation. investment
Palm Beach, FL companies
DIRECTOR Previous Positions: Director, VISA USA and in the Fund
VISA International; Chairman and Director, Complex
Massachusetts Bankers Association;
Director, Depository Trust Corporation.
CHARLES F. MANSFIELD, Director or Trustee of some of the $ $0 for the
JR. Federated Funds; Management Consultant. Fund and
Birthdate: April 10, 26 other
1945 Previous Positions: Chief Executive investment
80 South Road Officer, PBTC International Bank; Chief companies
Westhampton Beach, NY Financial Officer of Retail Banking Sector, in the Fund
DIRECTOR Chase Manhattan Bank; Senior Vice Complex
President, Marine Midland Bank; Vice
President, Citibank; Assistant Professor of
Banking and Finance, Frank G. Zarb School
of Business, Hofstra University.
JOHN E. MURRAY, JR., Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund $ $113,860.22 for
J.D., S.J.D. Complex; President, Law Professor, Duquesne the
Birthdate: December 20, University; Consulting Partner, Mollica & Fund and
1932 Murray. 54 other
President, Duquesne investment
University Previous Positions: Dean and Professor of companies
Pittsburgh, PA Law, University of Pittsburgh School of in the Fund
DIRECTOR Law; Dean and Professor of Law, Villanova Complex
University School of Law.
MARJORIE P. SMUTS Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund $ $113,860.22 for
Birthdate: June 21, 1935 Complex; Public the
4905 Bayard Street Relations/Marketing/Conference Planning. Fund and
Pittsburgh, PA 54 other
DIRECTOR Previous Positions: National Spokesperson, investment
Aluminum Company of America; business owner. companies
in the Fund
Complex
JOHN S. WALSH Director or Trustee of some of the $ $0 for the
Birthdate: November 28, Federated Funds; President and Director, Fund and
1957 Heat Wagon, Inc.; President and Director, 23 other
2007 Sherwood Drive Manufacturers Products, Inc.; President, investment
Valparaiso, IN Portable Heater Parts, a division of companies
DIRECTOR Manufacturers Products, Inc.; Director, in the Fund
Walsh & Kelly, Inc.; formerly: Vice Complex
President, Walsh & Kelly, Inc.
J. CHRISTOPHER DONAHUE+ President or Executive Vice President of $0 $0 for the
Birthdate: April 11, the Federated Fund Complex; Director or Fund and
1949 Trustee of some of the Funds in the 16 other
Federated Investors Federated Fund Complex; President and investment
Tower Director, Federated Investors, Inc.; companies
1001 Liberty Avenue President and Trustee, Federated Advisers, in the Fund
Pittsburgh, PA Federated Management, and Federated Complex
EXECUTIVE VICE Research; President and Director, Federated
PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR Research Corp. and Federated Global
Management Corp.; President, Passport
Research, Ltd.; Trustee, Federated
Shareholder Services Company; Director,
Federated Services Company.
EDWARD C. GONZALES Trustee or Director of some of the Funds in $0 $0 for the
Birthdate: October 22, the Federated Fund Complex; President, Fund and
1930 Executive Vice President and Treasurer of 1 other
Federated Investors some of the Funds in the Federated Fund investment
Tower Complex; Vice Chairman, Federated company
1001 Liberty Avenue Investors, Inc.; Vice President, Federated in the Fund
Pittsburgh, PA Advisers, Federated Management, Federated Complex
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Research, Federated Research Corp.,
Federated Global Management Corp. and
Passport Research, Ltd.; Executive Vice
President and Director, Federated
Securities Corp.; Trustee, Federated
Shareholder Services Company.
JOHN W. MCGONIGLE Executive Vice President and Secretary of $0 $0 for the
Birthdate: October 26, the Federated Fund Complex; Executive Vice Fund and
1938 President, Secretary, and Director, 54 other
Federated Investors Federated Investors, Inc.; Trustee, investment
Tower Federated Advisers, Federated Management, companies
1001 Liberty Avenue and Federated Research; Director, Federated in the Fund
Pittsburgh, PA Research Corp. and Federated Global Complex
EXECUTIVE VICE Management Corp.; Director, Federated
PRESIDENT AND SECRETARY Services Company; Director, Federated
Securities Corp.
RICHARD J. THOMAS Treasurer of the Federated Fund Complex; $0 $0 for the
Birthdate: June 17, Vice President - Funds Financial Services Fund and
1954 Division, Federated Investors, Inc.; 54 other
Federated Investors Formerly: various management positions investment
Tower within Funds Financial Services Division of companies
1001 Liberty Avenue Federated Investors, Inc. in the Fund
Pittsburgh, PA Complex
TREASURER
RICHARD B. FISHER* President or Vice President of some of the $0 $0 for the
Birthdate: May 17, 1923 Funds in the Federated Fund Complex; Fund and
Federated Investors Director or Trustee of some of the Funds in 6 other
Tower the Federated Fund Complex; Executive Vice investment
1001 Liberty Avenue President, Federated Investors, Inc.; companies
Pittsburgh, PA Chairman and Director, Federated Securities in the Fund
PRESIDENT Corp. Complex
J. THOMAS MADDEN Chief Investment Officer of this Fund and $0 $0 for the
Birthdate: October 22, various other Funds in the Federated Fund Fund and
1945 Complex; Executive Vice President, 12 other
Federated Investors Federated Investment Counseling, Federated investment
Tower Global Management Corp., Federated companies
1001 Liberty Avenue Advisers, Federated Management, Federated in the Fund
Pittsburgh, PA Research, and Passport Research, Ltd.; Vice Complex
CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER President, Federated Investors, Inc.;
Formerly: Executive Vice President and
Senior Vice President, Federated Investment
Counseling Institutional Portfolio
Management Services Division; Senior Vice
President, Federated Research Corp.,
Federated Advisers, Federated Management,
Federated Research, and Passport Research,
Ltd.
STEVEN J. LEHMAN Steven J. Lehman [has been the Fund's $0 $0 for the
Birthdate: June 16, 1957 portfolio manager since (insert date from Fund and
Federated Investors prospectus). He] is Vice President of the one other
Tower Fund Mr. Lehman joined the Fund's adviser investment
1001 Liberty Avenue in May 1997 as a Portfolio Manager and Vice company
Pittsburgh, PA President. He has been a Senior Portfolio in the Fund
VICE PRESIDENT Manager since 1998. From 1986 to May 1997, Complex
Mr. Lehman served as a Portfolio Manager,
then Vice President/Senior Portfolio
Manager, at First Chicago NBD. Mr. Lehman
is a Chartered Financial Analyst; he
received his M.A. from the University of
Chicago.
</TABLE>
+ Mr. Donahue is the father of J. Christopher Donahue, Executive Vice President
of the Fund.
++ Messrs. Cunningham, Mansfield and Walsh became members of the Board of
Trustees/Directors on April 1, 1999. They did not earn any fees for serving the
Fund Complex since these fees are reported as of the end of the last calendar
year. They did not receive any fees as of the fiscal year end of the Company.
INVESTMENT ADVISER
The Adviser conducts investment research and makes investment decisions for the
Fund.
Passport Research, Ltd. is a Pennsylvania limited partnership. Its general
partner is Federated Advisers, a wholly-owned investment advisory subsidiary of
Federated, with a 50.5% interest. Its limited partner is Edward D. Jones & Co.
L.P., with a 49.5% interest.
The Adviser shall not be liable to the Fund or any Fund shareholder for any
losses that may be sustained in the purchase, holding, or sale of any security
or for anything done or omitted by it, except acts or omissions involving
willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the
duties imposed upon it by its contract with the Fund.
OTHER RELATED SERVICES
Affiliates of the Adviser may, from time to time, provide certain electronic
equipment and software to institutional customers in order to facilitate the
purchase of Fund Shares offered by the Distributor.
BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS
When selecting brokers and dealers to handle the purchase and sale of portfolio
instruments, the Adviser looks for prompt execution of the order at a favorable
price. The Adviser will generally use those who are recognized dealers in
specific portfolio instruments, except when a better price and execution of the
order can be obtained elsewhere. The Adviser may select brokers and dealers
based on whether they also offer research services (as described below). In
selecting among firms believed to meet these criteria, the Adviser may give
consideration to those firms which have sold or are selling Shares of the Fund
and other funds distributed by the Distributor and its affiliates. The Adviser
makes decisions on portfolio transactions and selects brokers and dealers
subject to review by the Fund's Board.
RESEARCH SERVICES
Research services may include advice as to the advisability of investing in
securities; security analysis and reports; economic studies; industry studies;
receipt of quotations for portfolio evaluations; and similar services. Research
services may be used by the Adviser or by affiliates of Federated in advising
other accounts. To the extent that receipt of these services may replace
services for which the Adviser or its affiliates might otherwise have paid, it
would tend to reduce their expenses. The Adviser and its affiliates exercise
reasonable business judgment in selecting those brokers who offer brokerage and
research services to execute securities transactions. They determine in good
faith that commissions charged by such persons are reasonable in relationship to
the value of the brokerage and research services provided.
For the fiscal year ended, February 28, 1999, the Fund's Adviser directed
brokerage transactions to certain brokers due to research services they
provided. The total amount of these transactions was $_______ for which the Fund
paid $_______ in brokerage commissions.
Investment decisions for the Fund are made independently from those of other
accounts managed by the Adviser. When the Fund and one or more of those accounts
invests in, or disposes of, the same security, available investments or
opportunities for sales will be allocated among the Fund and the account(s) in a
manner believed by the Adviser to be equitable. While the coordination and
ability to participate in volume transactions may benefit the Fund, it is
possible that this procedure could adversely impact the price paid or received
and/or the position obtained or disposed of by the Fund.
ADMINISTRATOR
Federated Services Company, a subsidiary of Federated, provides administrative
personnel and services (including certain legal and financial reporting
services) necessary to operate the Fund. Federated Services Company provides
these at the following annual rate of the average aggregate daily net assets of
all Federated Funds as specified below:
MAXIMUM ADMINISTRATIVE AVERAGE AGGREGATE DAILY NET ASSETS OF THE FEDERATED
FEE FUNDS
0.150 of 1% on the first $250 million
0.125 of 1% on the next $250 million
0.100 of 1% on the next $250 million
0.075 of 1% on assets in excess of $750 million
The administrative fee received during any fiscal year shall be at least
$125,000 per portfolio and $30,000 per each additional class of Shares.
Federated Services Company may voluntarily waive a portion of its fee and may
reimburse the Fund for expenses.
Federated Services Company also provides certain accounting and recordkeeping
services with respect to the Fund's portfolio investments for a fee based on
Fund assets plus out-of-pocket expenses.
CUSTODIAN
State Street Bank and Trust Company, Boston, Massachusetts, is custodian for the
securities and cash of the Fund. Foreign instruments purchased by the Fund are
held by foreign banks participating in a network coordinated by State Street
Bank.
TRANSFER AGENT AND DIVIDEND DISBURSING AGENT
Federated Services Company, through its registered transfer agent subsidiary,
Federated Shareholder Services Company, maintains all necessary shareholder
records. The Fund pays the transfer agent a fee based on the size, type, and
number of accounts and transactions made by shareholders.
INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
Ernst & Young LLP is the independent public accountant for the Fund.
FEES PAID BY THE FUND FOR SERVICES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED FEBRUARY 28, 1999 1998 1997
Advisory Fee Earned $ $11,382,447 $10,761,268
Advisory Fee Reduction $ $1,543,801 $1,691,837
Brokerage Commissions $ $3,580,504 $1,371,490
Administrative Fee $ $1,145,447 $1,084,280
12b-1 Fee
Class B Shares $ ---- ----
Class C Shares $ ---- ----
Shareholder Services Fee
Class A Shares $ ---- ----
Class B Shares $ ---- ----
Class C Shares $ ---- ----
Class F Shares $ ---- ----
Fees are allocated among Classes based on their pro rata share of Fund assets,
except for marketing (Rule 12b-1) fees and shareholder services fees, which are
borne only by the applicable Class of Shares.
HOW DOES THE FUND MEASURE PERFORMANCE?
The Fund may advertise Share performance by using the Securities and Exchange
Commission's (SEC) standard method for calculating performance applicable to all
mutual funds. The SEC also permits this standard performance information to be
accompanied by non-standard performance information.
Unless otherwise stated, any quoted Share performance reflects the effect of
non-recurring charges, such as maximum sales charges, which, if excluded, would
increase the total return and yield. The performance of Shares depends upon such
variables as: portfolio quality; average portfolio maturity; type and value of
portfolio securities; changes in interest rates; changes or differences in the
Fund's or any class of Shares' expenses; and various other factors.
Share performance fluctuates on a daily basis largely because net earnings
fluctuate daily. Both net earnings and offering price per Share are factors in
the computation of yield and total return.
AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS AND YIELD
Total returns given for the one-year, five-year and ten-year or since inception
periods ended February 28, 1999.
Yield given for the 30-day period ended February 28, 1999.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
30 -DAY PERIOD 1 YEAR 5 YEARS 10 YEARS SINCE INCEPTION
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
ON 6/5/87
CLASS A SHARES
Total Return NA
Yield NA NA NA NA
30 -DAY PERIOD 1 YEAR 5 YEARS 10 YEARS SINCE INCEPTION
ON 10/12/94
CLASS B SHARES
Total Return NA
Yield NA NA NA NA
30 -DAY PERIOD 1 YEAR 5 YEARS 10 YEARS SINCE INCEPTION
ON 4/30/93
CLASS C SHARES
Total Return NA
Yield NA NA NA NA
30 -DAY PERIOD 1 YEAR 5 YEARS 10 YEARS SINCE INCEPTION
6/1/96
CLASS F SHARES
Total Return NA
Yield NA NA NA NA
TOTAL RETURN
</TABLE>
Total return represents the change (expressed as a percentage) in the value of
Shares over a specific period of time, and includes the investment of income and
capital gains distributions.
The average annual total return for Shares is the average compounded rate of
return for a given period that would equate a $1,000 initial investment to the
ending redeemable value of that investment. The ending redeemable value is
computed by multiplying the number of Shares owned at the end of the period by
the NAV per Share at the end of the period. The number of Shares owned at the
end of the period is based on the number of Shares purchased at the beginning of
the period with $1,000, less any applicable sales charge, adjusted over the
period by any additional Shares, assuming the annual reinvestment of all
dividends and distributions.
YIELD
The yield of Shares is calculated by dividing: (i) the net investment income per
Share earned by the Shares over a 30-day period; by (ii) the maximum offering
price per Share on the last day of the period. This number is then annualized
using semi-annual compounding. This means that the amount of income generated
during the 30-day period is assumed to be generated each month over a 12-month
period and is reinvested every six months. The yield does not necessarily
reflect income actually earned by Shares because of certain adjustments required
by the SEC and, therefore, may not correlate to the dividends or other
distributions paid to shareholders.
To the extent investment professionals and broker/dealers charge fees in
connection with services provided in conjunction with an investment in Shares,
the Share performance is lower for shareholders paying those fees.
To the extent investment professionals and broker/dealers charge fees in
connection with services provided in conjunction with an investment in Shares,
the Share performance is lower for shareholders paying those fees.
PERFORMANCE COMPARISONS
Advertising and sales literature may include:
o references to ratings, rankings, and financial publications and/or
performance comparisons of Shares to certain indices;
o charts, graphs and illustrations using the Fund's returns, or returns in
general, that demonstrate investment concepts such as tax-deferred
compounding, dollar-cost averaging and systematic investment;
o discussions of economic, financial and political developments and their
impact on the securities market, including the portfolio manager's views on
how such developments could impact the Funds; and
o information about the mutual fund industry from sources such as the Investment
Company Institute.
The Fund may compare its performance, or performance for the types of securities
in which it invests, to a variety of other investments, including federally
insured bank products such as bank savings accounts, certificates of deposit,
and Treasury bills.
The Fund may quote information from reliable sources regarding individual
countries and regions, world stock exchanges, and economic and demographic
statistics.
You may use financial publications and/or indices to obtain a more complete view
of Share performance. When comparing performance, you should consider all
relevant factors such as the composition of the index used, prevailing market
conditions, portfolio compositions of other funds, and methods used to value
portfolio securities and compute offering price. The financial publications
and/or indices which the Fund uses in advertising may include:
o LIPPER ANALYTICAL SERVICES, INC., for example, makes comparative
calculations for one month, three month, one year, and five year
periods which assume the reinvestment of all capital gains
distributions and income dividends.
o DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE (`DJIA') represents share prices of
selected blue-chip industrial corporations as well as public utility
and transportation companies. The DJIA indicates daily changes in the
average price of stocks in any of its categories. It also reports
total sales for each group of industries. Because it represents the
top corporations of America, the DJIA index is a leading economic
indicator for the stock market as a whole.
o STANDARD & POOR'S RATINGS GROUP DAILY STOCK PRICE INDEX OF 500 COMMON
STOCKS, a composite index of common stocks in industry,
transportation, financial, and public utility companies, compares
total returns of funds whose portfolios are invested primarily in
common stocks. In addition, the Standard & Poor's index assumes
reinvestment of all dividends paid by stocks listed on its index.
Taxes due on any of these distributions are not included, nor are
brokerage or other fees calculated in Standard & Poor's figures.
o STANDARD & POOR'S RATINGS GROUP UTILITY INDEX is an unmanaged index of
common stocks from forty different utilities. This index indicates
daily changes in the price of the stocks. The index also provides
figures for changes in price from the beginning of the year to date,
and for a twelve month period.
o DOW JONES UTILITY INDEX is an unmanaged index comprised of fifteen
utility stocks that tracks changes in price daily and over a six month
period. The index also provides the highs and lows for each of the
past five years.
o MORNINGSTAR, INC., an independent rating service, is the publisher of
the bi-weekly MUTUAL FUND VALUES. MUTUAL FUND VALUES rates more than
1,000 NASDAQ-listed mutual funds of all types, according to their
risk-adjusted returns. The maximum rating is five stars, and ratings
are effective for two weeks.
WHO IS FEDERATED INVESTORS, INC.?
Federated is dedicated to meeting investor needs by making structured,
straightforward and consistent investment decisions. Federated investment
products have a history of competitive performance and have gained the
confidence of thousands of financial institutions and individual investors.
Federated's disciplined investment selection process is rooted in sound
methodologies backed by fundamental and technical research. At Federated,
success in investment management does not depend solely on the skill of a single
portfolio manager. It is a fusion of individual talents and state-of-the-art
industry tools and resources. Federated's investment process involves teams of
portfolio managers and analysts, and investment decisions are executed by
traders who are dedicated to specific market sectors and who handle trillions of
dollars in annual trading volume.
FEDERATED FUNDS OVERVIEW
MUNICIPAL FUNDS
In the municipal sector, as of December 31, 1998, Federated managed 10 bond
funds with approximately $2.2 billion in assets and 23 money market funds with
approximately $12.5 billion in total assets. In 1976, Federated introduced one
of the first municipal bond mutual funds in the industry and is now one of the
largest institutional buyers of municipal securities. The Funds may quote
statistics from organizations including The Tax Foundation and the National
Taxpayers Union regarding the tax obligations of Americans.
EQUITY FUNDS
In the equity sector, Federated has more than 28 years' experience. As of
December 31, 1998, Federated managed 27 equity funds totaling approximately
$14.9 billion in assets across growth, value, equity income, international,
index and sector (i.e. utility) styles. Federated's value-oriented management
style combines quantitative and qualitative analysis and features a structured,
computer-assisted composite modeling system that was developed in the 1970s.
CORPORATE BOND FUNDS
In the corporate bond sector, as of December 31, 1998, Federated managed 9 money
market funds and 15 bond funds with assets approximating $22.8 billion and $7.1
billion, respectively. Federated's corporate bond decision making--based on
intensive, diligent credit analysis--is backed by over 26 years of experience in
the corporate bond sector. In 1972, Federated introduced one of the first
high-yield bond funds in the industry. In 1983, Federated was one of the first
fund managers to participate in the asset-backed securities market, a market
totaling more than $209 billion.
GOVERNMENT FUNDS
In the government sector, as of December 31, 1998, Federated manages 9
mortgage-backed, 5 government/ agency and 19 government money market mutual
funds, with assets approximating $5.3 billion, $1.8 billion and $41.6 billion,
respectively. Federated trades approximately $425 million in U.S. government and
mortgage-backed securities daily and places approximately $25 billion in
repurchase agreements each day. Federated introduced the first U.S. government
fund to invest in U.S. government bond securities in 1969. Federated has been a
major force in the short- and intermediate-term government markets since 1982
and currently manages approximately $43.2 billion in government funds within
these maturity ranges.
MONEY MARKET FUNDS
In the money market sector, Federated gained prominence in the mutual fund
industry in 1974 with the creation of the first institutional money market fund.
Simultaneously, the company pioneered the use of the amortized cost method of
accounting for valuing shares of money market funds, a principal means used by
money managers today to value money market fund shares. Other innovations
include the first institutional tax-free money market fund. As of December 31,
1998, Federated managed more than $76.7 billion in assets across 52 money market
funds, including 19 government, 9 prime and 23 municipal with assets
approximating $41.6 billion, $22.8 billion and $12.5 billion, respectively.
The Chief Investment Officers responsible for oversight of the various
investment sectors within Federated are: U.S. equity and high yield - J. Thomas
Madden; U.S. fixed income -William D. Dawson, III; and global equities and fixed
income - Henry A. Frantzen. The Chief Investment Officers are Executive Vice
Presidents of the Federated
advisory companies.
MUTUAL FUND MARKET
Thirty-seven percent of American households are pursuing their financial goals
through mutual funds. These investors, as well as businesses and institutions,
have entrusted over $5 trillion to the more than 7,300 funds available,
according to the Investment Company Institute.
FEDERATED CLIENTS OVERVIEW
Federated distributes mutual funds through its subsidiaries for a variety of
investment purposes. Specific markets include:
INSTITUTIONAL CLIENTS
Federated meets the needs of approximately 900 institutional clients nationwide
by managing and servicing separate accounts and mutual funds for a variety of
purposes, including defined benefit and defined contribution programs, cash
management, and asset/liability management. Institutional clients include
corporations, pension funds, tax-exempt entities, foundations/endowments,
insurance companies, and investment and financial advisers. The marketing effort
to these institutional clients is headed by John B. Fisher, President,
Institutional Sales Division, Federated Securities Corp.
BANK MARKETING
Other institutional clients include more than 1,600 banks and trust
organizations. Virtually all of the trust divisions of the top 100 bank holding
companies use Federated Funds in their clients' portfolios. The marketing effort
to trust clients is headed by Timothy C. Pillion, Senior Vice President, Bank
Marketing & Sales.
BROKER/DEALERS AND BANK BROKER/DEALER SUBSIDIARIES
Federated Funds are available to consumers through major brokerage firms
nationwide--we have over 2,200 broker/dealer and bank broker/dealer
relationships across the country--supported by more wholesalers than any other
mutual fund distributor. Federated's service to financial professionals and
institutions has earned it high ratings in several surveys performed by DALBAR,
Inc. DALBAR is recognized as the industry benchmark for service quality
measurement. The marketing effort to these firms is headed by James F. Getz,
President, Broker/Dealer Sales Division, Federated Securities Corp.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The Financial Statements for the Fund for the fiscal year ended February 28,
1999 are incorporated herein by reference to the Annual Report to Shareholders
of Federated Utility Fund dated February 28, 1999.
INVESTMENT RATINGS
STANDARD AND POOR'S LONG-TERM DEBT RATING DEFINITIONS
AAA--Debt rated AAA has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor's.
Capacity to pay interest and repay principal is extremely strong.
AA--Debt rated AA has a very strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal
and differs from the higher rated issues only in small degree.
A--Debt rated A has a strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal
although it is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in
circumstances and economic conditions than debt in higher rated categories.
BBB--Debt rated BBB is regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay interest
and repay principal. Whereas it normally exhibits adequate protection
parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more
likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay interest and repay principal for
debt in this category than in higher rated categories.
BB--Debt rated BB has less near-term, vulnerability to default than other
speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to
adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to
inadequate capacity to meet timely interest and principal payments. The BB
rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is
assigned an actual or implied BBB-rating.
B--Debt rated B has a greater vulnerability to default but currently has the
capacity to meet interest payments and principal repayments. Adverse business,
financial, or economic conditions will likely impair capacity or willingness to
pay interest and repay principal. The B rating category is also used for debt
subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied BB or BB-
rating.
CCC--Debt rated CCC has a currently identifiable vulnerability to default, and
is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions to meet
timely payment of interest and repayment of principal. In the event of adverse
business, financial, or economic conditions, it is not likely to have the
capacity to pay interest and repay principal. The CCC rating category is also
used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied
B or B-rating.
CC--The rating CC typically is applied to debt subordinated to senior debt that
is assigned an actual or implied CCC debt rating.
C--The rating C typically is applied to debt subordinated to senior debt which
is assigned an actual or implied CCC-debt rating. The C rating may be used to
cover a situation where a bankruptcy petition has been filed, but debt service
payments are continued.
MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE, INC. LONG-TERM BOND RATING DEFINITIONS
AAA--Bonds which are rated AAA are judged to be of the best quality. They carry
the smallest degree of investment risk and are generally referred to as gilt
edged. Interest payments are protected by a large or by an exceptionally stable
margin and principal is secure. While the various protective elements are likely
to change, such changes as can be visualized are most unlikely to impair the
fundamentally strong position of such issues.
AA--Bonds which are rated AA are judged to be of high quality by all standards.
Together with the AAA group, they comprise what are generally known as high
grade bonds. They are rated lower than the best bonds because margins of
protection may not be as large as in AAA securities or fluctuation of protective
elements may be of greater amplitude or there may be other elements present
which make the long-term risks appear somewhat larger than in AAA securities.
A--Bonds which are rated A possess many favorable investment attributes and are
to be considered as upper medium grade obligations. Factors giving security to
principal and interest are considered adequate but elements may be present which
suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future.
BAA--Bonds which are rated BAA are considered as medium grade obligations,
(i.e., they are neither highly protected nor poorly secured). Interest payments
and principal security appear adequate for the present but certain protective
elements may be lacking or may be characteristically unreliable over any great
length of time. Such bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics and in
fact have speculative characteristics as well.
BA--Bonds which are BA are judged to have speculative elements; their future
cannot be considered as well assured. Often the protection of interest and
principal payments may be very moderate and thereby not well safeguarded during
both good and bad times over the future. Uncertainty of position characterizes
bonds in this class.
B--Bonds which are rated B generally lack characteristics of the desirable
investment. Assurance of interest and principal payments or of maintenance of
other terms of the contract over any long period of time may be small.
CAA--Bonds which are rated CAA are of poor standing. Such issues may be in
default or there may be present elements of danger with respect to principal or
interest.
CA--Bonds which are rated CA represent obligations which are speculative in a
high degree. Such issues are often in default or have other marked shortcomings.
C--Bonds which are rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds, and issues so
rated can be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of ever attaining any
real investment standing.
FITCH IBCA, INC. LONG-TERM DEBT RATING DEFINITIONS
AAA--Bonds considered to be investment grade and of the highest credit quality.
The obligor has an exceptionally strong ability to pay interest and repay
principal, which is unlikely to be affected by reasonably foreseeable events.
AA--Bonds considered to be investment grade and of very high credit quality. The
obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal is very strong, although
not quite as strong as bonds rated AAA. Because bonds rated in the AAA and AA
categories are not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable future developments,
short-term debt of these issuers is generally rated F-1+.
A--Bonds considered to be investment grade and of high credit quality. The
obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal is considered to be
strong, but may be more vulnerable to adverse changes in economic conditions and
circumstances than bonds with higher ratings.
BBB--Bonds considered to be investment grade and of satisfactory credit quality.
The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal is considered to be
adequate. Adverse changes in economic conditions and circumstances, however, are
more likely to have adverse impact on these bonds, and therefore impair timely
payment. The likelihood that the ratings of these bonds will fall below
investment grade is higher than for bonds with higher ratings.
BB--Bonds are considered speculative. The obligor's ability to pay interest and
repay principal may be affected over time by adverse economic changes. However,
business and financial alternatives can be identified which could assist the
obligor in satisfying its debt service requirements.
B--Bonds are considered highly speculative. While bonds in this class are
currently meeting debt service requirements, the probability of continued timely
payment of principal and interest reflects the obligor's limited margin of
safety and the need for reasonable business and economic activity throughout the
life of the issue.
CCC--Bonds have certain identifiable characteristics which, if not remedied, may
lead to default. The ability to meet obligations requires an advantageous
business and economic environment.
CC--Bonds are minimally protected. Default in payment of interest and/or
principal seems probable over time.
C--Bonds are imminent default in payment of interest or principal.
MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE, INC. COMMERCIAL PAPER RATINGS
PRIME-1--Issuers rated Prime-1 (or related supporting institutions) have a
superior capacity for repayment of short-term promissory obligations. Prime-1
repayment capacity will normally be evidenced by the following characteristics:
o Leading market positions in well established industries.
o High rates of return on funds employed.
o Conservative capitalization structure with moderate reliance on debt and ample
asset protection.
o Broad margins in earning coverage of fixed financial charges and high internal
cash generation.
o Well established access to a range of financial markets and assured sources of
alternate liquidity.
PRIME-2--Issuers rated Prime-1 (or related supporting institutions) have a
strong capacity for repayment of short-term promissory 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, will be more subject
to variation. Capitalization characteristics, while still appropriate, may be
more affected by external conditions. Ample alternate liquidity is maintained.
STANDARD AND POOR'S COMMERCIAL PAPER RATINGS
A-1--This designation indicates that the degree of safety regarding timely
payment is strong. Those issues determined to possess extremely strong safety
characteristics are denoted with a plus sign (+) designation.
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.
FITCH IBCA, INC. COMMERCIAL PAPER RATING DEFINITIONS
FITCH-1--(Highest Grade) Commercial paper assigned this rating is regarded as
having the strongest degree of assurance for timely payment.
FITCH-2--(Very Good Grade) Issues assigned this rating reflect an assurance of
timely payment only slightly less in degree than the strongest issues.
ADDRESSES
FEDERATED UTILITY FUND, INC.
Class A Shares
Class B Shares
Class C Shares
Class F Shares
Federated Investors Funds
5800 Corporate Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15237-7000
DISTRIBUTOR
Federated Securities Corp.
Federated Investors Tower
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
INVESTMENT ADVISER
Passport Research, Ltd.
Federated Investors Tower
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
SUB-ADVISER
Federated Global Investment Management Corp.
175 Water Street
New York, NY 10038-4965
CUSTODIAN
State Street Bank and Trust Company
P.O. Box 8600
Boston, MA 02266-8600
TRANSFER AGENT AND DIVIDEND DISBURSING AGENT
Federated Shareholder Services Company
P.O. Box 8600
Boston, MA 02266-8600
INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
Ernst & Young LLP
200 Clarendon Street
Boston, MA 02116-5072
PART C. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 23. EXHIBITS:
(a) (i) Copy of Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation of the Registrant;(3) (ii) Copy of
Articles of Incorporation, as amended;(5)
(b) (i) Copy of By-Laws of the Registrant; (1)
(ii) Copy of Amendment No. 3 to the By-Laws of
the Registrant; +
(iii) Copy of Amendment No. 4 to the By-Laws of
the Registrant; +
(iv) Copy of Amendment No. 5 to the By-Laws of
the Registrant; +
(c) Copies of Specimen Certificates for Class A Shares,
Class B Shares, Class C Shares and Class F Shares of the
Registrant; (12) (d) (i) Conformed copy of Investment
Advisory Contract of the Registrant; (5)
(ii) Conformed copy of Sub-Advisory Contract
of the Registrant; (14)
(e) (i) Conformed copy of Distributor's Contract
of the Registrant, through and including
Exhibits A and B; (9)
(ii) The Registrant hereby incorporates the
conformed copy of the specimen Mutual
Funds Sales and Service Agreement; Mutual
Funds Service Agreement; and Plan
Trustee/Mutual Funds Service Agreement from
Item 24(b)(6) of the Cash Trust Series II
Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed
with the Commission on July 24, 1995.
(File Nos. 33-38550 and 811-6269).
(iii) Conformed copy of Exhibit D to Distributor's
contract of the Registrant; (12) (iv) Conformed
copy of Distributor's Contract (Class B Shares);
(14)
(f) Not applicable;
(g) (i) Conformed copy of Custodian Contract of the
Registrant;(9) (ii) Conformed copy of Custodian Fee
Schedule; (14)
- -------------------
+ All exhibits have been filed electronically.
1. Response is incorporated by reference to Registrant's Initial Registration
Statement on Form N-2 filed April 16, 1987 (File Nos. 33-13388 and
811-5114).
3. Response is incorporated by reference to Registrant's Pre-Effective
Amendment No. 1 on Form N-1A filed May 18, 1988 (File Nos. 33-13388 and
811-5114).
5. Response is incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective
Amendment No. 3 on Form N-1A filed February 21, 1990 (File Nos. 33-13388
and 811-5114).
9. Response is incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective
Amendment No. 13 on Form N-1A filed May 24, 1995 (File Nos. 33-13388 and
811-5114).
12. Response is incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective
Amendment No. 17 on Form N-1A filed February 21, 1997 (File Nos. 33-13388
and 811-5114).
14. Response is incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective
Amendment No. 20 on Form N-1A filed February 20, 1998 (File Nos. 33-13388
and 811-5114).
(h) (i) Conformed copy of the Agreement for Fund
Accounting Services, Administrative
Services, Transfer Agency Services,
Shareholder Recordkeeping, and Custody
Services Procurement of the Registrant; (11)
(ii) The response and exhibits described in Item
23(e)(iii) are hereby incorporated by reference;
(iii) Conformed copy of Amended and Restated
Shareholder Services Agreement of the Registrant;
(14) (iv) Conformed copy of Principal Shareholder
Services Agreement (Class B Shares); (14) (v)
Conformed copy of Shareholder Services Agreement
(Class B Shares); (14)
(i) Conformed copy of Opinion and Consent of Counsel as to
legality of shares being registered; (2) (j) Conformed
copy of Consent of Independent Public Accountants; (15)
(k) Not applicable; (l) Conformed copy of Initial Capital
Understanding; (2) (m) (i) Conformed copy of Rule 12b-1
Plan of the Registrant, through and including Exhibit A;
(9)
(ii) Conformed copy of Exhibit C to the Rule 12b-1
Plan of the Registrant; (12) (iii) Conformed copy
of Exhibit 1 to the 12b-1 Plan (Class B Shares) of
the Registrant; (14)
(n) Copy of Financial Data Schedules; (15)
(o) The Registrant hereby incorporates the conformed
copy of the specimen Multiple Class Plan from Item
24(b)(18) of the World Investment Series, Inc.
Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed with the
Commission on January 26, 1996. (File Nos. 33-52149
and 811-07141);
(p) (i) Conformed copy of Power of Attorney of the
Registrant;(12)
(ii) Conformed copy of Power of Attorney of
Chief Investment Officer of the
Registrant; +
(iii) Conformed copy of Power of Attorney of
Treasurer of the Registrant; +
- -------------------
+ All exhibits have been filed electronically.
2. Response is incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective
Amendment No. 1 on Form N-1A filed July 23, 1987 (File Nos. 33-13388 and
811-5114).
9. Response is incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective
Amendment No. 13 on Form N-1A filed May 24, 1995 (File Nos. 33-13388 and
811-5114).
11. Response is incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective
Amendment No. 16 on Form N-1Afiled April 25, 1996 (File Nos. 33-13388 and
811-5114).
12. Response is incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective
Amendment No. 17 on Form N-1A filed February 21, 1997 (File Nos. 33-13388
and 811-5114).
14. Response is incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective
Amendment No. 20 on Form N-1A filed February 20, 1998 (File Nos. 33- 13388
and 811-5114).
15. Response is incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective
Amendment No. 21 on Form N-1A filed on April 27, 1998 (File Nos. 33- 13388
and 811-5114).
Item 24. PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH REGISTRANT:
None
Item 25. INDEMNIFICATION: (1)
Item 26. BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS OF INVESTMENT ADVISER:
For a description of the other business of the investment adviser,
see the section entitled "Who Manages the Fund" in Part A. The
affiliations with the Registrant of four of the Trustees and one of
the Officers of the investment adviser are included in Part B of this
Registration Statement under "Who Manages and Provides Service to the
Fund" The remaining Trustee of the investment adviser, his position
with the investment adviser, and, in parentheses, his principal
occupation is: Mark D. Olson (Partner, Wilson, Halbrook & Bayard),
107 W. Market Street, Georgetown, Delaware 19947.
The remaining Officers of the investment adviser are:
Executive Vice Presidents: William D. Dawson, III
Henry A. Frantzen
J. Thomas Madden
Senior Vice Presidents: Joseph M. Balestrino
Drew J. Collins
Jonathan C. Conley
Deborah A. Cunningham
Mark E. Durbiano
Sandra L. McInerney
Susan M. Nason
Mary Jo Ochson
Robert J. Ostrowski
Vice Presidents: Todd A. Abraham
J. Scott Albrecht
Arthur J. Barry
Randall S. Bauer
David A. Briggs
Micheal W. Casey
Kenneth J. Cody
Alexandre de Bethmann
Michael P. Donnelly
Linda A. Duessel
Donald T. Ellenberger
Kathleen M. Foody-Malus
Thomas M. Franks
Edward C. Gonzales
James E. Grefenstette
Susan R. Hill
Stephen A. Keen
Robert K. Kinsey
Robert M. Kowit
Jeff A. Kozemchak
Richard J. Lazarchic
Steven Lehman
Marian R. Marinack
Keith J. Sabol
Frank Semack
Aash M. Shah
Christopher Smith
Tracy P. Stouffer
Edward J. Tiedge
Paige M. Wilhelm
Jolanta M. Wysocka
Marc Halperin
- -----------------------
1. Response is incorporated by reference to Registrant's Initial Registration
Statement on Form N-2 filed April 16, 1987 (File Nos. 33-13388 and
811-5114).
Assistant Vice Presidents: Nancy J. Belz
Robert E. Cauley
Lee R. Cunningham, II
B. Anthony Delserone, Jr.
Paul S. Drotch
Salvatore A. Esposito
Donna M. Fabiano
John T. Gentry
William R. Jamison
Constantine Kartsonsas
John C. Kerber
Grant K. McKay
Natalie F. Metz
Joseph M. Natoli
John Sheehy
Michael W. Sirianni
Leonardo A. Vila
Lori A. Wolff
Gary Farwell
Secretary: Stephen A. Keen
Treasurer: Thomas R. Donahue
Assistant Secretaries: Thomas R. Donahue
Richard B. Fisher
Christine I. Newcamp
Assistant Treasurer: Richard B. Fisher
The business address of each of the Officers of the investment
adviser is Federated Investors Tower, 1001 Liberty Avenue,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222-3779. These individuals are also
officers of a majority of the investment advisers to the investment
companies in the Federated Fund Complex described in Part B of this
Registration Statement.
Item 27. PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITERS:
(a)....Federated Securities Corp. the Distributor for shares of the Registrant,
acts as principal underwriter for the following open-end investment
companies, including the Registrant:
Automated Government Money Trust; Cash Trust Series II; Cash Trust Series, Inc.;
CCB Funds; Edward D. Jones & Co. Daily Passport Cash Trust; Federated Adjustable
Rate U.S. Government Fund, Inc.; Federated American Leaders Fund, Inc.;
Federated ARMs Fund; Federated Core Trust; Federated Equity Funds; Federated
Equity Income Fund, Inc.; Federated Fund for U.S. Government Securities, Inc.;
Federated GNMA Trust; Federated Government Income Securities, Inc.; Federated
Government Trust; Federated High Income Bond Fund, Inc.; Federated High Yield
Trust; Federated Income Securities Trust; Federated Income Trust; Federated
Index Trust; Federated Institutional Trust; Federated Insurance Series;
Federated Master Trust; Federated Municipal Opportunities Fund, Inc.; Federated
Municipal Securities Fund, Inc.; Federated Municipal Trust; Federated Short-Term
Municipal Trust; Federated Short-Term U.S. Government Trust; Federated Stock and
Bond Fund, Inc.; Federated Stock Trust; Federated Tax-Free Trust; Federated
Total Return Series, Inc.; Federated U.S. Government Bond Fund; Federated U.S.
Government Securities Fund: 1-3 Years; Federated U.S. Government Securities
Fund: 2-5 Years; Federated U.S. Government Securities Fund: 5-10 Years;
Federated Utility Fund, Inc.; Fixed Income Securities, Inc.; ; Hibernia Funds;
Independence One Mutual Funds; Intermediate Municipal Trust; International
Series, Inc.; Investment Series Funds, Inc.; Liberty U.S. Government Money
Market Trust; Liquid Cash Trust; Managed Series Trust; Marshall Funds, Inc.;
Money Market Management, Inc.; Money Market Obligations Trust; Money Market
Obligations Trust II; Money Market Trust; Municipal Securities Income Trust;
Newpoint Funds; Regions Funds; RIGGS Funds; SouthTrust Funds; Tax-Free
Instruments Trust; The Planters Funds; The Wachovia Funds; The Wachovia
Municipal FundsTrust for Government Cash Reserves; Trust for Short-Term U.S.
Government Securities; Trust for U.S. Treasury Obligations; Vision Group of
Funds, Inc.; World Investment Series, Inc.; Blanchard Funds; Blanchard Precious
Metals Fund, Inc.; DG Investor Series; High Yield Cash Trust; Investment Series
Trust; Star Funds; Targeted Duration Trust; The Virtus Funds; Trust for
Financial Institutions;
Federated Securities Corp. also acts as principal underwriter for the
following closed-end investment company: Liberty Term Trust, Inc.- 1999.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(b)
(1) (2) (3)
Name and Principal Positions and Offices Positions and Offices
BUSINESS ADDRESS WITH DISTRIBUTOR WITH REGISTRANT
<S> <C> <C>
Richard B. Fisher Director, Chairman, Chief President and
Federated Investors Tower Executive Officer, Chief Director
1001 Liberty Avenue Operating Officer, Asst.
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779 Secretary and Asst.
Treasurer, Federated
Securities Corp.
Edward C. Gonzales Director, Executive Vice Executive Vice
Federated Investors Tower President, President
1001 Liberty Avenue Federated Securities Corp.
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Thomas R. Donahue Director, Assistant Secretary --
Federated Investors Tower and Assistant Treasurer
1001 Liberty Avenue Federated Securities Corp.
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
James F. Getz President-Broker/Dealer, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
John B. Fisher President-Institutional Sales, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
David M. Taylor Executive Vice President --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Mark W. Bloss Senior Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Richard W. Boyd Senior Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Laura M. Deger Senior Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Theodore Fadool, Jr. Senior Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Bryant R. Fisher Senior Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Christopher T. Fives Senior Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
James S. Hamilton Senior Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
James M. Heaton Senior Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Keith Nixon Senior Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Solon A. Person, IV Senior Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Timothy C. Pillion Senior Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Thomas E. Territ Senior Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Ernest G. Anderson Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Teresa M. Antoszyk Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
John B. Bohnet Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Jane E. Broeren-Lambesis Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
David J. Callahan Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Mary J. Combs Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
R. Edmond Connell, Jr. Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
R. Leonard Corton, Jr. Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Kevin J. Crenny Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Daniel T. Culbertson Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
G. Michael Cullen Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Marc C. Danile Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
William C. Doyle Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Jill Ehrenfeld Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Mark D. Fisher Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Joseph D. Gibbons Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
John K. Goettlicher Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Craig S. Gonzales Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Raymond Hanley Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Bruce E. Hastings Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Beth A. Hetzel Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
James E. Hickey Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Charlene H. Jennings Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
H. Joseph Kennedy Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Michael W. Koenig Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Michael R. Manning Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Mark J. Miehl Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Richard C. Mihm Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
J. Michael Miller Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Alec H. Neilly Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Thomas A. Peters III Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Robert F. Phillips Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Richard A. Recker Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Eugene B. Reed Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Paul V. Riordan Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
John Rogers Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Brian S. Ronayne Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Thomas S. Schinabeck Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Edward L. Smith Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
David W. Spears Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
John A. Staley Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Colin B. Starks Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Jeffrey A. Stewart Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
William C. Tustin Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Paul A. Uhlman Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Miles J. Wallace Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
John F. Wallin Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Richard B. Watts Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Edward J. Wojnarowski Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Michael P. Wolff Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Edward R. Bozek Assistant Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Terri E. Bush Assistant Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Beth C. Dell Assistant Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
David L. Immonen Assistant Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Renee L. Martin Assistant Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Robert M. Rossi Assistant Vice President, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Matthew S. Hardin Secretary, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Denis McAuley Treasurer, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Leslie K. Ross Assistant Secretary, --
Federated Investors Tower Federated Securities Corp.
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
(c) Not applicable.
</TABLE>
Item 28. LOCATION OF ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS:
All accounts and records required to be maintained by Section 31(a) of the
Investment Company Act of 1940 and Rules 31a-1 through 31a-3 promugated
thereunder are maintained at one of the following locations:
Registrant Federated Investors Tower
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
(Notices should be sent to
the Agent for Service at the
above address)
Federated Investors Funds
5800 Corporate Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15237-7000
Federated Shareholder Services
Company
("Transfer Agent and Dividend P.O Box 8600
Disbursing Agent") Boston, MA 02266-8600
Federated Services Company Federated Investors Tower
("Administrator") 1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Passport Research, Ltd. Federated Investors Tower
("Adviser") 1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779
Federated Global Investment
Management Corp. 175 Water Street
("Sub-Adviser") New York, NY 10038-4965
State Street Bank and Trust Co. P.O. Box 8600
("Custodian") Boston, MA 02266-8600
Item 29. MANAGEMENT SERVICES: Not applicable.
Item 30. UNDERTAKINGS:
Registrant hereby undertakes to comply with the provisions of
Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act with respect to the removal of
Directors and the calling of special shareholder meetings by
shareholders.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the
Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant, FEDERATED UTILITY FUND, INC.,
has duly caused this Amendment to its Registration Statement to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized, in the City of Pittsburgh
and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, on the 26th day of February, 1999.
FEDERATED UTILITY FUND, INC.
BY: /s/Nicholas J. Seitanakis
Nicholas J. Seitanakis, Assistant Secretary
Attorney in Fact for John F. Donahue
February 26, 1999
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment
to its Registration Statement has been signed below by the following person in
the capacity and on the date indicated:
NAME TITLE DATE
By: /s/Nicholas J. Seitanakis
Nicholas J. Seitanakis Attorney In Fact February 26, 1999
ASSISTANT SECRETARY For the Persons
Listed Below
NAME TITLE
John F. Donahue* Chairman and Director
(Chief Executive Officer)
Richard B. Fisher* President and Director
Richard J. Thomas* Treasurer
(Principal Financial and
Accounting Officer)
J. Thomas Madden* Chief Investment Officer
Thomas J. Bigley* Director
John T. Conroy, Jr.* Director
William J. Copeland* Director
James E. Dowd, Esq.* Director
Lawrence D. Ellis, M.D.* Director
Edward L. Flaherty, Jr., Esq.* Director
Peter E. Madden* Director
John E. Murray, Jr., J.D., S.J.D.* Director
Wesley W. Posvar* Director
Marjorie P. Smuts* Director
* By Power of Attorney
Exhibit 23 (b) (ii) under Form N-1A
Exhibit 3 (ii) under Item 601/Reg. S-K
FEDERATED UTILITY FUND, INC.
(FORMERLY: LIBERTY UTILITY FUND, INC.)
AMENDMENT #3
TO THE BY-LAWS
(EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 23, 1998)
Delete Sections 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 from Article IV, OFFICERS, and replace with the
following:
Section 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS. The Officers of the Corporation shall be
a President, one or more Vice Presidents, a Treasurer, and a Secretary.
The Board of Directors, in its discretion, may elect or appoint a
Chairman of the Board of Directors and other Officers or agents,
including one or more Assistant Vice Presidents, one or more Assistant
Secretaries, and one or more Assistant Treasurers. A Vice President, the
Secretary or the Treasurer may appoint an Assistant Vice President, an
Assistant Secretary or an Assistant Treasurer, respectively, to serve
until the next election of Officers. Two or more offices may be held by
a single person except the offices of President and Vice President may
not be held by the same person concurrently. It shall not be necessary
for any Director or any Officer to be a holder of shares in any Series
or Class of the Corporation.
Section 2. ELECTION, TERM OF OFFICE AND QUALIFICATIONS. The Officers
shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors at its Annual
Meeting. Each Officer shall hold office for one year and until the
election and qualification of his successor, or until earlier
resignation or removal. The Chairman of the Board of Directors, if there
is one, shall be elected annually by and from the Directors, and serve
until a successor is so elected and qualified, or until earlier
resignation or removal.
Section 3. REMOVAL. Any Officer elected by the Board of Directors or
whose appointment has been ratified by the Board of Directors may be
removed with or without cause at any time by a majority vote of all of
the Directors. Any other employee of the Corporation may be removed or
dismissed at any time by the President.
Section 4. RESIGNATIONS. Any Officer may resign at any time by giving
written notice to the Board of Directors. Any such resignation shall
take effect at the time specified therein or, if no time is specified,
at the time of receipt. Unless otherwise specified , the acceptance of
such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
Section 5. VACANCIES. Any vacancy in any of the offices, whether by
resignation, removal or otherwise, may be filled for the unexpired
portion of the term by the President. A vacancy in the office of
Assistant Vice President may be filled by a Vice President; in the
office of by the Secretary; or in the office of Assistant Treasurer by
the Treasurer. Any appointment to fill any vacancy shall serve subject
to ratification by the Board of Directors at its next Regular Meeting.
Exhibit 23 (b)(iii) under Form N-1A
Exhibit 3(ii) under Item 601/Reg. S-K
FEDERATED UTILITY FUND, INC.
AMENDMENT #4
TO THE BY-LAWS
(EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 27, 1998)
Delete Section 7 PROXIES of Article I, MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS, and replace
with the following:
Section 7. PROXIES. Any Shareholder entitled to vote at any meeting of
Shareholders may vote either in person or by proxy, but no proxy which
is dated more than eleven months before the meeting named therein shall
be accepted unless otherwise provided in the proxy. Every proxy shall be
in writing and signed by the Shareholder or his duly authorized agent or
be in such other form as may be permitted by the Maryland General
Corporation Law, including electronic transmissions from the shareholder
or his authorized agent. Authorization may be given orally, in writing,
by telephone, or by other means of communication. A copy, facsimile
transmission or other reproduction of the writing or transmission may be
substituted for the original writing or transmission for any purpose for
which the original transmission could be used. Every proxy shall be
dated, but need not be sealed, witnessed or acknowledged. Where Shares
are held of record by more than one person, any co-owner or co-fiduciary
may appoint a proxy holder, unless the Secretary of the Corporation is
notified in writing by any co-owner or co-fiduciary that the joinder of
more than one is to be required. All proxies shall be filed with and
verified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation,
or the person acting as Secretary of the Meeting. Unless otherwise
specifically limited by their term, all proxies shall entitle the
holders thereof to vote at any adjournment of such meeting but shall not
be valid after the final adjournment of such meeting.
Exhibit 23(b)(iv) under Form N-1A
Exhibit 3(ii) under Item 601/Reg. S-K
FEDERATED UTILITY FUND, INC.
AMENDMENT #5
TO THE BY-LAWS
(EFFECTIVE MAY 12, 1998)
Strike Section 3 - Place of Meetings from Article I - Meeting of Shareholder and
replace it with the following:
Section 3. PLACE OF MEETINGS. All meetings of the Shareholders of the
Corporation or a particular Series or Class, shall be held at such place
within or without the State of Maryland as may be fixed by the Board of
Directors.
Exhibit 23(p)(ii) under Form N-1A
Exhibit 24 under Item 601/Reg. S-K
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and
appoints the Secretary and Assistant Secretaries of FEDERATED UTILITY FUND,
INC. and each of them, their true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents,
with full power of substitution and resubstitution for them and in their
names, place and stead,
in any and all capacities, to sign any and all documents to be filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, by means
of the Securities and Exchange Commission's electronic disclosure system known
as EDGAR; and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in
connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto
said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to
sign and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done
in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as each of them
might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their or his substitute or
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
SIGNATURES TITLE DATE
/S/ J. THOMAS MADDEN Chief Investment Officer February 4, 1999
- ----------------------------
J. Thomas Madden
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 4 day of February, 1999
/S/CHERI S. GOOD
Cheri S. Good
Notarial Seal
Cheri S. Good, Notary Public
Pittsburgh, Allegheny County
My Commission expires Nov. 19, 2001
Member , Pennsylvania Association of Notaries
Exhibit 23(p)(iii) under Form N-1A
Exhibit 24 under Item 601/Reg. S-K
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and
appoints the Secretary and Assistant Secretaries of
FEDERATED UTILITY FUND, INC. and each of them, their true
and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution for them and in their
names,
place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all documents to be
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Act
of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of
1940, by means of the Securities and Exchange Commission's electronic disclosure
system known as EDGAR; and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other
documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power
and authority to sign and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and
purposes as each of them might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their
or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
thereof.
SIGNATURES TITLE DATE
/S/RICHARD J. THOMAS Treasurer 12/11/98
Richard J. Thomas (Principal Financial and
Accounting Officer)
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 11 day of December, 1998
/S/CHERI S. GOOD
Cheri S. Good
Notarial Seal
Cheri S. Good, Notary Public
Pittsburgh, Allegheny County
My Commission Expires Nov. 19, 2001
Member, Pennsylvania Association of Notaries