FUND TYPE:
- ----------------------------------------
Global debt
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE:
- ----------------------------------------
Total return, made up of
current income and capital
appreciation.
[GRAPHIC OMITTED]
Prudential
International Bond
Fund, Inc.
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PROSPECTUS: MARCH 16, 1999
As with all mutual funds, the
Securities and Exchange
Commission has not approved or
disapproved the Fund's shares, nor
has the SEC determined that this
prospectus is complete or accurate. [LOGO] Prudential
It is a criminal offense to state Investments
otherwise.
<PAGE>
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Table of Contents
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1 Risk/Return Summary
1 Investment Objective and Principal Strategies
1 Principal Risks
3 Evaluating Performance
4 Fees and Expenses
6 How the Fund Invests
6 Investment Objective and Policies
8 Other Investments
9 Derivative Strategies
10 Additional Strategies
11 Investment Risks
15 How the Fund is Managed
15 Board of Directors
15 Manager
15 Investment Adviser
15 Portfolio Managers
16 Distributor
16 Year 2000 Readiness Disclosure
18 Fund Distributions and Tax Issues
18 Distributions
19 Tax Issues
20 If You Sell or Exchange Your Shares
22 How to Buy, Sell and Exchange Shares of the Fund
22 How to Buy Shares
30 How to Sell Your Shares
33 How to Exchange Your Shares
36 Financial Highlights
37 Class A Shares
38 Class B Shares
39 Class C Shares
40 Class Z Shares
41 The Prudential Mutual Fund Family
For More Information (Back Cover)
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PRUDENTIAL INTERNATIONAL BOND FUND, INC. TELEPHONE (800) 225-1852
<PAGE>
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Risk/Return Summary
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This section highlights key information about PRUDENTIAL INTERNATIONAL BOND
FUND, INC., which we refer to as "the Fund." Additional information follows this
summary.
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND PRINCIPAL STRATEGIES
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DID YOU KNOW...
A SUPRANATIONAL ORGANIZATION is formed by the governments of different countries
to promote economic development. The World Bank, the European Investment Bank
and the Asian Development Bank are supranational entities. Securities of
SEMI-GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES are issued by organizations owned by a national or
state government, or are debts of a political unit that are not backed by the
national government's credit and taxing power. The Province of Ontario and the
City of Stockholm are examples of semi-governmental entities.
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Our investment objective is to seek TOTAL RETURN, made up of CURRENT INCOME and
CAPITAL APPRECIATION. We normally invest at least 65% of the Fund's total assets
in income-producing debt securities of issuers in at least 3 different
countries, excluding the U.S. We invest in debt securities of foreign corporate
issuers and foreign governments, supranational organizations, semi-governmental
entities and government agencies or entities.
We can also invest up to 35% of total assets in U.S. issuers' debt
securities. We look for investment-grade debt securities (BBB/Baa or above)
denominated in U.S. dollars and foreign currencies. However, we can invest up to
15% of total assets in below investment-grade debt securities also known as high
yield or "junk" bonds. The Fund may use a variety of hedging strategies to
protect the value of the Fund's investments, including derivatives and
cross-currency hedges.
Our approach to global investing focuses on country and currency selection.
We look at fundamentals to identify relative value.
While we make every effort to achieve our objective, we can't guarantee
success.
PRINCIPAL RISKS
Although we try to invest wisely, all investments involve risk. The Fund invests
in debt obligations which have credit, market and interest rate risks. Credit
risk is the possibility that an issuer of a debt obligation does not pay the
Fund interest or principal. "Junk" bonds have a higher risk of default and tend
to be less liquid than higher-rated securities. Market risk, which may affect an
industry, a sector or the entire market, is the possibility that the market
value of an investment may move up or down and
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1
<PAGE>
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Risk/Return Summary
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that its movement may occur quickly or unpredictably. Interest rate risk refers
to the fact that the value of most bonds will fall when interest rates rise. The
longer the maturity and the lower the credit quality of a bond, the more likely
its value will decline.
Since we invest in foreign securities, there are different risks than if
we invested only in obligations of the U.S. government and U.S. corporations.
The amount of income available for distribution may be affected by the Fund's
foreign currency gains or losses and certain hedging activities. Foreign
markets, especially those in developing countries, are often more volatile than
U.S. markets and are generally not subject to regulatory requirements comparable
to those in the U.S. In addition, changes in currency exchange rates can reduce
or increase market performance.
The Fund is nondiversified, meaning we can invest more than 5% of our
assets in the securities of any one issuer. Investing in a nondiversified mutual
fund involves greater risk than investing in a diversified fund because a loss
resulting from the decline in the value of one security may represent a greater
portion of the total assets of a nondiversified fund.
Some of our investment strategies also involve additional risk. The Fund
may use risk management techniques to try to preserve assets or enhance return.
These strategies may present above-average risks. Derivatives may not fully
offset the underlying positions and this could result in losses to the Fund that
would not otherwise have occurred.
Like any mutual fund, an investment in the Fund could lose value and you
could lose money. For more detailed information about the risks associated with
the Fund, see "How the Fund Invests--Investment Risks."
An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or
guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government
agency.
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2 PRUDENTIAL INTERNATIONAL BOND FUND, INC. TELEPHONE (800) 225-1852
<PAGE>
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Risk/Return Summary
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EVALUATING PERFORMANCE
A number of factors--including risk--affect how the Fund performs.
The following bar chart shows the Fund's performance for each full calendar year
of operation for the last 10 years. The bar chart and table below demonstrate
the risk of investing in the Fund by showing how returns can change from year to
year and by showing how the Fund's average annual total returns compare with
those of a broad measure of market performance and a group of similar mutual
funds. Past performance does not mean that the Fund will achieve similar results
in the future.
[GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION OF GRAPH]
- ---------------------------------------------------
ANNUAL RETURNS* (CLASS A SHARES)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
5.52% 11.76% 10.45% -0.08% 18.38% -5.62% 25.14% 14.02% 3.62% 8.00%
BEST QUARTER: 10.59% (1st quarter of 1995)
WORST QUARTER: (5.86)% (1st quarter of 1990)
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* THESE ANNUAL RETURNS DO NOT INCLUDE SALES CHARGES. IF SALES CHARGES WERE
INCLUDED, THE ANNUAL RETURNS WOULD BE LOWER THAN THOSE SHOWN.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ---------------------------------------------------
AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS(1) (AS OF 12/31/98)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 YR 5 YRS 10 YRS SINCE INCEPTION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Class A shares 3.68% 7.68% 8.35%(4) 8.56% (since 7-31-87)
Class B shares 2.32% N/A N/A 6.97% (since 1-15-96)
Class C shares 5.24% N/A N/A 7.48% (since 1-15-96)
Class Z shares 8.16% N/A N/A 7.35% (since 3-17-97)
Morgan GBI(2) 15.31% 8.09% 11.87% N/A(2)
Lipper Average(3) 6.23% 5.57% 7.58% N/A(3)
</TABLE>
(1) THE FUND'S RETURNS ARE AFTER DEDUCTION OF SALES CHARGES AND EXPENSES.
(2) THE J. P. MORGAN GOVERNMENT BOND INDEX-GLOBAL (GBI) IS A MARKET-WEIGHTED
INDEX OF THE TOTAL RETURN OF GOVERNMENT BONDS OF THE FOLLOWING NATIONS:
AUSTRALIA, BELGIUM, CANADA, DENMARK, FRANCE, GERMANY, ITALY, JAPAN, THE
NETHERLANDS, SPAIN, SWEDEN, THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THE UNITED STATES. THE
GBI IS AN UNMANAGED INDEX AND IS TRADED, UNHEDGED AND MEASURED IN U.S.
DOLLARS. THESE RETURNS DO NOT INCLUDE THE EFFECT OF ANY SALES CHARGES. THE
SECURITIES IN GBI MAY BE VERY DIFFERENT THAN THOSE IN THE FUND. THESE
RETURNS WOULD BE LOWER IF THEY INCLUDED THE EFFECT OF SALES CHARGES. GBI
RETURNS SINCE THE INCEPTION OF EACH CLASS ARE 9.32% FOR CLASS A, 7.46% FOR
CLASS B AND CLASS C AND 11.87% FOR CLASS Z SHARES. SOURCE: LIPPER, INC.
(3) THE LIPPER GLOBAL INCOME AVERAGE IS BASED ON THE AVERAGE RETURN OF ALL
MUTUAL FUNDS IN THE LIPPER GLOBAL INCOME CATEGORY AND DOES NOT INCLUDE THE
EFFECT OF ANY SALES CHARGES. AGAIN, THESE RETURNS WOULD BE LOWER IF THEY
INCLUDED THE EFFECT OF SALES CHARGES. LIPPER RETURNS SINCE THE INCEPTION OF
EACH CLASS ARE 8.03% FOR CLASS A, 5.91% FOR CLASS B AND CLASS C AND 6.61%
FOR CLASS Z SHARES. THE FUNDS' RETURNS ARE AFTER DEDUCTION OF SALES CHARGES
AND EXPENSES. SOURCE: LIPPER, INC.
(4) PRIOR TO JANUARY 15, 1996, THE FUND OPERATED AS A CLOSED-END INVESTMENT
COMPANY.
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3
<PAGE>
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Risk/Return Summary
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FEES AND EXPENSES
These tables show the sales charges, fees and expenses that you may pay if you
buy and hold shares of each share class of the Fund--Class A, B, C and Z. Each
share class has different sales charges--known as loads--and expenses, but
represents an investment IN the same fund. Class Z shares are available only to
a limited group of investors. For more information about which share class may
be right for you, see "How to Buy, Sell and Exchange Shares of the Fund."
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -----------------------------------------------------------
SHAREHOLDER FEES(1) (PAID DIRECTLY FROM YOUR INVESTMENT)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CLASS A CLASS B CLASS C CLASS Z
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on 4% None 1% None
purchases (as a percentage of offering price)
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) None 5%(2) 1%(3) None
(as a percentage of the lower of original
purchase price or sale proceeds)
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed None None None None
on reinvested dividends and other
distributions
Redemption fees None None None None
Exchange fee None None None None
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES (DEDUCTED FROM FUND ASSETS)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CLASS A CLASS B CLASS C CLASS Z
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Management fees .75% .75% .75% .75%
+ Distribution and service (12b-1) fees .30%(4) 1.00%(4) 1.00%(4) None
+ Other expenses .73% .73% .73% .73%
= TOTAL ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES 1.78% 2.48% 2.48% 1.48%
- Fee waiver or expense reimbursement -.05%(5) -.25% -.25% None
= NET ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES 1.73% 2.23% 2.23% 1.48%
</TABLE>
(1) YOUR BROKER MAY CHARGE YOU A SEPARATE OR ADDITIONAL FEE FOR PURCHASES AND
SALES OF SHARES.
(2) THE CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE (CDSC) FOR CLASS B SHARES DECREASES BY
1% ANNUALLY TO 1% IN THE FIFTH AND SIXTH YEARS AND 0% IN THE SEVENTH YEAR.
CLASS B SHARES CONVERT TO CLASS A SHARES APPROXIMATELY SEVEN YEARS AFTER
PURCHASE.
(3) THE CDSC FOR CLASS C SHARES IS 1% FOR SHARES REDEEMED WITHIN 18 MONTHS OF
PURCHASE.
(4) FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1999, THE DISTRIBUTOR OF THE FUND
HAS CONTRACTUALLY AGREED TO REDUCE ITS DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE FEES FOR
CLASS A SHARES TO .25 OF 1% OF THE AVERAGE DAILY NET ASSETS OF THE CLASS A
SHARES AND .75 OF 1% OF BOTH THE CLASS B AND CLASS C SHARES.
(5) PRIOR TO JANUARY 1, 1999, THE DISTRIBUTOR WAIVED .15 OF 1% OF ITS
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE FEE FOR CLASS A SHARES. THE TABLE SHOWS CURRENT
EXPENSES.
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4 PRUDENTIAL INTERNATIONAL BOND FUND, INC. TELEPHONE (800) 225-1852
<PAGE>
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Risk/Return Summary
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EXAMPLE
This example will help you compare the fees and expenses of the Fund's different
share classes and the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing
in other mutual funds.
The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time
periods indicated and then sell all of your shares at the end of those periods.
The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that
the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. After the first year, the example
does not take into consideration the Distributor's agreement to reduce its
distribution and service fees for Class A, Class B and Class C shares. Although
your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs
would be:
<TABLE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 YR 3 YRS 5 YRS 10 YRS
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Class A shares $569 $ 933 $1,321 $2,407
Class B shares $726 $1,049 $1,398 $2,544
Class C shares $424 $ 841 $1,385 $2,869
Class Z shares $151 $ 468 $ 808 $1,768
</TABLE>
You would pay the following expenses on the same investment if you did not sell
your shares:
<TABLE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 YR 3 YRS 5 YRS 10 YRS
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Class A shares $569 $933 $1,321 $2,407
Class B shares $226 $749 $1,298 $2,544
Class C shares $324 $841 $1,385 $2,869
Class Z shares $151 $468 $ 808 $1,768
</TABLE>
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5
<PAGE>
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How the Fund Invests
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INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES
The Fund's investment objective is to seek TOTAL RETURN, made up of CURRENT
INCOME and CAPITAL APPRECIATION. This means we seek investments that will
increase in value as well as pay the Fund interest and other income. While we
make every effort to achieve our objective, we can't guarantee success.
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THE EURO
On January 1, 1999, 11 of the 15 member states of the European Union introduced
the euro as a common currency. During a three-year transitional period, the euro
will coexist with each participating state's currency. Beginning July 1, 2002,
the euro is anticipated to become the sole currency of the member states. During
the transition period, the Fund will treat the euro as a separate currency from
that of any participating state.
The conversion may adversely affect the Fund if the euro does not take
effect as planned; if a participating state withdraws from the European Monetary
Union; or if the computing, accounting and trading systems used by the Fund's
service providers, or by entities with which the Fund or its service providers
do business, are not capable of recognizing the euro as a distinct currency at
the time of, and following, euro conversion. In addition, the conversion could
cause markets to become more volatile.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In pursuing our objective, we normally invest at least 65% of the Fund's
total assets in income-producing debt securities of issuers in at least 3
different countries, excluding the U.S. We invest in debt securities of foreign
corporate issuers, foreign governments, supranational organizations,
semi-governmental entities and government agencies or entities. We may invest in
securities of developing countries, which may be subject to more abrupt or
erratic market movements than those of developed countries. We invest in
securities in U.S. dollars and securities in foreign countries based on U.S.
dollars or foreign currencies.
The investment adviser has a team of fixed-income professionals, including
credit analysts and traders, with experience in many foreign fixed-income
securities markets. In selecting portfolio securities, the investment adviser
considers country and currency selection, economic conditions and interest rate
fundamentals. The investment adviser also evaluates individual debt securities
within each fixed-income sector based upon their relative investment merit and
considers factors such as yield, duration and potential for price or currency
appreciation as well as credit quality, maturity and risk.
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6 PRUDENTIAL INTERNATIONAL BOND FUND, INC. TELEPHONE (800) 225-1852
<PAGE>
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How the Fund Invests
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Some government securities are backed by the full faith and credit of the
issuing government which means that payment of principal and interest are
guaranteed, but market value is not. Other government securities may be able to
borrow from a centralized treasury and some government securities depend
entirely on their own resources to repay their debt.
We generally limit investments in particular currencies (even U.S.
dollars) to 30% of the Fund's total assets, although we can go higher if we
think that a particular currency might significantly increase in value compared
to the U.S. dollar. Also, the Fund may invest up to 65% of its total assets in
securities denominated in the euro and up to 50% of its total assets in
securities denominated in Japanese or British currencies. We can also invest up
to 35% of total assets in U.S. issuers, including the U.S. government and its
agencies.
The Fund invests primarily in "investment-grade debt securities." This
means major rating services, like Standard & Poor's Ratings Group ("S&P") or
Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's"), have rated the securities within
one of their four highest quality grades. Debt obligations in the four highest
grades are regarded as investment-grade, but have speculative characteristics
and are riskier than higher-rated securities. Up to 15% of the Fund's total
assets may be invested in lower-rated securities, which are even riskier and are
considered "speculative." The Fund's investments in these high-yield or "junk"
bonds will have a minimum rating of B by Moody's or S&P or another major rating
service at the time they are purchased. The Fund may continue to hold such a
security if it is later downgraded below B or is no longer rated by a major
rating service. A rating is an assessment of the likelihood of timely repayment
of interest and principal and can be useful when comparing different debt
obligations. These ratings are not a guarantee of quality. The opinions of the
rating agencies do not reflect market risk and they may at times lag behind the
current financial conditions of a company. We may also invest in obligations
that are not rated, but that we believe are of comparable quality to the
obligations described above.
The Fund has a dollar-weighted average maturity of between 3 and 15 years,
but may go below 3 years for temporary defensive purposes. The maturity of a
bond is simply the number of years until the principal is due and payable.
Weighted average maturity is calculated by adding the maturities of all of the
bonds in a portfolio and dividing by the number of bonds on a weighted basis.
The Fund may also use a variety of "hedging" strategies intended to help
protect the value of the Fund's securities or to improve returns. These may
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How the Fund Invests
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
include derivative transactions and cross-currency hedges which are described in
more detail below and in the Fund's Statement of Additional Information.
For more information about this Fund and its investments, see "Investment
Risks" and the Statement of Additional Information, "Description of the Fund,
Its Investments and Risks." The Statement of Additional Information--which we
refer to as the SAI--contains additional information about the Fund. To obtain a
copy, see the back cover page of this prospectus.
The Fund's investment objective is a fundamental policy that cannot be
changed without shareholder approval. The Board can change investment policies
that are not fundamental.
OTHER INVESTMENTS
In addition to the principal strategies, we may also make the following
investments to try to increase the Fund's returns or protect its assets if
market conditions warrant.
TEMPORARY DEFENSIVE INVESTMENTS?
In response to adverse market, economic or political conditions, we may
temporarily invest up to 100% of the Fund's assets in U.S. Treasury or other
U.S. dollar-denominated securities or high-quality money market instruments,
including commercial paper of domestic and foreign corporations, foreign
government securities, certificates of deposit, bankers' acceptances and other
obligations of domestic and foreign banks and short-term obligations issued or
guaranteed by the U.S. government and its agencies of any maturity. Investing
heavily in these securities limits our ability to achieve capital appreciation,
but can help to preserve the Fund's assets when the bond markets are volatile.
ZERO COUPON SECURITIES
We can invest in ZERO COUPON SECURITIES. These are bonds that are sold for a
price that is less than their stated value. Interest payments on a zero coupon
bond are not made during the life of the bond, but at the bond's maturity, the
holder gets the bond's stated value. The difference between the price paid for
the bond and the amount paid to the holder at the bond's maturity is the
holder's return. This type of security may experience greater fluctuation in
value and less liquidity than similarly rated bonds that pay interest at regular
intervals.
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8 PRUDENTIAL INTERNATIONAL BOND FUND, INC. TELEPHONE (800) 225-1852
<PAGE>
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How the Fund Invests
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STRIPPED SECURITIES
The Fund can invest up to 10% of its total assets in "stripped securities" of
U.S. and foreign government debt securities. Stripped securities are those with
the principal and interest sold separately. This 10% limit is combined with the
Fund's investments in similar U.S. and foreign government securities.
ADJUSTABLE/FLOATING RATE SECURITIES
The Fund can invest in adjustable or floating rate securities whose interest
rate is calculated by reference to a specific index and is reset periodically.
The value of adjustable or floating rate securities does not respond as quickly
to changing interest rates as do fixed rate securities.
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS
The Fund may also use REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS, where a party agrees to sell a
security to the Fund and then repurchase it at an agreed-upon price at a stated
time. This creates a fixed return for the Fund.
DERIVATIVE STRATEGIES
We may use various derivative strategies to try to improve the Fund's
returns or protect its assets, although we cannot guarantee that these
strategies will work, that the instruments necessary to implement these
strategies will be available, or that the Fund will not lose money.
Derivatives--such as futures, options, foreign currency forward contracts and
options on futures--involve costs and can be volatile. With derivatives, the
investment adviser tries to predict whether the underlying investment--a
security, market index, currency, interest rate or some other benchmark--will go
up or down at some future date. We may use derivatives to try to reduce risk or
to increase return consistent with the Fund's overall investment objective. The
investment adviser will consider other factors (such as cost) in deciding
whether to employ any particular strategy or use any particular instrument. Any
derivatives we use may not match the Fund's underlying holdings.
Because we are an international fund and invest in securities denominated
in different foreign currencies, we may use "currency hedges." Currency hedges
can help protect the Fund's NAV from declining if a particular foreign currency
were to decrease in value compared to the U.S. dollar.
The Fund may invest without limit in commercial paper and other
instruments that are "indexed" to certain specific foreign currency exchange
rates. This means that the instrument's principal amount is adjusted upward or
downward (but not below zero) to reflect changes in the exchange rate
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9
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How the Fund Invests
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
between two currencies from the time the instrument is outstanding until it
matures. When the Fund purchases one of these instruments, it pays with the
currency in which the instrument is denominated and, at maturity, it receives
interest and principal payments in the same currency. These instruments offer
the potential for realizing gains as a result of changes in foreign currency
exchange rates that can be used to hedge (or cross-hedge) against a decline in
the U.S. dollar value of the investments while providing an attractive money
market rate of return.
OPTIONS
The Fund may purchase and sell put and call options on securities and currencies
traded on U.S. or foreign securities exchanges or on the over-the-counter
market. An option is the right to buy or sell securities in exchange for a
premium. The options may be on debt securities, aggregates of debt securities,
financial indexes, U.S. government securities, foreign government securities and
foreign currencies. The Fund will sell only covered options.
FUTURES CONTRACTS AND RELATED OPTIONS;
FOREIGN CURRENCY FORWARD CONTRACTS
The Fund may purchase and sell financial futures contracts and related options
on debt securities, aggregates of debt securities, financial indexes, U.S.
government securities, foreign government securities, corporate debt securities
and foreign currencies. A futures contract is an agreement to buy or sell a set
quantity of an underlying product at a future date, or to make or receive a cash
payment based on the value of a securities index. The Fund also may enter into
foreign currency forward contracts to protect the value of its assets against
future changes in the level of foreign currency exchange rates. A foreign
currency forward contract is an obligation to buy or sell a given currency on a
future date and at a set price.
For more information about these strategies, see the SAI, "Description of
the Fund, Its Investments and Risks--Risk Management and Return Enhancement
Strategies."
ADDITIONAL STRATEGIES
The Fund also follows certain policies when it BORROWS MONEY (the Fund can
borrow up to 20% of the value of its total assets) and HOLDS ILLIQUID SECURITIES
(the Fund may hold up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities, including
securities with legal or contractual restrictions, those without a readily
available market, and repurchase agreements with maturities longer than seven
days).
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 PRUDENTIAL INTERNATIONAL BOND FUND, INC. TELEPHONE (800) 225-1852
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How the Fund Invests
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund is "NONDIVERSIFIED," meaning it can invest more than 5% of its
assets in the securities of any one issuer. The Fund is subject to certain other
investment restrictions that are fundamental policies, which means they cannot
be changed without shareholder approval. For more information about these
restrictions, see the SAI.
INVESTMENT RISKS
As noted, all investments involve risk, and investing in the Fund is no
exception. Since the Fund's holdings can vary significantly from broad market
indexes, performance of the Fund can deviate from performance of the indexes.
This chart outlines the key risks and potential rewards of the Fund's principal
investments and certain other investments the Fund may make. See, too,
"Description of the Fund, Its Investments and Risks" in the SAI.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- --------------------------------
INVESTMENT TYPE -----------------------------------------------------------------
% OF FUND'S TOTAL ASSETS RISKS POTENTIAL REWARDS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
INCOME-PRODUCING SECURITIES o The Fund's share price, o Bonds have generally
yield and total return outperformed money market
AT LEAST 65% will fluctuate in instruments over the long
response to bond market term with less
movements risk than stock
o Credit risk--the default o Most bonds will rise in
of an issuer would leave value when interest rates
the Fund with unpaid fall
interest or principal.
The lower a bond's o Regular interest income
quality, the higher its
potential volatility o Generally more secure
than stock since
o Market risk--the risk that companies must pay their
the market value of an debts before paying
investment may move up or stockholders
down, sometimes rapidly
or unpredictably. Market o Investment-grade bonds
risk may affect an have a lower risk of
industry, a sector, or default
the market as a whole
o Bonds with longer
o Interest rate risk--the maturity dates typically
value of most bonds will have higher yields
fall when interest rates
rise; the longer a bond's o Intermediate-term
maturity and the lower securities may be less
its credit quality, the susceptible to loss of
more its value typically principal than longer
falls. It can lead to term securities
price volatility,
particularly for junk
bonds and stripped
securities
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How the Fund Invests
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- --------------------------------
INVESTMENT TYPE (CONT'D) -----------------------------------------------------------------
% OF FUND'S TOTAL ASSETS RISKS POTENTIAL REWARDS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
o Principal and
INCOME-PRODUCING SECURITIES o As a nondiversified fund, interest on government
(CONT'D) we will have greater securities may be
exposure to loss from a guaranteed by the issuing
single issuer government
o Not all government o Junk bonds offer higher
securities are insured or yields and higher
guaranteed by the potential gains
government but only by
the issuing agency
o Junk bonds (rated BB/Ba or
lower) have a higher risk
of default, tend to be less
liquid and may be more
difficult to value
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
o Foreign markets, o Investors can
FOREIGN SECURITIES economies and political participate
systems may not be as in foreign markets and
PERCENTAGE VARIES stable as in the U.S., companies operating in
particularly those in those markets
developing countries
o Changing value of foreign
o Currency risk--changing currencies
values of foreign
currencies o Opportunities for
diversification
o Debt securities issued by
supranational organizations
or semi-governmental issuers
may be backed by limited
assets in the event of default
o May be less liquid than
U.S. stocks and bonds
o Differences in foreign laws,
accounting standards, public
information, custody and
settlement practices
o Year 2000 conversion may
be more of a problem for
some foreign issuers
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12 PRUDENTIAL INTERNATIONAL BOND FUND, INC. TELEPHONE (800) 225-1852
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How the Fund Invests
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- --------------------------------
INVESTMENT TYPE (CONT'D) -----------------------------------------------------------------
% OF FUND'S TOTAL ASSETS RISKS POTENTIAL REWARDS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
DERIVATIVES o Derivatives such as o The Fund could
futures, options and make money and protect
PERCENTAGE VARIES foreign currency forward against losses if the
contracts may not fully investment analysis
offset the underlying proves correct
positions and this could
result in losses to the o Derivatives that involve
Fund that would not have leverage could generate
otherwise occurred substantial gains at low
cost
o Derivatives used for risk
management may not have o One way to manage the
the intended effects and Fund's risk/return
may result in losses balance is to lock in the
or missed opportunities value of an investment
ahead of time
o The other party to a
derivatives contract o May be used to hedge
could default against changes in
currency exchange rates
o Derivatives that involve
leverage could magnify
losses
o Certain types of
derivatives involve costs
to the Fund that can
reduce returns
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ILLIQUID SECURITIES o May be difficult to value o May offer a more
precisely attractive yield or
UP TO 15% OF NET ASSETS potential for growth than
o May be difficult to sell more widely traded
at the time or price securities
desired
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MONEY MARKET INSTRUMENTS o Limits potential for o May preserve the Fund's
capital appreciation assets
UP TO 100% ON A TEMPORARY BASIS
o See credit risk and
market risk
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How the Fund Invests
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- --------------------------------
INVESTMENT TYPE (CONT'D) -----------------------------------------------------------------
% OF FUND'S TOTAL ASSETS RISKS POTENTIAL REWARDS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
BORROWING o Leverage borrowing for o Leverage may magnify
investment may magnify investment gains
UP TO 20% losses
o Interest costs and
borrowing fees may exceed
potential investment gains
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZERO COUPON BONDS o Generates "phantom o May lock in a
income" for the Fund for higher rate of return
UP TO 10% OF NET ASSETS tax purposes although no than is available in the
income is paid marketplace at time of
maturity
o Typically subject to greater
volatility and less liquidity
in adverse markets than other
income-producing securities
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ADJUSTABLE/FLOATING RATE o Value lags value of fixed o Can take advantage of
SECURITIES rate securities when rising interest rates
interest rates change
PERCENTAGE VARIES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STRIPPED SECURITIES o More volatile than o Value rises faster when
securities that have not
UP TO 10% separated principal and
interest
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14 PRUDENTIAL INTERNATIONAL BOND FUND, INC. TELEPHONE (800) 225-1852
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How the Fund is Managed
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors oversees the actions of the Manager, investment adviser
and Distributor and decides on general policies. The Board also oversees the
Fund's officers who conduct and supervise the daily business operations of the
Fund.
MANAGER
PRUDENTIAL INVESTMENTS FUND MANAGEMENT LLC (PIFM)
GATEWAY CENTER THREE, 100 MULBERRY STREET
NEWARK, NJ 07102-4077
Under a management agreement with the Fund, PIFM manages the Fund's
investment operations and administers its business affairs. For the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1998, the Fund paid PIFM management fees of .75% of the
Fund's average net assets.
As of January 31, 1999, PIFM served as the Manager to all 46 of the
Prudential mutual funds, and as Manager or administrator to 22 closed-end
investment companies, with aggregate assets of approximately $71.7 billion.
INVESTMENT ADVISER
The Prudential Investment Corporation, called Prudential Investments, is the
Fund's investment adviser. Its address is Prudential Plaza, 751 Broad Street,
Newark, NJ 07102. PIFM has responsibility for all investment advisory services,
supervises Prudential Investments and PRICOA and reimburses Prudential
Investments for its reasonable costs and expenses.
Prudential Investments has entered into a service agreement with PRICOA
Asset Management Ltd. (PRICOA), a subsidiary of The Prudential Insurance Company
of America, for the provision of investment advisory services to the Fund and
compensates PRICOA for its reasonable costs and expenses in providing such
services. PRICOA, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Prudential, is located
at Cutlers Court, 115 Houndsditch, London EC3A 7BR England. It was incorporated
under U.K. law in January 1997, and as of December 31, 1998, had approximately
$2.58 billion under management.
PORTFOLIO MANAGERS
Prudential Investments Fixed Income Group is organized into teams that
specialize by sector. The Fixed Income Investment Policy Committee which is
comprised of senior investment staff from each sector team provides guidance to
the teams regarding duration risk, asset allocations and general risk
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
15
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How the Fund is Managed
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
parameters. The portfolio managers contribute security selection within those
guidelines.
The Fund has been co-managed by J. GABRIEL IRWIN and SIMON WELLS since
April 1995. Gabriel Irwin and Simon Wells lead the Global Fixed Income Group.
Before joining Prudential they were Senior Vice Presidents and portfolio
managers at Smith Barney Global Capital Management in London. The portfolio
managers use a fundamental approach to international bond investing. They
analyze worldwide macroeconomic, political and social events and trends
searching for opportunities they believe will offer attractive yields as well as
the potential for price appreciation.
DISTRIBUTOR
Prudential Investment Management Services LLC (PIMS) distributes the Fund's
shares under a Distribution Agreement with the Fund. The Fund has Distribution
and Service Plans under Rule 12b-1 of the Investment Company Act. Under the
Plans and the Distribution Agreement, PIMS pays the expenses of distributing the
Fund's Class A, B, C and Z shares and provides certain shareholder support
services. The Fund pays distribution and other fees to PIMS as compensation for
its services for each class of shares other than Class Z. These fees--known as
12b-1 fees--are shown in the "Fees and Expenses" tables.
YEAR 2000 READINESS DISCLOSURE
The services provided to the Fund and the shareholders by the Manager, the
Distributor, the Transfer Agent and the Custodian depend on the smooth
functioning of their computer systems and those of outside service providers.
Many computer software systems in use today cannot distinguish the year 2000
from the year 1900 because of the way dates are encoded and calculated. Such
event could have a negative impact on handling securities trades, payments of
interest and dividends, pricing and account services. Although, at this time,
there can be no assurance that there will be no adverse impact on the Fund, the
Manager, the Distributor, the Transfer Agent and the Custodian have advised the
Fund that they have been actively working on necessary changes to their computer
systems to prepare for the year 2000. The Fund and its Board receive, and have
received since early 1998, satisfactory quarterly reports from the principal
service providers as to their preparations for year 2000 readiness, although
there can be no assurance that the service
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
16 PRUDENTIAL INTERNATIONAL BOND FUND, INC. TELEPHONE (800) 225-1852
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How the Fund is Managed
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
providers (or other securities market participants) will successfully complete
the necessary changes in a timely manner or that there will be no adverse impact
on the Fund. Moreover, the Fund at this time has not considered retaining
alternative service providers or directly undertaken efforts to achieve year
2000 readiness, the latter of which would involve substantial expenses without
an assurance of success.
Additionally, issuers of securities generally, as well as those purchased
by the Fund, may confront year 2000 compliance issues which, if material and not
resolved, could have an adverse impact on securities markets and/or a specific
issuer's performance and could result in a decline in the value of the
securities held by the Fund.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fund Distributions and Tax Issues
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investors who buy shares of the Fund should be aware of some important tax
issues. For example, the Fund distributes DIVIDENDS of ordinary income and any
realized net CAPITAL GAINS to shareholders. These distributions are subject to
taxes, unless you hold your shares in a 401(k) plan, an Individual Retirement
Account (IRA), or some other qualified tax-deferred plan or account.
Also, if you sell shares of the Fund for a profit, you may have to pay
capital gains taxes on the amount of your profit, again unless you hold your
shares in a qualified tax-deferred plan or account.
The following briefly discusses some of the important federal tax issues
you should be aware of, but is not meant to be tax advice. For tax advice,
please speak with your tax adviser.
DISTRIBUTIONS
The Fund declares daily and distributes DIVIDENDS of any net investment income
to shareholders typically every month. For example, if the Fund owns Utopia
government bonds and the bond pays income, the Fund will pay out a portion of
this income to its shareholders, assuming the Fund's income is more than its
costs and expenses. The dividends you receive from the Fund will be taxed as
ordinary income whether or not they are reinvested in the Fund.
The amount of income available for distribution to shareholders will be
affected by any foreign currency gains or losses generated by the Fund and
cannot be predicted. This fact, coupled with the different tax and accounting
treatment of certain currency gains and losses, increases the possibility that
distribution in whole or in part may be a return of capital to shareholders.
The Fund also distributes realized net CAPITAL GAINS to
shareholders--typically once a year--which are generated when the Fund sells its
assets for a profit. For example, if the Fund bought Utopia government bonds for
a total of $1,000 and more than one year later sold the bonds for a total of
$1,500, the Fund has net long-term capital gains of $500, which it will pass on
to shareholders (assuming the Fund's total gains are greater than any losses it
may have). Capital gains are taxed differently depending on how long the Fund
holds the security--if a security is held more than one year before it is sold,
LONG-TERM capital gains are taxed at the rate of 20%, but if the security is
held one year or less, SHORT-TERM capital gains are taxed at ordinary income
rates of up to 39.6%. Different rates apply to corporate shareholders.
For your convenience, Fund distributions of dividends and capital gains
are AUTOMATICALLY REINVESTED in the Fund without any sales charge. If you ask us
to pay the distributions in cash, we will send you a check if your account is
with
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18 PRUDENTIAL INTERNATIONAL BOND FUND, INC. TELEPHONE (800) 225-1852
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fund Distributions and Tax Issues
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
the Transfer Agent. Otherwise, if your account is with a broker, you will
receive a credit to your account. Either way, the distributions may be subject
to taxes, unless your shares are held in a qualified tax-deferred plan or
account. For more information about automatic reinvestment and other shareholder
services, see "Step 4: Additional Shareholder Services" in the next section.
TAX ISSUES
FORM 1099
Every year, you will receive a Form 1099, which reports the amount of dividends
and capital gains we distributed to you during the prior year. If you own shares
of the Fund as part of a qualified tax-deferred plan or account, your taxes are
deferred, so you will not receive a Form 1099. However, you will receive a Form
1099 when you take any distributions from your qualified tax-deferred plan or
account.
Fund distributions are generally taxable to you in the calendar year they
are received, except when we declare certain dividends in the fourth quarter and
actually pay them in January of the following year. In such cases, the dividends
are treated as if they were paid on December 31 of the prior year. Corporate
shareholders are eligible for the 70% dividends-received deduction for certain
dividends.
WITHHOLDING TAXES
If federal tax law requires you to provide the Fund with your tax identification
number and certifications as to your tax status, and you fail to do this, we
will withhold and pay to the U.S. Treasury 31% of your distributions. Dividends
of net investment income and short-term capital gains paid to a nonresident
foreign shareholder generally will be subject to a U.S. withholding tax of 30%.
This rate may be lower, depending on any tax treaty the U.S. may have with the
shareholder's country.
IF YOU PURCHASE JUST BEFORE RECORD DATE
If you buy shares of the Fund just before the record date (the date
that determines who receives the distribution), that distribution will be paid
to you. As explained above, the distribution may be subject to income or capital
gains taxes. You may think you've done well since you bought shares one day and
soon thereafter received a distribution. That is not so because when dividends
are paid out, the value of each share of the Fund decreases by the amount of the
dividend and the market changes (if any) to reflect the payout. The
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
19
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fund Distributions and Tax Issues
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
distribution you receive makes up for the decrease in share value. However, the
timing of your purchase does mean that part of your investment came back to you
as taxable income.
QUALIFIED RETIREMENT PLANS
Retirement plans and accounts allow you to defer paying taxes on investment
income and capital gains. Contributions to these plans may also be tax
deductible, although distributions from these plans generally are taxable. In
the case of Roth IRA accounts, contributions are not tax deductible, but
distributions from the plan may be tax free. Please contact your financial
adviser for information on a variety of Prudential mutual funds that are
suitable for retirement plans offered by Prudential.
IF YOU SELL OR EXCHANGE YOUR SHARES
- -------------------------------------------
[GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION OF CHART]
+$ CAPITAL GAIN
(taxes owed)
RECEIPTS OR
FROM SALE -$ CAPITAL LOSS
(offset against gain)
- -------------------------------------------
If you sell any shares of the Fund for a profit, you have REALIZED A CAPITAL
GAIN, which is subject to tax, unless you hold shares in a qualified
tax-deferred plan or account. The amount of tax you pay depends on how long you
owned your shares. If you sell shares of the Fund for a loss, you may have a
capital loss, which you may use to offset certain capital gains you have.
Exchanging your shares of the Fund for the shares of another Prudential
mutual fund is considered a sale for tax purposes. In other words, it's a
"taxable event." Therefore, if the shares you exchanged have increased in value
since you purchased them, you have capital gains, which are subject to the taxes
described above.
Any gain or loss you may have from selling or exchanging Fund shares will
not be reported on the Form 1099; however, proceeds from the sale or exchange
will be reported on Form 1099-B. Therefore, unless you hold your shares in a
qualified tax-deferred plan or account, you or your financial adviser should
keep track of the dates on which you buy and sell--or exchange--Fund shares, as
well as the amount of any gain or loss on each transaction. For tax advice,
please see your tax adviser.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
20 PRUDENTIAL INTERNATIONAL BOND FUND, INC. TELEPHONE (800) 225-1852
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fund Distributions and Tax Issues
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AUTOMATIC CONVERSION OF CLASS B SHARES
We have obtained a legal opinion that the conversion of Class B shares into
Class A shares--which happens automatically approximately seven years after
purchase--is not a "taxable event" because it does not involve an actual sale of
your Class B shares. This opinion, however, is not binding on the Internal
Revenue Service. For more information about the automatic conversion of Class B
shares, see "Class B Shares Convert to Class A Shares After Approximately Seven
Years" in the next section.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
21
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How to Buy, Sell and
Exchange Shares of the Fund
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOW TO BUY SHARES
STEP 1: OPEN AN ACCOUNT
If you don't have an account with us or a securities firm that is permitted to
buy or sell shares of the Fund for you, call Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC
(PMFS) at (800) 225-1852 or contact:
PRUDENTIAL MUTUAL FUND SERVICES LLC
ATTN: INVESTMENT SERVICES
P.O. BOX 15020
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ 08906-5020
To purchase by wire, call the number above to obtain an application. After
PMFS receives your completed application, you will receive an account number.
For additional information about purchasing shares of the Fund, see the back
cover page of this prospectus. We have the right to reject any purchase order
(including an exchange into the Fund) or suspend or modify the Fund's sale of
its shares.
STEP 2: CHOOSE A SHARE CLASS
Individual investors can choose among Class A, Class B, Class C and Class Z
shares of the Fund, although Class Z shares are available only to a limited
group of investors.
Multiple share classes let you choose a cost structure that better meets
your needs. With Class A shares, you pay the sales charge at the time of
purchase, but the operating expenses each year are lower than the expenses of
Class B and Class C shares. With Class B shares, you only pay a sales charge if
you sell your shares within six years (that is why it is called a Contingent
Deferred Sales Charge or CDSC), but the operating expenses each year are higher
than the Class A share expenses. With Class C shares, you pay a 1% front-end
sales charge and a 1% CDSC if you sell within 18 months of purchase, but the
operating expenses are also higher than the expenses for Class A shares.
When choosing a share class, you should consider the following:
o The amount of your investment
o The length of time you expect to hold the shares and the impact of the
varying distribution fees
o The different sales charges that apply to each share class--Class A's
front-end sales charge vs. Class B's CDSC vs. Class C's low front-end
sales charge and low CDSC
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
22 PRUDENTIAL INTERNATIONAL BOND FUND, INC. TELEPHONE (800) 225-1852
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How to Buy, Sell and
Exchange Shares of the Fund
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
o Whether you qualify for any reduction or waiver of sales charges
o The fact that Class B shares automatically convert to Class A shares
approximately seven years after purchase
o Whether you qualify to purchase Class Z shares.
See "How to Sell Your Shares" for a description of the impact of CDSCs.
SHARE CLASS COMPARISON. Use this chart to help you compare the Fund's different
share classes. The discussion following this chart will tell you whether you are
entitled to a reduction or waiver of any sales charges.
<TABLE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A Class B Class C Class Z
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Minimum purchase $1,000 $1,000 $2,500 None
amount (1)
Minimum amount for $100 $100 $100 None
subsequent purchases (1)
Maximum initial 4% of the public None 1% of the public None
sales charge offering price offering price
Contingent Deferred None If sold during: 1% on sales None
Sales Charge (CDSC) (2) Year 1, 5% made within
Year 2, 4% 18 months
Year 3, 3% of purchase (2)
Year 4, 2%
Years 5/6, 1%
Year 7, 0%
Annual distribution .30 of 1% 1% (.75 of 1% 1% (.75 of 1% None
and service (12b-1) (.25 of 1% currently) currently)
fees shown as a currently)
percentage of average
net assets (3)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
(1) THE MINIMUM INVESTMENT REQUIREMENTS DO NOT APPLY TO CERTAIN RETIREMENT AND
EMPLOYEE SAVINGS PLANS AND CUSTODIAL ACCOUNTS FOR MINORS. THE MINIMUM
INITIAL AND SUBSEQUENT INVESTMENT FOR PURCHASES MADE THROUGH THE AUTOMATIC
INVESTMENT PLAN IS $50. FOR MORE INFORMATION, SEE "ADDITIONAL SHAREHOLDER
SERVICES--AUTOMATIC INVESTMENT PLAN."
(2) FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CDSC AND HOW IT IS CALCULATED, SEE "HOW TO
SELL YOUR SHARES--CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGES (CDSC)." CLASS C SHARES
BOUGHT BEFORe NOVEMBER 2, 1998, HAVE A 1% CDSC IF SOLD WITHIN ONE YEAR.
(3) THESE DISTRIBUTION FEES ARE PAID FROM THE FUND'S ASSETS ON A CONTINUOUS
BASIS. OVER TIME, THE FEES WILL INCREASE THE COST OF YOUR INVESTMENT AND
MAY COST YOU MORE THAN PAYING OTHER TYPES OF SALES CHARGES. THE SERVICE FEE
FOR CLASS A, B AND C SHARES IS .25 OF 1%. THE DISTRIBUTION FEE FOR CLASS A
SHARES IS LIMITED TO .30 OF 1% (INCLUDING THE .25 OF 1% SERVICE FEE) AND IS
.75 OF 1% FOR CLASS B AND CLASS C SHARES.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
23
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How to Buy, Sell and
Exchange Shares of the Fund
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REDUCING OR WAIVING CLASS A'S INITIAL SALES CHARGE
The following describes the different ways investors can reduce or avoid paying
Class A's initial sales charge.
INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF YOUR INVESTMENT. You can reduce Class A's sales charge by
increasing the amount of your investment. This table shows you how the sales
charge decreases as the amount of your investment increases.
<TABLE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SALES CHARGE AS % SALES CHARGE AS % DEALER
AMOUNT OF PURCHASE OF OFFERING PRICE OF AMOUNT INVESTED REALLOWANCE
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Less than $50,000 4.00% 4.17% 3.75%
$50,000 to $99,999 3.50% 3.63% 3.25%
$100,000 to $249,999 2.75% 2.83% 2.50%
$250,000 to $499,999 2.00% 2.04% 1.90%
$500,000 to $999,999 1.50% 1.52% 1.40%
1 million and above* None None None
</TABLE>
* IF YOU INVEST $1 MILLION OR MORE, YOU CAN BUY ONLY CLASS A SHARES, UNLESS
YOU QUALIFY TO BUY CLASS Z SHARES.
To satisfy the purchase amounts above, you can:
o Invest with an eligible group of related investors
o Buy the Class A shares of two or more Prudential mutual funds at the
same time?
o Use your RIGHTS OF ACCUMULATION, which allow you to combine the
value of Prudential mutual fund shares you already own with the
value of the shares you are purchasing for purposes of determining
the applicable sales charge (note: you must notify the Transfer
Agent if you qualify for Rights of Accumulation)
o Sign a LETTER OF INTENT, stating in writing that you or a group of
related investors will purchase a certain amount of shares in the
Fund and other Prudential mutual funds within 13 months.
BENEFIT PLANS. Benefit Plans can avoid Class A's initial sales charge if the
Benefit Plan has existing assets of at least $1 million invested in shares of
Prudential mutual funds (excluding money market funds other than those acquired
under the exchange privilege) or 250 eligible employees or participants. For
these purposes, a Benefit Plan is a pension, profit-sharing or other employee
benefit plan qualified under Section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code, a
deferred compensation or annuity plan under Sections
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
24 PRUDENTIAL INTERNATIONAL BOND FUND, INC. TELEPHONE (800) 225-1852
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How to Buy, Sell and
Exchange Shares of the Fund
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
403(b) and 457 of the Internal Revenue Code, a "rabbi" trust, or a nonqualified
deferred compensation plan sponsored by an employer that has a tax-qualified
benefit plan with Prudential. Class A shares may also be purchased without a
sales charge by participants who are repaying loans from Benefit Plans where
Prudential (or its affiliates) provides administrative or recordkeeping
services, sponsors the product or provides account services.
Certain Prudential retirement programs--such as PruArray Association
Benefit Plans and PruArray Savings Programs--may also be exempt from Class A's
sales charge. For more information, see the SAI or contact your financial
adviser. In addition, waivers are available to investors in certain programs
sponsored by brokers, investment advisers and financial planners who have
agreements with Prudential Investments Advisory Group relating to:
o Mutual fund "wrap" or asset allocation programs, where the sponsor
places Fund trades and charges its clients a management, consulting
or other fee for its services
o Mutual Fund "supermarket" programs, where the sponsor links its
customers' accounts to a master account in the sponsor's name and
the sponsor charges a fee for its services.
OTHER TYPES OF INVESTORS. Other investors pay no sales charge, including certain
officers, employees or agents of Prudential and its affiliates, Prudential
mutual funds, the subadvisers of the Prudential mutual funds and clients of
brokers that have entered into a selected dealer agreement with the Distributor.
To qualify for a reduction or waiver of the sales charge, you must notify the
Transfer Agent or your broker at the time of purchase. For more information, see
the SAI, "Purchase, Redemption and Pricing of Fund Shares--Reduction and Waiver
of Initial Sales Charge--Class A Shares."
WAIVING CLASS C'S INITIAL SALES CHARGE
BENEFIT PLANS. Benefit Plans (as defined above) may purchase Class C shares
without paying an initial sales charge. Class C shares may also be purchased
without an initial sales charge by participants who are repaying loans from
Benefit Plans where Prudential (or its affiliates) provides administrative or
recordkeeping services, sponsors the product or provides account services.
PRUDENTIAL RETIREMENT PLANS. The initial sales charge will be waived for
purchases of Class C shares by both qualified and nonqualified retirement and
deferred compensation plans participating in a PruArray Plan and other plans if
Prudential also provides administrative or recordkeeping services.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
25
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How to Buy, Sell and
Exchange Shares of the Fund
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTMENT OF REDEMPTION PROCEEDS FROM OTHER INVESTMENT COMPANIES. The initial
sales charge will be waived for purchases of Class C shares if the purchase is
made with money from the redemption of shares of any unaffiliated investment
company, as long as the shares were not held in an account at Prudential
Securities Incorporated or one of its affiliates. These purchases must be made
within 60 days of the redemption. To qualify for this waiver, you must do one of
the following:
o Purchase your shares through an account at Prudential Securities
o Purchase your shares through an ADVANTAGE Account or an Investor
Account with Pruco Securities Corporation or
o Purchase your shares through another broker.
This waiver is not available to investors who purchase shares directly
from the Transfer Agent. If you are entitled to the waiver, you must notify
either the Transfer Agent or your broker. The Transfer Agent may require any
supporting documents it considers appropriate.
QUALIFYING FOR CLASS Z SHARES
Class Z shares of the Fund can be purchased by any of the following:
o Any Benefit Plan as defined above, and certain nonqualified plans,
provided the Benefit Plan--in combination with other plans sponsored
by the same employer or group of related employers--has at least $50
million in defined contribution assets
o Participants in any fee-based program or trust program sponsored by
Prudential or an affiliate which includes mutual funds as investment
options and the Fund as an available option
o Certain participants in the MEDLEY Program (group variable annuity
contracts) sponsored by Prudential for whom Class Z shares of the
Prudential mutual funds are an available option
o Benefit Plans for which an affiliate of the Distributor provides
administrative or recordkeeping services and as, of September 20, 1996
were either Class Z shareholders of the Prudential mutual funds or
executed a letter of intent to purchase Class Z shares of the
Prudential mutual funds
o Current and former Directors/Trustees of the Prudential mutual funds
(including the Fund)
o Employees of Prudential and/or Prudential Securities who participate
in a Prudential-sponsored employee savings plan
o Prudential with an investment of $10 million or more.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
26 PRUDENTIAL INTERNATIONAL BOND FUND, INC. TELEPHONE (800) 225-1852
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How to Buy, Sell and
Exchange Shares of the Fund
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In connection with the sale of shares, the Manager, the Distributor or one
of their affiliates may pay brokers, financial advisers and other persons a
commission of up to 4% of the purchase price for Class B shares, up to 2% of the
purchase price for Class C shares, and a finder's fee for Class Z shares from
their own resources based on a percentage of the net asset value of shares sold
or otherwise.
CLASS B SHARES CONVERT TO CLASS A SHARES AFTER APPROXIMATELY SEVEN YEARS
If you buy Class B shares and hold them for approximately seven years, we will
automatically convert them into Class A shares without charge. At that time, we
will also convert any Class B shares that you received with reinvested dividends
and other distributions. Since the 12b-1 fees for Class A shares are lower than
for Class B shares, converting to Class A shares lowers your Fund expenses.
When we do the conversion, you will get fewer Class A shares than the
number of converted Class B shares if the price of the Class A shares is higher
than the price of Class B shares. The total dollar value will be the same, so
you will not have lost any money by getting fewer Class A shares. We do the
conversions quarterly, not on the anniversary date of your purchase. For more
information, see the SAI, "Purchase, Redemption and Pricing of Fund
Shares--Conversion Feature--Class B Shares."
STEP 3: UNDERSTANDING THE PRICE YOU'LL PAY
The price you pay for each share of the Fund is based on the share value. The
share value of a mutual fund--known as the NET ASSET VALUe or NAV--is determined
by a simple calculation: it's the total value of the Fund (assets minus
liabilities) divided by the total number of shares outstanding. For example, if
the value of the investments held by Fund XYZ (minus its liabilities) is $1,000
and there are 100 shares of Fund XYZ owned by shareholders, the price of one
share of the fund--or the NAV--is $10 ($1,000 divided by 100). Portfolio
securities are valued based upon market quotations or, if not readily available,
at fair value as determined in good faith under procedures established by the
Fund's Board. Most national newspapers report the NAVs of most mutual funds,
which allows investors to check the price of mutual funds daily.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
27
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How to Buy, Sell and
Exchange Shares of the Fund
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MUTUAL FUND SHARES
The NAV of mutual fund shares changes every day because the value of a fund's
portfolio changes constantly. For example, if Fund XYZ holds Utopia government
bonds in its portfolio and the price of Utopia government bonds goes up while
the value of the fund's other holdings remains the same and expenses don't
change, the NAV of Fund XYZ will increase.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We determine the NAV of our shares once each business day at 4:15 p.m. New
York Time on days that the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading. Because
we are an international fund, the NAV can change on days when you cannot buy or
sell shares. We do not determine the NAV on days when we have not received any
orders to purchase, sell or exchange Fund shares, or when changes in the value
of the Fund's portfolio do not materially affect the NAV.
WHAT PRICE WILL YOU PAY FOR SHARES OF THE FUND?
For Class A and Class C shares, you'll pay the public offering price, which is
the NAV next determined after we receive your order to purchase, plus an initial
sales charge (unless you're entitled to a waiver). For Class B and Class Z
shares, you will pay the NAV next determined after we receive your order to
purchase (remember, there are no up-front sales charges for these share
classes). Your broker may charge a separate or additional fee for purchases of
shares.
STEP 4: ADDITIONAL SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
As a Fund shareholder, you can take advantage of the following services and
privileges:
AUTOMATIC REINVESTMENT. As we explained in the "Fund Distributions and Tax
Issues" section, the Fund pays out--or distributes--its net investment income
and capital gains to all shareholders. For your convenience, we will
automatically reinvest your distributions in the Fund at NAV without any sales
charge. If you want your distributions paid in cash, you can indicate this
preference on your application, notify your broker or notify the Transfer Agent
in writing (at the address below) at least five business days before the date we
determine who receives dividends.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
28 PRUDENTIAL INTERNATIONAL BOND FUND, INC. TELEPHONE (800) 225-1852
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How to Buy, Sell and
Exchange Shares of the Fund
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRUDENTIAL MUTUAL FUND SERVICES LLC
ATTN: ACCOUNT MAINTENANCE
P.O. BOX 15015
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ 08906-5015
AUTOMATIC INVESTMENT PLAN. You can make regular purchases of the Fund for as
little as $50 by having the funds automatically withdrawn from your bank or
brokerage account at specified intervals.
RETIREMENT PLAN SERVICES. Prudential offers a wide variety of retirement plans
for individuals and institutions, including large and small businesses. For
information on IRAs, including Roth IRAs, or SEP-IRAs for a one-person business,
please contact your financial adviser. If you are interested in opening a 401(k)
or other company-sponsored retirement plan (SIMPLES, SEP plans, Keoghs, 403(b)
plans, pension and profit-sharing plans), your financial adviser will help you
determine which retirement plan best meets your needs. Complete instructions
about how to establish and maintain your plan and how to open accounts for you
and your employees will be included in the retirement plan kit you receive in
the mail.
THE PRUTECTOR PROGRAM. Optional group term life insurance--which protects the
value of your Prudential mutual fund investment for your beneficiaries against
market declines--is available to investors who purchase their shares through
Prudential. This insurance is subject to various restrictions and charges, and
is not available in all states.
SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN. A systematic withdrawal plan is available that will
provide you with monthly or quarterly checks. Remember, the sale of Class B and
Class C shares may be subject to a CDSC.
REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS. Every year we will send you an annual report (along
with an updated prospectus) and a semi-annual report, which contain important
financial information about the Fund. To reduce Fund expenses, we will send one
annual shareholder report, one semi-annual shareholder report and one annual
prospectus per household, unless you instruct us or your broker otherwise.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
29
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How to Buy, Sell and
Exchange Shares of the Fund
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOW TO SELL YOUR SHARES
You can sell your shares of the Fund for cash (in the form of a check) at any
time, subject to certain restrictions.
When you sell shares of the Fund--also known as redeeming your shares--the
price you will receive will be the NAV next determined after the Transfer Agent,
the Distributor or your broker receives your order to sell. If your broker holds
your shares, he must receive your order to sell by 4:15 p.m. New York Time to
process the sale on that day. Otherwise contact:
PRUDENTIAL MUTUAL FUND SERVICES LLC
ATTN: REDEMPTION SERVICES
P.O. BOX 15010
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ 08906-5010
Generally, we will pay you for the shares that you sell within seven days
after the Transfer Agent, the Distributor or your broker receives your sell
order. If you hold shares through a broker, payment will be credited to your
account. If you are selling shares you recently purchased with a check, we may
delay sending you the proceeds until your check clears, which can take up to 10
days from the purchase date. You can avoid delay if you purchase by wire,
certified check or cashier's check. Your broker may charge you a separate or
additional fee for sales of shares.
RESTRICTIONS ON SALES
There are certain times when you may not be able to sell shares of the Fund, or
when we may delay paying you the proceeds from a sale. This may happen during
unusual market conditions or emergencies when the Fund can't determine the value
of its assets or sell its holdings. For more information, see the SAI,
"Purchase, Redemption and Pricing of Fund Shares--Sale of Shares."
If you are selling more than $50,000 of shares, you want the check sent to
someone or some place that is not in our records, or you are a business or a
trust and if you hold your shares directly with the Transfer Agent, you will
need to have the signature on your sell order guaranteed by a financial
institution. For more information, see the SAI, "Purchase, Redemption and
Pricing of Fund Shares--Sale of Shares--Signature Guarantee."
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
30 PRUDENTIAL INTERNATIONAL BOND FUND, INC. TELEPHONE (800) 225-1852
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How to Buy, Sell and
Exchange Shares of the Fund
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE (CDSC)
If you sell Class B shares within six years of purchase or Class C shares within
18 months of purchase (one year for Class C shares purchased before November 2,
1998), you will have to pay a CDSC. To keep the CDSC as low as possible, we will
sell amounts representing shares in the following order:
o Amounts representing shares you purchased with reinvested dividends
and distributions
o Amounts representing the increase in NAV above the total amount of
payments for shares made during the past six years for Class B shares?
and 18 months for Class C shares (one year for Class C shares
purchased before November 2, 1998)
o Amounts representing the cost of shares held beyond the CDSC period
(six years for Class B shares and 18 months for Class C shares).
Since shares that fall into any of the categories listed above are not
subject to the CDSC, selling them first helps you to avoid--or at least
minimize--the CDSC.
Having sold the exempt shares first, if there are any remaining shares
that are subject to the CDSC, we will apply the CDSC to amounts representing the
cost of shares held for the longest period of time within the applicable CDSC
period.
As we noted before in the "Share Class Comparison" chart, the CDSC for
Class B shares is 5% in the first year, 4% in the second, 3% in the third, 2% in
the fourth, 1% in the fifth and sixth years and 0% in the seventh year. The rate
decreases on the first day of the month following the anniversary date of your
purchase, not on the anniversary date itself. The CDSC is 1% for Class C
shares--which is applied to shares sold within 18 months of purchase (or one
year for Class C shares if purchased before November 2, 1998). For both Class B
and Class C shares, the CDSC is calculated based on the lesser of the original
purchase price or the redemption proceeds. For purposes of determining how long
you've held your shares, all purchases during the month are grouped together and
considered to have been made on the last day of the month.
The holding period for purposes of determining the applicable CDSC will be
calculated from the first day of the month after initial purchase, excluding any
time shares were held in a money market fund.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
31
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How to Buy, Sell and
Exchange Shares of the Fund
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WAIVER OF THE CDSC--CLASS B SHARES
The CDSC will be waived if the Class B shares are sold:
o After a shareholder is deceased or disabled (or, in the case of a
trust account, the death or disability of the grantor). This waiver
applies to individual shareholders, as well as shares owned in joint
tenancy (with rights of survivorship), provided the shares were
purchased before the death or disability
o To provide for certain distributions--made without IRS penalty--from a
tax-deferred retirement plan, IRA, or Section 403(b) custodial account
o On certain sales from a Systematic Withdrawal Plan.
For more information on the above and other waivers, see the SAI,
"Purchase, Redemption and Pricing of Fund Shares--Waiver of Contingent Deferred
Sales Charge--Class B Shares."
WAIVER OF THE CDSC--CLASS C SHARES
PRUDENTIAL RETIREMENT PLANS. The CDSC will be waived for purchases of Class C
shares by both qualified and nonqualified retirement and deferred compensation
plans participating in a PruArray Plan and other plans if Prudential also
provides administrative or recordkeeping services. The CDSC will also be waived
on redemptions from Benefit Plans sponsored by Prudential and its affiliates to
the extent that the redemption proceeds are invested in The Guaranteed
Investment Account (a group annuity insurance product sponsored by Prudential),
the Guaranteed Insulated Separate Account (a separate account offered by
Prudential) and shares of The Stable Value Fund (an unaffiliated bank collective
fund).
OTHER BENEFIT PLANS. The CDSC will be waived on redemptions from Benefit Plans
holding shares through a broker not affiliated with Prudential and for which the
broker provides administrative or recordkeeping services.
REDEMPTION IN KIND If the sales of Fund shares you make during any 90-day period
reach the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the value of the Fund's net assets, we can
then give you securities from the Fund's portfolio instead of cash. If you want
to sell the securities for cash, you would have to pay the costs charged by a
broker.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
32 PRUDENTIAL INTERNATIONAL BOND FUND, INC. TELEPHONE (800) 225-1852
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How to Buy, Sell and
Exchange Shares of the Fund
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SMALL ACCOUNTS
If you make a sale that reduces your account value to less than $500, we may
sell the rest of your shares (without charging any CDSC) and close your account.
We would do this to minimize the Fund's expenses paid by other shareholders. We
will give you 60 days' notice, during which time you can purchase additional
shares to avoid this action. This involuntary sale does not apply to
shareholders who own their shares as part of a 401(k) plan, an IRA, or some
other tax-deferred plan or account.
90-DAY REPURCHASE PRIVILEGE
After you redeem your shares, you have a 90-day period during which you may
reinvest any of the redemption proceeds in shares of the same Fund without
paying an initial sales charge. Also, if you paid a CDSC when you redeemed your
shares, we will credit your new account with the appropriate number of shares to
reflect the amount of the CDSC you paid. In order to take advantage of this
one-time privilege, you must notify the Transfer Agent or your broker at the
time of the repurchase. See the SAI, "Purchase, Redemption and Pricing of Fund
Shares--Sale of Shares."
RETIREMENT PLANS
To sell shares and receive a distribution from your retirement account, call
your broker or the Transfer Agent for a distribution request form. There are
special distribution and income tax withholding requirements for distributions
from retirement plans and you must submit a withholding form with your request
to avoid delay. If your retirement plan account is held for you by your employer
or plan trustee, you must arrange for the distribution request to be signed and
sent by the plan administrator or trustee. For additional information, see the
SAI.
HOW TO EXCHANGE YOUR SHARES
You can exchange your shares of the Fund for shares of the same class in certain
other Prudential mutual funds--including certain money market funds--if you
satisfy the minimum investment requirements. For example, you can exchange Class
A shares of the Fund for Class A shares of another Prudential mutual fund, but
you can't exchange Class A shares for Class B, Class C or Class Z shares. Class
B and Class C shares may not be exchanged into money market funds other than
Prudential Special Money Market Fund, Inc. After an exchange, at redemption the
CDSC will be calculated from the
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
33
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How to Buy, Sell and
Exchange Shares of the Fund
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
first day of the month after initial purchase, excluding any time shares were
held in a money market fund. We may change the terms of the exchange privilege
after giving you 60 days' notice.
If you hold shares through a broker, you must exchange shares through your
broker. Otherwise contact:
PRUDENTIAL MUTUAL FUND SERVICES LLC
ATTN: EXCHANGE PROCESSING
P.O. BOX 15010
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ 08906-5010
There is no sales charge for such exchanges. However, if you exchange--and
then sell--Class B shares within approximately six years of your original
purchase, or Class C shares within 18 months of your original purchase, you must
still pay the applicable CDSC. If you have exchanged Class B or Class C shares
into a money market fund, the time you hold the shares in the money market
account will not be counted in calculating the required holding periods for CDSC
liability.
Remember, as we explained in the section entitled "Fund Distributions and
Tax Issues--If You Sell or Exchange Your Shares," exchanging shares is
considered a sale for tax purposes. Therefore, if the shares you exchange are
worth more than you paid for them, you may have to pay capital gains tax. For
additional information about exchanging shares, see the SAI, "Shareholder
Investment Account--Exchange Privilege."
If you own Class B or Class C shares and qualify to purchase Class A
shares without paying an initial sales charge, we will automatically exchange
your Class B or Class C shares which are not subject to a CDSC for Class A
shares. We make such exchanges on a quarterly basis if you qualify for this
exchange privilege. We have obtained a legal opinion that this exchange is not a
"taxable event" for federal income tax purposes. This opinion is not binding on
the IRS.
FREQUENT TRADING
Frequent trading of Fund shares in response to short-term fluctuations in the
market--also known as "market timing"--may make it very difficult to manage the
Fund's investments. When market timing occurs, the Fund may have to sell
portfolio securities to have the cash necessary to redeem the market timer's
shares. This can happen at a time when it is not advantageous to sell any
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
34 PRUDENTIAL INTERNATIONAL BOND FUND, INC. TELEPHONE (800) 225-1852
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How to Buy, Sell and
Exchange Shares of the Fund
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
securities, so the Fund's performance may be hurt. When large dollar amounts are
involved, market timing can also make it difficult to use long-term investment
strategies because we cannot predict how much cash the Fund will have to invest.
When, in our opinion, such activity would have a disruptive effect on portfolio
management, the Fund reserves the right to refuse purchase orders and exchanges
into the Fund by any person, group or commonly controlled account. The Fund may
notify a market timer of rejection of an exchange or purchase order after the
day the order is placed. If the Fund allows a market timer to trade Fund shares,
it may require the market timer to enter into a written agreement to follow
certain procedures and limitations.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
35
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Financial Highlights
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The financial highlights will help you evaluate the Fund's financial
performance. The TOTAL RETURN in each chart represents the rate that a
shareholder earned on an investment in that share class of the Fund, assuming
reinvestment of all dividends and other distributions. The information is for
each share class for the periods indicated.
Review each chart with the financial statements and report of independent
accountants, which appear in the annual report and the SAI and are available
upon request. Additional performance information for each share class is
contained in the annual report, which you can receive at no charge.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
36 PRUDENTIAL INTERNATIONAL BOND FUND, INC. TELEPHONE (800) 225-1852
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Financial Highlights
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A Shares
The financial highlights were audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent
accountants, whose report was unqualified.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ---------------------------------------------
CLASS A SHARES (FISCAL YEARS ENDED 12-31)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PER SHARE OPERATING PERFORMANCE 1998(2) 1997(2) 1996(1) 1995(1) 1994(1)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF YEAR $7.08 $7.63 $7.68 $6.76 $7.84
INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS:
Net investment income .43 .49 .56 .48 .45
Net realized and unrealized gain
(loss) on investments and foreign .12 (.22) .28 1.13 (.97)
currency transactions
TOTAL FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS .55 .27 .84 1.61 (.52)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS:
Dividends from net investment income (.25) (.58) (.67) (.48) (.23)
Distributions in excess of net (.17) (.24) (.40) (.21) --
investment income
Distributions from capital gains (.04) -- -- -- (.10)
Tax return of capital distributions -- -- -- -- (.23)
TOTAL DISTRIBUTIONS (.46) (.82) (1.07) (.69) (.56)
Redemption fee retained by Fund -- -- .18 -- --
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF YEAR $7.17 $7.08 $7.63 $7.68 $6.76
TOTAL RETURN(3) 8.00% 3.62% 14.02% 25.14% (5.62)%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET ASSETS, END OF YEAR (000) $84,008 $96,365 $125,637 $350,339 $303,703
Average net assets (000) $89,970 $110,910 $180,588 $342,741 $331,421
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:
Expenses, including distribution fees 1.63% 1.64% 1.48% 1.05% 1.11%
Expenses, excluding distribution fees 1.48% 1.49% 1.34% 1.05% 1.11%
Net investment income 6.08% 6.54% 6.45% 6.37% 6.21%
Portfolio turnover 46% 53% 38% 203% 526%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
(1) BEFORE 1-15-96, THE FUND WAS A CLOSED-END INVESTMENT COMPANY.
(2) CALCULATED BASED UPON AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING DURING THE YEAR.
(3) TOTAL RETURN ASSUMES REINVESTMENT OF DIVIDENDS AND ANY OTHER DISTRIBUTIONS,
BUT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE EFFECT OF SALES CHARGES. IT IS CALCULATED ASSUMING
SHARES ARE PURCHASED ON THE FIRST DAY AND SOLD ON THE LAST DAY OF EACH
PERIOD REPORTED.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
37
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Financial Highlights
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class B Shares
The financial highlights were audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent
accountants, whose report was unqualified.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -----------------------------------------------
Class B Shares (fiscal periods ended 12-31)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Per Share Operating Performance 1998(2) 19972) 1996(1)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD $7.10 $7.64 $7.72
INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS:
Net investment income .37 .44 .52
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
on investments and foreign currency .11 (.20) .25
transactions
TOTAL FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS .48 .24 .77
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS:
Dividends from net investment income (.21) (.54) (.63)
Distributions in excess of net investment income (.14) (.24) (.40)
Distributions from net realized gains (.04) -- --
TOTAL DISTRIBUTIONS (.39) (.78) (1.03)
Redemption fee retained by Fund -- -- .18
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD $7.19 $7.10 $7.64
TOTAL RETURN(3) 7.32% 3.25% 12.86%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA 1998 1997 1996
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET ASSETS, END OF PERIOD (000) $1,218 $531 $75
Average net assets (000) $785 $335 $23
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:
Expenses, including distribution fees 2.23% 2.24% 2.09%(4)
Expenses, excluding distribution fees 1.48% 1.49% 1.34%(4)
Net investment income 5.51% 6.00% 5.85%(4)
Portfolio turnover 46% 53% 38%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
(1) FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1-15-96 (WHEN CLASS B SHARES WERE FIRST OFFERED)
THROUGH 12-31-96.
(2) CALCULATED BASED UPON AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING DURING THE YEAR.
(3) TOTAL RETURN ASSUMES REINVESTMENT OF DIVIDENDS AND ANY OTHER DISTRIBUTIONS,
BUT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE EFFECT OF SALES CHARGES. IT IS CALCULATED ASSUMING
SHARES ARE PURCHASED ON THE FIRST DAY AND SOLD ON THE LAST DAY OF EACH
PERIOD REPORTED. TOTAL RETURN FOR PERIODS LESS THAN A FULL YEAR IS NOT
ANNUALIZED.
(4) ANNUALIZED.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
38 PRUDENTIAL INTERNATIONAL BOND FUND, INC. TELEPHONE (800) 225-1852
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Financial Highlights
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class C Shares
The financial highlights were audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent
accountants, whose report was unqualified.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -------------------------------------------------
CLASS C SHARES (FISCAL PERIODS ENDED 12-31)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PER SHARE OPERATING PERFORMANCE 1998(2) 1997(2) 1996(1)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD $7.10 $7.64 $7.72
INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS:
Net investment income .37 .40 .52
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
on investment and foreign currency transactions .11 (.16) .25
TOTAL FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS .48 .24 .77
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS:
Dividends from net investment income (.21) (.54) (.63)
Distributions in excess of net investment income (.14) (.24) (.40)
Distributions from net realized gains (.04) -- --
TOTAL DISTRIBUTIONS (.39) (.78) (1.03)
Redemption fee retained by Fund -- -- .18
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD $7.19 $7.10 $7.64
TOTAL RETURN(3) 7.32% 3.25% 12.86%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA 1998 1997 1996
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET ASSETS, END OF PERIOD (000) $257 $76 $13
Average net assets (000) $126 $26 $8
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:
Expenses, including distribution fees 2.23% 2.24% 2.09%(4)
Expenses, excluding distribution fees 1.48% 1.49% 1.34%(4)
Net investment income (loss) 5.53% 5.96% 5.85%(4)
Portfolio turnover 46% 53% 38%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
(1) FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1-15-96 (WHEN CLASS C SHARES WERE FIRST OFFERED)
THROUGH 12-31-96.
(2) CALCULATED BASED UPON AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING DURING THE PERIOD.
(3) TOTAL RETURN ASSUMES REINVESTMENT OF DIVIDENDS AND ANY OTHER DISTRIBUTIONS,
BUT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE EFFECT OF SALES CHARGES. IT IS CALCULATED ASSUMING
SHARES ARE PURCHASED ON THE FIRST DAY AND SOLD ON THE LAST DAY OF EACH
PERIOD REPORTED. TOTAL RETURN FOR PERIODS OF LESS THAN A FULL YEAR IS NOT
ANNUALIZED.
(4) ANNUALIZED.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
39
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Financial Highlights
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class Z Shares
The financial highlights were audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent
accountants, whose report was unqualified.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ---------------------------------------------
Class Z Shares (fiscal years ended 12-31)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Per Share Operating Performance 1998(2) 1997(1)(2)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD $7.10 $7.57
INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS:
Net investment income .44 .38
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
on investment and foreign currency transactions .10 (.02)
TOTAL FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS .54 .36
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS:
Dividends from net investment income (.25) (.59)
Distributions in excess of net investment income (.16) (.24)
Distributions from net realized gains (.04) --
TOTAL DISTRIBUTIONS (.45) (.83)
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD $7.19 $7.10
TOTAL RETURN(3) 8.16% 4.97%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA 1998 1997
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET ASSETS, END OF PERIOD (000) $2,253 $628
Average net assets (000) $1,487 $121
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:
Expenses, including distribution fees 1.48% 1.49%(4)
Expenses, excluding distribution fees 1.48% 1.49%(4)
Net investment income 6.29% 6.82%(4)
Portfolio turnover 46% 53%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
(1) INFORMATION SHOWN IS FOR THE PERIOD FROM 3-17-97 (WHEN CLASS Z SHARES WERE
FIRST OFFERED) THROUGH 12-31-97.
(2) CALCULATED BASED UPON AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING DURING THE PERIOD.
(3) TOTAL RETURN ASSUMES REINVESTMENT OF DIVIDENDS AND ANY OTHER DISTRIBUTIONS.
IT IS CALCULATED ASSUMING SHARES ARE PURCHASED ON THE FIRST DAY AND SOLD ON
THE LAST DAY OF EACH PERIOD REPORTED. TOTAL RETURN FOR PERIODS OF LESS THAN
A FULL YEAR IS NOT ANNUALIZED.
(4) ANNUALIZED.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
40 PRUDENTIAL INTERNATIONAL BOND FUND, INC. TELEPHONE (800) 225-1852
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[This page has been left blank intentionally.]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
41
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Prudential Mutual Fund Family
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prudential offers a broad range of mutual funds designed to meet your individual
needs. For more information about these funds, contact your financial adviser or
call us at (800) 225-1852. Read the prospectus carefully before you invest or
send money.
STOCK FUNDS
PRUDENTIAL DISTRESSED SECURITIES FUND, INC.
PRUDENTIAL EMERGING GROWTH FUND, INC.
PRUDENTIAL EQUITY FUND, INC.
PRUDENTIAL EQUITY INCOME FUND
PRUDENTIAL INDEX SERIES FUND
PRUDENTIAL SMALL-CAP INDEX FUND
PRUDENTIAL STOCK INDEX FUND
THE PRUDENTIAL INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS, INC.
PRUDENTIAL JENNISON GROWTH FUND
PRUDENTIAL JENNISON GROWTH & INCOME FUND
PRUDENTIAL MID-CAP VALUE FUND
PRUDENTIAL REAL ESTATE SECURITIES FUND
PRUDENTIAL SMALL-CAP QUANTUM FUND, INC.
PRUDENTIAL SMALL COMPANY VALUE FUND, INC.
PRUDENTIAL TAX-MANAGED EQUITY FUND
PRUDENTIAL 20/20 FOCUS FUND
PRUDENTIAL UTILITY FUND, INC.
NICHOLAS-APPLEGATE FUND, INC.
NICHOLAS-APPLEGATE GROWTH EQUITY FUND
ASSET ALLOCATION/BALANCED FUNDS
PRUDENTIAL BALANCED FUND
PRUDENTIAL DIVERSIFIED FUNDS
CONSERVATIVE GROWTH FUND
MODERATE GROWTH FUND
HIGH GROWTH FUND
THE PRUDENTIAL INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS, INC.
PRUDENTIAL ACTIVE BALANCED FUND
GLOBAL FUNDS
GLOBAL STOCK FUNDS
PRUDENTIAL DEVELOPING MARKETS FUND
PRUDENTIAL DEVELOPING MARKETS EQUITY FUND
PRUDENTIAL LATIN AMERICA EQUITY FUND
PRUDENTIAL EUROPE GROWTH FUND, INC.
PRUDENTIAL GLOBAL GENESIS FUND, INC.
PRUDENTIAL INDEX SERIES FUND
PRUDENTIAL EUROPE INDEX FUND
PRUDENTIAL PACIFIC INDEX FUND
PRUDENTIAL NATURAL RESOURCES FUND, INC.
PRUDENTIAL PACIFIC GROWTH FUND, INC.
PRUDENTIAL WORLD FUND, INC.
GLOBAL SERIES
INTERNATIONAL STOCK SERIES
GLOBAL UTILITY FUND, INC.
GLOBAL BOND FUNDS
PRUDENTIAL GLOBAL LIMITED MATURITY FUND, INC.
LIMITED MATURITY PORTFOLIO
PRUDENTIAL INTERMEDIATE GLOBAL INCOME FUND, INC.
PRUDENTIAL INTERNATIONAL BOND FUND, INC.
THE GLOBAL TOTAL RETURN FUND, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
42 PRUDENTIAL INTERNATIONAL BOND FUND, INC. TELEPHONE (800) 225-1852
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Prudential Mutual Fund Family
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BOND FUNDS
TAXABLE BOND FUNDS
PRUDENTIAL DIVERSIFIED BOND FUND, INC.
PRUDENTIAL GOVERNMENT INCOME FUND, INC.
PRUDENTIAL GOVERNMENT SECURITIES TRUST
SHORT-INTERMEDIATE TERM SERIES
PRUDENTIAL HIGH YIELD FUND, INC.
PRUDENTIAL HIGH YIELD TOTAL RETURN FUND, INC.
PRUDENTIAL INDEX SERIES FUND
PRUDENTIAL BOND MARKET INDEX FUND
PRUDENTIAL STRUCTURED MATURITY FUND, INC.
INCOME PORTFOLIO
TAX-EXEMPT BOND FUNDS
PRUDENTIAL CALIFORNIA MUNICIPAL FUND
CALIFORNIA SERIES
CALIFORNIA INCOME SERIES
PRUDENTIAL MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
HIGH INCOME SERIES
INSURED SERIES
PRUDENTIAL MUNICIPAL SERIES FUND
FLORIDA SERIES
MASSACHUSETTS SERIES
NEW JERSEY SERIES
NEW YORK SERIES
NORTH CAROLINA SERIES
OHIO SERIES
PENNSYLVANIA SERIES
PRUDENTIAL NATIONAL MUNICIPALS FUND, INC.
MONEY MARKET FUNDS
TAXABLE MONEY MARKET FUNDS
CASH ACCUMULATION TRUST
LIQUID ASSETS FUND
NATIONAL MONEY MARKET FUND
PRUDENTIAL GOVERNMENT SECURITIES TRUST
MONEY MARKET SERIES
U.S. TREASURY MONEY MARKET SERIES
PRUDENTIAL SPECIAL MONEY MARKET FUND, INC.
MONEY MARKET SERIES
PRUDENTIAL MONEYMART ASSETS, INC.
TAX-FREE MONEY MARKET FUNDS
PRUDENTIAL TAX-FREE MONEY FUND, INC.
PRUDENTIAL CALIFORNIA MUNICIPAL FUND
CALIFORNIA MONEY MARKET SERIES
PRUDENTIAL MUNICIPAL SERIES FUND
CONNECTICUT MONEY MARKET SERIES
MASSACHUSETTS MONEY MARKET SERIES
NEW JERSEY MONEY MARKET SERIES
NEW YORK MONEY MARKET SERIES
COMMAND FUNDS
COMMAND MONEY FUND
COMMAND GOVERNMENT FUND
COMMAND TAX-FREE FUND
INSTITUTIONAL MONEY MARKET FUNDS
PRUDENTIAL INSTITUTIONAL LIQUIDITY PORTFOLIO, INC.
INSTITUTIONAL MONEY MARKET SERIES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
43
<PAGE>
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44 PRUDENTIAL INTERNATIONAL BOND FUND, INC. TELEPHONE (800) 225-1852
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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45
<PAGE>
For More Information:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please read this prospectus before
you invest in the Fund and keep it
for future reference. For information
or shareholder questions contact:
PRUDENTIAL MUTUAL FUND SERVICES LLC
P.O. BOX 15005
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ 08906-5005
(800) 225-1852
(732) 417-7555
(if calling from outside the U.S.)
- ----------------------------------------------------
Outside Brokers Should Contact:
PRUDENTIAL INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT SERVICES LLC
P.O. BOX 15035
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ 08906-5035
(800) 778-8769
- ----------------------------------------------------
Visit Prudential's Web Site At:
http://www.prudential.com
- ----------------------------------------------------
Additional information about the
Fund can be obtained without charge
and can be found in the following
documents:
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (SAI)
(incorporated by reference into this prospectus)
ANNUAL REPORT
(contains a discussion of the market
conditions and investment strategies
that significantly affected the Fund's
performance)
SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You can also obtain copies of Fund
documents from the Securities and
Exchange Commission as follows:
By Mail:
Securities and Exchange Commission
Public Reference Section
Washington, DC 20549-6009
(The SEC charges a fee to copy documents.)
In Person:
Public Reference Room in
Washington, DC
(For hours of operation, call 1(800) SEC-0330)
Via the Internet:
http://www.sec.gov
- ----------------------------------------------------
CUSIP Numbers:
Class A Shares--74436Q-10-1
Class B Shares--74436Q-20-0
Class C Shares--74436Q-30-9
Class Z Shares--74436Q-40-8
Investment Company Act File No:
811-5123
MF170A [RECYCLED LOGO] Printed on Recycled Paper
<PAGE>
PRUDENTIAL INTERNATIONAL BOND FUND, INC.
Statement of Additional Information
dated March 16, 1999
Prudential International Bond Fund, Inc. (the Fund) is an open-end,
non-diversified, management investment company. The investment objective of the
Fund is to seek total return, made up of current income and capital
appreciation. There can be no assurance that the Fund's investment objective
will be achieved. Investing in foreign government securities, options and
futures contracts involves considerations and possible risks which are different
from those ordinarily associated with investing in U.S. government securities.
The Fund's address is Gateway Center Three, 100 Mulberry Street, Newark,
New Jersey 07102-4077, and its telephone number is (800) 225-1852.
This Statement of Additional Information is not a prospectus and should
only be read in conjunction with the Fund's Prospectus, dated March 16, 1999, a
copy of which may be obtained from the Fund upon request.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
----
Fund History ......................................................... B-2
Description of the Fund, Its Investments and Risks ................... B-2
Investment Restrictions .............................................. B-20
Management of the Fund ............................................... B-21
Control Persons and Principal Holders of Securities .................. B-24
Investment Advisory and Other Services ............................... B-25
Brokerage Allocation and Other Practices ............................. B-28
Capital Shares, Other Securities and Organization .................... B-30
Purchase, Redemption and Pricing of Fund Shares ...................... B-30
Shareholder Investment Account ....................................... B-40
Net Asset Value ...................................................... B-44
Taxes, Dividends and Distributions ................................... B-45
Performance Information .............................................. B-47
Financial Statements ................................................. B-49
Report of Independent Accountants .................................... B-60
Appendix A--Description of Security Ratings .......................... A-1
Appendix I--General Investment Information ........................... I-1
Appendix II--Historical Performance Data ............................. II-1
Appendix III--Information Relating to Prudential ..................... III-1
================================================================================
MF170B
<PAGE>
FUND HISTORY
Prudential International Bond Fund, Inc., was incorporated under the laws
of Maryland on April 20, 1987 under the name "The Global Government Plus Fund,
Inc." as a closed-end, non-diversified management investment company. The Fund
operated as a closed-end fund prior to January 15, 1996. On December 6, 1995,
shareholders approved open-ending the Fund, and since January 15, 1996, the Fund
has operated as an open-end fund. Effective August 8, 1997, the Fund changed its
name to Prudential International Bond Fund, Inc.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FUND, ITS INVESTMENTS AND RISKS
(A) CLASSIFICATION. The Fund is a "nondiversified" management investment
company and may invest more than 5% of its total assets in the securities of one
or more issuers. However, the Fund intends to limit its investments in the
securities of any one bank or corporation to 10% of its total assets at the time
of purchase. The Fund will not invest 25% or more of its total assets at the
time of purchase in the securities of a central government or a supranational
issuer or, as to 50% of its assets, more than 5% in any one issuer. Investment
in a non-diversified investment company involves greater risk than investment in
a diversified investment company because a loss resulting from the default of a
single issuer may represent a greater portion of the total assets of a
nondiversified portfolio.
(B) AND (C) INVESTMENT STRATEGIES, POLICIES AND RISKS. The Fund's
investment objective is to seek total return, made up of current income and
capital appreciation. While the principal investment policies and strategies for
seeking to achieve this objective are described in the Fund's prospectus, the
Fund may from time to time also use the securities, instruments, policies and
strategies described below in seeking to achieve its objective. The Fund may not
be successful in achieving its objective and you could lose money.
FOREIGN SECURITIES
Foreign securities include securities of any foreign country the investment
adviser considers appropriate for investment by the Fund. Foreign securities may
also include securities of foreign issuers that are traded in U.S. dollars in
the United States although the underlying security is usually denominated in a
foreign currency. These securities include but are not limited to securities
traded in the form of American Depositary Receipts and American Depositary
Shares. In many instances, foreign securities may provide higher yields but may
be subject to greater fluctuations in price than securities of domestic issuers
which have similar maturities and quality. Under certain market conditions these
investments may be less liquid and more volatile than the securities of U.S.
corporations and are certainly less liquid than securities issued or guaranteed
by the U.S. government, its instrumentalities or agencies.
Foreign securities involve certain risks, which should be considered
carefully by an investor in the Fund. These risks include political, economic or
social instability in the country of the issuer, the difficulty of predicting
international trade patterns, the possibility of imposition of exchange controls
and the risk of currency fluctuations. Such securities may be subject to greater
fluctuations in price than securities issued by U.S. corporations or issued or
guaranteed by the U.S. government, its instrumentalities or agencies. In
addition, there may be less publicly available information about a foreign
company than about a domestic company. Foreign companies generally are not
subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards
comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies. There is generally less
government regulation of securities exchanges, brokers and listed companies
abroad than in the United States, and, for certain foreign countries, there is a
possibility of expropriation, confiscatory taxation or diplomatic developments
which could affect investment in those countries and potential difficulties in
enforcing contractual obligations and could be subject to extended settlement
periods. Finally, in the event of a default of any such foreign debt
obligations, it may be more difficult for the Fund to obtain or to enforce a
judgment against, the issuers of such securities.
The costs attributable to foreign investing are higher than the costs of
domestic investing. For example, the cost of maintaining custody of foreign
securities generally exceeds custodian costs for domestic securities, and
transaction and settlement costs of foreign investing are frequently higher than
those attributable to domestic investing. Costs are incurred in connection with
conversions between various currencies. In addition, foreign brokerage
commissions are generally higher than in the U.S., and the foreign securities
markets may be less liquid and more volatile than in the U.S. Foreign investment
income may be subject to foreign withholding or other government taxes that
could reduce the return to the Fund on those securities. Tax treaties between
the United States and certain foreign countries may, however, reduce or
eliminate the amount of foreign tax to which the Fund would be subject.
The Fund invests in debt securities denominated in the currencies of
developed countries and developing or certain "emerging market" nations.
Companies in emerging markets may have limited product lines, markets or
financial resources and
B-2
<PAGE>
may lack management depth. The securities of these companies may have limited
marketability and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements than
securities of larger, more established companies or the market averages in
general. Investing in the fixed-income markets of emerging market countries
involves exposure to economies that are generally less diverse and mature, and
to political systems which can be expected to have less stability than those of
developed countries. Historical experience indicates that the markets of
developing countries have been more volatile than the markets of developed
countries. The risks associated with investments in foreign securities,
described above, may be greater with respect to investments in developing
countries.
The Fund may invest in debt securities issued by supranational
organizations such as the World Bank, the European Investment Bank, the European
Coal and Steel Community, and the Asian Development Bank. The Fund may invest in
debt securities issued by "semi-governmental entities" such as entities owned by
a national, state or equivalent government or are obligations of a political
unit that are not backed by the national government's "full faith and credit"
and general taxing powers. Examples of semi-governmental issuers include, among
others, the Province of Ontario and the City of Stockholm.
The Fund may also invest in mortgage-backed securities issued or guaranteed
by foreign government entities including semi-governmental entities, and Brady
Bonds, which are long-term bonds issued by government entities in developing
countries as part of a restructuring of their commercial loans.
The Fund may invest in component parts of debt securities of foreign
governments or semi-governmental entities, namely either the corpus (principal)
of such obligations or one or more of the interest payments scheduled to be paid
on such obligations. These securities may take the form of (1) obligations from
which the interest coupons have been stripped (principal only); (2) the interest
coupons that are stripped (interest only); (3) book-entries at a bank
representing ownership of obligation components; or (4) receipts evidencing the
component parts (corpus or coupons) of obligations that have not actually been
stripped. Such receipts evidence ownership of component parts of obligations
(corpus or coupons) purchased by a third party (typically an investment banking
firm) and held on behalf of the third party in physical or book-entry form by a
major commercial bank or trust company pursuant to a custody agreement with the
third party. The Fund may also invest in custodial receipts held by a third
party. Stripped securities are, in general, more sensitive to interest rate
changes than securities that have not been stripped. Combined with investments
in similar U.S. government securities, the Fund will not invest more than 10% of
its total assets in such securities.
A change in the value of a foreign currency against the U.S. dollar will
result in a corresponding change in the U.S. dollar value of the Fund's assets
denominated in that currency. These currency fluctuations can result in gains or
losses for the Fund. For example, if a foreign security increases in value as
measured in its currency, an increase in value of the U.S. dollar, relative to
the currency in which the foreign security is denominated can offset some or all
of such gains. These currency changes will also affect the Fund's return, income
and distributions to shareholders. In addition, although the Fund will receive
income in such currencies, the Fund will be required to compute and distribute
its income in U.S. dollars. Therefore, if the exchange rate for any such
currency decreases after the Fund's income has been accrued and translated into
U.S. dollars, the Fund would experience a foreign currency loss and could be
required to liquidate portfolio securities to make such distributions.
Similarly, if an exchange rate for any such currency decreases between the time
the Fund incurs expenses in U.S. dollars and the time such expenses are paid,
the amount of such currency required to be converted into U.S. dollars in order
pay such expenses in U.S. dollars will be greater than the equivalent amount of
such currency at the time such expenses were incurred. Under the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Internal Revenue Code), changes in an
exchange rate which occur between the time the Fund accrues interest or other
receivables or accrues expenses or other liabilities denominated in a foreign
currency and the time the Fund actually collects such receivables or pays such
liabilities will result in foreign currency gains or losses that increase or
decrease distributable net investment income. Similarly, dispositions of certain
debt securities (by sale, at maturity or otherwise) at a U.S. dollar amount that
is higher or lower than the Fund's original U.S. dollar cost may result in
foreign exchange gains or losses, which will increase or decrease distributable
net investment income. The exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and other
currencies can be volatile and are determined by such factors as supply and
demand in the currency exchange markets, international balances of payments,
government intervention, speculation and other economic and political
conditions. Gains and losses on security and currency transactions cannot be
predicted. This fact coupled with the different tax and accounting treatment of
certain currency gains and losses increases the likelihood of distributions in
whole or in part constituting a return of capital to shareholders.
The Fund's interest income from foreign government securities issued in
local markets may, in some cases, be subject to applicable withholding taxes
imposed by governments in such markets. The Fund may sell a foreign security it
owns prior to maturity in order to avoid foreign withholding taxes on dividend
and interest income and buy back the same security for a future settlement date.
Interest on foreign government securities is not generally subject to foreign
withholding taxes.
Returns available from foreign currency denominated debt instruments can be
adversely affected by changes in exchange rates. The Fund's investment adviser
believes that the use of foreign currency hedging techniques, including
"cross-currency
B-3
<PAGE>
hedges" may assist, under certain conditions, in helping to protect against
declines in the U.S. dollar value of income available for distribution to
shareholders and declines in the net asset value of the Fund's shares resulting
from adverse changes in currency exchange rates. For example, the return
available from securities denominated in a particular foreign currency would
diminish in the event the value of the U.S. dollar increased against such
currency. Such a decline could be partially or completely offset by an increase
in value of a cross-currency hedge involving a forward currency contract to sell
a different foreign currency, where such contract is available on terms more
advantageous to the Fund than a contract to sell the currency in which the
position being hedged is denominated. Cross-currency hedges can, therefore,
under certain conditions, provide protection of net asset value in the event of
a general rise in the U.S. dollar against foreign currencies. However, there can
be no assurance that the Fund will be able to engage in cross-currency hedging
or that foreign exchange rate relationships will be sufficiently predictable to
enable the investment adviser to employ cross-currency hedging techniques
successfully. A cross-currency hedge cannot protect against exchange rate risks
perfectly, and if the investment adviser is incorrect in its judgment of future
exchange rate relationships, the Fund could be in a less advantageous position
than if such a hedge had not been established.
If a security is denominated in a foreign currency, it may be affected by
changes in currency rates and in exchange controlled regulations, and costs may
be incurred in connection with conversions between currencies. The Fund may
enter into foreign currency forward contracts for the purchase or sale of
foreign currency for hedging purposes. See "Risk Management and Return
Enhancement Strategies" below.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS OF INVESTING IN EURO-DENOMINATED SECURITIES. On
January 1, 1999, 11 of the 15 member states of the European Monetary Union
introduced the "euro" as a common currency. During a three-year transitional
period, the euro will coexist with each participating state's currency and, on
July 1, 2002, the euro is expected to become the sole currency of the
participating states. During the transition period, the Fund will treat the euro
as a separate currency from that of any participating state.
The conversion may adversely effect the Fund if the euro does not take
effect as planned; if a participating state withdraws from the European Monetary
Union; or if the computing, accounting and trading systems used by the Fund's
service providers, or by entities with which the Fund or its service providers
do business, are not capable of recognizing the euro as a distinct currency at
the time of, and following, euro conversion. In addition, the conversion could
cause markets to become more volatile.
The overall effect of the transition of member states' currencies to the
euro is not known at this time. It is likely that more general short-
and-long-term ramifications can be expected, such as changes in the economic
environment and changes in the behavior of investors, which would affect the
Fund's investments and its net asset value. In addition, although U.S. Treasury
regulations generally provide that the euro conversion will not, in itself,
cause a U.S. taxpayer to realize gain or loss, other changes that may occur at
the time of the conversion, such as accrual periods, holiday conventions,
indices, and other features may require the realization of a gain or loss by the
Fund as determined under existing tax law.
The Fund's Manager has taken steps (1) that it believes will reasonably
address euro-related changes to enable the Fund and its service providers to
process transactions accurately and completely with minimal disruption to
business activities and (2) to obtain reasonable assurances that appropriate
steps have been taken by the Fund's other service providers to address the
conversion. The Fund has not borne any expense relating to these actions.
FIXED-INCOME SECURITIES
Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 65% of its total
assets in income producing debt securities. The Fund anticipates that it will
primarily invest in fixed-income securities rated A or better by Moody's
Investors Service, Inc. (Moody's) or Standard & Poor's Rating Group (S&P) or
comparably rated by another nationally recognized statistical rating
organization (NRSRO). The Fund may also invest up to 15% of its total assets in
debt securities rated below investment grade but no lower than B by either S&P
or Moody's or another NRSRO. In either case, the Fund may invest in unrated
securities deemed to be of equivalent quality by the investment adviser.
Fixed-income securities are subject to the risk of an issuer's inability to
meet principal and interest payments on the obligations (credit risk) and may
also be subject to price volatility due to such factors as interest rate
sensitivity, the market perception of the creditworthiness of the issuer and
general market liquidity (market risk). Lower rated (I.E., high yield or "junk
bonds") securities are more likely to react to developments affecting market and
credit risk than are more highly rated securities, which react primarily to
movements in the general level of interest rates. The investment adviser
considers both credit risk and market risk in making investment decisions for
the Fund.
Generally, lower-rated securities and unrated securities of comparable
quality (I.E., securities rated lower than Baa by Moody's or BBB by S&P's or
comparably rated by another NRSRO), offer a higher current yield than is offered
by higher-rated securities, but also (1) will likely have some quality and
protective characteristics that, in the judgment of the rating organizations,
B-4
<PAGE>
are outweighed by large uncertainties or major risk exposures to adverse
conditions and (2) are predominately speculative with respect to the issuer's
capacity to pay interest and repay principal in accordance with the terms of the
obligation. The market values of certain of these securities also tend to be
more sensitive to individual issuer developments and changes in economic
conditions than higher-quality bonds. In addition, medium and lower-rated
securities and comparable unrated securities generally present a higher degree
of credit risk. The risk of loss due to default by these issuers is
significantly greater because medium and lower-rated securities and unrated
securities of comparable quality generally are unsecured and frequently are
subordinated to the prior payment of senior indebtedness. The investment
adviser, under the supervision of the Manager and the Directors, in evaluating
the creditworthiness of an issuer whether rated or unrated, takes various
factors into consideration, which may include, as applicable, the issuer's
financial resources, its sensitivity to economic conditions and trends and
regulatory matters.
In addition, the market value of securities in lower-rated categories is
more volatile than that of higher-quality securities, and the markets in which
medium and lower-rated or unrated securities are traded are more limited than
those in which higher-rated securities are traded. The existence of limited
markets may make it more difficult for the Fund to obtain accurate market
quotations for purposes of valuing its portfolio and calculating its net asset
value. Moreover, the lack of a liquid trading market may restrict the
availability of securities for the Fund to purchase and may also have the effect
of limiting the ability of the Fund to sell securities at their fair value
either to meet redemption requests or to respond to changes in the economy or
the financial markets.
Under adverse economic conditions, there is a risk that highly leveraged
issuers may be unable to service their debt obligations or to repay their
obligations upon maturity. Under adverse market or economic conditions, the
secondary market for high yield securities could contract further, independent
of any specific adverse changes in the condition of a particular issuer. As a
result, the investment adviser could find it more difficult to sell these
securities or may be able to sell the securities only at prices lower than if
such securities were widely traded. Prices realized upon the sale of such
lower-rated or unrated securities, under these circumstances, may be less than
the prices used in calculating the Fund's net asset value.
Lower-rated debt obligations also present risks based on payment
expectations. If an issuer calls the obligation for redemption, the Fund may
have to replace the security with a lower-yielding security, resulting in a
decreased return for investors. Also, as the principal value of bonds moves
inversely with movements in interest rates, in the event of rising interest
rates the value of the securities held by the Fund may decline proportionately
more than a portfolio consisting of higher rated securities. If the Fund
experiences unexpected net redemptions, it may be forced to sell its
higher-rated securities, resulting in a decline in the overall credit quality of
the Fund's portfolio and increasing the exposure of the Fund to the risks of
high yield securities.
Lower-rated debt obligations also present risks based on payment
expectations. If an issuer calls the obligation for redemption, the Fund may
have to replace the security with a lower-yielding security, resulting in a
decreased return for investors. Also, as the principal value of bonds moves
inversely with movements in interest rates, in the event of rising interest
rates the value of the securities held by the Fund may decline proportionately
more than a portfolio consisting of higher-rated securities. If the Fund
experiences unexpected net redemptions, it may be forced to sell its
higher-rated bonds, resulting in a decline in the overall credit quality of the
securities held by the Fund and increasing the exposure of the Fund to the risks
of lower-rated securities. Investments in zero coupon bonds may be more
speculative and subject to greater fluctuations in value due to changes in
interest rates than bonds that pay interest currently.
Ratings of fixed-income securities represent the rating agency's opinion
regarding their credit quality and are not a guarantee of quality. Rating
agencies attempt to evaluate the safety of principal and interest payments and
do not evaluate the risks of fluctuations in market value. Also, rating agencies
may fail to make timely changes in credit ratings in response to subsequent
events, so that an issuer's current financial condition may be better or worse
than a rating indicates. See Appendix A--"Description of Security Ratings."
Subsequent to its purchase by the Fund, an issue of securities may cease to
be rated or its rating may be reduced below the minimum required for purchase by
the Fund. Neither event will require sale of these securities by the Fund, but
the investment adviser will consider this event in its determination of whether
the Fund should continue to hold the securities.
B-5
<PAGE>
During the year ended December 31, 1998, the monthly dollar-weighted
average ratings of the debt obligations held by the Fund, expressed as a
percentage of the Fund's total investments, were as follows:
PERCENTAGE OF
RATING TOTAL INVESTMENTS
------- -----------------
AAA/Aaa = 65.3%
AA/Aa = 5.0
A/A = 10.5
BBB/Baa = 13.4
BB/Ba = 4.2
B/B = --
CCC/Caa = 1.6
CC/Ca = --
Unrated = --
CORPORATE AND OTHER NON-GOVERNMENT DEBT OBLIGATIONS
The Fund may invest in corporate and other nongovernmental debt obligations
of foreign and domestic issuers including convertible securities and (subject to
the Fund's maturity limitations) in intermediate-term and long-term bank debt
securities in the United States and in foreign countries denominated in U.S.
dollars or in foreign currencies. Issuers are not limited to the corporate form
of organization.
ZERO COUPON, PAY-IN-KIND OR DEFERRED PAYMENT SECURITY
The Fund may also invest in zero coupon, pay-in-kind or deferred payment
securities. Zero coupon securities are securities that are sold at a discount to
par value and on which interest payments are not made during the life of the
security. Upon maturity, the holder is entitled to receive the par value of the
security. While interest payments are not made on such securities, holders of
such securities are deemed to have received annually "phantom income." These
investments benefit the issuer by mitigating its need for cash to meet debt
service, but also require a higher rate of return to attract investors who are
willing to defer receipt of cash. These investments may experience greater
volatility in market value than securities that make regular payments of
interest. The Fund accrues income on these investments for tax and accounting
purposes, which is distributable to shareholders and which, because no cash is
received at the time of accrual, may require the liquidation of other portfolio
securities to satisfy the Fund's distribution obligations, in which case the
Fund will forgo the purchase of additional income producing assets with these
funds. Zero coupon securities include corporate and foreign and U.S. government
securities. Pay-in-kind securities are securities that have interest payable by
delivery of additional securities. Upon maturity, the holder is entitled to
receive the aggregate par value of the securities. Deferred payment securities
are securities that remain a zero coupon security until a predetermined date, at
which time the stated coupon rate becomes effective and interest becomes payable
at regular intervals. Certain debt securities are subject to call provisions.
Zero coupon, pay-in-kind and deferred payment securities may be subject to
greater fluctuation in value and lesser liquidity in the event of adverse market
conditions than comparably rated securities paying cash interest at regular
intervals.
U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES
U.S. TREASURY SECURITIES. The Fund may invest in U.S. Treasury securities,
including bills, notes, bonds and other debt securities issued by the U.S.
Treasury. These instruments are direct obligations of the U.S. government and,
as such, are backed by the"full faith and credit" of the United States. They
differ primarily in their interest rates, the lengths of their maturities and
the dates of their issuances.
OBLIGATIONS ISSUED OR GUARANTEED BY U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND
INSTRUMENTALITIES. The Fund may invest in debt securities issued or guaranteed
by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government, including, but not
limited to, Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA), Federal National
Mortgage Association (FNMA) and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC)
securities. Obligations of GNMA, the Farmers Home Administration and the
Export-Import Bank are backed by the "full faith and credit" of the United
States. In the case of securities not backed by the "full faith and credit" of
the United States, the Fund must look principally to the agency issuing or
guaranteeing the obligation for ultimate repayment. Such securities include
obligations issued by the Student Loan Marketing Association (SLMA), FNMA and
FHLMC, each of which may borrow from the U.S. Treasury to meet its obligations,
although the U.S. Treasury is under no obligation to lend to such entities.
The Fund may invest in component parts of U.S. government debt securities,
namely either the corpus (principal) of such obligations or one or more of the
interest payments scheduled to be paid on such obligations. These obligations
may take the form
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of (1) obligations from which the interest coupons have been stripped; (2) the
interest coupons that are stripped; (3) book-entries at a Federal Reserve member
bank representing ownership of obligation components; or (4) receipts evidencing
the component parts (corpus or coupons) of U.S. government obligations that have
not actually been stripped. Such receipts evidence ownership of component parts
of U.S. government obligations (corpus or coupons) purchased by a third party
(typically an investment banking firm) and held on behalf of the third party in
physical or book-entry form by a major commercial bank or trust company pursuant
to a custody agreement with the third party. The Fund may also invest in
custodial receipts held by a third party that are not U.S. government
securities. Combined with investments in similar foreign government and
semi-governmental entity securities, the Fund will not invest more than 10% of
its total assets in such securities.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS. U.S. government securities are considered among the
most creditworthy of fixed-income investments. The yields available from U.S.
government securities are generally lower than the yields available from
corporate debt securities. The values of U.S. government securities (like those
of fixed-income securities generally) will change as interest rates fluctuate.
During periods of falling U.S. interest rates, the values of outstanding
long-term U.S. government securities generally rise. Conversely, during periods
of rising interest rates, the values of such securities generally decline. The
magnitude of those fluctuations will generally be greater for securities with
longer maturities. Although changes in the value of U.S. government securities
will not affect investment income from those securities, they will affect the
net asset value (NAV) of the Fund.
At a time when the Fund has written call options on a portion of its U.S.
government securities, its ability to profit from declining interest rates will
be limited. Any appreciation in the value of the securities held in the
portfolio above the strike price would likely be partially or wholly offset by
unrealized losses on call options written by the Fund. The termination of option
positions under these conditions would generally result in the realization of
capital losses, which would reduce the Fund's capital gains distributions.
Accordingly, the Fund would generally seek to realize capital gains to offset
realized losses by selling portfolio securities. In such circumstances, however,
it is likely that the proceeds of such sales would be reinvested in lower
yielding securities.
MORTGAGE-RELATED SECURITIES ISSUED OR GUARANTEED BY U.S. GOVERNMENT
AGENCIES AND INSTRUMENTALITIES
The Fund may invest in mortgage-backed securities and other derivative
mortgage products, including those representing an undivided ownership interest
in a pool of mortgages, E.G., GNMA, FNMA and FHLMC Certificates where the U.S.
government or its agencies or instrumentalities guarantees the payment of
interest and principal of these securities. However, these guarantees do not
extend to the securities' yield or value, which are likely to vary inversely
with fluctuations in interest rates, nor do these guarantees extend to the yield
or value of the Fund's shares. These certificates are in most cases
"pass-through" instruments, through which the holder receives a share of all
interest and principal payments from the mortgages underlying the certificate,
net of certain fees.
In addition to GNMA, FNMA or FHLMC certificates through which the holder
receives a share of all interest and principal payments from the mortgages
underlying the certificate, the Fund may also invest in certain mortgage
pass-through securities issued by the U.S. government or its agencies and
instrumentalities commonly referred to as mortgage-backed security strips or MBS
strips. MBS strips are usually structured with two classes that receive
different proportions of the interest and principal distributions on a pool of
mortgage assets. A common type of stripped mortgage security will have one class
receiving some of the interest and most of the principal from the mortgage
assets, while the other class will receive most of the interest and the
remainder of the principal. In the most extreme case, one class will receive all
of the interest (the interest-only or "IO" class), while the other class will
receive all of the principal (the principal-only or "PO" class). The yields to
maturity on IOs and POs are sensitive to the rate of principal payments
(including prepayments) on the related underlying mortgage assets, and principal
payments may have a material effect on yield to maturity. If the underlying
mortgage assets experience greater than anticipated prepayments of principal,
the Fund may not fully recoup its initial investment in IOs. Conversely, if the
underlying mortgage assets experience less than anticipated prepayments of
principal, the yield on POs could be materially adversely affected.
The Fund will invest in both Adjustable Rate Mortgage Securities (ARMs),
which are pass-through mortgage securities collateralized by adjustable rate
mortgages, and Fixed-Rate Mortgage Securities (FRMs), which are collateralized
by fixed-rate mortgages. For purposes of the Fund's maturity limitation, the
maturity of a mortgage-backed security will be deemed to be equal to its
remaining maturity (I.E., the average maturity of the mortgages underlying such
security determined by the investment adviser on the basis of assumed prepayment
rates with respect to such mortgages).
FHLMC SECURITIES. FHLMC presently issues two types of mortgage pass-through
securities, mortgage participation certificates (PCs) and guaranteed mortgage
certificates (GMCs). The Fund does not intend to invest in GMCs. PCs resemble
GNMA Certificates in that each PC represents a pro rata share of all interest
and principal payments made and owed on the underlying pool. FHLMC guarantees
timely monthly payment of interest on PCs and the stated principal amount.
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ADJUSTABLE RATE MORTGAGE SECURITIES. Generally, ARMs have a specified
maturity date and amortize principal over their life. In periods of declining
interest rates, there is a reasonable likelihood that ARMs will experience
increased rates of prepayment of principal. However, the major difference
between ARMs and FRMs is that the interest rate and the rate of amortization of
principal of ARMs can and do change in accordance with movements in a
particular, pre-specified, published interest rate index. Because the interest
rate on ARMs generally moves in the same direction as market interest rates, the
market value of ARMs tends to be more stable than that of long-term fixed-rate
securities.
FIXED-RATE MORTGAGE SECURITIES. The Fund anticipates investing in
high-coupon fixed-rate mortgage securities. Such securities are collateralized
by fixed-rate mortgages and tend to have high prepayment rates when the level of
prevailing interest rates declines significantly below the interest rates on the
mortgages. Thus, under those circumstances, the securities are generally less
sensitive to interest rate movements than lower coupon FRMs.
COLLATERALIZED MORTGAGE OBLIGATIONS. Collateralized mortgage obligations
(CMOs) are debt obligations collateralized by GNMA, FNMA or FHLMC Certificates,
but also may be collateralized by whole loans or private mortgage pass-through
securities (such collateral collectively hereinafter referred to as Mortgage
Assets). Multi-class pass-through securities are equity interests in a trust
composed of Mortgage Assets. Payments of principal of and interest on the
Mortgage Assets, and any reinvestment income thereon, provide the funds to pay
debt service on the CMOs or make scheduled distributions on the multi-class
pass-through securities. CMOs may be issued by agencies or instrumentalities of
the U.S. government, or by private originators of, or investors in, mortgage
loans, including depository institutions, mortgage banks, investment banks and
special-purpose subsidiaries of the foregoing. The issuer of a series of CMOs
may elect to be treated as a Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit (REMIC).
All future references to CMOs include REMICs and multi-class pass-through
securities.
In a CMO, a series of bonds or certificates is issued in multiple classes.
Each class of CMOs, often referred to as a "tranche," is issued at a specific
fixed or floating coupon rate and has a stated maturity or final distribution
date. Principal prepayments on the Mortgage Assets may cause the CMOs to be
retired substantially earlier than their stated maturities or final distribution
dates. Interest is paid or accrues on all classes of the CMOs on a monthly,
quarterly or semi-annual basis. The principal of and interest on the Mortgage
Assets may be allocated among the several classes of a CMO series in a number of
different ways.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS OF MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES. The underlying
mortgages which collateralize the ARMs, CMOs and REMICs in which the Fund
invests will frequently have caps and floors which limit the maximum amount by
which the loan rate to the residential borrower may change up or down (1) per
reset or adjustment interval and (2) over the life of the loan. Some residential
mortgage loans restrict periodic adjustments by limiting changes in the
borrower's monthly principal and interest payments rather than limiting interest
rate changes. These payment caps may result in negative amortization. In
addition, because of the pass-through of prepayments of principal on the
underlying securities, mortgage-backed securities are often subject to more
rapid prepayment of principal than their stated maturity would indicate.
The market value of mortgage securities, like other U.S. government
securities, will generally vary inversely with changes in market interest rates,
declining when interest rates rise and rising when interest rates decline.
However, mortgage securities, while having comparable risk of decline during
periods of rising rates, usually have less potential for capital appreciation
than other investments of comparable maturities due to the likelihood of
increased prepayments of mortgages as interest rates decline. In addition, to
the extent such mortgage securities are purchased at a premium, mortgage
foreclosures and unscheduled principal prepayments generally will result in some
loss of the holders' principal to the extent of the premium paid. On the other
hand, if such mortgage securities are purchased at a discount, an unscheduled
prepayment of principal will increase current and total returns and will
accelerate the recognition of income which when distributed to shareholders will
be taxable as ordinary income.
Because the prepayment characteristics of the underlying mortgages vary, it
is not possible to predict accurately the average life of a particular issue of
pass-through certificates. Mortgage-backed securities are often subject to more
rapid repayment than their stated maturity date would indicate as a result of
the pass-through of prepayments of principal on the underlying mortgage
obligations. During periods of declining interest rates, prepayments of
mortgages underlying mortgage-backed securities can be expected to accelerate.
When mortgage obligations are prepaid, the Fund reinvests the prepaid amounts in
securities, the yields of which reflect interest rates prevailing at that time.
Therefore, the Fund's ability to maintain a portfolio of high-yielding
mortgage-backed securities will be adversely affected to the extent that
prepayments of mortgages must be reinvested in securities which have lower
yields than the prepaid mortgages. Moreover, prepayments of mortgages which
underlie securities purchased at a premium generally will result in capital
losses. During periods of rising interest rates, the rate of prepayment of
mortgages underlying mortgage-backed securities can be expected to decline,
extending the projected average maturity of the mortgage-backed securities. The
maturity extension risk may effectively change a security which was considered
short- or intermediate-term at the time of purchase into a long-term security.
Long-term securities generally fluctuate more widely in response to changes in
interest rates than short- or intermediate-term securities.
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CUSTODIAL RECEIPTS
Obligations issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest by the U.S.
government, foreign governments or semi-governmental entities may be acquired by
the Fund in the form of custodial receipts that evidence ownership of future
interest payments, principal payments or both on certain notes or bonds. Such
notes and bonds are held in custody by a bank on behalf of the owners. These
U.S. government custodial receipts are known by various names, including
"Treasury Receipts," "Treasury Investment Growth Receipts" (TIGRs) and
"Certificates of Accrual on Treasury Securities" (CATS). The Fund will not
invest more than 5% of its assets in such custodial receipts.
RISK MANAGEMENT AND RETURN ENHANCEMENT STRATEGIES
The Fund also may engage in various portfolio strategies, including using
derivatives, to seek to reduce certain risks of its investments and to attempt
to enhance return but not for speculation. The Fund, and thus its investors, may
lose money through any unsuccessful use of these strategies. These strategies
currently include the use of put and call options on securities and foreign
currencies, foreign currency forward contracts, futures contracts and options on
such contracts (including interest rate futures contracts and currency futures).
The Fund's ability to use these strategies may be limited by various factors,
such as market conditions, regulatory limits and tax considerations, and there
can be no assurance that any of these strategies will succeed. If new financial
products and risk management techniques are developed, the Fund may use them to
the extent consistent with its investment objective and policies.
OPTIONS ON SECURITIES
The Fund may purchase and write (that is, sell) put and call options on
debt securities, aggregates of debt securities or indices of prices thereof,
other financial indices (for example, the S&P 500), U.S. government securities
(listed on an exchange and over-the-counter), foreign government securities and
foreign currencies. These may include options and currencies traded on U.S. or
foreign exchanges and options and currencies traded on U.S. or foreign
over-the-counter markets (OTC options).
The Fund may write covered put and call options to generate additional
income through the receipt of premiums, purchase put options in an effort to
protect the value of security that it owns against a decline in market value and
purchase call options in an effort to protect against an increase in the price
of securities (or currencies) it intends to purchase. The Fund may also purchase
put and call options to offset previously written put and call options of the
same series.
A call option gives the purchaser, in exchange for a premium paid, the
right for a specified period of time to purchase the securities or currency
subject to the option at a specified price (the exercise price or strike price).
The writer of a call option, in return for the premium, has the obligation, upon
exercise of the option, to deliver, depending upon the terms of the option
contract, the underlying securities or a specified amount of cash to the
purchaser upon receipt of the exercise price. When the Fund writes a call
option, the Fund gives up the potential for gain on the underlying securities or
currency in excess of the exercise price of the option during the period that
the option is open.
A put option gives the purchaser, in return for a premium, the right for a
specified period of time to sell the securities or currency subject to the
option to the writer of the put at the specified exercise price. The writer of
the put option, in return for the premium, has the obligation, upon exercise of
the option, to acquire the securities or currency underlying the option at the
exercise price. The Fund, as a writer of a put option, might, therefore, be
obligated to purchase the underlying securities or currency for more than their
current market price.
The Fund may wish to protect certain portfolio securities against a decline
in market value through purchase of put options on other securities or
currencies which The Prudential Investment Corporation, doing business as
Prudential Investments (Prudential Investments), and PRICOA Asset Management Ltd
(PRICOA, and collectively with Prudential Investments, the Subadviser or
investment adviser) believes may move in the same direction as those portfolio
securities. If the Subadviser's judgment is correct, changes in the value of the
put options should generally offset changes in the value of the portfolio
securities being hedged. If the Subadviser's judgment is not correct, the value
of the securities underlying the put option may decrease less than the value of
the Fund's investments and therefore the put option may not provide complete
protection against a decline in the value of the Fund's investments below the
level sought to be protected by the put option.
The Fund may similarly wish to hedge against appreciation in the value of
debt securities that it intends to acquire through purchase of call options on
other debt securities which the Subadviser believes may move in the same
direction as those portfolio securities. In such circumstances the Fund will be
subject to risks analogous to those summarized above in the event that the
correlation between the value of call options so purchased and the value of the
securities intended to be acquired by the Fund is not as close as anticipated
and the value of the securities underlying the call options increases less than
the value of the securities to be acquired by the Fund.
The Fund may write options in connection with buy-and-write transactions;
that is, it may purchase a security and concurrently write a call option against
that security. If the call option is exercised, the Fund's maximum gain will be
the premium it
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received for writing the option, adjusted upwards or downwards by the difference
between the Fund's purchase price of the security and the exercise price of the
option. If the option is not exercised and the price of the underlying security
declines, the amount of the decline will be offset in part, or entirely, by the
premium received.
The exercise price of a call option may be below (in-the-money), equal to
(at-the-money) or above (out-of-the-money) the current value of the underlying
security at the time the option is written. Buy-and-write transactions using
in-the-money call options may be used when it is expected that the price of the
underlying security will remain flat or decline moderately during the option
period. Buy-and-write transactions using at-the-money call options may be used
when it is expected that the price of the underlying security will remain fixed
or advance moderately during the option period. A buy-and-write transaction
using an out-of-the-money call option may be used when it is expected that the
premium received from writing the call option plus the appreciation in the
market price of the underlying security up to the exercise price will be greater
than the appreciation in the price of the underlying security alone. If the call
option is exercised in such a transaction, the Fund's maximum gain will be the
premium received by it for writing the option, adjusted upwards or downwards by
the difference between the Fund's purchase price of the security and the
exercise price of the option. If the option is not exercised and the price of
the underlying security declines, the amount of the decline will be offset in
part, or entirely, by the premium received.
The Fund may also buy and write straddles (I.E., a combination of a call
and a put written on the same security at the same strike price where the same
segregated collateral is considered "cover" for both the put and the call). The
Fund will also segregate with its Custodian cash or other liquid assets
equivalent to the amount, if any, by which the put is "in-the-money," I.E., the
amount by which the exercise price of the put exceeds the current market value
of the underlying security. It is contemplated that the Fund's use of straddles
will be limited to 5% of the Fund's net assets at the time the straddle is
written). The writing of a call and a put on the same security at the same stock
price where the call and put are covered by different securities is not
considered a straddle for the purposes of this limit.
The Fund may write both American style options and European style options.
An American style option is an option which may be exercised by the holder at
any time prior to its expiration. A European style option may only be exercised
as of the expiration of the option.
Prior to being notified of exercise of the option, the writer of an
exchange-traded option that wishes to terminate its obligation may effect a
"closing purchase transaction" by buying an option of the same series as the
option previously written. (Options of the same series are options with respect
to the same underlying security, having the same expiration date and the same
strike price.) The effect of the purchase is that the writer's position will be
cancelled by the exchange's affiliated clearing organization. Likewise, an
investor who is the holder of an option may liquidate a position by effecting a
"closing sale transaction" by selling an option of the same series as the option
previously purchased. There is no guarantee that either a closing purchase or a
closing sale transaction can be effected.
Exchange-traded options in the U.S. are issued by a clearing organization
affiliated with the exchange on which the option is listed which, in effect,
gives its guarantee to the fulfillment of every exchange-traded option
transaction. In contrast, OTC options are contracts between the Fund and its
counterparty with no clearing organization guarantee. Thus, when the Fund
purchases an OTC option, it relies on the dealer from which it has purchased the
OTC option to make or take delivery of the securities underlying the option.
Failure by the dealer to do so would result in the loss of the premium paid by
the Fund as well as the loss of the expected benefit of the transaction. The
investment adviser pursuant to procedures approved by the Board of Directors
will evaluate the creditworthiness of any dealer from which the Fund proposes to
purchase OTC options.
Exchange-traded options generally have a continuous liquid market while OTC
options may not. When the Fund writes an OTC option, it generally will be able
to close out the OTC option prior to its expiration only by entering into a
closing purchase transaction with the dealer to which the Fund originally wrote
the OTC option. While the Fund will enter into OTC options only with dealers
which agree to, and which are expected to be capable of, entering into closing
transactions with the Fund, there can be no assurance that the Fund will be able
to liquidate an OTC option at a favorable price at any time prior to expiration.
Until the Fund is able to effect a closing purchase transaction in a covered OTC
call option the Fund has written, it will not be able to liquidate securities
used as cover until the option expires or is exercised or different cover is
substituted. In the event of insolvency of the counterparty, the Fund may be
unable to liquidate an OTC option. With respect to options written by the Fund,
the inability to enter into a closing purchase transaction could result in
material losses to the Fund.
OTC options purchased by the Fund will be treated as illiquid securities
subject to any applicable limitation on such securities. Similarly, the assets
used to "cover" OTC options written by the Fund will be treated as illiquid
unless the OTC options are sold to qualified dealers who agree that the Fund may
repurchase any OTC options it writes for a maximum price to be calculated by a
formula set forth in the option agreement. The "cover" for an OTC option written
subject to this procedure would be considered illiquid only to the extent that
the maximum repurchase price under the formula exceeds the intrinsic value of
the option.
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The Fund will write only "covered" options. An option is covered if, as
long as the Fund is obligated under the option, it (1) owns an offsetting
position in the underlying security or (2) segregates cash or other liquid
assets in an amount equal to or greater than its obligation under the option.
Under the first circumstance, the Fund's losses are limited because it owns the
underlying security; under the second circumstance, in the case of a written
call option, the Fund's losses are potentially unlimited.
There is no limitation on the amount of covered call options the Fund may
write. The Fund may only write covered put options to the extent that cover for
such options does not exceed 50% of the Fund's net assets.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS APPLICABLE TO OPTIONS
ON TREASURY BONDS AND NOTES. Because trading interest in Treasury bonds and
notes tends to center on the most recently auctioned issues, the exchanges will
not indefinitely continue to introduce new series of options with expirations to
replace expiring options on particular issues. Instead, the expirations
introduced at the commencement of options trading on a particular issue will be
allowed to run their course, with the possible addition of a limited number of
new expirations as the original ones expire. Options trading on each series of
bonds or notes will thus be phased out as new options are listed on the more
recent issues, and a full range of expiration dates will not ordinarily be
available for every series on which options are traded.
ON TREASURY BILLS. Because the deliverable Treasury bill changes from week
to week, writers of Treasury bill call options cannot provide in advance for
their potential exercise settlement obligations by acquiring and holding the
underlying security. However, if the Fund holds a long position in Treasury
bills with a principal amount corresponding to the option contract size, the
Fund may be hedged from a risk standpoint. In addition, the Fund will segregate
with its Custodian Treasury bills maturing no later than those which would be
deliverable in the event an assignment of exercise notice to ensure that it can
meet its open option obligations.
ON GNMA CERTIFICATES. The Fund may purchase and write options on GNMA
Certificates in the over-the-counter market and, to the extent available, on any
exchange.
Since the remaining principal balance of GNMA Certificates declines each
month as a result of mortgage payments, the Fund, as a writer of a covered GNMA
call option holding GNMA Certificates as "cover" to satisfy its delivery
obligation in the event of assignment of an exercise notice, may find that its
GNMA Certificates no longer have sufficient remaining principal balance for this
purpose. Should this occur, the Fund will enter into a closing purchase
transaction or will purchase additional GNMA Certificates from the same pool (if
obtainable) or replacement GNMA Certificates in the cash market in order to
remain covered or substitute cover.
A GNMA Certificate held by the Fund to cover a call option the Fund has
written in any but the nearest expiration month may cease to represent cover for
the option in the event of a decline in the GNMA coupon rate at which new pools
are originated under the FHA/VA loan ceiling in effect at any given time. Should
this occur, the Fund will no longer be covered, and the Fund will either enter
into a closing purchase transaction or replace the Certificate with a
Certificate which represents cover. When the Fund closes its option position or
replaces the Certificate, it may realize an unanticipated loss and incur
transaction costs.
OPTIONS ON CURRENCIES
Instead of purchasing or selling futures or foreign currency forward
contracts, the Fund may attempt to accomplish similar objectives by purchasing
put or call options on currencies either on exchanges or in the over-the-counter
markets or by writing put options or covered call options on currencies. A put
option gives the Fund the right to sell a currency at the exercise price until
the option expires. A call option gives the Fund the right to purchase a
currency at the exercise price until the option expires. Both options serve to
insure against adverse currency price movements in the underlying portfolio
assets designated in a given currency. The Fund's use of options on currencies
will be subject to the same limitations as its use of options on securities
described above. Currency options may be subject to position limits which may
limit the ability of the Fund to fully hedge its positions by purchasing the
options. The Fund will not purchase put or call options on currencies if, as a
result thereof, the value of the options would exceed 5% of the Fund's net
assets.
FOREIGN CURRENCY FORWARD CONTRACTS
The Fund may enter into foreign currency forward contracts to protect the
value of its portfolio against future changes in the level of currency exchange
rates. Foreign currency forward contracts are an obligation to purchase or sell
a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days
agreed upon by the parties from the date of the contract at a price set on the
date of the contract. The risk of shifting of a foreign currency forward
contract will be substantially the same as a futures contract having similar
terms.
The Fund's transactions in foreign currency forward contracts will be
limited to risk management involving either specific transactions or portfolio
positions. Transaction risk management is the forward purchase or sale of
currency with respect to
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specific receivables or payables of the Fund generally arising in connection
with the purchase or sale of its portfolio securities and accruals of interest
receivable and Fund expenses. Position risk management is the forward sale of
currency with respect to portfolio security positions denominated or quoted in
that currency or in a currency bearing a high degree of positive correlation to
the value of that currency. The Fund may also cross hedge its currency exposure
under circumstances where the investment adviser believes that the currency in
which a security is denominated may deteriorate against the dollar and that the
possible loss in value can be hedged, return can be enhanced and risks can be
managed by entering into forward contracts to sell the deteriorating currency
and buy a currency that is expected to appreciate in relation to the dollar.
Although there are no limits on the number of forward contracts that the
Fund may enter into, the Fund may not position "hedge" (including "cross
hedges") with respect to a particular currency for an amount greater than the
aggregate market value (determined at the time of making any sale of forward
currency) of the securities being hedged. If the Fund enters into a position
hedging transaction, the transaction will be "covered" by the position being
hedged or the Fund's Custodian will segregate cash or other liquid assets of the
Fund (less the value of the "covering" positions, if any) in an amount equal to
the value of the Fund's total assets committed to the consummation of the given
forward contract. If the value of the assets segregated declines, additional
assets will be segregated so that the value of the account will, at all times,
equal the amount of the Fund's net commitment with respect to the forward
contract.
The use of foreign currency contracts does not eliminate fluctuations in
the underlying prices of the securities, but it does establish a rate of
exchange that can be achieved in the future. In addition, although forward
currency contracts limit the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the
hedged currency, they also limit any potential gain that might result if the
value of the currency increases. The Fund is not required to enter into forward
contracts with regard to its foreign currency denominated securities.
The Fund will not enter into forward contracts to purchase or sell currency
if, as a result thereof, the net market value of all such contracts exceeds 5%
of the Fund's net assets.
FUTURES CONTRACTS AND OPTIONS ON FUTURES CONTRACTS
The Fund may purchase and sell financial futures contracts and options
thereon which are traded on a commodities exchange or board of trade for certain
hedging and risk management purposes and to attempt to enhance return in
accordance with regulations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
These futures contracts and related options will be on debt securities,
aggregates of debt securities, financial indices, U.S. government securities,
(or those backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government), corporate
debt securities and certain foreign government debt securities (collectively,
interest rate futures contracts). It may also enter into futures contracts for
the purchase or sale of foreign currencies or composite foreign currencies in
which securities held or to be acquired by the Fund are denominated, or the
value of which have a high degree of positive correlation to the value of such
currencies as to constitute an appropriate vehicle for hedging. The Fund may
enter into such futures contracts both on U.S. and foreign exchanges.
The Fund may not purchase or sell futures contracts and related options to
attempt to enhance return or for risk management purposes, if immediately
thereafter the sum of the amount of initial margin deposits on the Fund's
existing futures and options on futures and premiums paid for such related
options would exceed 5% of the liquidation value of the Fund's total assets. The
Fund may purchase and sell futures contracts and related options without
limitation, for BONA FIDE hedging purposes in accordance with regulations of the
Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) (I.E., to reduce certain risks of
its investments). The total contract value of all futures contracts sold will
not exceed the total market value of the Fund's investments.
Under regulations of the Commodity Exchange Act, investment companies
registered under the Investment Company Act are exempt from the definition of
"commodity pool operator," subject to compliance with certain conditions. The
exemption is conditioned upon the Fund's purchasing and selling futures
contracts and options thereon for any other purpose to the extent that the
aggregate initial margin and option premiums on such non-hedging transactions do
not exceed 5% of the market value of the Fund's total assets. Although there are
no other limits applicable to futures contracts, the value of all futures
contracts sold will not exceed the total market value of the Fund's investments.
The ordinary spreads between values in the cash and futures markets, due to
differences in the character of those markets, are subject to distortions. In
addition, futures contracts entail risks. First, all participants in the futures
market are subject to initial and variation margin requirements. Rather than
meeting additional variation margin requirements, investors may close futures
contracts through offsetting transactions which could distort the normal
relationship between the cash and futures markets. Second, the liquidity of the
futures market depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions
rather than making or taking delivery. To the extent participants decide to make
or take delivery, liquidity in the futures market could be reduced, thus
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producing price distortions. Third, from the point of view of speculators, the
margin deposit requirements in the futures market are less onerous than margin
requirements in the securities market. Increased participation by speculators in
the futures market may cause temporary price distortions. Due to the possibility
of distortion, a correct forecast of general interest rate trends by the
investment adviser may still not result in a successful transaction.
The Fund may only write "covered" put and call options on futures
contracts. The Fund will be considered "covered" with respect to a call option
it writes on a futures contract if the Fund owns the assets which are
deliverable under the futures contract or an option to purchase that futures
contract having a strike price equal to or less than the strike price of the
"covered" option and having an expiration date not earlier than the expiration
date of the "covered" option, or if it segregates and maintains with the Fund's
Custodian for the term of the option cash or other liquid assets equal to the
fluctuating value of the optioned future. The Fund will be considered "covered"
with respect to a put option it writes on a futures contract if it owns an
option to sell that futures contract having a strike price equal to or greater
than the strike price of the "covered" option or if it segregates and maintains
with the Custodian for the term of the option cash or other liquid assets at all
times equal in value to the exercise price of the put (less any initial margin
deposited by the Fund with the Custodian with respect to such put option). There
is no limitation on the amount of the Fund's assets which can be segregated.
INTEREST RATE FUTURES CONTRACTS AND OPTIONS THEREON
The Fund will purchase or sell interest rate futures contracts to take
advantage of or to protect the Fund against fluctuations in interest rates
affecting the value of debt securities which the Fund holds or intends to
acquire. For example, if interest rates are expected to increase, the Fund might
sell futures contracts on debt securities, the values of which historically have
a high degree of positive correlation to the values of the Fund's portfolio
securities. Such a sale would have an effect similar to selling an equivalent
value of the Fund's portfolio securities. If interest rates increase, the value
of the Fund's portfolio securities will decline, but the value of the futures
contracts to the Fund will increase at approximately an equivalent rate thereby
keeping the net asset value of the Fund from declining as much as it otherwise
would have. The Fund could accomplish similar results by selling debt securities
with longer maturities and investing in debt securities with shorter maturities
when interest rates are expected to increase. However, since the futures market
may be more liquid than the cash market, the use of futures contracts as a risk
management technique allows the Fund to maintain a defensive position without
having to sell its portfolio securities.
Similarly, the Fund may purchase interest rate futures contracts when it is
expected that interest rates may decline. The purchase of futures contracts for
this purpose constitutes a hedge against increases in the price of debt
securities (caused by declining interest rates) which the Fund intends to
acquire. Since fluctuations in the value of appropriately selected futures
contracts should approximate that of the debt securities that will be purchased,
the Fund can take advantage of the anticipated rise in the cost of the debt
securities without actually buying them. Subsequently, the Fund can make the
intended purchase of the debt securities in the cash market and currently
liquidate its futures position. To the extent the Fund enters into futures
contracts for this purpose, it will segregate with the Fund's Custodian cash or
other liquid assets from its portfolio in an amount equal to the difference
between the fluctuating market value of such futures contracts and the aggregate
value of the initial margin deposited by the Fund with its Custodian with
respect to such futures contracts sufficient to cover the Fund's obligations
with respect to such futures contracts.
The purchase of a call option on a futures contract is similar in some
respects to the purchase of a call option on an individual security. Depending
on the pricing of the option compared to either the price of the futures
contract upon which it is based or the price of the underlying debt securities,
it may or may not be less risky than ownership of the futures contract or
underlying debt securities. As with the purchase of futures contracts, when the
Fund is not fully invested it may purchase a call option on a futures contract
to hedge against a market advance due to declining interest rates.
The purchase of a put option on a futures contract is similar to the
purchase of protective put options on portfolio securities. The Fund will
purchase a put option on a futures contract to hedge the Fund's portfolio
against the risk of rising interest rates and consequent reduction in the value
of portfolio securities.
The amount of risk the Fund assumes when it purchases an option on a
futures contract is the premium paid for the option plus related transaction
costs. In addition to the correlation risks discussed above, the purchase of an
option also entails the risk that changes in the value of the underlying futures
contract will not be fully reflected in the value of the option purchased.
The writing of a call option on a futures contract constitutes a partial
hedge against declining prices of the securities which are deliverable upon
exercise of the futures contract. If the futures price at expiration of the
option is below the exercise price, the Fund will retain the full amount of the
option premium which provides a partial hedge against any decline that may have
occurred in the Fund's portfolio holdings. The writing of a put option on a
futures contract constitutes a partial hedge against increasing
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prices of the securities which are deliverable upon exercise of the futures
contract. If the futures price at expiration of the option is higher than the
exercise price, the Fund will retain the full amount of the option premium which
provides a partial hedge against any increase in the price of debt securities
which the Fund intends to purchase. If a put or call option the Fund has written
is exercised, the Fund will incur a loss which will be reduced by the amount of
the premium it received. Depending on the degree of correlation between changes
in the value of its portfolio securities and changes in the value of its futures
positions, the Fund's losses from options on futures it has written may to some
extent be reduced or increased by changes in the value of its portfolio
securities.
In addition, futures contracts entail risks. Although the Fund believes
that use of such contracts will benefit the Fund, if the investment adviser's
judgment about the general direction of interest rates is incorrect, the Fund's
overall performance would be poorer than if it had not entered into any such
contracts. For example, if the Fund has hedged against the possibility of an
increase in interest rates which would adversely affect the price of bonds held
in its portfolio and interest rates decrease instead, the Fund will lose part or
all of the benefit of the increased value of its bonds which it has hedged
because it will have offsetting losses in its futures positions. In addition,
particularly in such situations, if the Fund has insufficient cash, it may have
to sell bonds from its portfolio to meet daily variation margin requirements.
Such sales of bonds may be, but will not necessarily be, at increased prices
which reflect the rising market. The Fund may have to sell securities at a time
when it may be disadvantageous to do so.
CURRENCY FUTURES AND OPTIONS THEREON
Generally, foreign currency futures contracts and options thereon are
similar to the interest rate futures contracts and options thereon discussed
previously. By entering into currency futures and options thereon on U.S. and
foreign exchanges, the Fund will seek to establish the rate at which it will be
entitled to exchange U.S. dollars for another currency at a future time. By
selling currency futures, the Fund will seek to establish the number of dollars
it will receive at delivery for a certain amount of a foreign currency. In this
way, whenever the Fund anticipates a decline in the value of a foreign currency
against the U.S. dollar, the Fund can attempt to "lock in" the U.S. dollar value
of some or all of the securities held in its portfolio that are denominated in
that currency. By purchasing currency futures, the Fund can establish the number
of dollars it will be required to pay for a specified amount of a foreign
currency in a future month. Thus if the Fund intends to buy securities in the
future and the investment adviser expects the U.S. dollar to decline against the
relevant foreign currency during the period before the purchase is effected, the
Fund can attempt to "lock in" the price in U.S. dollars of the securities it
intends to acquire.
The purchase of options on currency futures will allow the Fund, for the
price of the premium and related transaction costs it must pay for the option,
to decide whether or not to buy (in the case of a call option) or to sell (in
the case of a put option) a futures contract at a specified price at any time
during the period before the option expires. If the investment adviser, in
purchasing an option, has been correct in its judgment concerning the direction
in which the price of a foreign currency would move as against the U.S. dollar,
the Fund may exercise the option and thereby take a futures position to hedge
against the risk it had correctly anticipated or close out the option position
at a gain that will offset, to some extent, currency exchange losses otherwise
suffered by the Fund. If exchange rates move in a way the investment adviser did
not anticipate, however, the Fund will have incurred the expense of the option
without obtaining the expected benefit; any such movement in exchange rates may
also thereby reduce rather than enhance the Fund's profits on its underlying
securities transactions. The Fund's use of options on currencies will be subject
to the same limitations as its use of options on securities described above.
Currency options may be subject to position limits which may limit the ability
of the Fund to fully hedge its positions by purchasing the options.
As in the case of interest rate futures contracts and options thereon, the
Fund may hedge against the risk of a decrease or increase in the U.S. dollar
value of a foreign currency denominated debt security which the Fund owns or
intends to acquire by purchasing or selling options contracts, futures contracts
or options thereon with respect to a foreign currency other than the foreign
currency in which such debt security is denominated where the values of such
different currencies (VIS-A-VIS the U.S. dollar) historically have a high degree
of positive correlation.
RISKS OF RISK MANAGEMENT AND RETURN ENHANCEMENT STRATEGIES
Participation in the options and futures markets and in currency exchange
transactions involves investment risks and transaction costs to which the Fund
would not be subject absent the use of these strategies. The Fund, and thus
investors may lose money through any unsuccessful use of these strategies. If
the Subadviser's predictions of movements in the direction of the securities,
foreign currency or interest rate markets are inaccurate, the adverse
consequences to the Fund may leave the Fund in a worse position than if such
strategies were not used. Risks inherent in the use of these strategies include:
(1) dependence on the Subadviser's ability to predict correctly movements in the
direction of interest rates, securities prices and currency markets; (2)
imperfect correlation between the price of options and futures contracts and
options thereon and movements in the prices of the securities or currencies
being hedged; (3) the fact that the skills needed to use these strategies are
different from those needed to
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select portfolio securities; (4) the possible absence of a liquid secondary
market for any particular instrument at any time; (5) the risk that the
counterparty may be unable to complete the transaction; and (6) the possible
inability of the Fund to purchase or sell a portfolio security at a time that
otherwise would be favorable for it to do so, or the possible need for the Fund
to sell a portfolio security at a disadvantageous time, due to the need for the
Fund to maintain "cover" or to segregate assets in connection with hedging
transactions.
The Fund will generally purchase options and futures on an exchange only if
there appears to be a liquid secondary market for such options or futures; the
Fund will generally purchase OTC options only if the investment adviser believes
that the other party to the options will continue to make a market for such
options.
ADDITIONAL RISKS OF OPTIONS ON SECURITIES AND CURRENCIES, FUTURES CONTRACTS
AND OPTIONS ON FUTURES CONTRACTS
Certain of the options, futures contracts, and options thereon purchased or
sold by the Fund may be traded on foreign exchanges. Such transactions may not
be regulated as effectively as similar transactions in the U.S., may not involve
a clearing mechanism and related guarantees, and are subject to the risk of
governmental actions affecting trading in, or the prices of, foreign securities.
The value of such positions also could be adversely affected by (1) other
complex foreign political, legal and economic factors, (2) lesser availability
than in the U.S. of data on which to make trading decisions, (3) delays in the
Fund's ability to act upon economic events occurring in the foreign markets
during non-business hours in the U.S., (4) the imposition of different exercise
and settlement terms and procedures and margin requirements than in the U.S. and
(5) lesser trading volume.
Exchanges on which options, futures and options on futures are traded may
impose limits on the positions that the Fund may take in certain circumstances.
If so, this could limit the ability of the Fund fully to protect against these
risks. In addition, the hours of trading of financial futures contracts and
options thereon may not conform to the hours during which the Fund may trade the
underlying securities. To the extent the futures markets close before the
securities markets, significant price and rate movements can take place in the
securities markets that cannot be reflected in the futures markets.
An exchange-traded option may be closed out only where there exists a
secondary market for an option of the same series. If a secondary market does
not exist, it might not be possible to effect closing transactions in particular
options the Fund has purchased with the result that the Fund would have to
exercise the options in order to realize any profit. If the Fund is unable to
effect a closing purchase transaction in a secondary market in an option the
Fund has written, it will not be able to sell the underlying security until the
option expires or it delivers the underlying security upon exercise or it
otherwise covers its position. Reasons for the absence of a liquid secondary
market include the following: (1) there may be insufficient trading interest in
certain options; (2) restrictions may be imposed by a securities exchange on
opening transactions or closing transactions or both; (3) trading halts,
suspensions or other restrictions may be imposed with respect to particular
classes or series of options or underlying securities; (4) unusual or unforeseen
circumstances may interrupt normal operations on an exchange; (5) the facilities
of an exchange or clearing organization may not at all times be adequate to
handle current trading volume; or (6) one or more exchanges could, for economic
reasons, decide or be compelled at some future date to discontinue the trading
of options (or a particular class or series of options), in which event the
secondary market on that exchange (or a particular class or series of options)
would cease to exist, although outstanding options would continue to be
exercisable in accordance with their terms.
SPECIAL RISKS RELATED TO FOREIGN CURRENCY FORWARD CONTRACTS
At or before the maturity of a forward sale contract, the Fund may either
sell a portfolio security and make delivery of the currency, or retain the
security and offset its contractual obligations to deliver the currency by
purchasing a second contract pursuant to which the Fund will obtain, on the same
maturity date, the same amount of the currency which it is obligated to deliver.
If the Fund retains the portfolio security and engages in an offsetting
transaction, the Fund, at the time of execution of the offsetting transaction,
will incur a gain or a loss to the extent that movement has occurred in forward
contract prices. Should forward prices decline during the period between the
Fund's entering into a forward contract for the sale of a currency and the date
it enters into an offsetting contract for the purchase of the currency, the Fund
will realize a gain to the extent the price of the currency it has agreed to
purchase is less than the price of the currency it has agreed to sell. Should
forward prices increase, the Fund will suffer a loss to the extent the price of
the currency it has agreed to purchase exceeds the price of the currency it has
agreed to sell. Closing out forward purchase contracts involves similar
offsetting transactions.
SPECIAL RISK CONSIDERATIONS RELATING TO FUTURES AND OPTIONS THEREON
Certain risks are inherent in the Fund's use of futures contracts and
options on futures. One such risk arises because the correlation between
movements in the price of futures contracts or options on futures and movements
in the price of the securities hedged or used for cover will not be perfect.
Another risk is that the price of futures contracts or options on futures may
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not move inversely with changes in interest rates. If the Fund has sold futures
contracts to hedge securities held by the Fund and the value of the futures
position declines more than the price of such securities increases, the Fund
will realize a loss on the futures contracts which is not completely offset by
the appreciation in the price of the hedged securities. Similarly, if the Fund
has written a call on a futures contract and the value of the call increases by
more than the increase in the value of the securities held as cover, the Fund
may realize a loss on the call which is not completely offset by the
appreciation in the price of the securities held as cover and the premium
received for writing the call.
The Fund's ability to establish and close out positions in futures
contracts and options on futures contracts will be subject to the development
and maintenance of liquid markets. Although the Fund generally will purchase or
sell only those futures contracts and options thereon for which there appears to
be a liquid market, there is no assurance that a liquid market on an exchange
will exist for any particular futures contract or option thereon at any
particular time. In the event no liquid market exists for a particular futures
contract or option thereon in which the Fund maintains a position, it will not
be possible to effect a closing transaction in that contract or to do so at a
satisfactory price and the Fund would have to either make or take delivery under
the futures contract or, in the case of a written option, wait to sell the
underlying securities until the option expires or is exercised or, in the case
of a purchased option, exercise the option. In the case of a futures contract or
an option on a futures contract which the Fund has written and which the Fund is
unable to close, the Fund would be required to maintain margin deposits on the
futures contract or option and to make variation margin payments until the
contract is closed.
Futures exchanges may establish daily limits in the amount that the price
of a futures contract or related options contract may vary either up or down
from the previous day's settlement price. Once the daily limit has been reached
in a particular contract, no trades may be made that day at a price beyond the
limit. The daily limit governs only price movements during a particular trading
day and therefore does not limit potential losses because the limit may prevent
the liquidation of unfavorable positions. Futures or options contract prices
could move to the daily limit for several consecutive trading days with little
or no trading and thereby prevent prompt liquidation of positions and subject
some traders to substantial losses. In such event, it may not be possible for
the Fund to close out a position, and in the event of adverse price movements,
the Fund would have to make daily cash payments of variation margin (except in
the case of purchased options).
Successful use of futures contracts and options thereon and forward
contracts by the Fund depends significantly on the ability of the investment
adviser to forecast movements in the direction of the market and interest and
foreign currency rates and requires skills and techniques different from those
used in selecting portfolio securities. The correlation between movements in the
price of a futures contract and movements in the price of the securities being
hedged is imperfect and the risk from imperfect correlation increases as the
composition of the Fund's portfolio diverges from the composition of the
relevant index. There is also a risk that the value of the securities being
hedged may increase or decrease at a greater rate than the related futures
contracts, resulting in losses to the Fund. If the investment adviser's
expectations are not met, the Fund would be in a worse position than if a
hedging strategy had not been pursued. In addition, in such situations, if the
Fund has insufficient cash to meet daily variation margin requirements, it may
have to sell securities to meet the requirements. These sales may, but will not
necessarily, be at increased prices which reflect the rising market. The Fund
may have to sell securities at a time when it is disadvantageous to do so.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended, all
U.S. futures contracts and options thereon must be traded on an exchange. Since
a clearing corporation effectively acts as the counterparty on every futures
contract and option thereon, the counterparty risk depends on the strength of
the clearing or settlement corporation associated with the exchange.
Additionally, although the exchanges provide a means of closing out a position
previously established, there can be no assurance that a liquid market will
exist for a particular contract at a particular time. In the case of options on
futures, if such a market does not exist, the Fund, as the holder of an option
on futures contracts, would have to exercise the option and comply with the
margin requirements for the underlying futures contract to realize any profit,
and if the Fund were the writer of the option, its obligation would not
terminate until the option expired or the Fund was assigned an exercise notice.
LIMITATIONS ON THE PURCHASE AND SALE OF FUTURES CONTRACTS, OPTIONS ON
FUTURES CONTRACTS AND FOREIGN CURRENCY FORWARD CONTRACTS
The Fund will engage in transactions in futures contracts and options
thereon only to seek to reduce certain risks of its investments and to attempt
to enhance return, in each case in accordance with the rules and regulations of
the CFTC, and not for speculation.
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In accordance with CFTC regulations, the Fund may not purchase or sell
futures contracts or options thereon if the initial margins and premiums
therefor exceed 5% of the market value of the Fund's total assets after taking
into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such contracts;
provided, however, that in the case of an option that is in- the-money at the
time of the purchase, the in-the-money amount may be excluded in calculating the
5% limitation. The above restriction does not apply to the purchase and sale of
futures contracts and options thereon for BONA FIDE hedging purposes within the
meaning of CFTC regulations. In instances involving the purchase of futures
contracts or call options thereon or the writing of put options thereon by the
Fund, an amount of cash or other liquid assets equal to the market value of the
futures contracts and options thereon (less any related margin deposits), will
be deposited in a segregated account with the Fund's Custodian to cover the
position, or alternative cover will be employed, thereby insuring that the use
of such instruments is unleveraged.
CFTC regulations may impose limitations on the Fund's ability to engage in
certain yield enhancement and risk management strategies. There are no
limitations on the Fund's use of futures contracts and options on futures
contracts beyond the restrictions set forth above.
When the investment adviser believes that the currency of a particular
foreign country may suffer a substantial decline against the U.S. dollar, the
Fund may enter into a forward contract for a fixed amount of dollars to sell the
amount of foreign currency approximating the value of some or all of the Fund's
portfolio securities denominated in such foreign currency. The precise matching
of the forward contract amounts and the value of the securities involved will
not generally be possible since the future value of securities in foreign
currencies will change as a consequence of market movements in the value of
those securities between the date on which the forward contract is entered into
and the date it matures. The projection of short-term currency market movement
is extremely difficult, and the successful execution of a short-term hedging
strategy is highly uncertain. The Fund does not intend to enter into such
forward contracts to protect the value of its portfolio securities on a regular
or continuous basis. The Fund will also not enter into such forward contracts or
maintain a net exposure to such contracts where the consummation of the
contracts would obligate the Fund to deliver an amount of foreign currency in
excess of the value of the Fund's portfolio securities or other assets
denominated in that currency. Under normal circumstances, consideration of the
prospect for currency parities will be incorporated into the long-term
investment decisions made with regard to overall diversification strategies.
However, the Fund believes that it is important to have the flexibility to enter
into such forward contracts when it determines that the best interest of the
Fund will thereby be served. If the Fund enters into a position hedging
transaction the transaction will be "covered" by the position being hedged or
the Fund's Custodian or sub-custodian will segregate cash or other liquid assets
of the Fund (less the value of the "covering" position, if any) in an amount
equal to the value of the Fund's total assets committed to the consummation of
the given forward contract.
The Fund generally will not enter into a forward contract with a term of
greater than one year. At the maturity of a forward contract, the Fund may
either sell the portfolio security and make delivery of the foreign currency, or
it may retain the security and terminate its contractual obligation to deliver
the foreign currency by purchasing an "offsetting" contract with the same
currency trader obligating it to purchase, on the same maturity date, the same
amount of the foreign currency.
It is impossible to forecast with absolute precision the market value of a
particular portfolio security at the expiration of the contract. Accordingly, it
may be necessary for the Fund to purchase additional foreign currency on the
spot market (and bear the expense of such purchase) if the market value of the
security is less than the amount of foreign currency that the Fund is obligated
to deliver and if a decision is made to sell the security and make delivery of
the foreign currency.
Although the Fund values its assets daily in terms of U.S. dollars, it does
not intend physically to convert its holdings of foreign currencies into U.S.
dollars on a daily basis. It will do so from time to time, and investors should
be aware of the costs of currency conversion. Although foreign exchange dealers
do not charge a fee for conversion, they do realize a profit based on the
difference (the spread) between the prices at which they are buying and selling
various currencies. Thus, a dealer may offer to sell a foreign currency to the
Fund at one rate, while offering a lesser rate of exchange should the Fund
desire to resell that currency to the dealer.
ILLIQUID SECURITIES
The Fund may hold up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities,
including repurchase agreements which have a maturity of longer than seven days,
securities with legal or contractual restrictions on resale (restricted
securities) and securities that are not readily marketable in securities markets
either within or outside of the United States. Repurchase agreements subject to
demand are deemed to have a maturity equal to the applicable notice period.
Historically, illiquid securities have included securities subject to
contractual or legal restrictions on resale because they have not been
registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act),
securities which are otherwise not readily marketable and repurchase agreements
having a maturity of longer than seven days. Securities which have not been
registered under the Securities Act are referred to as private placements or
restricted securities and are purchased directly from
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the issuer or in the secondary market. Mutual funds do not typically hold a
significant amount of these restricted or other illiquid securities because of
the potential for delays on resale and uncertainty in valuation. Limitations on
resale may have an adverse effect on the marketability of portfolio securities
and a mutual fund might be unable to dispose of restricted or other illiquid
securities promptly or at reasonable prices and might thereby experience
difficulty satisfying redemptions within seven days. A mutual fund might also
have to register such restricted securities in order to dispose of them
resulting in additional expense and delay. Adverse market conditions could
impede such a public offering of securities.
In recent years, however, a large institutional market has developed for
certain securities that are not registered under the Securities Act including
repurchase agreements, commercial paper, foreign securities, municipal
securities, convertible securities and corporate bonds and notes. Institutional
investors depend on an efficient institutional market in which the unregistered
security can be readily resold or on an issuer's ability to honor a demand for
repayment. The fact that there are contractual or legal restrictions on resale
to the general public or to certain institutions may not be indicative of the
liquidity of such investments.
Rule 144A under the Securities Act allows for a broader institutional
trading market for securities otherwise subject to restriction on resale to the
general public. Rule 144A establishes a "safe harbor" from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act for resales of certain securities to
qualified institutional buyers. The investment adviser anticipates that the
market for certain restricted securities such as institutional commercial paper
and foreign securities will expand further as a result of this regulation and
the development of automated systems for the trading, clearance and settlement
of unregistered securities of domestic and foreign issuers, such as the PORTAL
System sponsored by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
Restricted securities eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A under the
Securities Act and privately placed commercial paper for which there is a
readily available market are treated as liquid only when deemed liquid under
procedures established by the Directors. The Fund's investment in Rule 144A
securities could have the effect of increasing illiquidity to the extent that
qualified institutional buyers become, for a limited time, uninterested in
purchasing Rule 144A securities. The investment adviser will monitor the
liquidity of such restricted securities subject to the supervision of the Board
of Directors. In reaching liquidity decisions, the investment adviser will
consider, among others, the following factors: (1) the frequency of trades and
quotes for the security; (2) the number of dealers wishing to purchase or sell
the security and the number of other potential purchasers; (3) dealer
undertakings to make a market in the security; and (4) the nature of the
security and the nature of the marketplace trades (for example, the time needed
to dispose of the security, the method of soliciting offers and the mechanics of
the transfer). In addition, in order for commercial paper that is issued in
reliance on Section 4(2) of the Securities Act, to be considered liquid (a) it
must be rated in one of the two highest rating categories by at least two
nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (NRSRO), or if only one
NRSRO rates the securities, by that NRSRO, or, if unrated, be of comparable
quality in the view of the investment adviser; and (b) it must not be "traded
flat" (that is, without accrued interest) or in default as to principal or
interest.
The staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission) has taken
the position that purchased over-the-counter options and the assets used as
"cover" for written over-the-counter options are illiquid securities unless the
Fund and the counterparty have provided for the Fund, at the Fund's election, to
unwind the over-the-counter option. The exercise of such an option ordinarily
would involve the payment by the Fund of an amount designed to reflect the
counterparty's economic loss from an early termination, but does allow the Fund
to treat the assets used as "cover" as "liquid." The Fund will also treat non-US
government interest-only and principal-only mortgage backed securities strips as
illiquid so long as the staff of the Commission maintains its position that such
securities are illiquid.
WHEN-ISSUED AND DELAYED DELIVERY SECURITIES
The Fund may purchase or sell securities on a when-issued or delayed
delivery basis. When-issued or delayed delivery transactions arise when
securities are purchased or sold by the Fund with payment and delivery taking
place in the future in order to secure what is considered to be an advantageous
price and yield to the Fund at the time of entering into the transaction. The
Fund's Custodian will segregate cash or other liquid assets having a value equal
to or greater than the Fund's purchase commitments. The securities so purchased
are subject to market fluctuation and no interest accrues to the purchaser
during the period between purchase and settlement. At the time of delivery of
the securities the value may be more or less than the purchase price and an
increase in the percentage of the Fund's assets committed to the purchase of
securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis may increase the
volatility of the Fund's net asset value. Subject to the segregation
requirement, the Fund may purchase securities on such basis without limit.
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS
The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements, whereby the seller of a
security agrees to repurchase that security from the Fund at a mutually
agreed-upon time and price. The period of maturity is usually quite short,
possibly overnight or a few days,
B-18
<PAGE>
although it may extend over a number of months. The Fund does not currently
intend to invest in repurchase agreements whose maturities exceed one year. The
resale price is in excess of the purchase price, reflecting an agreed-upon rate
of return effective for the period of time the Fund's money is invested in the
repurchase agreement. The Fund's repurchase agreements will at all times be
fully collateralized by U.S. government obligations in an amount at least equal
to the resale price. The instruments held as collateral are valued daily, and if
the value of instruments declines, the Fund will require additional collateral.
If the seller defaults and the value of the collateral securing the repurchase
agreement declines, the Fund may incur a loss.
The Fund will enter into repurchase transactions only with parties meeting
creditworthiness standards approved by the Fund's Directors. The investment
adviser will monitor the creditworthiness of such parties under the general
supervision of the Directors. In the event of a default or bankruptcy by a
seller, the Fund will promptly seek to liquidate the collateral.
The Fund participates in a joint repurchase account with other investment
companies managed by Prudential Investments Fund Management LLC (the Manager)
pursuant to an order of the Commission. On a daily basis, any uninvested cash
balances of the Fund may be aggregated with those of such investment companies
and invested in one or more repurchase agreements. Each fund participates in the
income earned or accrued in the joint account based on the percentage of its
investment.
BORROWING
The Fund may borrow up to 20% of the value of its total assets (calculated
when the loan is made) from banks for temporary, extraordinary or emergency
purposes, or for the clearance of transactions and to take advantage of
investment opportunities. The Fund may pledge up to 20% of its total assets to
secure these borrowings. If the Fund borrows to invest in securities, any
investment gains made on the securities in excess of interest paid on the
borrowing will cause the net asset value of the shares to rise faster than would
otherwise be the case. On the other hand, if the investment performance of the
additional securities purchased fails to cover their cost (including any
interest paid on the money borrowed) to the Fund, the net asset value of the
Fund's shares will decrease faster than would otherwise be the case. This is the
speculative factor known as "leverage." If the Fund's asset coverage of
borrowings falls below 300%, the Fund will take prompt action (within 3 days) to
reduce its borrowings. If the 300% asset coverage should decline as a result of
market fluctuations or other reasons, the Fund may be required to sell portfolio
securities to reduce the debt and restore the 300% asset coverage, even though
it may be disadvantageous from an investment standpoint to sell securities at
that time.
SEGREGATED ASSETS
The Fund will segregate with its Custodian, State Street Bank and Trust
Company (State Street), cash, U.S. government securities, equity securities
(including foreign securities), debt securities or other liquid, unencumbered
assets equal in value to its obligations in respect of potentially leveraged
transactions. These include forward contracts, when-issued and delayed delivery
securities, futures contracts, written options and options on futures contracts
(unless otherwise covered). If collateralized or otherwise covered, in
accordance with Commission guidelines, these will not be deemed to be senior
securities. The assets segregated will be marked-to-market daily.
(D) DEFENSIVE STRATEGY AND SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS
When conditions dictate a defensive strategy, the Fund may temporarily
invest without limit in U.S. Treasury or other U.S. dollar-denominated debt
securities, or high quality money market instruments, including commercial paper
of domestic and foreign corporations, foreign government securities, U.S.
Treasury or other U.S. dollar-denominated debt securities, or securities
certificates of deposit, bankers' acceptances and other obligations of domestic
and foreign banks, and short-term obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S.
government and its agencies without regard to maturity. These obligations will
be U.S. dollar-denominated or denominated in a foreign currency. The Fund may
also invest in these securities for cash management or for investment subject to
its investment policies and limitations. Such investments may be subject to
certain risks, including future political and economic developments, the
possible imposition of withholding taxes on interest income, the seizure of
nationalization of foreign deposits and foreign exchange controls or other
restrictions.
(E) PORTFOLIO TURNOVER
The portfolio turnover rate is generally the percentage computed by
dividing the lesser of portfolio purchases or sales (excluding all securities,
including options, whose maturities or expiration date at acquisition were one
year or less) by the monthly average value of the long-term portfolio. High
portfolio turnover (100% or more) involves correspondingly greater brokerage
commissions and other transaction costs, which are borne directly by the Fund.
In addition, high portfolio turnover may also mean that a proportionately
greater amount of distributions to shareholders will be taxed as ordinary income
rather than long-term capital gains compared to investment companies with lower
portfolio turnover. See "Brokerage Allocation and Other Practices" and "Taxes,
Dividends and Distributions."
B-19
<PAGE>
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
The following restrictions are fundamental policies. Fundamental policies
are those which cannot be changed without the approval of the holders of a
majority of the Fund's outstanding voting securities. A "majority of the Fund's
outstanding voting securities," when used in this Statement of Additional
Information, means the lesser of (1) 67% of the voting shares represented at a
meeting at which more than 50% of the outstanding voting shares are present in
person or represented by proxy or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding voting
shares.
The Fund may not:
1. Purchase securities on margin, except such short-term credits as
may be necessary for the clearance of transactions and except that the Fund
may make deposits on margin in connection with futures contracts and
options.
2. Make short sales of, or maintain a short position in, securities.
3. Issue senior securities, borrow money or pledge its assets, except
that the Fund may borrow from banks up to 20% of the value of its total
assets (calculated when the loan is made) for temporary, extraordinary or
emergency purposes, for the clearance of transactions, or for investment
purposes. The Fund may pledge up to 20% of the value of its total assets to
secure such borrowings. For purposes of this restriction, the purchase or
sale of securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis, forward
foreign currency exchange contracts and collateral arrangements relating
thereto, and collateral arrangements with respect to interest rate swap
transactions, reverse repurchase agreements, dollar roll transactions,
options, futures contracts and options thereon and obligations of the Fund
to Directors pursuant to deferred compensation arrangements are not deemed
to be a pledge of assets or the issuance of a senior security.
4. Buy or sell commodities, commodity contracts, real estate or
interests in real estate, except that the Fund may purchase and sell
futures, options on futures contracts and securities secured by real estate
or interests therein. Transactions in foreign currencies and forward
contracts and options on foreign currencies are not considered by the Fund
to be transactions in commodities or commodity contracts.
5. Make loans except through (i) repurchase agreements, and (ii), the
purchase of debt obligations and bank deposits.
6. Make investments for the purpose of exercising control or
management over the issuers of any investments.
7. Act as an underwriter (except to the extent the Fund may be deemed
to be an underwriter in connection with the sale of securities in the
Fund's investment portfolio).
8. Invest 25% or more of its assets in any one industry. For this
purpose "industry" does not include the U.S. Government, but does include
foreign government issuers.
Whenever any fundamental investment policy or investment restriction states
a maximum percentage of the Fund's assets, it is intended that if the percentage
limitation is met at the time the investment is made, a later change in
percentage resulting from changing total or net asset values will not be
considered a violation of such policy. However, in the event that the Fund's
asset coverage for borrowings falls below 300%, the Fund will take prompt action
to reduce its borrowings, as required by applicable law.
B-20
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
<CAPTION>
POSITION PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS
NAME AND ADDRESS** (AGE) WITH FUND DURING PAST FIVE YEARS
- ------------------------ --------- ----------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Edward D. Beach (74) Director President and Director of BMC Fund, Inc., a closed-end investment company;
formerly Vice Chairman of Broyhill Furniture Industries, Inc.; Certified
Public Accountant; Secretary and Treasurer of Broyhill Family Foundation
Inc.; Member of the Board of Trustees of Mars Hill College and Director or
Trustee of 44 funds within the Prudential Mutual Funds.
Delayne Dedrick Gold (60) Director Marketing and Management Consultant and Director or Trustee of 44 funds within
the Prudential Mutual Funds.
*Robert F. Gunia (52) Vice Vice President (since September 1997) of The Prudential Insurance Company of
President America (Prudential); Executive Vice President and Treasurer (since December
and 1996) of Prudential Investments Fund Management LLC (PIFM); Senior Vice
Director President (since March 1987) of Prudential Securities Incorporated
(Prudential Securities); formerly Chief Administrative Officer (July
1990-September 1996), Director (January 1989-September 1996) and Executive
Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer (June 1987-September
1996) of Prudential Mutual Fund Management, Inc. (PMF); Vice President and
Director (since May 1989) of The Asia Pacific Fund, Inc. and Director or
Trustee of 44 funds within the Prudential Mutual Funds.
Douglas H. McCorkindale (59) Director Vice Chairman (since March 1984) and President (since September 1997) of Gannett
Co. Inc. (publishing and media); Director of Continental Airlines, Inc.,
Gannett Co. Inc. and Frontier Corporation and Director or Trustee of 23
funds within the Prudential Mutual Funds.
*Mendel A. Melzer, CFA (38) Acting Chief Investment Officer (since October 1998) of Prudential Investments; Chief
751 Broad Street, President Investment Officer (October 1996-October 1998) of Prudential Mutual Funds;
Newark, NJ 07102 and formerly Chief Financial Officer (November 1995-September 1996) of
Director Prudential Investments, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(April 1993-November 1995) of Prudential Preferred Financial Services,
Managing Director (April 1991-April 1993) of Prudential Investment Advisors,
and Senior Vice President (July 1989-April 1991) of Prudential Capital
Corporation; Chairman and Director of Prudential Series Fund, Inc. and
Director or Trustee of 44 other funds within the Prudential Mutual Funds.
Thomas T. Mooney (57) Director President of the Greater Rochester Metro Chamber of Commerce; former Rochester
City Manager; Trustee of Center for Governmental Research, Inc.; Director of
Blue Cross of Rochester, The Business Council of New York State, Executive
Service Corps of Rochester, Monroe County Water Authority, Rochester Jobs,
Inc., Monroe County Industrial Development Corporation and Northeast Midwest
Institute; President, Director and Treasurer of First Financial Fund, Inc.
and The High Yield Plus Fund, Inc. and Director or Trustee of 33 other funds
within the Prudential Mutual Funds.
Stephen P. Munn (55) Director Chairman (since January 1994), Director and President (since 1988) and Chief
Executive Officer (1988-December 1993) of Carlisle Companies Incorporated
(manufacturer of industrial products) and Director or Trustee of 18 funds
within the Prudential Mutual Funds.
</TABLE>
B-21
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
POSITION PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS
NAME AND ADDRESS** (AGE) WITH FUND DURING PAST FIVE YEARS
- ------------------------ --------- ----------------------
<S> <C> <C>
*Richard A. Redeker (55) Director Formerly President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (October 1993-
September 1996) of Prudential Mutual Fund Management, Inc. (PMF); Executive
Vice President, Director and Member of the Operating Committee (October
1993-September 1996) of Prudential Securities; Director (October
1993-September 1996) of Prudential Securities Group, Inc.; Executive Vice
President (January 1994-September 1996) of The Prudential Investment
Corporation; Director (January 1994-September 1996) of Prudential Mutual
Fund Distributors, Inc. and Prudential Mutual Fund Services, Inc.; Senior
Executive Vice President and Director (September 1978-September 1993) of
Kemper Financial Services, Inc. and Director or Trustee of 30 funds within
the Prudential Mutual Funds.
Robin B. Smith (59) Director Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (since August 1996), formerly President and
Chief Executive Officer (January 1989-August 1996) and President and Chief
Operating Officer (September 1981-December 1988) of Publishers Clearing
House; Director of BellSouth Corporation, Texaco Inc., Springs Industries
Inc. and Kmart Corporation and Director or Trustee of 32 funds within the
Prudential Mutual Funds.
Louis A. Weil, III (57) Director Chairman (since January 1999), President and Chief Executive Officer
(since January 1996) and Director (since September 1991) of Central
Newspapers, Inc.; Chairman of the Board (since January 1996), Publisher and
Chief Executive Officer (August 1991-December 1995) of Phoenix Newspapers,
Inc.; formerly Publisher (May 1989-March 1991) of Time Magazine, President,
Publisher and Chief Executive Officer (February 1986-August 1989) of The
Detroit News and member of the Advisory Board, Chase Manhattan
Bank-Westchester and Director or Trustee of 30 funds within the Prudential
Mutual Funds.
Clay T. Whitehead (60) Director President (since May 1983) of National Exchange Inc. (new business development
firm) and Director or Trustee of 18 funds within the Prudential Mutual Funds.
Grace C. Torres (39) Treasurer First Vice President (since December 1996) of PIFM; First Vice President (since
and March 1993) of Prudential Securities; formerly First Vice President (March
Principal 1994-September 1996) of PMF and Vice President (July 1989-March 1994) of
Financial Bankers Trust Corporation.
and
Accounting
Officer
Marguerite E. H. Morrison (42) Secretary Vice President and Associate General Counsel (since December 1996) of PIFM; Vice
President and Associate General Counsel (since September 1987) of Prudential
Securities; formerly Vice President and Associate General Counsel (June
1991-September 1996) of PMF.
Stephen M. Ungerman (45) Assistant Tax Director (since March 1996) of Prudential Investments; formerly First Vice
Treasurer President (February 1993-September 1996) of PMF.
- ---------------
* "Interested" Director, as defined in the Investment Company Act, by reason of affiliation with Prudential Securities,
The Prudential Insurance Company of America or the Manager.
** Unless otherwise stated, the address of the Directors and officers is c/o Prudential Investments Fund Management LLC,
Gateway Center Three, 100 Mulberry Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102-4077.
</TABLE>
B-22
<PAGE>
The Fund has Directors who, in addition to overseeing the actions of the
Fund's Manager, Subadviser and Distributor, decide upon matters of general
policy. The Directors also review the actions of the Fund's officers, who
conduct and supervise the daily business operations of the Fund.
The Directors have adopted a retirement policy which calls for the
retirement of Directors on December 31 of the year in which they reach the age
of 72, except that retirement is being phased in for Directors who were age 68
or older as of December 31, 1993. Under this phase-in provision, Mr. Beach is
scheduled to retire on December 31, 1999.
Pursuant to the Management Agreement with the Fund, the Manager pays all
compensation of officers and employees of the Fund as well as the fees and
expenses of all Directors of the Fund who are affiliated persons of the Manager.
The Fund currently pays each of its Directors who is not an affiliated person of
PIFM or the investment adviser annual compensation of $2,000 in addition to
certain out-of-pocket expenses. The amount of annual compensation paid to each
Director may change as a result of the introduction of additional funds on the
boards of which the Directors will be asked to serve.
Directors may receive their Directors' fees pursuant to a deferred fee
agreement with the Fund. Under the terms of the agreement, the Fund accrues
daily the amount of such Directors' fees which accrue interest at a rate
equivalent to the prevailing rate applicable to 90-day U.S. Treasury bills at
the beginning of each calendar quarter or, pursuant to a Commission exemptive
order, at the daily rate of return of the Fund. Payment of the interest so
accrued is also deferred and accruals become payable at the option of the
Director. The Fund's obligation to make payments of deferred Directors' fees,
together with interest thereon, is a general obligation of the Fund.
The following table sets forth the aggregate compensation paid by the Fund
to the Directors who are not affiliated with the Manager for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1998 and the aggregate compensation paid to such Directors
for service on the Fund's Board and the boards of all other investment companies
managed by PIFM (Fund Complex) for the calendar year ended December 31, 1998.
TOTAL 1998
COMPENSATION
PAID TO
AGGREGATE DIRECTORS
COMPENSATION FROM FUND
NAME OF DIRECTOR FROM FUND+ COMPLEX*
---------------- --------- --------
Edward D. Beach ........................ $2,250 $135,000(44/71)**
Delayne Dedrick Gold ................... 2,250 $135,000(44/71)**
Robert F. Gunia+ ....................... None None
Douglas H. McCorkindale* ............... 2,250 $ 70,000(23/40)**
Mendel A. Melzer+ ...................... None None
Thomas T. Mooney* ...................... 2,250 $115,000(35/70)**
Stephen P. Munn ........................ 2,250 $ 45,000(18/24)**
Richard A. Redeker+ .................... None None
Robin B. Smith* ........................ 2,250 $ 90,000(32/41)**
Louis A. Weil III ...................... 2,250 $ 90,000(30/54)**
Clay T. Whitehead ...................... 2,250 $ 45,000(18/24)**
- ----------
+ Directors who are "interested" do not receive compensation from the Fund
or any fund in the Fund Complex. Mr. Redeker is no longer an interested
Director.
* Total compensation from all of the funds in the Fund Complex for the
calendar year ended December 31, 1998 includes amounts deferred at the
election of Directors under the funds' deferred compensation plans.
Including accrued interest, total compensation amounted to $71,145,
$119,740 and $116,225 for Messrs. McCorkindale and Mooney and Ms. Smith,
respectively.
** Indicates number of funds/portfolios in Fund Complex (including the Fund)
to which aggregate compensation relates.
B-23
<PAGE>
CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES
Directors of the Fund are eligible to purchase Class Z shares of the Fund
which are sold without either an initial sales charge or contingent deferred
sales charge to a limited group of investors. As of March 5, 1999, the Directors
and officers of the Fund, as a group, owned less than 1% of the outstanding
common stock of the Fund.
As of March 5, 1999, Prudential Securities was record holder of 2,865,394
Class A shares (25.4%), 114,738 Class B shares (65.1%), of 35,930 Class C shares
(99.1%), and 324,384 Class Z shares (91.5%) of the Fund. In the event of any
meetings of shareholders, Prudential Securities will forward, or cause the
forwarding of, proxy materials to the beneficial owners for which it is the
record holder.
As of March 5 , 1998 the beneficial owners, directly or indirectly, or more
than 5% of the outstanding shares of any class of shares of the Fund were:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF SHARES
NAME ADDRESS CLASS OF SHARES (% OF CLASS)
- ---- ------- --------------- ----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Smith Barney Inc. 388 Greenwich Street Class A 814,367 (7.2%)
New York, NY 10013-0375
Prudential Securities 4274 Castle Drive, SE Class C 2,399 (6.6%)
C/F Mr. Thomas F. Hauck IRA Grand Rapids, MI 49546-8309
DTD 12/17/97
Mr. John C. Galloway & 4265 Rose Creed Road Class C 2,980 (8.2%)
Mrs. Laura V. Galloway Roseville, CA 95747-8611
CO-TTEES, The Galloway Family
Trust UA DTD 03/17/9
Mrs. Mildred Weintraub TTEE, 274 Running Springs Dr., Class C 2,501 (6.9%)
Mildred Weintraub Trust UA Palm Desert, CA 92211-3200
DTD 07/30/89
Prudential Securities C/F 560 W. Oak Rd. Class C 2,373 (6.5%)
Barbara J. Golla Vineland, NJ 08360-2218
Vineland Anesthia Consult PC
Prudential Securities C/F 514 Keepataw Dr., Class C 12,491 (34.4%)
Diane D. Johnson Lemont, IL 60439
Diane D. Johnson Trust UA
Dated 12/8/98
Prudential Securities 7483 Lime Hollow Dr. SE Class C 4,960 (13.6%)
Dr. John F. Butzer, MD Grand Rapids, MI 49546
IRA IRA 12/18/97
Mrs. Shirley Palmer GDN, 1 Grace Court, Class Z 28,647 (8.0%)
Mr. Edwin Laboy, Jr. Wallkill, NY 12589
</TABLE>
B-24
<PAGE>
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES
(A) MANAGER AND INVESTMENT ADVISER
The manager of the Fund is Prudential Investments Fund Management LLC (the
Manager or PIFM), Gateway Center Three, 100 Mulberry Street, Newark, New Jersey
07102-4077. The Manager serves as manager to all of the other investment
companies that, together with the Fund, comprise the "Prudential Mutual Funds."
See "How the Fund Is Managed--Manager" in the Prospectus. As of January 31,
1999, the Manager managed and/or administered open-end and closed-end management
investment companies with assets of approximately $71.5 billion. According to
the Investment Company Institute, as of December 31, 1998, the Prudential Mutual
Funds were the 18th largest family of mutual funds in the United States.
The Manager is a subsidiary of Prudential Securities and The Prudential
Insurance Company of America (Prudential). Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC
(the Transfer Agent), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Manager, serves as the
transfer agent for the Prudential Mutual Funds and in addition, provides
customer service, recordkeeping and management and administration services to
qualified plans.
Pursuant to the Management Agreement with the Fund (the Management
Agreement), the Manager, subject to the supervision of the Fund's Directors and
in conformity with the stated policies of the Fund, manages both the investment
operations of the Fund and the composition of the Fund's portfolio, including
the purchase, retention, disposition and loan of securities. In connection
therewith, the Manager is obligated to keep certain books and records of the
Fund. The Manager also administers the Fund's corporate affairs and, in
connection therewith, furnishes the Fund with office facilities, together with
those ordinary clerical and bookkeeping services which are not being furnished
by State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Fund's custodian (the Custodian),
and the Fund's Transfer Agent. The management services of the Manager for the
Fund are not exclusive under the terms of the Management Agreement and the
Manager is free to, and does, render management services to others.
For its services, the Manager receives, pursuant to the Management
Agreement, a fee at an annual rate of .75 of 1% of the Fund's average daily net
assets up to $1 billion, and .70 of 1% of such assets in excess of $1 billion.
The fee is computed daily and payable monthly. The Management Agreement also
provides that, in the event the expenses of the Fund (including the fees of the
Manager, but excluding interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, distribution fees
and litigation and indemnification expenses and other extraordinary expenses not
incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund's business) for any fiscal year
exceed the lowest applicable annual expense limitation established and enforced
pursuant to the statutes or regulations of any jurisdiction in which the Fund's
shares are qualified for offer and sale, the compensation due to the Manager
will be reduced by the amount of such excess. No jurisdiction currently limits
the Fund's expenses.
In connection with its management of the business affairs of the Fund, the
Manager bears the following expenses:
(a) the salaries and expenses of all of its and the Fund's personnel except
the fees and expenses of members of the Board of Directors who are not
affiliated persons of the Manager or the Fund's investment adviser;
(b) all expenses incurred by the Manager or by the Fund in connection with
managing the ordinary course of the Fund's business, other than those assumed by
the Fund as described below; and
(c) the costs and expenses payable to The Prudential Investment
Corporation, doing business as Prudential Investments (the Subadviser, PI or the
investment adviser) pursuant to the subadvisory agreement between the Manager
and the Subadviser (the Subadvisory Agreement).
Under the terms of the Management Agreement, the Fund is responsible for
the payment of the following expenses: (a) the fees payable to the Manager, (b)
the fees and expenses of Directors who are not affiliated persons of the Manager
or the Fund's investment adviser, (c) the fees and certain expenses of the
Custodian and Transfer Agent, including the cost of providing records to the
Manager in connection with its obligation of maintaining required records of the
Fund and of pricing the Fund's shares, (d) the charges and expenses of legal
counsel and independent accountants for the Fund, (e) brokerage commissions and
any issue or transfer taxes chargeable to the Fund in connection with its
securities transactions, (f) all taxes and corporate fees payable by the Fund to
governmental agencies, (g) the fees of any trade associations of which the Fund
may be a member, (h) the cost of stock certificates representing shares of the
Fund, (i) the cost of fidelity and liability insurance, (j) certain organization
expenses of the Fund and the fees and expenses involved in registering and
maintaining registration of the Fund and of its shares with the Commission and
the states, including the preparation and printing of the Fund's registration
statements and prospectuses for such purposes, (k) allocable communications
expenses with respect to investor services and all expenses of shareholders' and
Directors' meetings and of preparing, printing and mailing reports, proxy
statements and prospectuses to shareholders in the amount necessary for
distribution to the shareholders, (l) litigation and indemnification expenses
and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the
Fund's business and (m) distribution fees.
The Management Agreement provides that the Manager will not be liable for
any error of judgment or for any loss suffered by the Fund in connection with
the matters to which the Management Agreement relates, except a loss resulting
from willful misfeasance, bad
B-25
<PAGE>
faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of duty. The Management Agreement
provides that it will terminate automatically if assigned, and that it may be
terminated without penalty by either party upon not more than 60 days' nor less
than 30 days' written notice. The Management Agreement will continue in effect
for a period of more than two years from the date of execution only so long as
such continuance is specifically approved at least annually in conformity with
the Investment Company Act.
For the fiscal years ended December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996, the Manager
received management fees of $692,765, $835,254 and $1,354,632, respectively,
from the Fund.
The Manager has entered a Subadvisory Agreement with the Subadviser, a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Prudential. The PI Subadvisory Agreement provides
that the Subadviser will furnish investment advisory services in connection with
the management of the Fund. In connection therewith, the Subadviser is obligated
to keep certain books and records of the Fund. The Subadviser has entered into
an agreement with PRICOA Asset Management Ltd. (PRICOA) or the investment
adviser under which PRICOA provides investment advisory services to the Fund.
The Manager continues to have responsibility for all investment advisory
services pursuant to the Management Agreement and supervises the investment
adviser's performance of such services. The Subadviser is reimbursed by the
Manager for the reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Subadviser in
furnishing those services. In turn, PRICOA is reimbursed by the Subadviser for
its reasonable costs and expenses incurred in furnishing advisory services.
The PI Subadvisory Agreement provides that it will terminate in the event
of its assignment (as defined in the Investment Company Act) or upon the
termination of the Management Agreement. The PI Subadvisory Agreement may be
terminated by the Fund, the Manager or the Subadviser upon not more than 60
days', nor less than 3O days', written notice. The PI Subadvisory Agreement
provides that it will continue in effect for a period of more than two years
from its execution only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at
least annually in accordance with the requirements of the Investment Company
Act. The PRICOA Subadvisory Agreement provides that PRICOA can terminate it on
60 days' written notice and that the Subadviser can terminate it any time and
the termination would take effect immediately. The PRICOA Subadvisory Agreement
also provides that it will terminate automatically in the event of assignment
(as defined in the Investment Company Act).
(B) PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER, DISTRIBUTOR AND RULE 12B-1 PLANS
Prudential Investment Management Services LLC (the Distributor), Gateway
Center Three, 100 Mulberry Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102-4077 acts as the
distributor of the shares of the Fund. Prior to June 1, 1998 Prudential
Securities Incorporated (Prudential Securities) was the Fund's Distributor. The
Distributor and Prudential Securities are subsidiaries of Prudential.
Pursuant to separate Distribution and Service Plans (the Class A Plan, the
Class B Plan and the Class C Plan, collectively the Plans) adopted by the Fund
under Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act and a distribution agreement
(the Distribution Agreement), the Distributor incurs the expenses of
distributing the Fund's Class A, Class B and Class C shares. The Distributor
also incurs the expenses of distributing the Fund's Class Z shares under the
Distribution Agreement, none of which are reimbursed by or paid for by the Fund.
The expenses incurred under the Plans include commissions and account
servicing fees paid to, or on account of brokers or financial institutions which
have entered into agreements with the Distributor, advertising expenses, the
cost of printing and mailing prospectuses to potential investors and indirect
and overhead costs of the Distributor associated with the sale of Fund shares,
including lease, utility, communications and sales promotion expenses.
Under the Plans, the Fund is obligated to pay distribution and/or service
fees to the Distributor as compensation for its distribution and service
activities, not as reimbursement for specific expenses incurred. If the
Distributor's expenses exceed its distribution and service fees, the Fund will
not be obligated to pay any additional expenses. If the Distributor's expenses
are less than such distribution and service fees, it will retain its full fees
and realize a profit.
The distribution and/or service fees may also be used by the Distributor to
compensate on a continuing basis brokers in consideration for the distribution,
marketing, administrative and other services and activities provided by brokers
with respect to the promotion of the sale of the Fund's shares and the
maintenance of related shareholder accounts.
CLASS A PLAN. Under the Class A Plan, the Fund may pay the Distributor for
its distribution-related activities with respect to Class A shares at an annual
rate of .30 of 1% of the average daily net assets of the Class A shares. The
Class A Plan provides that (1) .25 of 1% of the average daily net assets of the
Class A shares may be used to pay for personal service and/or the maintenance of
shareholder accounts (service fee) and (2) total distribution fees (including
the service fee of .25 of 1%) may not exceed .30 of 1%. The Distributor has
contractually limited its distribution-related fees payable under the Class A
Plan to .25 of 1% of the average daily net assets of the Class A shares for the
fiscal year ending December 31, 1999. Prior to January 1, 1999, the Distributor
limited its distribution related fees under the Class A Plan to .15% of 1% of
average daily net assets.
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998, the Distributor and Prudential
Securities received payments of approximately $134,955, under the Class A Plan
and spent approximately $110,931, in distributing the Class A shares. These
amounts were primarily expended for payments of account servicing fees to
financial advisers and other persons who sell Class A shares. For the
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<PAGE>
fiscal year ended December 31, 1998, the Distributor and Prudential Securities
also received approximately $34,000 in initial sales charges.
CLASS B PLAN. Under the Class B Plan, the Fund may pay the Distributor for
its distribution-related activities with respect to Class B shares at an annual
rate of .75 of 1% of the average daily net assets of the Class B shares. The
Class B Plan provides that (1) .25 of 1% of the average daily net assets of the
shares may be paid as a service fee and (2) .75% of 1% (including the service
fee) of the average daily net assets of the shares (asset based sales charge)
may be paid for distribution-related expenses with respect to the shares. The
service fee (.25 of 1% of average daily net assets) is used to pay for personal
service and/or the maintenance of shareholder accounts. The Distributor also
receives contingent deferred sales charges from certain redeeming shareholders.
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998, the Distributor and Prudential
Securities received $5,891 from the Fund under the Class B Plan and spent
$19,331 in distributing the Fund's Class B shares. It is estimated that of the
latter total amount, 0% ($0) was spent on printing and mailing of prospectuses
to other than current shareholders; 29.2% ($5,642) was spent on compensation to
broker-dealers for commissions to their representatives and other expenses,
including an allocation of overhead and other branch office distribution-related
expenses, incurred for distribution of Fund shares; and 70.8% ($13,689) in the
aggregate for (1) payments of commissions and account servicing fees to
financial advisers (24.5% or $4,742) and (2) an allocation of overhead and other
branch office distribution-related expenses for payments of related expenses
(46.3% or $8,947). The term "overhead and other branch office
distribution-related expenses" represents (a) the expenses of operating
Prudential Securities' and Pruco Securities Corporation's (Prusec's) branch
offices in connection with the sale of Fund shares, including lease costs, the
salaries and employee benefits of operations and sales support personnel,
utility costs, communications costs and the costs of stationery and supplies,
(b) the costs of client sales seminars, (c) expenses of mutual fund sales
coordinators to promote the sale of Fund shares, and (d) other incidental
expenses relating to branch promotion of Fund sales.
The Distributor (and Prudential Securities as its Predecessor) also
receives the proceeds of contingent deferred sales charges paid by investors
upon certain redemptions of Class B shares. For the fiscal year ended December
31, 1998, the Distributor and Prudential Securities received approximately
$14,900 in contingent deferred sales charges attributable to Class B shares.
CLASS C PLAN. Under the Class C Plan, the Fund may pay the distributor for
its distribution-related activities with respect to Class C shares at an annual
rate of 1% of the average daily net assets of the Class C shares. The Class C
Plan provides that (1) .25 of 1% of the average daily net assets of the shares
may be paid as a service fee and (2) .75 of 1% (not including the service fee)
of the average daily net assets of the shares (asset based sales charge) may be
paid for distribution-related expenses with respect to the shares. The service
fee (.25 of 1% of average daily net assets is used to pay for personal service
and/or the maintenance of shareholder accounts. The Distributor has
contractually agreed to limit its distribution related fees payable under the
Class C Plan to .75 of 1% through December 31, 1999. The Distributor also
receives contingent deferred sales charges from certain redeeming shareholders.
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998, the Distributor and Prudential
Securities received $948 under the Class C Plan and spent $4,668 in distributing
Class C shares. It is estimated that of the latter total amount, 0% ($0) was
spent on printing and mailing of prospectuses to other than current
shareholders; 2.0% ($93) on compensation to broker-dealers for commissions to
representatives and other expenses, including an allocation of overhead and
other branch office distribution-related expenses incurred for distribution of
Fund shares and 98.0% ($4,575) in the aggregate for (1) payments of commissions
and account servicing fees to financial advisers (27% or $1,261) and (2) an
allocation of overhead and other branch office distribution-related expenses for
payments of related expenses (71.0% or $3,314).
The Distributor (and Prudential Securities as its Predecessor) also
receives the proceeds of contingent deferred sales charges paid by investors
upon certain redemptions of Class C shares. For the fiscal year ended December
31, 1998 the Distributor and Prudential Securities received $0 in contingent
deferred sales charges attributable to Class C shares. For the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1999, the Distributor received approximately $48 in initial sales
charges attributable to Class C shares.
Distribution expenses attributable to the sale of Class A, Class B and
Class C shares of the Fund are allocated to each such class based upon the ratio
of sales of each such class to the sales of Class A, Class B and Class C shares
of the Fund other than expenses allocable to a particular class. The
distribution fee and sales charge of one class will not be used to subsidize the
sale of another class.
The Class A, Class B and Class C Plans continue in effect from year to
year, provided that each such continuance is approved at least annually by a
vote of the Directors, including a vote of the Directors who are not interested
persons of the Fund and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the
Class A, Class B or Class C Plan or in any agreement related to the Plans (Rule
12b-1 Directors), cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting
on such continuance. A Plan may be terminated at any time, without penalty, by
the vote of a majority of the Rule 12b-1 Directors or by the vote of the holders
of a majority of the
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<PAGE>
outstanding shares of the applicable class of the Fund on not more than 30 days'
written notice to any other party to the Plan. The Plans may not be amended to
increase materially the amounts to be spent for the services described therein
without approval by the shareholders of the applicable class (by both Class A
and Class B shareholders, voting separately, in the case of material amendments
to the Class A Plan), and all material amendments are required to be approved by
the Directors in the manner described above. Each Plan will automatically
terminate in the event of its assignment. The Fund will not be contractually
obligated to pay expenses incurred under any Plan if it is terminated or not
continued.
Pursuant to each Plan, the Directors will review at least quarterly a
written report of the distribution expenses incurred on behalf of each class of
shares of the Fund by the Distributor. The report will include an itemization of
the distribution expenses and the purposes of such expenditures. In addition, as
long as the Plans remain in effect, the selection and nomination of Rule 12b-1
Directors shall be committed to the Rule 12b-1 Directors.
Pursuant to the Distribution Agreement, the Fund has agreed to indemnify
the Distributor to the extent permitted by applicable law against certain
liabilities under federal securities laws.
In addition to distribution and service fees paid by the Fund under Class
A, Class B and Class C Plans, the Manager (or one of its affiliates) may make
payments to dealers (including Prudential Securities) and other persons which
distribute shares of the Fund (including Class Z shares). Such payments may be
calculated by reference to the net asset value of shares sold by such persons or
otherwise.
FEE WAIVERS/SUBSIDIES
PIFM may from time to time waive all or a portion of its management fee and
subsidize all or a portion of the operating expenses of the Fund. In addition,
the Distributor has waived a portion of its distribution fees for the Class A,
Class B and Class C shares as described above. These voluntary waivers may be
terminated at any time without notice. Fee waivers and subsidies increase the
Fund's total return.
NASD MAXIMUM SALES CHARGE RULE
Pursuant to rules of the NASD, the Distributor is required to limit
aggregate initial sales charges, deferred sales charges and asset-based sales
charges to 6.25% of total gross sales of each class of shares. Interest charges
on unreimbursed distribution expenses equal to the prime rate plus one percent
per annum may be added to the 6.25% limitation. Sales from the reinvestment of
dividends and distributions are not included in the calculation of the 6.25%
limitation. The annual asset-based sales charge on shares of the Fund may not
exceed .75 of 1% per class. The 6.25% limitation applies to each class of the
Fund rather than on a per shareholder basis. If aggregate sales charges were to
exceed 6.25% of total gross sales of any class, all sales charges on shares of
that class would be suspended.
(C) OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS
State Street Bank and Trust Company, One Heritage Drive, North Quincy,
Massachusetts 02171, serves as Custodian for the Fund's portfolio securities and
cash, and in that capacity maintains certain financial and accounting books and
records pursuant to an agreement with the Fund. Subcustodians provide custodial
services for the Fund's foreign assets held outside the United States.
PMFS, Raritan Plaza One, Edison, New Jersey 08837, serves as the transfer
and dividend disbursing agent of the Fund. The Transfer Agent is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of the Manager. The Transfer Agent provides customary transfer agency
services to the Fund, including the handling of shareholder communications, the
processing of shareholder transactions, the maintenance of shareholder account
records, the payment of dividends and distributions, and related functions. For
these services, the Transfer Agent receives an annual fee of $13.00 per
shareholder account, a new account set-up fee of $2.00 for each
manually-established account and a monthly inactive zero balance account fee of
$.20 per shareholder account. The Transfer Agent is also reimbursed for its
out-of-pocket expenses, including but not limited to postage, stationery,
printing, allocable communications expenses and other costs.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, 1177 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York
10036, serves as the Fund's independent accountants and, in that capacity,
audits the Fund's annual financial statements.
BROKERAGE ALLOCATION AND OTHER PRACTICES
The Manager is responsible for decisions to buy and sell securities,
futures contracts and options on such securities and futures for the Fund, the
selection of brokers, dealers and futures commission merchants to effect the
transactions and the negotiation of brokerage commissions, if any. (For purposes
of this section, the term "Manager" includes the investment adviser.) On a
national securities exchange, broker-dealers may receive negotiated brokerage
commissions on Fund portfolio transactions, including options, futures, and
options on futures transactions and the purchase and sale of underlying
securities upon the exercise of options. On a foreign securities exchange,
commissions may be fixed. Orders may be directed to any broker
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<PAGE>
or futures commission merchant including, to the extent and in the manner
permitted by applicable law, Prudential Securities and its affiliates.
In the over-the-counter market, securities are generally traded on a "net"
basis with dealers acting as principal for their own accounts without a stated
commission, although the price of the security usually includes a profit to the
dealer. In underwritten offerings, securities are purchased at a fixed price
which includes an amount of compensation to the underwriter, generally referred
to as the underwriter's concession or discount. On occasion, certain money
market instruments and U.S. government agency securities may be purchased
directly from the issuer, in which case no commissions or discounts are paid.
The Fund will not deal with Prudential Securities or any affiliate in any
transaction in which Prudential Securities or any affiliate acts as principal
except in accordance with the rules of the Commission. Thus, it will not deal in
the over-the-counter market with Prudential Securities acting as market maker,
and it will not execute a negotiated trade with Prudential Securities if
execution involves Prudential Securities' acting as principal with respect to
any part of the Fund's order.
In placing orders for portfolio securities of the Fund, the Manager's
overriding objective is to obtain the best possible combination of price and
execution. The Manager seeks to effect each transaction at a price and
commission that provides the most favorable total cost or proceeds reasonably
attainable in the circumstances.
The factors that the Manager may consider in selecting a particular broker,
dealer or futures commission merchant (firms) are the Manager's knowledge of
negotiated commission rates currently available and other current transaction
costs; the nature of the portfolio transaction; the size of the transaction; the
desired timing of the trade; the activity existing and expected in the market
for the particular transaction; confidentiality; the execution, clearance and
settlement capabilities of the firms; the availability of research and research
related services provided through such firms; the Manager's knowledge of the
financial stability of the firms; the Manager's knowledge of actual or apparent
operational problems of firms; and the amount of capital, if any, that would be
contributed by firms executing the transaction. Given these factors, the Fund
may pay transaction costs in excess of that which another firm might have
charged for effecting the same transaction.
When the Manager selects a firm that executes orders or is a party to
portfolio transactions, relevant factors taken into consideration are whether
that firm has furnished research and research related products and/or services,
such as research reports, research compilations, statistical and economic data,
computer data bases, quotation equipment and services, research oriented
computer software, hardware and services, reports concerning the performance of
accounts, valuations of securities, investment related periodicals, investment
seminars and other economic services and consultants. Such services are used in
connection with some or all of the Manager's investment activities; some of such
services, obtained in connection with the execution of transactions for one
investment account, may be used in managing other accounts, and not all of these
services may be used in connection with the Fund.
The Manager maintains an internal allocation procedure to identify those
firms who have provided it with research and research related products and/or
services, and the amount that was provided, and to endeavor to direct sufficient
commissions to them to ensure the continued receipt of those services that the
Manager believes provides a benefit to the Fund and its other clients. The
Manager makes a good faith determination that the research and/or service is
reasonable in light of the type of service provided and the price and execution
of the related portfolio transactions.
When the Manager deems the purchase or sale of equities to be in the best
interests of the Fund or its other clients, including Prudential, the Manager
may, but is under no obligation to, aggregate the transactions in order to
obtain the most favorable price or lower brokerage commissions and efficient
execution. In such event, allocation of the transactions, as well as the
expenses incurred in the transaction, will be made by the Manager in the manner
it considers to be most equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations
to its clients. The allocation of orders among firms and the commission rates
paid are reviewed periodically by the Fund's Directors. Portfolio securities may
not be purchased from any underwriting or selling syndicate of which Prudential
Securities or any affiliate, during the existence of the syndicate, is a
principal underwriter (as defined in the Investment Company Act), except in
accordance with rules of the Commission. This limitation, in the opinion of the
Fund, will not significantly affect the Fund's ability to pursue its present
investment objective. However, in the future in other circumstances, the Fund
may be at a disadvantage because of this limitation in comparison to other funds
with similar objectives but not subject to such limitations.
Subject to the above considerations, Prudential Securities may act as a
broker or futures commission merchant for the Fund. In order for Prudential
Securities or any affiliate to effect any portfolio transactions for the Fund,
the commissions, fees or other remuneration received by Prudential Securities or
any affiliate must be reasonable and fair compared to the commissions, fees or
other remuneration paid to other firms in connection with comparable
transactions involving similar securities or futures being purchased or sold on
an exchange or board of trade during a comparable period of time. This standard
would allow Prudential Securities or any affiliate to receive no more than the
remuneration which would be expected to be received by an unaffiliated firm in a
commensurate arm's-length transaction. Furthermore, the Directors of the Fund,
including a majority of the non-interested Directors, have adopted procedures
which are reasonably designed to provide that any commissions, fees or other
remuneration paid to Prudential Securities or any affiliate are consistent with
the foregoing standard. In accordance with Section 11(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, Prudential Securities may not retain
compensation for effecting transactions on a
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<PAGE>
national securities exchange for the Fund unless the Fund has expressly
authorized the retention of such compensation. Prudential Securities must
furnish to the Fund at least annually a statement setting forth the total amount
of all compensation retained by Prudential Securities from transactions effected
for the Fund during the applicable period. Brokerage transactions with
Prudential Securities or any affiliate are also subject to such fiduciary
standards as may be imposed upon Prudential Securities or such affiliates by
applicable law.
The Fund paid no brokerage commissions, including none to Prudential
Securities or any affiliate, for the fiscal years ended December 31, 1998, 1997
and 1996.
The Fund is required to disclose its holdings of securities of its regular
brokers and dealers (as defined under Rule 10b-1 of the Investment Company Act)
and their parents at December 31, 1998. As of December 31, 1998, the Fund held
securities of Bear Stearns & Co., in the aggregate amount of $552,000; Deutsche
Bank, in the aggregate amount of $333,000; J.P. Morgan, in the aggregate amount
of $552,000; Goldman Sachs & Co., in the aggregate amount of $309,000; and
Warburg Dillon Read in the aggregate amount of $552,000.
CAPITAL SHARES, OTHER SECURITIES AND ORGANIZATION
The Fund is authorized to issue 2 billion shares of common stock, $.01 per
share divided into four classes, designated Class A, Class B, Class C and Class
Z shares, initially all of one series. Each class of common stock represents an
interest in the same assets of the Fund and is identical in all respects except
that (1) each class is subject to different sales charges and distribution
and/or service fees (except for Class Z shares, which are not subject to any
sales charges and distribution and/or service fees), which may affect
performance, (2) each class has exclusive voting rights on any matter submitted
to shareholders that relates solely to its arrangement and has separate voting
rights on any matter submitted to shareholders in which the interests of one
class differ from the interests of any other class, (3) each class has a
different exchange privilege, (4) only Class B shares have a conversion feature
and (5) Class Z shares are offered exclusively for sale to a limited group of
investors. In accordance with the Fund's Articles of Incorporation, the
Directors may authorize the creation of additional series and classes within
such series, with such preferences, privileges, limitations and voting and
dividend rights as the Directors may determine. The voting rights of the
shareholders of a series or class can be modified only by the majority vote of
shareholders of that series or class.
Shares of the Fund, when issued, are fully paid, nonassessable, fully
transferable and redeemable at the option of the holder. Shares are also
redeemable at the option of the Fund under certain circumstances. Each share of
each class is equal as to earnings, assets and voting privileges, except as
noted above, and each class of shares (with the exception of Class Z shares,
which are not subject to any distribution or service fees) bears the expenses
related to the distribution of its shares. Except for the conversion feature
applicable to the Class B shares, there are no conversion, preemptive or other
subscription rights. In the event of liquidation, each share of the Fund is
entitled to its portion of all of the Fund's assets after all debt and expenses
of the Fund have been paid. Since Class B and Class C shares generally bear
higher distribution expenses than Class A shares, the liquidation proceeds to
shareholders of those classes are likely to be lower than to Class A
shareholders and to Class Z shareholders, whose shares are not subject to any
distribution and/or service fees.
The Fund does not intend to hold annual meetings of shareholders unless
otherwise required by law. The Fund will not be required to hold meetings of
shareholders unless, for example, the election of Directors is required to be
acted on by shareholders under the Investment Company Act. Shareholders have
certain rights, including the right to call a meeting upon the vote of 10% of
the Fund's outstanding shares for the purpose of voting on the removal of one or
more Directors or to transact any other business.
Under the Articles of Incorporation, the Directors may authorize the
creation of additional series of shares (the proceeds of which would be invested
in separate, independently managed portfolios with distinct investment
objectives and policies and share purchase, redemption and net asset value
procedures) with such preferences, privileges, limitations and voting and
dividend rights as the Directors may determine. All consideration received by
the Fund for shares of any additional series, and all assets in which such
consideration is invested, would belong to that series (subject only to the
rights of creditors of that series) and would be subject to the liabilities
related thereto. Under the Investment Company Act, shareholders of any
additional series of shares would normally have to approve the adoption of any
advisory contract relating to such series and of any changes in the investment
policies related thereto. The Directors do not intend to authorize the creation
of additional series at the present time.
The Directors have the power to alter the number and the terms of office of
the Directors and they may at any time lengthen their own terms or make their
terms of unlimited duration and appoint their own successors, provided that
always at least a majority of the Directors have been elected by the
shareholders of the Fund. The voting rights of shareholders are not cumulative,
so that holders of more than 50 percent of the shares voting can, if they
choose, elect all Directors being selected, while the holders of the remaining
shares would be unable to elect any Directors.
PURCHASE, REDEMPTION AND PRICING OF FUND SHARES
Shares of the Fund may be purchased at a price equal to the next determined
net asset value (NAV) per share plus a sales charge which, at the election of
the investor, may be imposed either (1) at the time of purchase (Class A or
Class C shares) and/or
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<PAGE>
(2) on a deferred basis (Class B or Class C shares). Class Z shares of the Fund
are offered to a limited group of investors at NAV without any sales charges.
See "How to Buy, Sell and Exchange Shares of the Fund" in the Prospectus.
Each class of shares represents an interest in the same assets of the Fund
and is identical in all respects except that (1) each class is subject to
different sales charges and distribution and/or service fees (except for Class Z
shares, which are not subject to any sales charges and distribution and/or
service fees), which may affect performance, (2) each class has exclusive voting
rights with respect to any matter submitted to shareholders that relates solely
to its arrangement and has separate voting rights on any matter submitted to
shareholders in which the interests of one class differ from the interests of
any other class, (3) each class has a different exchange privilege, (4) only
Class B shares have a conversion feature and (5) Class Z shares are offered
exclusively for sale to a limited group of investors. See "Distributor" and
"Shareholder Investment Account--Exchange Privilege."
PURCHASE BY WIRE. For an initial purchase of shares of the Fund by wire, an
investor must complete an application and telephone the Transfer Agent at (800)
225-1852 (toll-free) to receive an account number. The following information
will be requested: the investor's name, address, tax identification number,
class election, dividend distribution election, amount being wired and wiring
bank. Instructions should then be given by the investor to his/her bank to
transfer funds by wire to the Fund's Custodian; State Street Bank and Trust
Company, Boston, Massachusetts, Custody and Shareholder Services Division,
Attention: Prudential International Bond Fund, Inc., specifying on the wire
account number assigned by the Transfer Agent and the investor's name and
identifying the class in which the investor is eligible to invest (Class A,
Class B, Class C or Class Z shares).
If an investor arranges for receipt by the Custodian of Federal Funds prior
to the calculation of NAV (4:15 P.M., New York time), on a business day, the
investor may purchase shares of the Fund as of that day.
In making a subsequent purchase order by wire, an investor should wire the
Custodian directly and should be sure that the wire specifies Prudential
International Bond Fund, Inc., Class A, Class B, Class C or Class Z shares and
the investor's name and individual account number. It is not necessary to call
the Transfer Agent to make subsequent purchase orders utilizing Federal Funds.
The minimum amount which may be invested by wire is $1,000.
ISSUANCE OF FUND SHARES FOR SECURITIES
Transactions involving the issuance of Fund shares for securities (rather
than cash) will be limited to: (1) reorganizations,(2) statutory mergers, or (3)
other acquisitions of portfolio securities that: (a) meet the investment
objectives and policies of the Fund, (b) are liquid and not subject to
restrictions on resale, (c) have a value that is readily ascertainable via
listings on or trading in a recognized United States or international exchange
or market, and (d) are approved by the Fund's investment adviser.
SPECIMEN PRICE MAKE-UP
Under the current distribution arrangements between the Fund and the
Distributor, Class A shares of the Fund are sold at a maximum sales charge of
4%, Class C* shares are sold with a 1% sales charge and Class B and Class Z
shares are sold at NAV. Using NAV at December 31, 1998, the maximum offering
price of the Fund's shares is as follows:
CLASS A
Net asset value and redemption price per Class A share ................ $7.17
Maximum sales charge (4.0% of offering price) ......................... .30
-----
Maximum offering price to public ...................................... $7.47
=====
CLASS B
Net asset value, offering price and redemption price to
public per Class B share* ............................................. $7.19
=====
CLASS C
Net asset value per Class C share* .................................... $7.19
Sales charge (1% of offering price) ................................... $ .07
-----
Offering price to public .............................................. $7.26
=====
CLASS Z
Net asset value, redemption price and offering price to
public per Class Z share .............................................. $7.19
=====
- ----------
* Class B and Class C shares are subject to a contingent deferred sales
charge on certain redemptions.
SELECTING A PURCHASE ALTERNATIVE
The following is provided to assist investors in determining which method
of purchase best suits their individual circumstances and is based on current
fees and expenses being charged to the Fund:
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<PAGE>
If you intend to hold your investment in the Fund for less than 4 years and
do not qualify for a reduced sales charge on Class A shares, since Class A
shares are subject to a maximum initial sales charge of 4% and Class B shares
are subject to a CDSC of 5% which declines to zero over a 6-year period, you
should consider purchasing Class C shares over either Class A or Class B shares.
If you intend to hold your investment for more than 4 years, but less than
5 years, and do not qualify for a reduced sales charge on Class A shares, the
sales charges and cumulative annual distribution-related fees would be
approximately the same for Class A, Class B and Class C shares. However, you
should consider purchasing Class B shares over Class A shares or Class C shares
because all of your money would be invested initially in the case of Class B
shares.
If you intend to hold your investment for longer than 5 years, you should
consider purchasing Class A shares over either Class B or Class C shares. This
is because the maximum sales charge plus the cumulative annual
distribution-related fee on Class A shares would be less than those of the Class
B and Class C shares.
If you qualify for a reduced sales charge on Class A shares, it may be more
advantageous for you to purchase Class A shares over either Class B or Class C
shares regardless of how long you intend to hold your investment. However,
unlike Class B shares, you would not have all of your money invested initially
because the sales charge on Class A shares is deducted at the time of purchase.
If you do not qualify for a reduced sales charge on Class A shares and you
purchase Class B or Class C shares, you would have to hold your investment for
more than 6 years in the case of Class B shares and for more than 5 years in the
case of Class C shares for the higher cumulative annual distribution-related fee
on those shares plus, in the case of Class C shares, the 1% initial sales charge
to exceed the initial sales charge plus cumulative annual distribution-related
fees on Class A shares. This does not take into account for the time value of
money, which further reduces the impact of the higher Class B or Class C
distribution-related fee on the investment, fluctuations in NAV, the effect of
the return on the investment over this period of time or redemptions when the
CDSC is applicable.
REDUCTION AND WAIVER OF INITIAL SALES CHARGE--CLASS A SHARES
BENEFIT PLANS. Class A shares may be purchased at NAV, without payment of
an initial sales charge, by pension, profit-sharing or other employee benefit
plans qualified under Section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code, deferred
compensation or annuity plans under Sections 401(a), 403(b)(7) and 457 of the
Internal Revenue Code, "rabbi" trusts and non-qualified deferred compensation
plans that are sponsored by any employer that has a tax-qualified plan with
Prudential (collectively, Benefit Plans), provided that the Benefit Plan has
existing assets of at least $1 million invested in shares of Prudential Mutual
Funds (excluding money market funds other than those acquired pursuant to the
exchange privilege) or 250 eligible employees or participants. In the case of
Benefit Plans whose accounts are held directly with the Transfer Agent or
Prudential Securities and for which the Transfer Agent or Prudential Securities
does individual account recordkeeping (Direct Account Benefit Plans) and Benefit
Plans sponsored by Prudential, Prudential Securities or its subsidiaries
(Prudential Securities or subsidiary Prototype Benefit Plans), Class A shares
may be purchased at NAV by participants who are repaying loans made from such
plans to the participant.
PRUDENTIAL RETIREMENT PROGRAMS. Class A shares may be purchased at NAV by
certain savings, retirement and deferred compensation plans, qualified or
non-qualified under the Internal Revenue Code, for which Prudential provides
administrative or recordkeeping services, provided that (1) the plan has at
least $1 million in existing assets or 250 eligible employees and (2) the Fund
is an available investment option. These plans include pension, profit-sharing,
stock-bonus or other employee benefit plans under Section 401 of the Internal
Revenue Code, deferred compensation and annuity plans under Sections 457 and
403(b)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code and plans that participate in a PruArray
Program (benefit plan recordkeeping service) (hereafter referred to as a
PruArray Plan). All Benefit Plans of a company (or affiliated companies under
common control) for which Prudential serves as plan administrator or
recordkeeper are aggregated in meeting the $1 million threshold, provided that
Prudential has been notified in advance of the entitlement to the waiver of the
sales charge based on the aggregate assets. The term "existing assets" includes
stock issued by a plan sponsor, shares of Prudential Mutual Funds and shares of
certain unaffiliated mutual funds that participate in a PruArray Plan
(Participating Funds). "Existing assets" also include monies invested in The
Guaranteed Investment Account (GIA), a group annuity insurance product issued by
Prudential, the Guaranteed Insulated Separate Account, a separate account
operated by Prudential, and units of The Stable Value Fund (SVF), an
unaffiliated bank collective fund. Class A shares may also be purchased at NAV
by plans that have monies invested in GIA and SVF, provided (1) the purchase is
made with the proceeds of a redemption from either GIA or SVF and (2) Class A
shares are an investment option of the plan.
PRUARRAY ASSOCIATION BENEFIT PLANS. Class A shares are also offered at NAV
to Benefit Plans or non-qualified plans sponsored by employers which are members
of a common trade, professional or membership association (Association) that
participate in a PruArray Plan provided that the Association enters into a
written agreement with Prudential. Such Benefit Plans or non-qualified plans may
purchase Class A shares at NAV without regard to the assets or number of
participants in the individual
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employer's qualified Plan(s) or non-qualified plans so long as the employers in
the Association (1) have retirement plan assets in the aggregate of at least $1
million or 250 participants in the aggregate and (2) maintain their accounts
with the Transfer Agent.
PRUARRAY SAVINGS PROGRAM. Class A shares are also offered at NAV to
employees of companies that enter into a written agreement with Prudential
Retirement Services to participate in the PruArray Savings Program. Under this
Program, a limited number of Prudential Mutual Funds are available for purchase
at NAV by Individual Retirement Accounts and Savings Accumulation Plans of the
company's employees. The Program is available only to (1) employees who open an
IRA or Savings Accumulation Plan account with the Transfer Agent and (2) spouses
of employees who open an IRA account with the Transfer Agent. The program is
offered to companies that have at least 250 eligible employees.
SPECIAL RULES APPLICABLE TO RETIREMENT PLANS. After a Benefit Plan or
PruArray Plan qualifies to purchase Class A shares at NAV, all subsequent
purchases will be made at NAV.
OTHER WAIVERS. In addition, Class A shares may be purchased at NAV, through
the Distributor or the Transfer Agent, by:
o officers of the Prudential Mutual Funds (including the Fund),
o employees of the Distributor, Prudential Securities, the Manager and
their subsidiaries and members of the families of such persons who
maintain an "employee related" account at Prudential Securities or the
Transfer Agent,
o employees of subadvisers of the Prudential Mutual Funds provided that
purchases at NAV are permitted by such person's employer,
o Prudential, employees and special agents of Prudential and its
subsidiaries and all persons who have retired directly from active
service with Prudential or one of its subsidiaries,
o registered representatives and employees of brokers who have entered
into a selected dealer agreement with the Distributor provided that
purchases at NAV are permitted by such person's employer,
o investors who have a business relationship with a financial adviser
who joined Prudential Securities from another investment firm,
provided that (1) the purchase is made within 180 days of the
commencement of the financial adviser's employment at Prudential
Securities, or within one year in the case of Benefit Plans, (2) the
purchase is made with proceeds of a redemption of shares of any
open-end non-money market fund sponsored by the financial adviser's
previous employer (other than a fund which imposes a distribution or
service fee of .25 of 1% or less) and (3) the financial adviser served
as the client's broker on the previous purchase,
o investors in Individual Retirement Accounts, provided the purchase is
made in a directed rollover to such Individual Retirement Account or
with the proceeds of a tax-free rollover of assets from a Benefit Plan
for which Prudential provides administrative or recordkeeping services
and further provided that such purchase is made within 60 days of
receipt of the Benefit Plan distribution,
o orders placed by broker-dealers, investment advisers or financial
planners who have entered into an agreement with the Distributor who
place trades for their own accounts or the accounts of their clients
and who charge a management, consulting or other fee for their
services (for example, mutual fund "wrap" or asset allocation
programs), and
o orders placed by clients of broker-dealers, investment advisers or
financial planners who place trades for customer accounts if the
accounts are linked to the master account of such broker-dealer,
investment adviser or financial planner and the broker-dealer,
investment adviser or financial planner charges its clients a separate
fee for its services (for example, mutual fund "supermarket
programs").
For an investor to obtain any reduction or waiver of the initial sales
charges at the time of the sale, either the Transfer Agent must be notified
directly by the investor, or the Distributor must be notified by the broker
facilitating the transaction that the sale qualifies for the reduced or waived
sales charge. The reduction or waiver will be granted subject to confirmation of
your entitlement. No initial sales charge is imposed upon Class A shares
acquired upon the reinvestment of dividends and distributions.
COMBINED PURCHASE AND CUMULATIVE PURCHASE PRIVILEGE. If an investor or
eligible group of related investors purchases Class A shares of the Fund
concurrently with Class A shares of other Prudential Mutual Funds, the purchases
may be combined to take advantage of the reduced sales charge applicable to
larger purchases. See "How to Buy, Sell and Exchange Shares of the Fund--How to
Buy Shares--Reducing or Waiving Class A's Initial Sales Charge" in the
Prospectus.
An eligible group of related Fund investors includes any combination of the
following:
o an individual,
o the individual's spouse, their children and their parents,
o the individual's and spouse's Individual Retirement Account (IRA),
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o any company controlled by the individual (a person, entity or group
that holds 25% or more of the outstanding voting securities of a
company will be deemed to control the company, and a partnership will
be deemed to be controlled by each of its general partners),
o a trust created by the individual, the beneficiaries of which are the
individual, his or her spouse, parents or children,
o a Uniform Gifts to Minors Act/Uniform Transfers to Minors Act account
created by the individual or the individual's spouse, and
o one or more employee benefit plans of a company controlled by an
individual.
In addition, an eligible group of related Fund investors may include an
employer (or group of related employers) and one or more qualified retirement
plans of such employer or employers (an employer controlling, controlled by or
under common control with another employer is deemed related to that employer).
The Transfer Agent, the Distributor or your broker must be notified at the
time of purchase that the investor is entitled to a reduced sales charge. The
reduced sales charge will be granted subject to confirmation of the investor's
holdings. The Combined Purchase and Cumulative Purchase Privilege do not apply
to individual participants in any retirement or group plans.
RIGHTS OF ACCUMULATION. Reduced sales charges are also available through
Rights of Accumulation, under which an investor or an eligible group of related
investors, as described above under "Combined Purchase and Cumulative Purchase
Privilege," may aggregate the value of their existing holdings of shares of the
Fund and shares of other Prudential Mutual Funds (excluding money market funds
other than those acquired pursuant to the exchange privilege) to determine the
reduced sales charge. However, the value of shares held directly with the
Transfer Agent and through your broker will not be aggregated to determine the
reduced sales charge. The value of existing holdings for purposes of determining
the reduced sales charge is calculated using the maximum offering price (NAV
plus maximum sales charge) as of the previous business day. The Distributor or
the Transfer Agent must be notified at the time of purchase that the investor is
entitled to a reduced sales charge. The reduced sales charges will be granted
subject to confirmation of the investor's holdings. Rights of accumulation are
not available to individual participants in any retirement or group plans.
LETTERS OF INTENT. Reduced sales charges also are available to investors
(or an eligible group of related investors), including retirement and group
plans, who enter into a written Letter of Intent providing for the purchase,
within a thirteen-month period, of shares of the Fund and shares of other
Prudential Mutual Funds (Investment Letter of Intent). Retirement and group
plans may also qualify to purchase Class A shares at NAV by entering into a
Letter of Intent whereby they agree to enroll, within a thirteen-month period, a
specified number of eligible employees or participants (Participant Letter of
Intent).
For purposes of the Investment Letter of Intent, all shares of the Fund and
shares of other Prudential Mutual Funds (excluding money market funds other than
those acquired pursuant to the exchange privilege) which were previously
purchased and are still owned are also included in determining the applicable
reduction. However, the value of shares held directly with the Transfer Agent,
Prudential or its affiliates and through your broker will not be aggregated to
determine the reduced sales charge.
A Letter of Intent permits a purchaser, in the case of an Investment Letter
of Intent, to establish a total investment goal to be achieved by any number of
investments over a thirteen-month period and, in the case of a Participant
Letter of Intent, to establish a minimum eligible employee or participant
enrollment goal over a thirteen-month period. Each investment made during the
period, in the case of an Investment Letter of Intent, will receive the reduced
sales charge applicable to the amount represented by the goal, as if it were a
single investment. In the case of a Participant Letter of Intent, each
investment made during the period will be made at net asset value. Escrowed
Class A shares totaling 5% of the dollar amount of the Letter of Intent will be
held by the Transfer Agent in the name of the purchaser, except in the case of
retirement and group plans where the employer or plan sponsor will be
responsible for paying any applicable sales charge. The effective date of an
Investment Letter of Intent (except in the case of retirement and group plans)
may be back-dated up to 90 days, in order that any investments made during this
90-day period, valued at the purchaser's cost, can be applied to the fulfillment
of the Letter of Intent goal.
The Investment Letter of Intent does not obligate the investor to purchase,
nor the Fund to sell, the indicated amount. Similarly, the Participant Letter of
Intent does not obligate the retirement or group plan to enroll the indicated
number of eligible employees or participants. In the event the Letter of Intent
goal is not achieved within the thirteen-month period, the purchaser (or the
employer or plan sponsor in the case of any retirement or group plan) is
required to pay the difference between the sales charge otherwise applicable to
the purchases made during this period and sales charge actually paid. Such
payment may be made directly to the Distributor or, if not paid, the Distributor
will liquidate sufficient escrowed shares to obtain such difference. If the goal
is exceeded in an amount which qualifies for a lower sales charge, a price
adjustment is made by refunding to the purchaser the amount of excess sales
charge, if any, paid during the thirteen-month period. Investors electing to
purchase Class A shares of the Fund pursuant to a Letter of Intent should
carefully read such Letter of Intent.
The Distributor must be notified at the time of purchase that the investor
is entitled to a reduced sales charge. The reduced sales charge will, in the
case of an Investment Letter of Intent, be granted subject to confirmation of
the investor's holdings or in
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<PAGE>
the case of a Participant Letter of Intent, subject to confirmation of the
number of eligible employees or participants in the retirement or group plan.
Letters of Intent are not available to individual participants in any retirement
or group plans.
CLASS B SHARES
The offering price of Class B shares for investors choosing one of the
deferred sales charge alternatives is the NAV next determined following receipt
of an order in proper form by the Transfer Agent, a broker or the Distributor.
Although there is no sales charge imposed at the time of purchase, redemptions
of Class B shares may be subject to a CDSC. See "Sale of Shares--Contingent
Deferred Sales Charge" below.
The Distributor will pay, from its own resources, sales commissions of up
to 4% of the purchase price of Class B shares to brokers, financial advisers and
other persons who sell Class B shares at the time of sale. This facilitates the
ability of the Fund to sell the Class B shares without an initial sales charge
being deducted at the time of purchase. The Distributor anticipates that it will
recoup its advancement of sales commissions from the combination of the CDSC and
the distribution fee.
CLASS C SHARES
The offering price of Class C shares is the next determined NAV plus a 1%
sales charge. In connection with the sale of Class C shares, the Distributor
will pay, from its own resources, brokers, financial advisers and other persons
which distribute Class C shares a sales commission of up to 2% of the purchase
price at the time of the sale.
WAIVER OF INITIAL SALES CHARGE--CLASS C SHARES
BENEFIT PLANS. Class C shares may be purchased at NAV, without payment of
an initial sales charge, by Benefit Plans (as defined above). In the case of
Benefit Plans whose accounts are held directly with the Transfer Agent or
Prudential Securities and for which the Transfer Agent or Prudential Securities
does individual account recordkeeping (Direct Account Benefit Plans) and Benefit
Plans sponsored by Prudential, Prudential Securities or its subsidiaries
(Prudential Securities or Subsidiary Prototype Benefit Plans). Class C shares
may be purchased at NAV by participants who are repaying the loans made from
such plans to the participant.
PRUDENTIAL RETIREMENT PLANS. The initial sales charge will be waived with
respect to purchases of Class C shares by qualified and non-qualified retirement
and deferred compensation plans participating in a PruArray Plan and other plans
for which Prudential provides administrative or recordkeeping services.
INVESTMENT OF REDEMPTION PROCEEDS FROM OTHER INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
Investors may purchase Class C shares at NAV, without the initial sales charge,
with the proceeds from the redemption of shares of any unaffiliated registered
investment company which were not held through an account with any Prudential
affiliate. Such purchases must be made within 60 days of the redemption.
Investors eligible for this waiver include: (1) investors purchasing shares
through an account at Prudential Securities; (2) investors purchasing shares
through an ADVANTAGE Account or an Investor Account with Prusec; and (3)
investors purchasing shares through other brokers. This waiver is not available
to investors, who purchase shares directly from the Transfer Agent. You must
notify the Transfer Agent directly or through your broker if you are entitled to
this waiver and provide the Transfer Agent with such supporting documents as it
may deem appropriate.
CLASS Z SHARES
Class Z shares of the Fund currently are available for purchase by the
following categories of investors:
o pension, profit-sharing or other employee benefit plans qualified
under Section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code, deferred compensation
and annuity plans under Sections 403(b)(7) and 457 of the Internal
Revenue Code and non-qualified plans for which the Fund is an
available option (collectively, Benefit Plans), provided such Benefit
Plans (in combination with other plans sponsored by the same employer
or group of related employers) have at least $50 million in defined
contribution assets,
o participants in any fee-based program or trust program sponsored by
any affiliate of the Distributor which includes mutual funds as
investment options and for which the Fund is an available option,
o participants in any fee-based program or trust program sponsored by an
affiliate of the Distributor which includes mutual funds as investment
options and for which the Fund is an available investment option,
o certain participants in the MEDLEY Program (group variable annuity
contracts) sponsored by Prudential for whom Class Z shares of the
Prudential Mutual Funds are an available option,
o Benefit Plans for which an affiliate of the Distributor provides
administrative or recordkeeping services and as of September 20, 1996
(1) were Class Z shareholders of the Prudential Mutual Funds or (2)
executed a letter of intent to purchase Class Z shares of the
Prudential Mutual Funds,
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<PAGE>
o Benefit Plans for which Prudential Retirement Services serves as
recordkeeper and as of September 20, 1996, (a) were Class Z
shareholders of the Prudential Mutual Funds or (b) executed a letter
of intent to purchase Class Z shares of the Prudential Mutual Funds,
o current and former Directors/Trustees of the Prudential Mutual Funds
(including the Fund),
o employees of Prudential and/or Prudential Securities who participate
in a Prudential-sponsored employee savings plan, and
o Prudential with an investment of $10 million or more.
After a Benefit Plan qualifies to purchase Class Z shares, all subsequent
purchases will be for Class Z shares.
In connection with the sale of Class Z shares, the Manager, the Distributor
or one of their affiliates may pay brokers, financial advisers and other persons
which distribute shares a finder's fee from its own resources, based on a
percentage of the net asset value of shares sold by such persons.
Class Z shares of the Fund may also be purchased by certain savings,
retirement and deferred compensation plans, qualified or non-qualified under the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Internal Revenue Code), provided
that (1) the plan purchases shares of the Fund pursuant to an investment
management agreement with The Prudential Insurance Company of America or its
affiliates, (2) the Fund is an available investment option under the agreement
and (3) the plan will participate in the PruArray Plan (benefit plan
recordkeeping services) sponsored by Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC. These
plans include pension, profit-sharing, stock-bonus or other employee benefit
plans under Section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code and deferred compensation
and annuity plans under Sections 457 or 403(b)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code.
SALE OF SHARES
An investor can redeem shares at any time for cash at the NAV next
determined after the redemption request is received in proper form (in
accordance with procedures established by the Transfer Agent in connection with
investors' accounts) by the Transfer Agent, the Distributor or investor's
broker. In certain cases, however, redemption proceeds will be reduced by the
amount of any applicable CDSC, as described below. See "Contingent Deferred
Sales Charge" below. If an investor is redeeming shares through a broker, the
broker must receive the sell order before the Fund computes its NAV for that day
(that is 4:15 P.M., New York time) in order to receive that day's NAV. The
investor's broker will be responsible for furnishing all necessary documentation
to the Distributor and may charge the investor for its services in connection
with redeeming shares of the Fund.
If an investor holds shares of the Fund through Prudential Securities, he
or she must redeem the shares through Prudential Securities. Please contact our
Prudential Securities financial adviser.
If an investor holds shares in non-certificate form, a written request for
redemption signed by the investor exactly as the account is registered is
required. If an investor holds certificates, the certificates, signed in the
name(s) shown on the face of the certificates, must be received by the Transfer
Agent, the Distributor or the investor's broker in order for the redemption
request to be processed. If redemption is requested by a corporation,
partnership, trust or fiduciary, written evidence of authority acceptable to the
Transfer Agent must be submitted before such request will be accepted. All
correspondence and documents concerning redemptions should be sent to the Fund
in care of its Transfer Agent, Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC, Attention:
Redemption Services, P.O. Box 15010, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08906-5010, the
Distributor or to the investor's broker.
SIGNATURE GUARANTEE. If the proceeds of the redemption (1) exceed $50,000,
(2) are to be paid to a person other than the record owner, (3) are to be sent
to an address other than the address on the Transfer Agent's records, or (4) are
to be paid to a corporation, partnership, trust or fiduciary, and your shares
are held directly with the Transfer Agent, the signature(s) on the redemption
request and on the certificates, if any, or stock power must be guaranteed by an
"eligible guarantor institution." An "eligible guarantor institution" includes
any bank, broker, dealer or credit union. The Transfer Agent reserves the right
to request additional information from, and make reasonable inquiries of, any
eligible guarantor institution. For clients of Prusec, a signature guarantee may
be obtained from the agency or office manager of most Prudential Insurance and
Financial Services or Preferred Services offices. In the case of redemptions
from a PruArray Plan, if the proceeds of the redemption are invested in another
investment option of the plan in the name of the record holder and at the same
address as reflected in the Transfer Agent's records, a signature guarantee is
not required.
Payment for shares presented for redemption will be made by check within
seven days after receipt by the Transfer Agent, the Distributor or the broker of
the certificate and/or written request, except as indicated below. If an
investor holds shares through Prudential Securities, payment for shares
presented for redemption will be credited to the investor's account at his or
her broker, unless the investor indicates otherwise. Such payment may be
postponed or the right of redemption suspended at times (1) when the New York
Stock Exchange is closed for other than customary weekends and holidays, (2)
when trading on such
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Exchange is restricted, (3) when an emergency exists as a result of which
disposal by the Fund of securities owned by it is not reasonably practicable or
it is not reasonably practicable for the Fund fairly to determine the value of
its net assets, or (4) during any other period when the Commission, by order, so
permits; provided that applicable rules and regulations of the Commission shall
govern as to whether the conditions prescribed in (2), (3) or (4) exist.
REDEMPTION IN KIND. If the Directors determine that it would be detrimental
to the best interests of the remaining shareholders of the Fund to make payment
wholly or partly in cash, the Fund may pay the redemption price in whole or in
part by a distribution in kind of securities from the investment portfolio of
the Fund, in lieu of cash, in conformity with applicable rules of the
Commission. Securities will be readily marketable and will be valued in the same
manner as in a regular redemption. If your shares are redeemed in kind, you
would incur transaction costs in converting the assets into cash. The Fund,
however, has elected to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the Investment Company
Act, under which the Fund is obligated to redeem shares solely in cash up to the
lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the NAV of the Fund during any 90-day period for any
one shareholder.
INVOLUNTARY REDEMPTION. In order to reduce expenses of the Fund, the
Directors may redeem all of the shares of any shareholder, other than a
shareholder which is an IRA or other tax-deferred retirement plan, whose account
has a net asset value of less than $500 due to a redemption. The Fund will give
such shareholders 60 days' prior written notice in which to purchase sufficient
additional shares to avoid such redemption. No CDSC will be imposed on any such
involuntary redemption.
90-DAY REPURCHASE PRIVILEGE. If a shareholder redeems his or her shares and
has not previously exercised the repurchase privilege, the shareholder may
reinvest any portion or all of the proceeds of such redemption in shares of the
Fund at the NAV next determined after the order is received, which must be
within 90 days after the date of the redemption. Any CDSC paid in connection
with such redemption will be credited (in shares) to the shareholder's account.
(If less than a full repurchase is made, the credit will be on a pro rata
basis.) The shareholder must notify the Transfer Agent, either directly or
through the Distributor or the shareholder's broker, at the time the repurchase
privilege is exercised to adjust your account for the CDSC you previously paid.
Thereafter, any redemptions will be subject to the CDSC applicable at the time
of the redemption. See "Contingent Deferred Sales Charge" below. Exercise of the
repurchase privilege will generally not affect federal tax treatment of any gain
realized upon redemption. However, if the redemption was made within a 30 day
period of the repurchase and if the redemption resulted in a loss, some or all
of the loss, depending on the amount reinvested, may not be allowed for federal
income tax purposes.
CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE
Redemptions of Class B shares will be subject to a contingent deferred
sales charge or CDSC declining from 4% to zero over a seven year period. Class C
shares redeemed within 18 months of purchase (one year for Class C shares
purchased before November 2, 1998) will be subject to a 1% CDSC. The CDSC will
be deducted from the redemption proceeds and reduce the amount paid to the
shareholder. The CDSC will be imposed on any redemption by a shareholder which
reduces the current value of your Class B or Class C shares to an amount which
is lower than the amount of all payments by the shareholder for shares during
the preceding six years, in the case of Class B shares, and 18 months, in the
case of Class C shares (one year for Class C shares purchased before November 2,
1998). A CDSC will be applied on the lesser of the original purchase price or
the current value of the shares being redeemed. Increases in the value of shares
or shares acquired through reinvestment of dividends or distributions are not
subject to a CDSC. The amount of any CDSC will be paid to and retained by the
Distributor.
The amount of the CDSC, if any, will vary depending on the number of years
from the time of payment for the purchase of shares until the time of redemption
of such shares. Solely for purposes of determining the number of years from the
time of any payment for the purchase of shares, all payments during a month will
be aggregated and deemed to have been made on the last day of the month. The
CDSC will be calculated from the first day of the month after the initial
purchase, excluding the time shares were held in a money market fund.
The following tables sets forth the rates of the CDSC applicable to
redemptions of Class B shares:
CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES
CHARGE AS A PERCENTAGE
YEARS' SINCE PURCHASE OF DOLLARS INVESTED OR
PAYMENTS MADE REDEMPTION PROCEEDS
---------------- -------------------
First ........................... 5.0%
Second .......................... 4.0%
Third ........................... 3.0%
Fourth .......................... 2.0%
Fifth ........................... 1.0%
Sixth ........................... 1.0%
Seventh and thereafter .......... None
In determining whether a CDSC is applicable to a redemption, the
calculation will be made in a manner that results in the lowest possible rate.
It will be assumed that the redemption is made first of amounts representing
shares acquired pursuant to the
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reinvestment of dividends and distributions; then of amounts representing the
increase in NAV above the total amount of payment for the purchase of Fund
shares made during the preceding six years for Class B shares and 18 months for
Class C shares (one year for Class C shares bought before November 2, 1998);
then of amounts representing the cost of shares held beyond the applicable CDSC
period; and finally, of amounts representing the cost of shares held for the
longest period of time within the applicable CDSC period.
For example, assume you purchased 100 Class B shares at $10 per share for a
cost of $1,000. Subsequently, you acquired 5 additional Class B shares through
dividend reinvestment. During the second year after the purchase you decided to
redeem $500 of your investment. Assuming at the time of the redemption the NAV
had appreciated to $12 per share, the value of your Class B shares would be
$1,260 (105 shares at $12 per share). The CDSC would not be applied to the value
of the reinvested dividend shares and the amount which represents appreciation
($260). Therefore, $240 of the $500 redemption proceeds ($500 minus $260) would
be charged at a rate of 4% (the applicable rate in the second year after
purchase) for a total CDSC of $9.60.
For federal income tax purposes, the amount of the CDSC will reduce the
gain or increase the loss, as the case may be, on the amount recognized on the
redemption of shares.
WAIVER OF CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE--CLASS B SHARES. The CDSC will
be waived in the case of a redemption following the death or disability of a
shareholder or, in the case of a trust account, following the death or
disability of the grantor. The waiver is available for total or partial
redemptions of shares owned by a person, either individually or in joint tenancy
(with rights of survivorship), at the time of death or initial determination of
disability, provided that the shares were purchased prior to death or
disability.
The CDSC will also be waived in the case of a total or partial redemption
in connection with certain distributions made without penalty under the Internal
Revenue Code from a tax-deferred retirement plan, an IRA or Section 403(b)
custodial account. These distributions are:
(1) in the case of a tax-deferred retirement plan, a lump-sum or other
distribution after retirement;
(2) in the case of an IRA (including a Roth IRA), a lump-sum or other
distribution after attaining age 591/2 or a periodic distribution based on life
expectancy;
(3) in the case of a Section 403(b) custodial account, a lump sum or other
distribution after attaining age 591/2; and
(4) a tax-free return of an excess contribution or plan distributions
following the death or disability of the shareholder, provided that the shares
were purchased prior to death or disability.
The waiver does not apply in the case of a tax-free rollover or transfer of
assets, other than one following a separation from service (that is, following
voluntary or involuntary termination of employment or following retirement).
Under no circumstances will the CDSC be waived on redemptions resulting from the
termination of a tax-deferred retirement plan, unless such redemptions otherwise
qualify for a waiver as described above. In the case of Direct Account and
Prudential Securities or Subsidiary Prototype Benefit Plans, the CDSC will be
waived on redemptions which represent borrowings from such plans. Shares
purchased with amounts used to repay a loan from such plans on which a CDSC was
not previously deducted will thereafter be subject to a CDSC without regard to
the time such amounts were previously invested. In the case of a 401(k) plan,
the CDSC will also be waived upon the redemption of shares purchased with
amounts used to repay loans made from the account to the participant and from
which a CDSC was previously deducted.
Finally, the CDSC will be waived to the extent that the proceeds from
shares redeemed are invested in Prudential Mutual Funds, The Guaranteed
Investment Account, the Guaranteed Insulated Separate Account or units of The
Stable Value Fund.
SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN. The CDSC will be waived (or reduced) in certain
redemptions from a Systematic Withdrawal Plan. On an annual basis, up to 12% of
the total dollar amount subject to the CDSC may be redeemed without charge. The
Transfer Agent will calculate the total amount available for this waiver
annually on the anniversary date of your purchase or, for shares purchased prior
to March 1, 1997, on March 1 of the current year. The CDSC will be waived (or
reduced) on redemptions until this threshold 12% is reached.
In addition, the CDSC will be waived on redemptions of shares held by
Directors of the Fund.
Shareholders must notify the Fund's Transfer Agent either directly or
through the brokers, at the time of redemption, that they are entitled to waiver
of the CDSC and provide the Transfer Agent with such supporting documentation as
it may deem appropriate. The waiver will be granted subject to confirmation of
your entitlement.
In connection with these waivers, the Transfer Agent will require you to
submit the supporting documentation set forth below.
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CATEGORY OF WAIVER
Death
Disability--An individual will be considered disabled if he or she is unable to
engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically
determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in
death or to be of long-continued and indefinite duration.
Distribution from an IRA or 403(b) Custodial Account
Distribution from Retirement Plan
Excess Contributions
REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION
A copy of the shareholder's death certificate or, in the case of a trust, a copy
of the grantor's death certificate, plus a copy of the trust agreement
identifying the grantor.
A copy of the Social Security Administration award letter or a letter from a
physician on the physician's letterhead stating that the shareholder (or, in the
case of a trust, the grantor) is permanently disabled. The letter must also
indicate the date of disability.
A copy of the distribution form from the custodial firm indicating (i) the date
of birth of the shareholder and (ii) that the shareholder is over age 59-1/2 and
is taking a normal distribution--signed by the shareholder.
A letter signed by the plan administrator/trustee indicating the reason for the
distribution.
A letter from the shareholder (for an IRA) or the plan administrator/trustee on
company letterhead indicating the amount of the excess and whether or not taxes
have been paid.
The Transfer Agent reserves the right to request such additional documents
as it may deem appropriate.
WAIVER OF CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE--CLASS C SHARES
PRUDENTIAL RETIREMENT PLANS. The CDSC will be waived on redemptions from
qualified and non-qualified retirement and deferred compensation plans that
participate in a PruArray Plan and other plans for which Prudential provides
administrative or recordkeeping services. The CDSC will also be waived on
redemptions from Benefit Plans sponsored by Prudential and its affiliates to the
extent that the redemption proceeds are invested in The Guaranteed Investment
Account, the Guaranteed Insulated Separate Account and units of The Stable Value
Fund.
OTHER BENEFITS PLANS. The CDSC will be waived on redemptions from Benefit
Plans holding shares through a broker not affiliated with Prudential and for
which the broker provides administrative or recordkeeping services.
CONVERSION FEATURE--CLASS B SHARES
Class B shares will automatically convert to Class A shares on a quarterly
basis approximately seven years after purchase. Conversions will be effected at
relative net asset value without the imposition of any additional sales charge.
Since the Fund tracks amounts paid rather than the number of shares bought
on each purchase of Class B shares, the number of Class B shares eligible to
convert to Class A shares (excluding shares acquired through the automatic
reinvestment of dividends and other distributions) (the Eligible Shares) will be
determined on each conversion date in accordance with the following formula: (1)
the ratio of (a) the amounts paid for Class B shares purchased at least seven
years prior to the conversion date to (b) the total amount paid for all Class B
shares purchased and then held in your account (2) multiplied by the total
number of Class B shares purchased and then held in your account. Each time any
Eligible Shares in your account convert to Class A shares, all shares or amounts
representing Class B shares then in your account that were acquired through the
automatic reinvestment of dividends and other distributions will convert to
Class A shares.
For purposes of determining the number of Eligible Shares, if the Class B
shares in your account on any conversion date are the result of multiple
purchases at different net asset values per share, the number of Eligible Shares
calculated as described above will generally be either more or less than the
number of shares actually purchased approximately seven years before such
conversion date. For example, if 100 shares were initially purchased at $10 per
share (for a total of $1,000) and a second purchase of 100 shares was
subsequently made at $11 per share (for a total of $1,100), 95.24 shares would
convert approximately seven years from the initial purchase (I.E., $1,000
divided by $2,100 (47.60%), multiplied by 200 shares equals 95.24 shares). The
Manager reserves the right to modify the formula for determining the number of
Eligible Shares in the future as it deems appropriate on notice to shareholders.
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Since annual distribution-related fees are lower for Class A shares than
Class B shares, the per share NAV of the Class A shares may be higher than that
of the Class B shares at the time of conversion. Thus, although the aggregate
dollar value will be the same, you may receive fewer Class A shares than Class B
shares converted.
For purposes of calculating the applicable holding period for conversions,
all payments for Class B shares during a month will be deemed to have been made
on the last day of the month, or for Class B shares acquired through exchange,
or a series of exchanges, on the last day of the month in which the original
payment for purchases of such Class B shares was made. For Class B shares
previously exchanged for shares of a money market fund, the time period during
which such shares were held in the money market fund will be excluded. For
example, Class B shares held in a money market fund for one year would not
convert to Class A shares until approximately eight years from purchase. For
purposes of measuring the time period during which shares are held in a money
market fund, exchanges will be deemed to have been made on the last day of the
month. Class B shares acquired through exchange will convert to Class A shares
after expiration of the conversion period applicable to the original purchase of
such shares.
The conversion feature may be subject to the continuing availability of
opinions of counsel or rulings of the Internal Revenue Service (1) that the
dividends and other distributions paid on Class A, Class B, Class C and Class Z
shares will not constitute "preferential dividends" under the Internal Revenue
Code and (2) that the conversion of shares does not constitute a taxable event.
The conversion of Class B shares into Class A shares may be suspended if such
opinions or rulings are no longer available. If conversions are suspended, Class
B shares of the Fund will continue to be subject, possibly indefinitely, to
their higher annual distribution and service fee.
SHAREHOLDER INVESTMENT ACCOUNT
Upon the initial purchase of Fund shares, a Shareholder Investment Account
is established for each investor under which the shares are held for the
investor by the Transfer Agent. If a stock certificate is desired, it must be
requested in writing for each transaction. Certificates are issued only for full
shares and may be redeposited into the Account at any time. There is no charge
to the investor for issuance of a certificate. The Fund makes available to its
shareholders the following privileges and plans.
AUTOMATIC REINVESTMENT OF DIVIDENDS AND/OR DISTRIBUTIONS
For the convenience of investors, all dividends and distributions are
automatically reinvested in full and fractional shares of the Fund at NAV on the
record date. An investor may direct the Transfer Agent in writing not less than
five (5) full business days prior to the record date to have subsequent
dividends and/or distributions sent in cash rather than reinvested. In the case
of recently purchased shares for which registration instructions have not been
received on the record date, cash payment will be made directly to the broker.
Any shareholder who receives a cash payment representing a dividend or
distribution may reinvest such distribution at NAV by returning the check or the
proceeds to the Transfer Agent within 30 days after the payment date. Such
investment will be made at the NAV per share next determined after receipt of
the check or proceeds by the Transfer Agent. Such shareholder will receive
credit for any CDSC paid in connection with the amount of proceeds being
reinvested.
EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE
The Fund makes available to its shareholders the privilege of exchanging
their shares of the Fund for shares of certain other Prudential Mutual Funds,
including one or more specified money market funds, subject in each case to the
minimum investment requirements of such funds. Shares of such other Prudential
Mutual Funds may also be exchanged for shares of the Fund. All exchanges are
made on the basis of the relative NAV next determined after receipt of an order
in proper form. An exchange will be treated as a redemption and purchase for tax
purposes. For retirement and group plans having a limited menu of Prudential
Mutual Funds, the exchange privilege is available for those funds eligible for
investment in the particular program.
It is contemplated that the exchange privilege may be applicable to new
mutual funds whose shares may be distributed by the Distributor.
In order to exchange shares by telephone, an investor must authorize
telephone exchanges on his or her initial application form or by written notice
to the Transfer Agent and hold shares in non-certificate form. Thereafter, the
investor may call the Fund at (800) 225-1852 to execute a telephone exchange of
shares, on weekdays, except holidays, between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 6:00
P.M., New York time. For the investor's protection and to prevent fraudulent
exchanges, telephone calls will be recorded and the investor will be asked to
provide his or her personal identification number. A written confirmation of the
exchange transaction will be sent to the investor. Neither the Fund nor its
agents will be liable for any loss, liability or cost which results from acting
upon instructions reasonably believed to be genuine under the foregoing
procedures. All exchanges will be made on the basis of the relative NAV of the
two funds next determined after the request is received in good order.
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<PAGE>
If an investor holds shares through Prudential Securities, the shares must
be exchanged by contacting the investor's Prudential Securities financial
adviser.
If an investor holds certificates, the certificates, signed in the name(s)
shown on the face of the certificates, must be returned in order for the shares
to be exchanged.
An investor may also exchange shares by mail by writing to the Fund's
Transfer Agent, Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC, Attention: Exchange
Processing, P.O. Box 15010, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08906-5010.
In periods of severe market or economic conditions the telephone exchange
of shares may be difficult to implement and investors should make exchanges by
mail by writing to the Transfer Agent, at the address noted above.
CLASS A. Shareholders of the Fund will be able to exchange their Class A
shares for Class A shares of certain other Prudential Mutual Funds, shares of
Prudential Government Securities Trust (Short-Intermediate Term Series) and
shares of the money market funds specified below. No fee or sales load will be
imposed upon the exchange. Shareholders of money market funds who acquired such
shares upon exchange of Class A shares may use the exchange privilege only to
acquire Class A shares, of the Prudential Mutual Funds participating in the
Class A exchange privilege.
The following money market funds participate in the Class A exchange
privilege:
Prudential California Municipal Fund
(California Money Market Series)
Prudential Government Securities Trust
(Money Market Series)
(U.S. Treasury Money Market Series)
Prudential Municipal Series Fund
(Connecticut Money Market Series)
(Massachusetts Money Market Series)
(New Jersey Money Market Series)
(New York Money Market Series)
Prudential MoneyMart Assets, Inc. (Class A shares)
Prudential Tax-Free Money Fund, Inc.
CLASS B AND CLASS C. Shareholders of the Fund may exchange their Class B
and Class C shares of the Fund for Class B and Class C shares, respectively, of
certain other Prudential Mutual Funds and shares of Prudential Special Money
Market Fund, Inc. No CDSC may be payable upon such exchange, but a CDSC may be
payable upon the redemption of Class B and Class C shares acquired as a result
of the exchange. The applicable sales charge will be that imposed by the Fund in
which shares were initially purchased and the purchase date will be deemed to be
the first day of the month after the initial purchase, rather than the date of
the exchange.
Class B and Class C shares of the Fund may also be exchanged for Class B
and Class C shares, respectively, of Prudential Special Money Market Fund, Inc.
without imposition of any CDSC at the time of exchange. Upon subsequent
redemption from such money market fund or after re-exchange into the Fund, such
shares will be subject to the CDSC calculated by excluding the time such shares
were held in the money market fund. In order to minimize the period of time in
which shares are subject to a CDSC, shares exchanged out of the money market
fund will be exchanged on the basis of their remaining holding periods, with the
longest remaining holding periods being transferred first. In measuring the time
period shares are held in a money market fund and "tolled" for purposes of
calculating the CDSC holding period, exchanges are deemed to have been made on
the last day of the month. Thus, if shares are exchanged into the Fund from a
money market fund during the month (and are held in the Fund at the end of the
month), the entire month will be included in the CDSC holding period.
Conversely, if shares are exchanged into a money market fund prior to the last
day of the month (and are held in the money market fund on the last day of the
month), the entire month will be excluded from the CDSC holding period. For
purposes of calculating the seven year holding period applicable to the Class B
conversion feature, the time period during which Class B shares were held in a
money market fund will be excluded.
At any time after acquiring shares of other funds participating in the
Class B or Class C exchange privilege, a shareholder may again exchange those
shares (and any reinvested dividends and distributions) for Class B or Class C
shares of the Fund, respectively without subjecting such shares to any CDSC.
Shares of any fund participating in the Class B or Class C exchange privilege
that were acquired through reinvestment of dividends or distributions may be
exchanged for Class B or Class C shares, respectively of other funds without
being subject to any CDSC.
CLASS Z. Class Z shares may be exchanged for Class Z shares of other
Prudential Mutual Funds.
SPECIAL EXCHANGE PRIVILEGES. A special exchange privilege is available for
shareholders who qualify to purchase Class A shares at NAV and for shareholders
who qualify to purchase Class Z shares. Under this exchange privilege, amounts
representing
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<PAGE>
any Class B and Class C shares which are not subject to a CDSC held in such a
shareholder's account will be automatically exchanged for Class A shares for
shareholders who qualify to purchase Class A shares at NAV on a quarterly basis,
unless the shareholder elects otherwise.
Shareholders who qualify to purchase Class Z shares will have their Class B
and Class C shares which are not subject to a CDSC and their Class A shares
exchanged for Class Z shares on a quarterly basis. Eligibility for this exchange
privilege will be calculated on the business day prior to the date of the
exchange. Amounts representing Class B or Class C shares which are not subject
to a CDSC include the following: (1) amounts representing Class B or Class C
shares acquired pursuant to the automatic reinvestment of dividends and
distributions, (2) amounts representing the increase in the NAV above the total
amount of payments for the purchase of Class B or Class C shares and (3) amounts
representing Class B or Class C shares held beyond the applicable CDSC period.
Class B and Class C shareholders must notify the Transfer Agent either directly
or through Prudential Securities, Prusec or another broker that they are
eligible for this special exchange privilege.
Participants in any fee-based program for which the Fund is an available
option will have their Class A shares, if any, exchanged for Class Z shares when
they elect to have those assets become a part of the fee-based program. Upon
leaving the program (whether voluntarily or not), such Class Z shares (and, to
the extent provided for in the program, Class Z shares acquired through
participation in the program) will be exchanged for Class A shares at net asset
value.
Additional details about the exchange privilege and prospectuses for each
of the Prudential Mutual Funds are available from the Transfer Agent, the
Distributor or the investor's broker. The exchange privilege may be modified,
terminated or suspended on sixty days' notice, and any fund, including the Fund,
or the Distributor, has the right to reject any exchange application relating to
such fund's shares.
DOLLAR COST AVERAGING
Dollar cost averaging is a method of accumulating shares by investing a
fixed amount of dollars in shares at set intervals. An investor buys more shares
when the price is low and fewer shares when the price is high. The average cost
per share is lower than it would be if a constant number of shares were bought
at set intervals.
Dollar cost averaging may be used, for example, to plan for retirement, to
save for a major expenditure, such as the purchase of a home, or to finance a
college education. The cost of a year's education at a four-year college today
averages around $14,000 at a private college and around $6,000 at a public
university. Assuming these costs increase at a rate of 7% a year, as has been
projected, for the freshman class of 2011, the cost of four years at a private
college could reach $210,000 and over $90,000 at a public university.(1)
The following chart shows how much you would need in monthly investments to
achieve specified lump sums to finance your investment goals.(2)
PERIOD OF
MONTHLY INVESTMENTS: $100,000 $150,000 $200,000 $250,000
-------------------- -------- -------- -------- --------
25 Years ................ $ 105 $ 158 $ 210 $ 263
20 Years ................ 170 255 340 424
15 Years ................ 289 433 578 722
10 Years ................ 547 820 1,093 1,366
5 Years ................ 1,361 2,041 2,721 3,402
See "Automatic Investment Plan."
- ----------
(1) Source information concerning the costs of education at public and
private universities is available from The College Board Annual Survey of
Colleges, 1993. Average costs for private institutions include tuition, fees,
room and board for the 1993-1994 academic year.
(2) The chart assumes an effective rate of return of 8% (assuming monthly
compounding). This example is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended
to reflect the performance of an investment in shares of the Fund. The
investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an
investor's shares when redeemed may be worth more or less than their original
cost.
AUTOMATIC INVESTMENT PLAN (AIP)
Under AIP, an investor may arrange to have a fixed amount automatically
invested in shares of the Fund monthly by authorizing his or her bank account or
brokerage account (including a Prudential Securities Command Account) to be
debited to invest specified dollar amounts in shares of the Fund. The investor's
bank must be a member of the Automatic Clearing House System. Share certificates
are not issued to AIP participants.
Further information about this program and an application form can be
obtained from the Transfer Agent, the Distributor or your broker.
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<PAGE>
SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN
A systematic withdrawal plan is available to shareholders through the
Transfer Agent the Distributor or an investor's broker. Such withdrawal plan
provides for monthly or quarterly checks in any amount, except as provided
below, up to the value of the shares in the shareholder's account. Withdrawals
of Class B or Class C shares may be subject to a CDSC.
In the case of shares held through the Transfer Agent (1) a $10,000 minimum
account value applies, (2) withdrawals may not be for less than $100 and (3) the
shareholder must elect to have all dividends and/or distributions automatically
reinvested in additional full and fractional shares at NAV on shares held under
this plan.
The Transfer Agent the Distributor or an investor's broker, acts as an
agent for the shareholder in redeeming sufficient full and fractional shares to
provide the amount of the periodic withdrawal payment. The systematic withdrawal
plan may be terminated at any time, and the Distributor reserves the right to
initiate a fee of up to $5 per withdrawal, upon 30 days' written notice to the
shareholder.
Withdrawal payments should not be considered as dividends, yield or income.
If periodic withdrawals continuously exceed reinvested dividends and
distributions, the shareholder's original investment will be correspondingly
reduced and ultimately exhausted.
Furthermore, each withdrawal constitutes a redemption of shares, and any
gain or loss realized must be recognized for federal income tax purposes. In
addition, withdrawals made concurrently with purchases of additional shares are
inadvisable because of the applicable sales charges to (1) the purchase of Class
A and Class C shares and (2) the redemption of Class B and Class C shares. Each
shareholder should consult his or her own tax adviser with regard to the tax
consequences of the plan, particularly used in connection with a retirement
plan.
TAX-DEFERRED RETIREMENT PLANS
Various qualified retirement plans, including a 401(k) plan, self-directed
individual retirement accounts and "tax-deferred accounts" under Section
403(b)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code are available through the Distributor.
These plans are for use by both self-employed individuals and corporate
employers. These plans permit either self-direction of accounts by participants,
or a pooled account arrangement. Information regarding the establishment of
these plans, the administration, custodial fees and other details is available
from the Distributor or the Transfer Agent.
Investors who are considering the adoption of such a plan should consult
with their own legal counsel or tax adviser with respect to the establishment
and maintenance of any such plan.
TAX-DEFERRED RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS
INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS. An individual retirement account (IRA)
permits the deferral of federal income tax on income earned in the account until
the earnings are withdrawn. The following chart represents a comparison of the
earnings in a personal savings account with those in an IRA, assuming a $2,000
annual contribution, and 8% rate of return and a 39.6% federal income tax
bracket and shows how much more retirement income can accumulate within an IRA
as opposed to a taxable individual savings account.
TAX-DEFERRED COMPOUNDING(1)
CONTRIBUTIONS PERSONAL
MADE OVER: SAVINGS IRA
----------- -------- --------
10 years $ 26,165 $ 31,291
15 years 44,675 58,649
20 years 68,109 98,846
25 years 97,780 157,909
30 years 135,346 244,692
- ----------
(1) The chart is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent the
performance of the Fund or any specific investment. It shows taxable versus
tax-deferred compounding for the periods and on the terms indicated. Earnings in
a traditional IRA account will be subject to tax when withdrawn from the
account. Distributions from a Roth IRA which meet the conditions required under
the Internal Revenue Code will not be subject to tax upon withdrawal from the
account.
MUTUAL FUND PROGRAMS
From time to time, the Fund may be included in a mutual fund program with
other Prudential Mutual Funds. Under such a program, a group of portfolios will
be selected and thereafter marketed collectively. Typically, these programs are
created with an
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investment theme, such as, to seek greater diversification, protection from
interest rate movements or access to different management styles. In the event
such a program is instituted, there may be a minimum investment requirement for
the program as a whole. The Fund may waive or reduce the minimum initial
investment requirements in connection with such a program.
The mutual funds in the program may be purchased individually or as part of
a program. Since the allocation of portfolios included in the program may not be
appropriate for all investors, investors should consult their financial adviser
concerning the appropriate blend of portfolios for them. If investors elect to
purchase the individual mutual funds that constitute the program in an
investment ratio different from that offered by the program, the standard
minimum investment requirements for the individual mutual funds will apply.
NET ASSET VALUE
The Fund's net asset value per share or NAV is determined by subtracting
its liabilities from the value of its assets and dividing the remainder by the
number of outstanding shares. NAV is calculated separately for each class. The
Directors have fixed the specific time of day for the computation of the Fund's
NAV to be as of 4:15 P.M., New York time. The Fund will compute its NAV at 4:15
P.M., New York time, on each day the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading
except days on which no orders to purchase, sell or redeem Fund shares have been
received or on days on which changes in the value of the Fund's portfolio
investments do not affect NAV. In the event the New York Stock Exchange closes
early on any business day, the NAV of the Fund's shares will be determined at a
time between such closing and 4:15 P.M., New York time. The New York Stock
Exchange is closed on the following holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther
King, Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day,
Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
Under the Investment Company Act, the Directors are responsible for
determining in good faith the fair value of securities of the Fund. In
accordance with procedures adopted by the Directors, the value of investments
listed on a securities exchange and NASDAQ National Market System securities
(other than options on stock and stock indices) are valued at the last sale
price of such exchange system on the day of valuation or, if there was no sale
on such day, the mean between the last bid and asked prices on such day, or at
the bid price on such day in the absence of an asked price. Corporate bonds
(other than convertible debt securities) and U.S. Government securities that are
actively traded in the over-the-counter market, including listed securities for
which the primary market is believed by the Manager in consultation with the
Subadviser to be over-the-counter, are valued on the basis of valuations
provided by an independent pricing agent or principal market maker which used
information with respect to transactions in bonds, quotations from bond dealers,
agency ratings, market transactions in comparable securities and various
relationships between securities in determining value. Convertible debt
securities that are actively traded in the over-the-counter market, including
listed securities for which the primary market is believed by the Manager in
consultation with the Subadviser to be over-the-counter, are valued at the mean
between the last reported bid and asked prices provided by principal market
makers. Options on stock and stock indices traded on an exchange are valued at
the mean between the most recently quoted bid and asked prices on the respective
exchange and futures contracts and options thereon are valued at their last sale
prices as of the close of trading on the applicable commodities exchange or
board of trade or, if there was no sale on the applicable commodities exchange
or board of trade on such day, at the mean between the most recently quoted bid
and asked prices on such exchange or board of trade. Quotations of foreign
securities in a foreign currency are converted to U.S. dollar equivalents at the
current rate obtained from a recognized bank or dealer, and foreign currency
forward contracts are valued at at the current cost of covering or offsetting
such contracts. Should an extraordinary event, which is likely to affect the
value of the security, occur after the close of an exchange on which a portfolio
security is traded, such security will be valued at fair value considering
factors determined in good faith by the investment adviser under procedures
established by and under the general supervision of the Fund's Board of
Directors.
Securities or other assets for which reliable market quotations are not
readily available or for which the pricing agent or principal market maker does
not provide a valuation or methodology or provides a valuation or methodology
that, in the judgment of the Manager or Subadviser (or Valuation Committee or
Board of Directors) does not represent fair value, are valued by the Valuation
Committee or Board of Directors in consultation with the Manager or Subadviser,
including its portfolio manager, traders, and its research and credit analysts,
on the basis of the following factors: cost of the security, transactions in
comparable securities, relationships among various securities and such other
factors as may be determined by the Manager, Subadviser, Board of Directors or
Valuation Committee to materially affect the value of the security. Short-term
debt securities are valued at cost, with interest accrued or discount amortized
to the date of maturity, if their original maturity was 60 days or less, unless
this is determined by the Directors not to represent fair value. Short-term
securities with remaining maturities of more than 60 days, for which market
quotations are readily available, are valued at their current market quotations
as supplied by an independent pricing agent or principal market maker.
Although the legal rights of each class of shares are substantially
identical, the different expenses borne by each class will result in different
NAVs and dividends. The NAV of Class B and Class C shares will generally be
lower than the NAV Class A shares
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<PAGE>
as a result of the larger distribution-related fee to which Class B and Class C
shares are subject. The NAV of Class Z shares will generally be higher than the
NAV of Class A, Class B or Class C shares as a result of the fact that the Class
Z shares are not subject to any distribution or service fee. It is expected,
however, that the NAV of the four classes will tend to converge immediately
after the recording of dividends, if any, which will differ by approximately the
amount of the distribution and/or service fee expense accrual differential among
the classes.
TAXES, DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
The Fund has elected to qualify and intends to remain qualified as a
regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code.
This relieves the Fund (but not its shareholders) from paying federal income tax
on income and capital gains which are distributed to shareholders, and permits
net capital gains of the Fund (I.E., the excess of long-term capital gains over
net short-term capital losses) to be treated as long-term capital gains of the
shareholders, regardless of how long shareholders have held their shares in the
Fund. Net capital gains of the Fund which are available for distribution to
shareholders will be computed by taking into account any capital loss
carryforward of the Fund.
Qualification of the Fund as a regulated investment company requires, among
other things, that (a) the Fund derive at least 90% of its annual gross income
(without reduction for losses from the sale or other disposition of securities
or foreign currencies) from dividends, interest, payments with respect to
securities loans and gains from the sale or other disposition of securities or
options thereon or foreign currencies, or other income (including but not
limited to, gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with
respect to its business of investing in such securities or currencies; (b) the
Fund diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of the taxable
year, (i) at least 50% of the value of the Fund's assets is represented by cash,
U.S. Government securities and other securities limited in respect of any one
issuer to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of the Fund's assets and
10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (ii) not more than
25% of the value of its assets is invested in the securities of any one issuer
(other than U.S. Government securities); and (c) the Fund distribute to its
shareholders at least 90% of its net investment income and net short-term gains
(I.E., the excess of net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital
losses) in each year.
Gains or losses on sales of securities by the Fund will generally be
treated as long-term capital gains or losses if the securities have been held by
it for more than one year, except in certain cases where the Fund acquires a put
or writes a call thereon or otherwise holds an offsetting position with respect
to the securities. Other gains or losses on the sale of securities will be
short-term capital gains or losses. Gains and losses on the sale, lapse or other
termination of options on securities will be treated as gains and losses from
the sale of securities. If an option written by the Fund on securities lapses or
is terminated through a closing transaction, such as a repurchase by the Fund of
the option from its holder, the Fund will generally realize short-term capital
gain or loss. If securities are sold by the Fund pursuant to the exercise of a
call option written by it, the Fund will include the premium received in the
sale proceeds of the securities delivered in determining the amount of gain or
loss on the sale. Certain of the Fund's transactions may be subject to wash
sale, short sale, constructive sale, anti-conversion and straddle positions of
the Internal Revenue Code which may, among other things, require the Fund to
defer recognition of losses. In addition, debt securities acquired by the Fund
may be subject to original issue discount and market discount rules which,
respectively, may cause the Fund to accrue income in advance of the receipt of
cash with respect to interest or cause gains to be treated as ordinary income.
Special rules apply to most options on stock indices, futures contracts and
options thereon, and foreign currency forward contracts in which the Fund may
invest. See "Description of the Fund, Its Investments and Risks." These
investments will generally constitute Section 1256 contracts and will be
required to be "marked to market" for federal income tax purposes at the end of
the Fund's taxable year; that is, treated has having been sold at market value.
Except with respect to certain foreign currency forward contracts, 60% of any
gain or loss recognized on such deemed sales and on actual dispositions will be
treated as long-term capital gain or loss, and the remainder will be treated as
short-term capital gain or loss.
Gain or loss on the sale, lapse or other termination of options on stock
and on narrowly-based stock indices will be capital gain or loss and will be
long-term or short-term depending on the holding period of the option. In
addition, positions which are part of a "straddle" will be subject to certain
wash sale, short sale and constructive sale provisions of the Internal Revenue
Code. In the case of a "straddle", the Fund may be required to defer the
recognition of losses on positions it holds to the extent of any unrecognized
gain on offsetting positions held by the Fund.
Gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates which occur
between the time the Fund accrues interest or other receivables or accrues
expenses or other liabilities denominated in a foreign currency and the time the
Fund actually collects such receivables or pays such liabilities are treated as
ordinary income or ordinary loss. Similarly, gains or losses on foreign currency
forward contracts or dispositions of debt securities denominated in a foreign
currency attributable to fluctuations in the value of the foreign currency
between the date of acquisition of the security and the date of disposition also
are treated as ordinary gain or loss. These gains, referred to under the
Internal Revenue Code as "Section 988" gains or losses, increase or decrease the
B-45
<PAGE>
amount of the Fund's investment company taxable income available to be
distributed to its shareholders as ordinary income, rather than increasing or
decreasing the amount of the Fund's net capital gain. If Section 988 losses
exceed other investment company taxable income during a taxable year, the Fund
would not be able to make any ordinary dividend distributions, or distributions
made before the losses were realized would be recharacterized as a return of
capital to shareholders, rather than as an ordinary dividend, reducing each
shareholder's basis in his or her Fund shares.
Shareholders electing to receive dividends and distributions in the form of
additional shares will have a cost basis for federal income tax purposes in each
share so received equal to the net asset value of a share of the Fund on the
reinvestment date.
Any dividends or distributions paid shortly after a purchase by an investor
may have the effect of reducing the per share net asset value of the investor's
shares by the per share amount of the dividends or distributions. Furthermore,
such dividends or distributions, although in effect a return of capital, are
subject to federal income taxes. Therefore, prior to purchasing shares of the
Fund, the investor should carefully consider the impact of dividends or capital
gains distributions which are expected to be or have been announced.
Any loss realized on a sale, redemption or exchange of shares of the Fund
by a shareholder will be disallowed to the extent the shares are replaced within
a 61-day period (beginning 30 days before the disposition of shares). Shares
purchased pursuant to the reinvestment of a dividend will constitute a
replacement of shares.
A shareholder who acquires shares of the Fund and sells or otherwise
disposes of such shares within 90 days of acquisition may not be allowed to
include certain sales charges incurred in acquiring such shares for purposes of
calculating gain or loss realized upon a sale or exchange of shares of the Fund.
Dividends of net investment income and distributions of net short-term
capital gains paid to a shareholder (including a shareholder acting as a nominee
or fiduciary) who is a nonresident alien individual, a foreign corporation or a
foreign partnership (foreign shareholder) are subject to a 30% (or lower treaty
rate) withholding tax upon the gross amount of the dividends unless the
dividends are effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business conducted by
the foreign shareholder. Net capital gain dividends paid to a foreign
shareholder are generally not subject to withholding tax. A foreign shareholder
will, however, be required to pay U.S. income tax on any dividends and capital
gain distributions which are effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business
of the foreign shareholder.
Dividends received by corporate shareholders are eligible for a
dividends-received deduction of 70% to the extent the Fund's income is derived
from qualified dividends received by the Fund from domestic corporations.
Dividends attributable to foreign corporations, interest income, capital and
currency gain, gain or loss from Section 1256 contracts (described above) and
income from certain other sources will not constitute qualified dividends.
Individual shareholders are not eligible for the dividends-received deduction.
The per share dividends on Class B and Class C shares will be lower than
the per share dividends on Class A and Class Z shares as a result of the higher
distribution-related fee applicable to the Class B and Class C shares and lower
on Class A shares in relation to Class Z shares. The per share distributions of
net capital gains, if any, will be paid in the same amount for Class A, Class B,
Class C and Class Z shares. See "Net Asset Value."
The Fund is required to distribute 98% of its ordinary income in the same
calendar year in which it is earned. The Fund is also required to distribute
during the calendar year 98% of the capital gain net income it earned during the
twelve months ending in October 31 of such calendar year. In addition, the Fund
must distribute during the calendar year all undistributed ordinary income and
undistributed capital gain net income from the prior year or the twelve-month
period ending on October 31 of such prior year, respectively. To the extent it
does not meet these distribution requirements, the Fund will be subject to a
nondeductible 4% excise tax on the undistributed amount. For purposes of this
excise tax, income on which the Fund pays income tax is treated as distributed.
The Fund may, from time to time, invest in Passive Foreign Investment
Companies (PFICs). PFICs are foreign corporations that, in general, meet either
of the following tests: (a) at least 75% of its gross income is passive or (b)
an average of at least 50% of its assets produce, or are held for the production
of, passive income. If the Fund acquires and holds stock in a PFIC beyond the
end of the year of its acquisition, the Fund will be subject to federal income
tax on a portion of any "excess distribution" received on the stock or of any
gain from disposition of the stock (collectively, PFIC income), plus interest
thereon, even if the Fund distributes the PFIC income as a taxable dividend to
its shareholders. The balance of the PFIC income will be included in the Fund's
investment company taxable income and, accordingly, will not be taxable to it to
the extent that income is distributed to its shareholders. The Fund may make a
"mark-to-market" election with respect to any marketable stock it holds of a
PFIC. If the election is in effect, at the end of the Fund's taxable year, the
Fund will recognize the amount of gains, if any, as ordinary income with respect
to PFIC stock. No loss will be recognized on PFIC stock, except to the extent of
gains recognized in prior years. Alternatively, the Fund, if it meets certain
requirements, may elect to treat any PFIC in which it invests as a "qualified
electing
B-46
<PAGE>
fund," in which case, in lieu of the foregoing tax and interest obligation, the
Fund will be required to include in income each year its PRO RATA share of the
qualified electing fund's annual ordinary earnings and net capital gain, even if
they are not distributed to the Fund; those amounts would be subject to the
distribution requirements applicable to the Fund described above.
Income received by the Fund from sources within foreign countries may be
subject to withholding and other taxes imposed by such countries. Income tax
treaties between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate
such taxes. It is impossible to determine in advance the effective rate of
foreign tax to which the Fund will be subject, since the amount of the Fund's
assets to be invested in various countries will vary. The Fund does not expect
to pass through to its shareholders any foreign income taxes paid.
Dividends and distributions may also be subject to state and local taxes.
Foreign shareholders are advised to consult their own tax advisers with
respect to the particular tax consequences to them of an investment in the Fund.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN. The Fund may from time to time advertise its
average annual total return. Average annual total return is determined
separately for Class A, Class B, Class C and Class Z shares.
Average annual total return is computed according to the following formula:
P(1+T)n = ERV
Where: P = a hypothetical initial payment of $1,000.
T = average annual total return.
n = number of years.
ERV = ending redeemable value of a hypothetical $1,000 payment
made at the beginning of the 1, 5 or 10 year periods at
the end of the 1, 5 or 10 year periods (or fractional
portion thereof).
Average annual total return takes into account any applicable initial or
contingent deferred sales charges but does not take into account any federal or
state income taxes that may be payable upon redemption.
Below are the average annual total returns for the Fund's share classes for
the periods ended December 31, 1998.
SINCE
1 YEAR 5 YEARS 10 YEARS INCEPTION
------ ------- -------- ---------
Class A 3.68% 7.68% 8.35% 8.56% (7-31-87)
Class B 2.32 N/A N/A 6.97 (1-15-96)
Class C 5.24 N/A N/A 7.48 (1-15-96)
Class Z 8.16 N/A N/A 7.35 (3-17-97)
Before January 15, 1996, the Fund was a closed-end investment company.
AGGREGATE TOTAL RETURN. The Fund may also advertise its aggregate total
return. Aggregate total return is determined separately for Class A, Class B,
Class C and Class Z shares.
Aggregate total return represents the cumulative change in the value of an
investment in the Fund and is computed according to the following formula:
ERV-P
-----
P
Where: P = a hypothetical initial payment of $1,000.
ERV = ending redeemable value at the end of the 1, 5 or 10 year
periods (or fractional portion thereof) of a = hypothetical
$1,000 payment made at the beginning of the 1, 5 or 10 year
periods.
Aggregate total return does not take into account any federal or state
income taxes that may be payable upon redemption or any applicable initial or
contingent deferred sales charges.
B-47
<PAGE>
Below are the aggregate total returns for the Fund's share classes for the
periods ended December 31, 1998.
SINCE
1 YEAR 5 YEARS 10 YEARS INCEPTION
------ ------- -------- ---------
Class A 8.00% 50.82% 132.36% 166.06% (7-31-87)
Class B 7.32 N/A N/A 25.06 (1-15-96)
Class C 7.32 N/A N/A 25.06 (1-15-96)
Class Z 8.16 N/A N/A 13.54 (3-17-97)
YIELD. The Fund may from time to time advertise its yield as calculated
over a 30-day period. Yield is calculated separately for Class A, Class B, Class
C and Class Z shares. The yield will be computed by dividing the Fund's net
investment income per share earned during this 30-day period by the maximum
offering price per share on the last day of this period. Yield is calculated
according to the following formula:
a - b
YIELD = 2[(------ + 1)(superior 6)-1]
cd
Where: a = dividends and interest earned during the period.
b = expenses accrued for the period (net of reimbursements).
c = the average daily number of shares outstanding during the
period that were entitled to receive dividends. d = the maximum
offering price per share on the last day of the period.
Yield fluctuates and an annualized yield quotation is not a representation
by the Fund as to what an investment in the Fund will actually yield for any
given period.
The Fund's 30-day yields for the 30 days ended December 31, 1998, were
4.74%, 4.33%, 4.28% and 5.09% for Class A, Class B, Class C and Class Z shares,
respectively.
The Fund may also include comparative performance information in
advertising or marketing the Fund's shares. Such performance information may
include data from Lipper, Inc., Morningstar Publication, Inc., other industry
publications, business periodicals and market indices. Set forth below is a
chart which compares the performance of different types of investments over the
long term and the rate of inflation.(1)
==============================
PERFORMANCE
COMPARISON OF DIFFERENT
TYPES OF INVESTMENTS
OVER THE LONG TERM
(12/31/25 - 12/31/98)
--------------
[Graphic Representation]
Common Stocks 11.2%
Long-Term Govt. Bonds 5.3%
Inflation 3.1%
==============================
(1) Source: Ibbotson Associates. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
Common stock returns are based on the Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Index, a
market-weighted, unmanaged index of 500 common stocks in a variety of industry
sectors. It is a commonly used indicator of broad stock price movements. This
chart is for illustrative purposes only, and is not intended to represent the
performance of any particular investment or fund. Investors cannot invest
directly in an index. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
B-48
<PAGE>
Portfolio of Investments as of
December 31, 1998 PRUDENTIAL INTERNATIONAL BOND FUND, INC.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Principal
Amount US$
(000) Description Value (Note 1)
<C> <S> <C>
- ------------------------------------------------------------
LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS--87.7%
- ------------------------------------------------------------
Australia--6.3%
A$ 1,500 Federal National Mortgage
Association,
6.375%, 8/15/07 $ 968,030
7,000 New South Wales Treasury
Corporation,
6.50%, 5/1/06 4,578,420
-----------
5,546,450
- ------------------------------------------------------------
Canada--4.4%
C$ 3,000 British Columbia Provincial Bond,
6.00%, 6/9/08 2,061,732
2,600 Province of Quebec,
6.50%, 10/1/07 1,819,814
-----------
3,881,546
- ------------------------------------------------------------
Denmark--6.4%
Danish Government Bonds,
DKr 10,500 7.00%, 12/15/04 1,900,895
19,250 8.00%, 3/15/06 3,728,828
-----------
5,629,723
- ------------------------------------------------------------
Germany--18.8%
German Government Bonds,
DM 5,300 7.375%, 1/3/05 3,801,567
7,000 6.00%, 1/5/06 4,750,838
8,400 6.25%, 1/4/24 6,103,015
3,000 Republic of Colombia,
7.25%, 12/21/00 1,831,479
-----------
16,486,899
- ------------------------------------------------------------
Greece--3.2%
Hellenic Republic,
GRD 175,000 9.20%, 3/21/02 642,957
370,000 11.90%, 12/31/03, FRN 1,326,544
210,000 8.60%, 3/26/08 827,858
-----------
2,797,359
Hungary--1.5%
Hungarian Government Bonds,
HUF 140,000 16.50%, 7/24/99 $ 650,013
150,000 16.00%, 4/12/00 701,350
-----------
1,351,363
- ------------------------------------------------------------
Netherlands--4.0%
Dutch Government Bonds,
NLG 3,200 7.00%, 6/15/05 2,007,734
2,000 7.50%, 1/15/23 1,476,243
-----------
3,483,977
- ------------------------------------------------------------
New Zealand--4.4%
NZ$ 3,500 Federal National Mortgage
Association,
7.25%, 6/20/02 1,910,098
1,800 International Bank of
Reconstruction Development,
7.25%, 5/27/03 986,132
1,600 New Zealand Government Bond,
8.00%, 4/15/04 942,367
-----------
3,838,597
- ------------------------------------------------------------
Russia--0.1%
European Bank of Reconstruction
Development,
RUB 2,700 31.00%, 5/5/00 31,322
4,500 Zero Coupon, 5/28/02 12,529
-----------
43,851
- ------------------------------------------------------------
Spain--4.0%
Pts 425,000 Spanish Government Bond,
6.15%, 1/31/13 3,534,710
- ------------------------------------------------------------
Sweden--2.3%
SEK 15,000 Swedish Government Bond,
6.00%, 2/9/05 2,051,359
- ------------------------------------------------------------
United Kingdom--4.1%
BP 4,500 United Kingdom Treasury Strip,
Zero Coupon, 12/7/15 3,548,641
</TABLE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See Notes to Financial Statements. B-49
<PAGE>
Portfolio of Investments as of
December 31, 1998 PRUDENTIAL INTERNATIONAL BOND FUND, INC.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Principal
Amount US$
(000) Description Value (Note 1)
<C> <S> <C>
- ------------------------------------------------------------
United States--28.2%
Corporate Bonds--1.8%
US$ 650 General Motors Acceptance Corp.,
5.75%, 11/10/03 $ 655,044
850 Household Finance Corporation,
6.40%, 6/17/08 877,667
-----------
1,532,711
- ------------------------------------------------------------
Sovereign Bonds--6.7%
2,500 Ministry of Finance (Russia),
10.00%, 6/26/07 712,500
500 Oman Sultante (India),
7.125%, 3/20/02 510,000
500 Republic of Colombia,
7.25%, 2/23/04 448,000
905 Republic of Croatia,
6.56%, 7/31/06, FRN 714,775
500 6.56%, 7/31/10 395,000
400 Republic of Lithuania,
7.125%, 7/22/02 374,000
700 Republic of Peru,
4.00%, 3/7/17 439,250
880 Russian Federation,
11.00%, 7/24/18 217,800
2,000 United Mexican States, FRN,
9.75%, 2/6/01 2,065,000
-----------
5,876,325
- ------------------------------------------------------------
Supranational Bond--4.7%
4,100 Corporacion Andina de Formento,
7.375%, 7/21/00 4,140,713
- ------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Government Obligations--15.0%
United States Treasury Bonds,
3,500 6.125%, 9/30/00 3,585,855
4,600 6.25%, 2/15/07 5,045,602
3,850 6.625%, 2/15/27 4,553,819
-----------
13,185,276
-----------
24,735,025
-----------
Total long-term investments
(cost US$76,962,961) 76,929,500
-----------
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS--7.8%
- ------------------------------------------------------------
Poland--1.2%
Poland Treasury Bills,
PLZ 2,000 13.50%(a), 2/17/99 556,459
700 13.50%(a), 3/3/99 194,456
1,100 13.50%(a), 4/28/99 299,151
-----------
1,050,066
- ------------------------------------------------------------
United States--6.6%
Corporate Bonds--4.0%
US$ 650 Banco Ganadero Colombian Bond
(Colombia),
9.75%, 8/26/99 654,063
1,900 Financiera Energetica Nacional
(Colombia),
9.00%, 11/8/99 1,900,000
1,000 Petroleas Mexicano (Mexico), FRN,
6.218%, 3/8/99 987,300
-----------
3,541,363
- ------------------------------------------------------------
Repurchase Agreement--2.6%
US$ 2,298 Joint Repurchase Agreement
Account,
4.69%, 1/4/99 (Note 5) 2,298,000
-----------
5,839,363
-----------
Total short-term investments
(cost US$7,007,037) 6,889,429
-----------
- ------------------------------------------------------------
Total Investments--95.5%
(cost $83,969,998; Note 4) 83,818,929
Other assets in excess of
liabilities--4.5% 3,917,398
-----------
Net Assets--100% $87,736,327
-----------
-----------
</TABLE>
- ---------------
Portfolio securities are classified according to the security's currency
denomination.
(a) Percentages quoted represent yield-to-maturity as of purchase date.
FRN--Floating Rate Note.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See Notes to Financial Statements. B-50
<PAGE>
Statement of Assets and Liabilities PRUDENTIAL INTERNATIONAL BOND FUND, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Assets December 31, 1998
<S> <C>
Investments, at value (cost $83,969,998)................................................................ $83,818,929
Foreign currency, at value (cost $1,519,291)............................................................ 1,512,703
Interest receivable..................................................................................... 2,549,829
Receivable for Fund shares sold......................................................................... 243,723
Forward currency contracts-amount receivable from counterparties........................................ 140,573
Receivable for investments sold......................................................................... 126,582
Other assets............................................................................................ 2,990
-----------------
Total assets......................................................................................... 88,395,329
-----------------
Liabilities
Accrued expenses and other liabilities.................................................................. 263,951
Payable for Fund shares reacquired...................................................................... 225,683
Forward currency contracts-amount payable to counterparties............................................. 87,902
Management fee payable.................................................................................. 56,062
Dividend payable........................................................................................ 13,754
Distribution fee payable................................................................................ 11,650
-----------------
Total liabilities.................................................................................... 659,002
-----------------
Net Assets.............................................................................................. $87,736,327
-----------------
-----------------
Net assets were comprised of:
Common stock, at par................................................................................. $ 122,269
Paid-in capital in excess of par..................................................................... 86,938,370
-----------------
87,060,639
Accumulated net realized gain on investments......................................................... 743,725
Net unrealized depreciation on investments and foreign currencies.................................... (68,037)
-----------------
Net assets, December 31, 1998........................................................................... $87,736,327
-----------------
-----------------
Class A:
Net asset value and redemption price per share
($84,007,835 / 11,708,425 shares of common stock issued and outstanding).......................... $7.17
Maximum sales charge (4% of offering price).......................................................... .30
-----------------
Maximum offering price to public..................................................................... $7.47
-----------------
-----------------
Class B:
Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per share
($1,218,299 / 169,448 shares of common stock issued and outstanding).............................. $7.19
-----------------
-----------------
Class C:
Net asset value and redemption price per share
($257,567 / 35,829 shares of common stock issued and outstanding)................................. $7.19
Sales charge (1% of offering price).................................................................. .07
-----------------
Offering price to public............................................................................. $7.26
-----------------
-----------------
Class Z:
Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per share
($2,252,626 / 313,238 shares of common stock issued and outstanding).............................. $7.19
-----------------
-----------------
</TABLE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See Notes to Financial Statements. B-51
<PAGE>
PRUDENTIAL INTERNATIONAL BOND FUND, INC.
Statement of Operations
- ------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year Ended
Net Investment Income December 31, 1998
<S> <C>
Income
Interest and discount earned (net of
foreign withholding taxes of
$8,108)............................... $ 7,122,061
-----------------
Expenses
Management fee........................... 692,765
Distribution fee--Class A................ 134,955
Distribution fee--Class B................ 5,891
Distribution fee--Class C................ 948
Transfer agent's fees and expenses....... 229,000
Custodian's fees and expenses............ 160,000
Reports to shareholders.................. 130,000
Legal fees and expenses.................. 55,000
Registration fees........................ 40,000
Audit fees and expenses.................. 36,000
Directors' fees.......................... 20,000
Insurance................................ 1,300
Miscellaneous............................ 6,040
-----------------
Total expenses........................ 1,511,899
-----------------
Net investment income....................... 5,610,162
-----------------
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)
on Investments and Foreign Currency
Transactions
Net realized gain (loss) on:
Investment transactions.................. 1,682,152
Foreign currency transactions............ (1,211,103)
-----------------
471,049
-----------------
Net change in unrealized appreciation on:
Investments.............................. 1,433,339
Foreign currencies....................... (399,731)
-----------------
1,033,608
-----------------
Net gain on investments and foreign
currencies............................... 1,504,657
-----------------
Net Increase in Net Assets
Resulting from Operations................... $ 7,114,819
-----------------
-----------------
</TABLE>
PRUDENTIAL INTERNATIONAL BOND FUND, INC.
Statement of Changes in Net Assets
- ------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Increase Year Ended December 31,
in Net Assets 1998 1997
<S> <C> <C>
Operations
Net investment income........... $ 5,610,162 $ 7,280,941
Net realized gain on investment
and foreign currency
transactions................. 471,049 5,430,440
Net change in unrealized
appreciation (depreciation)
on investments and foreign
currencies................... 1,033,608 (8,593,067)
----------- ------------
Net increase in net assets
resulting from operations.... 7,114,819 4,118,314
----------- ------------
Dividends and distributions (Note
1)
Dividends from net investment
income
Class A...................... (3,147,035) (8,710,279)
Class B...................... (24,528) (31,668)
Class C...................... (3,873) (1,906)
Class Z...................... (51,961) (8,615)
----------- ------------
(3,227,397) (8,752,468)
----------- ------------
Distributions in excess of net
investment income
Class A...................... (2,100,081) (3,222,672)
Class B...................... (16,368) (10,128)
Class C...................... (2,584) (757)
Class Z...................... (34,675) (10,368)
----------- ------------
(2,153,708) (3,243,925)
----------- ------------
Distributions from net realized
gains
Class A...................... (575,748) --
Class B...................... (4,487) --
Class C...................... (709) --
Class Z...................... (9,506) --
----------- ------------
(590,450) --
----------- ------------
Fund share transactions (net of
share conversions) (Note 6)
Net proceeds from shares sold... 6,408,174 3,218,583
Net asset value of shares issued
in reinvestment of dividends
and distributions............ 1,664,187 2,720,812
Cost of shares reacquired....... (19,079,029) (26,185,590)
----------- ------------
Net decrease in net assets from
Fund share transactions...... (11,006,668) (20,246,195)
----------- ------------
Total decrease..................... (9,863,404) (28,124,274)
Net Assets
Beginning of year.................. 97,599,731 125,724,005
----------- ------------
End of year(a)..................... $87,736,327 $ 97,599,731
----------- ------------
----------- ------------
- ---------------
(a) Includes undistributed net
investment income of:.......... $ -- $ 147,690
----------- ------------
</TABLE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See Notes to Financial Statements. B-52
<PAGE>
Notes to Financial Statements PRUDENTIAL INTERNATIONAL BOND FUND, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prudential International Bond Fund, Inc., (the 'Fund'), is an open-end,
nondiversified, management investment company whose investment objective is to
seek total return, the components of which are current income and capital
appreciation. The Fund invests primarily in debt securities of issuers located
in at least three countries, excluding the United States (except in periods of
weakness). The Fund invests in foreign debt securities issued by foreign
corporate issuers as well as securities issued or guaranteed by foreign
governments, semi-governmental entities, governmental agencies, supernational
entities and other governmental entities. The bonds are primarily of investment
grade, i.e., bonds rated within the four highest quality grades as determined by
Moody's Investor's Service or Standard & Poor's Rating's Group, or in unrated
securities of equivalent quality. In addition, the Fund is permitted to invest
up to 15% of the it's total assets in bonds rated below investment grade with a
minimum rating of B, or in unrated securities of equivalent quality. The ability
of issuers of debt securities held by the Fund to meet their obligations may be
affected by economic and political developments in a specific country or region.
- ------------------------------------------------------------
Note 1. Accounting Policies
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the
Fund in the preparation of its financial statements.
Securities Valuation: In valuing the Fund's assets, quotations of foreign
securities in a foreign currency are converted to U.S. dollar equivalents at the
then current currency value. Portfolio securities that are actively traded in
the over-the-counter market, including listed securities for which the primary
market is believed to be over-the-counter, are valued at the mean between the
most recently quoted bid and asked prices provided by principal market makers.
Any security for which the primary market is on an exchange is valued at the
last sale price on such exchange on the day of valuation or, if there was no
sale on such day, the last bid price quoted on such day. Forward currency
contracts are valued at the current cost of covering or offsetting the contract
on the day of valuation. Securities and assets for which market quotations are
not readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by or
under the direction of the Board of Directors of the Fund.
Short-term securities which mature in more than 60 days are valued at current
market quotations. Short-term securities which mature in 60 days or less are
valued at amortized cost.
In connection with transactions in repurchase agreements with U.S. financial
institutions, it is the Fund's policy that its custodian or designated
subcustodians, as the case may be under triparty repurchase agreements, takes
possession of the underlying collateral securities, the value of
which exceeds the principal amount of the repurchase transaction including
accrued interest. To the extent that any repurchase transaction exceeds one
business day, the value of the collateral is marked-to-market on a daily basis
to ensure the adequacy of the collateral. If the seller defaults and the value
of the collateral declines or if bankruptcy proceedings are commenced with
respect to the seller of the security, realization of the collateral by the Fund
may be delayed or limited.
Foreign Currency Translation: The books and records of the Fund are maintained
in United States dollars. Foreign currency amounts are translated into United
States dollars on the following basis:
(i) market value of investment securities, other assets and liabilities--at the
current rates of exchange.
(ii) purchases and sales of investment securities, income and expenses--at the
rates of exchange prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions.
Although the net assets of the Fund are presented at the foreign exchange rates
and market values at the close of the year, the Fund does not isolate that
portion of the results of operations arising as a result of changes in the
foreign exchange rates from the fluctuations arising from changes in the market
prices of the securities held at year-end. Similarly, the Fund does not isolate
the effect of changes in foreign exchange rates from the fluctuations arising
from changes in the market prices of long-term debt securities sold during the
year. Accordingly, such realized foreign currency gains and losses are included
in the reported net realized gains on investment transactions.
Net realized gains or losses on foreign currency transactions represent net
foreign exchange gains from sales and maturities of short-term securities and
forward currency contracts, disposition of foreign currencies, currency gains or
losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities
transactions, and the difference between the amounts of interest, discount, and
foreign taxes recorded on the Fund's books and the U.S. dollar equivalent
amounts actually received or paid. Net currency gains (losses) from valuing
foreign currency denominated assets (excluding investments) and liabilities at
year-end exchange rates are reflected as a component of net unrealized
appreciation or depreciation on investments and foreign currencies.
Foreign security and currency transactions may involve certain considerations
and risks not typically associated with those of U.S. companies as a result of,
among other factors, the possibility of political or economic
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B-53
<PAGE>
Notes to Financial Statements PRUDENTIAL INTERNATIONAL BOND FUND, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
instability and the level of governmental supervision and regulation of foreign
securities markets.
Forward Currency Contracts: A forward currency contract is a commitment to
purchase or sell a foreign currency at a future date at a negotiated forward
rate. The Fund enters into forward currency contracts in order to hedge its
exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates on its foreign portfolio
holdings or on specific receivables and payables denominated in a foreign
currency. The contracts are valued daily at current exchange rates and any
unrealized gain or loss is included in net unrealized appreciation or
depreciation on investments and foreign currencies. Gain or loss is realized on
the settlement date of the contract equal to the difference between the
settlement value of the original and renegotiated forward contracts. This gain
or loss, if any, is included in net realized gain (loss) on foreign currency
transactions. Risks may arise upon entering into these contracts from the
potential inability of the counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts.
Security Transactions and Net Investment Income: Security transactions are
recorded on the trade date. Realized and unrealized gains and losses from
security and currency transactions are calculated on the identified cost basis.
Interest income, which is comprised of three elements: stated coupon, original
issue discount and market discount, is recorded on the accrual basis. Expenses
are recorded on the accrual basis which may require the use of certain estimates
by management.
Net investment income (other than distribution fees) and unrealized and realized
gains or losses are allocated daily to each class of shares based upon the
relative proportion of net assets of each class at the beginning of the day.
Dividends and Distributions: The Fund declares daily and pays dividends from
book basis net investment income monthly and makes distributions at least
annually of any net capital gains. Dividends and distributions are recorded on
the ex-dividend date.
Income distributions and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance
with income tax regulations which may differ from generally accepted accounting
principles. These differences are primarily due to differing treatments for
foreign currency transactions.
Reclassification of Capital Accounts: The Fund accounts for and reports
distributions to shareholders in accordance with the American Institute of
Certified Public Accountants' Statement of Position 93-2: Determination,
Disclosure, and Financial Statement Presentation of Income, Capital Gain, and
Return of Capital Distributions by Investment Companies. The effect of applying
this statement was to decrease both undistributed net investment income and
paid-in capital by $376,747 and $1,911,359, respectively and decrease
accumulated net realized loss on investments by $2,288,106. This was primarily
the result of net foreign currency losses and an over distribution of taxable
income for the year ended December 31, 1998. Net investment income, net realized
gains and net assets were not affected by this change.
Taxes: It is the Fund's policy to continue to meet the requirements of the
Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to
distribute all of its taxable income to shareholders. Therefore, no federal
income or excise tax provision is required.
Withholding taxes on foreign interest have been provided for in accordance with
the Fund's understanding of the applicable country's tax rules and rates.
- ------------------------------------------------------------
Note 2. Agreements
The Fund has a management agreement with Prudential Investments Fund Management
LLC ('PIFM'). Pursuant to this agreement PIFM has responsibility for all
investment advisory services and supervises the subadviser's performance of such
services. PIFM has entered into a subadvisory agreement with The Prudential
Investment Corporation ('PIC'); PIC, through an agreement with PRICOA Asset
Management Ltd. ('PRICOA'), furnishes investment advisory services in connection
with the management of the Fund. PIFM pays for the cost of the subadviser's
services, compensation of officers of the Fund, occupancy and certain clerical
and bookkeeping costs of the Fund. The Fund bears all other costs and expenses.
The management fee paid PIFM is computed daily and payable monthly at an annual
rate of .75 of 1% of the Fund's average daily net assets up to $1 billion and
.70 of 1% of such assets in excess of $1 billion.
The Fund had a distribution agreement with Prudential Securities Incorporated
('PSI'), which acted as distributor of the Class A, Class B, Class C and Class Z
shares of the Fund through May 31, 1998. Prudential Investment Management
Services LLC ('PIMS') became the distributor of the Fund effective June 1, 1998
and is serving the Fund under the same terms and conditions as under the
arrangement with PSI. The Fund compensated PSI and PIMS for distributing and
servicing the Fund's Class A, Class B and Class C shares, pursuant to a plan of
distribution, (the 'Class A, B and C Plans'), regardless of expenses actually
incurred by them. The distribution fees were accrued daily and payable monthly.
No distribution or service fees are paid to PIMS as distributor of the Class Z
shares of the Fund.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B-54
<PAGE>
Notes to Financial Statements PRUDENTIAL INTERNATIONAL BOND FUND, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pursuant to the Class A, B and C Plans, the Fund compensates PSI and PIMS
for distribution-related activities at an annual rate of up to .30 of 1%, 1% and
1% of the average daily net assets of the Class A, B and C shares respectively.
Such expenses under the Plans were .15 of 1%, .75 of 1% and .75 of 1% of the
average daily net assets of the Class A, B and C shares, respectively, for the
year ended December 31, 1998. Effective January 1, 1999, the annual rate for
Class A shares was increased to .25 of 1%.
PSI and PIMS have advised the Fund that they have received approximately $34,000
in front-end sales charges resulting from sales of Class A and Class C shares
during the year ended December 31, 1998. From these fees, PSI and PIMS paid such
sales charges to Pruco Securities Corporation, an affiliated broker-dealer,
which in turn paid commissions to sales-persons and incurred other distribution
costs.
PSI and PIMS have advised the Series that for the year ended December 31, 1998,
they have received approximately $14,900 in contingent deferred sales charges
imposed upon certain redemptions by Class B shareholders.
PSI, PIFM, PIC, PIMS and PRICOA are indirect, wholly owned subsidiaries of The
Prudential Insurance Company of America.
The Fund, along with other affiliated registered investment companies (the
'Funds'), has a credit agreement (the 'Agreement') with an unaffiliated lender.
The maximum commitment under the Agreement is $200,000,000. Interest on any such
borrowings outstanding will be at market rates. The purpose of the Agreement is
to serve as an alternative source of funding for capital share redemptions. The
Fund did not borrow any amounts pursuant to the Agreement during the year ended
December 31, 1998. The Funds pay a commitment fee at an annual rate of .055 of
1% on the unused portion of the credit facility. The commitment fee is accrued
and paid quarterly on a pro rata basis by the Funds. The Agreement expired on
December 30, 1998, and has been exended through February 28, 1999 under the same
terms.
- ------------------------------------------------------------
Note 3. Other Transactions with Affiliates
Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC ('PMFS'), a wholly owned subsidiary of PIFM,
serves as the Fund's transfer agent. During the year ended December 31, 1998 the
Fund incurred fees of approximately $185,000 for the services of PMFS. As of
December 31, 1998 approximately $15,000 of such fees were due to PMFS. Transfer
agent fees and expenses in the Statement of Operations include certain
out-of-pocket expenses paid to nonaffiliates.
Note 4. Portfolio Securities
Purchases and sales of investment securities, other than short-term investments,
for the year ended December 31, 1998 aggregated $37,801,986 and $46,307,035,
respectively.
At December 31, 1998, the Fund had outstanding forward currency contracts to
sell foreign currencies, as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Value at
Foreign Currency Settlement Date Current Appreciation
Sale Contracts Receivable Value (Depreciation)
- ------------------- --------------- ----------- ---------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Swiss Francs,
expiring
1/26/99.......... $ 4,651,163 $ 4,510,590 $ 140,573
Canadian Dollar,
expiring
1/26/99.......... 3,573,281 3,584,399 (11,118)
New Zealand Dollar,
expiring
1/26/99.......... 8,378,067 8,422,059 (43,992)
Japanese Yen,
expiring
1/26/99.......... 1,050,547 1,083,339 (32,792)
--------------- ----------- ---------------
$17,653,058 $17,600,387 $ 52,671
--------------- ----------- ---------------
--------------- ----------- ---------------
</TABLE>
The United States federal income tax basis of the Fund's investments at December
31, 1998 was $83,982,600 and, accordingly, net unrealized depreciation for
United States federal income tax purposes was $589,084 (gross unrealized
appreciation--$4,786,651; gross unrealized depreciation--$4,197,567). The Fund
utilized its capital loss carryforward of approximately $949,500. The Fund
elected to treat net currency losses of approximately $146,800 incurred in the
two month period ended December 31, 1998 as having occurred in the following
fiscal year.
- ------------------------------------------------------------
Note 5. Joint Repurchase Agreement Account
The Fund, along with other affiliated registered investment companies, transfers
uninvested cash balances into a single joint account, the daily aggregate
balance of which is invested in one or more repurchase agreements collateralized
by U.S. Treasury or federal agency obligations. As of December 31, 1998, the
Fund had a 0.33% undivided interest in the joint account. The undivided interest
for the Fund represented $2,298,000 in the principal amount. As of such date,
each repurchase agreement in the joint account and the collateral therefor were
as follows:
Bear, Stearns & Co., Inc., 4.75%, in the principal amount of $165,000,000,
repurchase price $165,087,083, due 1/4/99. The value of the collateral including
accrued interest was $169,478,699.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B-55
<PAGE>
Notes to Financial Statements PRUDENTIAL INTERNATIONAL BOND FUND, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., 4.80%, in the principal amount of $100,000,000,
repurchase price $100,053,333, due 1/4/99. The value of the collateral including
accrued interest was $102,001,052.
Goldman Sachs & Co., Inc., 4.25%, in the principal amount of $93,088,000,
repurchase price $93,131,958, due 1/4/99. The value of the collateral including
accrued interest was $94,950,662.
Morgan (J.P.) Securities Inc., 4.75%, in the principal amount of $165,000,000,
repurchase price $165,087,083, due 1/4/99. The value of the collateral including
accrued interest was $168,300,696.
Warburg Dillon Read, Inc., 4.75%, in the principal amount of $165,000,000,
repurchase price $165,087,083, due 1/4/99. The value of the collateral including
accrued interest was $168,529,699.
- ------------------------------------------------------------
Note 6. Capital
The Fund offers Class A, Class B, Class C and Class Z shares. Class A shares are
sold with a front-end sales charge of up to 4%. Class B shares are sold with a
contingent deferred sales charge which declines from 5% to zero depending on the
period of time the shares are held. Class C shares are sold with a front-end
sales charge of 1% and a contingent deferred sales charge of 1% during the first
18 months. Prior to November 2, 1998, Class C shares were sold with a contingent
deferred sales charge of 1% during the first year. Class B shares automatically
convert to Class A shares on a quarterly basis approximately seven years after
purchase. A special exchange privilege is also available for shareholders who
qualified to purchase Class A shares at net asset value. Class Z shares are not
subject to any sales or redemption charge and are offered exclusively for sale
to a limited group of investors.
There are 2 billion shares of common stock, $.01 par value per share, authorized
divided into four classes, designated Class A, Class B, Class C and Class Z
common stock, consisting of 500 million shares of each class. As of December 31,
1998 Prudential owned 11,470 Class A shares.
Transactions in shares of common stock were as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Class A Shares Amount
- --------------------------------- ----------- -------------
<S> <C> <C>
Year ended December 31, 1998:
Shares sold...................... 372,024 $ 2,657,375
Shares issued in reinvestment of
dividends and distributions.... 214,448 1,531,157
Shares reacquired................ (2,481,487) (17,676,855)
----------- -------------
Net decrease in shares
outstanding before
conversion..................... (1,895,015) (13,488,323)
Shares issued upon conversion
from Class B................... 1,973 14,203
----------- -------------
Net decrease in shares
outstanding.................... (1,893,042) $ (13,474,120)
----------- -------------
----------- -------------
<CAPTION>
Class A Shares Amount
- --------------------------------- ----------- -------------
<S> <C> <C>
Year ended December 31, 1997:
Shares sold...................... 269,214 $ 1,994,094
Shares issued in reinvestment of
dividends and distributions.... 365,841 2,666,579
Shares reacquired................ (3,501,590) (26,103,706)
----------- -------------
Net decrease in shares
outstanding.................... (2,866,535) $ (21,443,033)
----------- -------------
----------- -------------
<CAPTION>
Class B
- ---------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Year ended December 31, 1998:
Shares sold...................... 138,265 $ 988,889
Shares issued in reinvestment of
dividends and distributions.... 5,180 37,028
Shares reacquired................ (46,855) (334,557)
----------- -------------
Net increase in shares
outstanding before
conversion..................... 96,590 691,360
Shares reacquired upon conversion
into Class A................... (1,975) (14,203)
----------- -------------
Net increase in shares
outstanding.................... 94,615 $ 677,157
----------- -------------
----------- -------------
Year ended December 31, 1997:
Shares sold...................... 62,322 $ 465,398
Shares issued in reinvestment of
dividends and distributions.... 4,402 31,994
Shares reacquired................ (1,673) (12,403)
----------- -------------
Net increase in shares
outstanding.................... 65,051 $ 484,989
----------- -------------
----------- -------------
<CAPTION>
Class C
- ---------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Year ended December 31, 1998:
Shares sold...................... 33,210 $ 237,920
Shares issued in reinvestment of
dividends and distributions.... 671 4,790
Shares reacquired................ (8,776) (62,577)
----------- -------------
Net increase in shares
outstanding.................... 25,105 $ 180,133
----------- -------------
----------- -------------
Year ended December 31, 1997:
Shares sold...................... 14,124 $ 102,477
Shares issued in reinvestment of
dividends and distributions.... 149 1,087
Shares reacquired................ (5,201) (38,465)
----------- -------------
Net increase in shares
outstanding.................... 9,072 $ 65,099
----------- -------------
----------- -------------
</TABLE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B-56
<PAGE>
Notes to Financial Statements PRUDENTIAL INTERNATIONAL BOND FUND, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Class Z Shares Amount
- --------------------------------- ----------- -------------
Year ended December 31, 1998:
<S> <C> <C>
Shares sold...................... 352,766 $ 2,523,990
Shares issued in reinvestment of
dividends and distributions.... 12,769 91,212
Shares reacquired................ (140,684) (1,005,040)
----------- -------------
Net increase in shares
outstanding.................... 224,851 $ 1,610,162
----------- -------------
----------- -------------
March 17, 1997(a) through
December 31, 1997:
Shares sold...................... 89,636 $ 656,614
Shares issued in reinvestment of
dividends and distributions.... 2,944 21,152
Shares reacquired................ (4,193) (31,016)
----------- -------------
Net increase in shares
outstanding.................... 88,387 $ 646,750
----------- -------------
----------- -------------
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(a) Commencement of offering of Class Z shares.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B-57
<PAGE>
Financial Highlights PRUDENTIAL INTERNATIONAL BOND FUND, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Class A(b)
------------------------------------------------------------
Year Ended December 31,
------------------------------------------------------------
1998(c) 1997(c) 1996 1995 1994
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
PER SHARE OPERATING PERFORMANCE:
Net asset value, beginning of year............ $ 7.08 $ 7.63 $ 7.68 $ 6.76 $ 7.84
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Income from investment operations:
Net investment income......................... .43 .49 .56 .48 .45
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on
investments and foreign currencies......... .12 (.22) .28 1.13 (.97)
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total from investment operations........... .55 .27 .84 1.61 (.52)
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Less distributions:
Dividends from net investment income.......... (.25) (.58) (.67) (.48) (.23)
Distributions in excess of net investment
income..................................... (.17) (.24) (.40) (.21) --
Distributions from net realized capital
gains...................................... (.04) -- -- -- (.10)
Distributions in excess of net capital
gains...................................... -- -- -- -- --
Tax return of capital distributions........... -- -- -- -- (.23)
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total dividends and distributions.......... (.46) (.82) (1.07) (.69) (.56)
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Redemption fee retained by Fund............... -- -- .18 -- --
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Net asset value, end of year.................. $ 7.17 $ 7.08 $ 7.63 $ 7.68 $ 6.76
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Per share market price, end of year........... N/A N/A N/A $ 7.375 $ 5.625
-------- --------
-------- --------
TOTAL INVESTMENT RETURN BASED ON(a):
Market price............................... N/A N/A N/A 44.39% (12.04)%
Net asset value............................ 8.00% 3.62% 14.02% 25.14% (5.62)%
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Net assets, end of year (000)................. $ 84,008 $ 96,365 $125,637 $350,339 $308,703
Average net assets (000)...................... $ 89,970 $110,910 $180,588 $342,741 $331,421
Ratios to average net assets:
Expenses, including distribution fees...... 1.63% 1.64% 1.48% 1.05% 1.11%
Expenses, excluding distribution fees...... 1.48% 1.49% 1.34% 1.05% 1.11%
Net investment income...................... 6.08% 6.54% 6.45% 6.37% 6.21%
Portfolio turnover rate....................... 46% 53% 38% 203% 526%
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(a) Total investment return based on net asset value is calculated assuming a
purchase of common stock at the current net asset value on the first day and
a sale at the current net asset value on the last day of each year reported.
Total investment return does not consider the effect of sales load. Prior to
January 15, 1996 the Fund operated as a closed-end investment company and
total investment return was calculated based on market value assuming a
purchase of common stock at the current market value on the first day and a
sale at the current market value on the last day of each year reported.
Dividends and distributions are assumed for purposes of this calculation to
be reinvested at prices obtained under the dividend reinvestment plan. This
calculation does not reflect brokerage commissions.
(b) Prior to January 15, 1996 the Fund operated as a closed-end, non-diversified
management investment company.
(c) Calculated based upon weighted average shares outstanding during the year.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See Notes to Financial Statements. B-58
<PAGE>
Financial Highlights PRUDENTIAL INTERNATIONAL BOND FUND, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Class B Class C
------------------------------------- -------------------------------------
January 15, January 15,
1996(c) 1996(c)
Year Ended Through Year Ended Through
December 31, December 31, December 31, December 31,
1998(d) 1997(d) 1996 1998(d) 1997(d) 1996
------- -------- ------------ ------- -------- ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
PER SHARE OPERATING PERFORMANCE:
Net asset value, beginning of period.......... $ 7.10 $ 7.64 $ 7.72 $ 7.10 $ 7.64 $ 7.72
------- -------- ------------ ------- -------- ------------
Income from investment operations:
Net investment income......................... .37 .44 .52 .37 .40 .52
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on
investments and foreign currencies......... .11 (.20) .25 .11 (.16) .25
------- -------- ------------ ------- -------- ------------
Total from investment operations........... .48 .24 .77 .48 .24 .77
------- -------- ------------ ------- -------- ------------
Less distributions:
Dividends from net investment income.......... (.21) (.54) (.63) (.21) (.54) (.63)
Distributions in excess of net investment
income..................................... (.14) (.24) (.40) (.14) (.24) (.40)
Distributions from net realized gains......... (.04) -- -- (.04) -- --
------- -------- ------------ ------- -------- ------------
Total dividends and distributions.......... (.39) (.78) (1.03) (.39) (.78) (1.03)
------- -------- ------------ ------- -------- ------------
Redemption fee retained by Fund(d)............ -- -- .18 -- -- .18
------- -------- ------------ ------- -------- ------------
Net asset value, end of period................ $ 7.19 $ 7.10 $ 7.64 $ 7.19 $ 7.10 $ 7.64
------- -------- ------------ ------- -------- ------------
------- -------- ------------ ------- -------- ------------
TOTAL INVESTMENT RETURN(a).................... 7.32% 3.25% 12.86% 7.32% 3.25% 12.86%
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Net assets, end of period (000)............... $1,218 $531 $75 $257 $76 $13
Average net assets (000)...................... $785 $335 $23 $126 $26 $8
Ratios to average net assets:
Expenses, including distribution fees...... 2.23% 2.24% 2.09%(b) 2.23% 2.24% 2.09%(b)
Expenses, excluding distribution fees...... 1.48% 1.49% 1.34%(b) 1.48% 1.49% 1.34%(b)
Net investment income...................... 5.51% 6.00% 5.85%(b) 5.53% 5.96% 5.85%(b)
Portfolio turnover rate....................... 46% 53% 38% 46% 53% 38%
<CAPTION>
Class Z
-----------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
March 17,
1997(c)
Year Ended Through
December 31, December 31,
1998(d) 1997(d)
------ ------------
PER SHARE OPERATING PERFORMANCE:
Net asset value, beginning of period.......... $ 7.10 $ 7.57
------ ------------
Income from investment operations:
Net investment income......................... .44 .38
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on
investments and foreign currencies......... .10 (.02)
------ ------------
Total from investment operations........... .54 .36
------ ------------
Less distributions:
Dividends from net investment income.......... (.25) (.59)
Distributions in excess of net investment
income..................................... (.16) (.24)
Distributions from net realized gains......... (.04) --
------ ------------
Total dividends and distributions.......... (.45) (.83)
------ ------------
Redemption fee retained by Fund(d)............ -- --
------ ------------
Net asset value, end of period................ $ 7.19 $ 7.10
------ ------------
------ ------------
TOTAL INVESTMENT RETURN(a).................... 8.16% 4.97%
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Net assets, end of period (000)............... $2,253 $628
Average net assets (000)...................... $1,487 $121
Ratios to average net assets:
Expenses, including distribution fees...... 1.48% 1.49%(b)
Expenses, excluding distribution fees...... 1.48% 1.49%(b)
Net investment income...................... 6.29% 6.82%(b)
Portfolio turnover rate....................... 46% 53%
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(a) Total investment return is based on a purchase of common stock at the
current net asset value on the first day and a sale at the current net asset
value on the last day of each period reported. Total investment return does
not consider the effect of sales load. Total investment returns for periods
of less than one full year are not annualized.
(b) Annualized.
(c) Commencement of offering of Class B, Class C and Class Z shares.
(d) Calculated based upon weighted average shares outstanding during the period.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See Notes to Financial Statements. B-59
<PAGE>
Report of Independent Accountants PRUDENTIAL INTERNATIONAL BOND FUND, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of
Prudential International Bond Fund, Inc.
In our opinion, the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including
the portfolio of investments, and the related statements of operations and of
changes in net assets and the financial highlights present fairly, in all
material respects, the financial position of Prudential International Bond Fund,
Inc. (formerly The Global Government Plus Fund, Inc., the 'Fund') at December
31, 1998, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in
its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended and the
financial highlights for each of the periods presented, in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles. These financial statements and
financial highlights (hereafter referred to as 'financial statements') are the
responsibility of the Fund's management; our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our
audits of these financial statements in accordance with generally accepted
auditing standards which require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the
accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and
evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our
audits, which included confirmation of securities at December 31, 1998 by
correspondence with the custodian and brokers, provide a reasonable basis for
the opinion expressed above.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
1177 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York
February 19, 1999
B-60
<PAGE>
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITY RATINGS
MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE
BOND RATINGS
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 the Aaa securities.
A: Bonds which are rated A possess many favorable investment attributes
and are to be considered as upper-medium-grade obligations. Factors giving
security to principal and interest are considered adequate, but elements may be
present which suggest a susceptibility to impairment some time in the future.
Baa: Bonds which are rated Baa are considered as medium-grade obligations,
i.e., they are neither highly protected nor poorly secured. Interest payments
and principal security appear adequate for the present but certain protective
elements may be lacking or may be characteristically unreliable over any great
length of time. Such bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics and in
fact have speculative characteristics as well.
Ba: Bonds which are rated 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.
Moody's applies numerical modifiers 1, 2 and 3 in each generic rating
classification from Aa to B. The modifier 1 indicates that the company ranks in
the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a
mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates that the company ranks in the
lower end of its generic rating category.
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.
SHORT-TERM DEBT RATINGS
Moody's short-term debt ratings are opinions of the ability of issuers to
repay punctually senior debt obligations. These obligations have an original
maturity not exceeding one year, unless explicitly noted.
PRIME-1: Issuers rated Prime-1 (or supporting institutions) have a
superior ability for repayment of senior short-term debt obligations. Prime-1
repayment ability will often be evidenced by many of 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 earnings 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-2 (or supporting institutions) have a strong
ability for repayment of senior short-term debt obligations. This normally will
be evidenced by many of the characteristics cited above but to a lesser degree.
Earnings trends and coverage ratios, while sound, may be more subject to
variation. Capitalization characteristics, while still appropriate, may be more
affected by external conditions. Ample alternate liquidity is maintained.
A-1
<PAGE>
STANDARD & POOR'S RATINGS GROUP
DEBT RATINGS
AAA: An obligation rated AAA has the highest rating assigned by S&P. The
obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is
extremely strong.
AA: An obligation rated AA differs from the highest rated obligations only
in small degree. The obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the
obligation is very strong.
A: An obligation rated A is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse
effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in
higher-rated categories. However, the obligor's capacity to meet its financial
commitment on the obligation is still strong.
BBB: An obligation rated BBB exhibits adequate protection parameters.
However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely
to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment
on the obligation.
BB, B, CCC, CC: OBLIGATIONS rated BB, B, CCC and CC are regarded as having
significant speculative characteristics. BB indicates the least degree of
speculation and CC the highest. While such obligations will likely have some
quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large
uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions.
COMMERCIAL PAPER RATINGS
An S&P commercial paper rating is a current assessment of the likelihood
of timely payment of debt considered short-term in the relevant market.
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.
A-2
<PAGE>
APPENDIX I--GENERAL INVESTMENT INFORMATION
The following terms are used in mutual fund investing.
ASSET ALLOCATION
Asset allocation is a technique for reducing risk, providing balance.
Asset allocation among different types of securities within an overall
investment portfolio helps to reduce risk and to potentially provide stable
returns, while enabling investors to work toward their financial goal(s). Asset
allocation is also a strategy to gain exposure to better performing asset
classes while maintaining investment in other asset classes.
DIVERSIFICATION
Diversification is a time-honored technique for reducing risk, providing
"balance" to an overall portfolio and potentially achieving more stable returns.
Owning a portfolio of securities mitigates the individual risks (and returns) of
any one security. Additionally, diversification among types of securities
reduces the risks and (general returns) of any one type of security.
DURATION
Debt securities have varying levels of sensitivity to interest rates. As
interest rates fluctuate, the value of a bond (or a bond portfolio) will
increase or decrease. Longer term bonds are generally more sensitive to changes
in interest rates. When interest rates fall, bond prices generally rise.
Conversely, when interest rates rise, bond prices generally fall.
Duration is an approximation of the price sensitivity of a bond (or a bond
portfolio) to interest rate changes. It measures the weighted average maturity
of a bond's (or a bond portfolio's) cash flows, I.E., principal and interest
rate payments. Duration is expressed as a measure of time in years--the longer
the duration of a bond (or a bond portfolio), the greater the impact of interest
rate changes on the bond's (or the bond portfolio's) price. Duration differs
from effective maturity in that duration takes into account call provisions,
coupon rates and other factors. Duration measures interest rate risk only and
not other risks, such as credit risk and, in the case of non-U.S. dollar
denominated securities, currency risk. Effective maturity measures the final
maturity dates of a bond (or a bond portfolio).
MARKET TIMING
Market timing--buying securities when prices are low and selling them when
prices are relatively higher--may not work for many investors because it is
impossible to predict with certainty how the price of a security will fluctuate.
However, owning a security for a long period of time may help investors offset
short-term price volatility and realize positive returns.
POWER OF COMPOUNDING
Over time, the compounding of returns can significantly impact investment
returns. Compounding is the effect of continuous investment on long-term
investment results, by which the proceeds of capital appreciation (and income
distributions, if elected) are reinvested to contribute to the overall growth of
assets. The long-term investment results of compounding may be greater than that
of an equivalent initial investment in which the proceeds of capital
appreciation and income distributions are taken in cash.
STANDARD DEVIATION
Standard deviation is an absolute (non-relative) measure of volatility
which, for a mutual fund, depicts how widely the returns varied over a certain
period of time. When a fund has a high standard deviation, its range of
performance has been very wide, implying greater volatility potential. Standard
deviation is only one of several measures of a fund's volatility.
I-1
<PAGE>
APPENDIX II--HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE DATA
The historical performance data contained in this Appendix relies on data
obtained from statistical services, reports and other services believed by the
Manager to be reliable. The information has not been independently verified by
the Manager.
This chart shows the long-term performance of various asset classes and
the rate of inflation.
---------------------------------------------------
[GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION OF CHART]
VALUE OF $1.00 INVESTED 0N 1/1/26 THROUGH 12/31/98
Small Stocks $5,116.95
Common Stocks $2,350.89
Long-Term Bonds $44.81
Treasury Bills $14.94
Inflation $9.16
----------------------------------------------------
Source: Ibbotson Associates. Used with permission. This chart is for
illustrative purposes only and is not indicative of the past, present or future
performance of any asset class or any Prudential Mutual Fund. All rights
reserved.
Generally, stock returns are due to capital appreciation and the reinvestment of
any gains. Bond returns are due to reinvesting interest. Also, stock prices are
usually more volatile than bond prices over the long-term. Small stock returns
for 1926-1980 are those of stocks comprising the 5th quintile of the New York
Stock Exchange. Thereafter, returns are those of the Dimensional Fund Advisors
(DFA) Small Company Fund. Common stock returns are based on the S&P Composite
Index, a market-weighted, unmanaged index of 500 stocks (currently) in a variety
of industries. It is often used as a broad measure of stock market performance.
Long-term government bond returns are measured using a constant one-bond
portfolio with a maturity of roughly 20 years. Treasury bill returns are for a
one-month bill. Treasuries are guaranteed by the government as to the timely
payment of principal and interest; equities are not. Inflation is measured by
the consumer price index (CPI).
II-1
<PAGE>
Set forth below is historical performance data relating to various sectors
of the fixed-income securities markets. The chart shows the historical total
returns of U.S. Treasury bonds, U.S. mortgage securities, U.S. corporate bonds,
U.S. high yield bonds and world government bonds on an annual basis from 1988
through 1998. The total returns of the indices include accrued interest, plus
the price changes (gains or losses) of the underlying securities during the
period mentioned. The data is provided to illustrate the varying historical
total returns and investors should not consider this performance data as an
indication of the future performance of the Fund or of any sector in which the
Fund invests.
All information relies on data obtained from statistical services, reports
and other services believed by the Manager to be reliable. Such information has
not been verified. The figures do not reflect the operating expenses and fees of
a mutual fund. See "Risk/Return Summary--Fees and Expenses" in the prospectus.
The net effect of the deduction of the operating expenses of a mutual fund on
these historical total returns, including the compounded effect over time, could
be substantial.
<TABLE>
HISTORICAL TOTAL RETURNS OF DIFFERENT BOND MARKET SECTORS
<CAPTION>
====================================================================================================================================
'88 '89 '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 '95 '96 '97 '98
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
U.S. GOVERNMENT
TREASURY
BONDS(1) 7.0% 14.4% 8.5 % 15.3% 7.2% 10.7% (3.4)% 18.4% 2.7% 9.6% 10.0%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. GOVERNMENT
MORTGAGE
SECURITIES(2) 8.7% 15.4% 10.7 % 15.7% 7.0% 6.8% (1.6)% 16.8% 5.4% 9.5% 7.0%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. INVESTMENT GRADE
CORPORATE
BONDS(3) 9.2% 14.1% 7.1 % 18.5% 8.7% 12.2% (3.9)% 22.3% 3.3% 10.2% 8.6%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S.
HIGH YIELD
CORPORATE
BONDS(4) 12.5% 0.8% (9.6)% 46.2% 15.8% 17.1% (1.0)% 19.2% 11.4% 12.8% 1.6%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WORLD
GOVERNMENT
BONDS(5) 2.3% (3.4)% 15.3 % 16.2% 4.8% 15.1% 6.0 % 19.6% 4.1% (4.3%) 5.3%
====================================================================================================================================
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
HIGHEST AND LOWEST
RETURN PERCENT 10.2 18.8 24.9 30.9 11.0 10.3 9.9 5.5 8.7 17.1 8.4%
====================================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
(1) LEHMAN BROTHERS TREASURY BOND INDEX is an unmanaged index made up of over
150 public issues of the U.S. Treasury having maturities of at least one year.
(2) LEHMAN BROTHERS MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES INDEX is an unmanaged index that
includes over 600 15- and 30-year fixed-rate mortgage-backed securities of the
Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA), Federal National Mortgage
Association (FNMA), and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC).
(3) LEHMAN BROTHERS CORPORATE BOND INDEX includes over 3,000 public fixed-rate,
nonconvertible investment-grade bonds. All bonds are U.S. dollar-denominated
issues and include debt issued or guaranteed by foreign sovereign governments,
municipalities, governmental agencies or international agencies. All bonds in
the index have maturities of at least one year.
(4) LEHMAN BROTHERS HIGH YIELD BOND INDEX is an unmanaged index comprising over
750 public, fixed-rate, nonconvertible bonds that are rated Ba1 or lower by
Moody's Investors Service (or rated BB+ or lower by Standard & Poor's or Fitch
Investors Service). All bonds in the index have maturities of at least one year.
Source: Lipper, Inc.
(5) SALOMON BROTHERS SMITH BARNEY WORLD GOVERNMENT INDEX (NON U.S.) includes
over 800 bonds issued by various foreign governments or agencies, excluding
those in the U.S., but including those in Japan, Germany, France, the U.K.,
Canada, Italy, Australia, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and
Austria. All bonds in the index have maturities of at least one year.
II-2
<PAGE>
This chart below shows the historical volatility of general interest rates
as measured by the long U.S. Treasury Bond.
LONG-TERM U.S. TREASURY BOND YIELD IN PERCENT (1926-1998)
[GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION OF CHART]
Source: Ibbotson Associates. Used with permission. All rights reserved. The
chart illustrates the historical yield of the long-term U.S. Treasury Bond from
1926-1997. Yields represent that of an annually renewed one-bond portfolio with
a remaining maturity of approximately 20 years. This chart is for illustrative
purposes and should not be construed to represent the yields of any Prudential
Mutual Fund.
This chart illustrates the performance of major
world stock markets for the period from
12/31/85 through 12/31/98. It does not represent the
performance of any Prudential Mutual Fund.
Average Annual Total Returns of Major World Stock
Markets 12/31/85-12/31/98 (in U.S. Dollars)
BELGIUM 22.7%
SPAIN 22.5%
THE NETHERLANDS 20.8%
SWEDEN 19.9%
SWITZERLAND 18.3%
USA 18.1%
HONG KONG 17.8%
FRANCE 17.4%
UK 16.7%
GERMANY 13.4%
AUSTRIA 8.9%
JAPAN 6.5%
Source: Morgan Stanley Capital International
(MSCI) and Lipper Inc. as of 12/31/98. Used with
permission. Morgan Stanley Country indices are
unmanaged indices which include those stocks
making up the largest two-thirds of each country's
total stock market capitalization. Return reflect
the reinvestment of all distributions. This chart
is for illustrative purposes only and is not
indicative of the past, present or future performance
of any specific investment. Investors cannot invest
directly in stock indices.
II-3
<PAGE>
This chart shows the growth of a hypothetical
$10,000 investment made in the stocks representing
the S & P 500 stock index with and without
reinvested dividends.
Capital Appreciation and Reinvesting Dividends.......... $391,707
Capital Appreciation Only............................... $133,525
[Graphic ommitted]
Source: Lipper Inc. Used with permission. All
rights reserved. This chart is used for illustrative
purposes only and is not intended to represent
the past, present or future performance of any
Prudential Mutual Fund. Common stock total return
is based on the Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Index, a
market-value-weighted index made up of 500 of the
largest stocks in the U.S. based upon their stock
market value. Investors cannot invest directly in
indices.
World Stock Market Capitalization by Region
World Total: $15.8 Trillion
CANADA 1.8%
U.S. 51.0%
EUROPE 34.7%
PACIFIC BASIN 12.5%
Source: Morgan Stanley Capital International
December 31, 1998. Used with permission. This
chart represents the capitalization of major
world stock markets as measured by the Morgan Stanley
Capital International (MSCI) World Index. The total
market capitalization is based on the value of
approximately 1577 companies (representing
approximately 60% of the aggregate market value
of the stock exchanges). This chart is for
illustrative purposes only and does not represent
the allocation of any Prudential Mutual Fund.
II-4
<PAGE>
APPENDIX III--INFORMATION RELATING TO PRUDENTIAL
Set forth below is information relating to The Prudential Insurance
Company of America (Prudential) and its subsidiaries as well as information
relating to the Prudential Mutual Funds. See "How the Fund is Managed--Manager"
in the Prospectus. The data will be used in sales materials relating to the
Prudential Mutual Funds. Unless otherwise indicated, the information is as of
December 31, 1997 and is subject to change thereafter. All information relies on
data provided by The Prudential Investment Corporation (PIC) or from other
sources believed by the Manager to be reliable. Such information has not been
verified by the Fund.
INFORMATION ABOUT PRUDENTIAL
The Manager and PIC(1) are subsidiaries of Prudential, which is one of the
largest diversified financial services institutions in the world and, based on
total assets, the largest insurance company in North America as of December 31,
1997. Principal products and services include life and health insurance, other
healthcare products, property and casualty insurance, securities brokerage,
asset management, investment advisory services and real estate brokerage.
Prudential (together with its subsidiaries) employs almost 81,000 persons
worldwide, and maintains a sales force of approximately 10,100 agents and nearly
6,500 domestic and international financial advisors. Prudential is a major
issuer of annuities, including variable annuities. Prudential seeks to develop
innovative products and services to meet consumer needs in each of its business
areas. Prudential uses the rock of Gibraltar as its symbol. The Prudential rock
is a recognized brand name throughout the world.
INSURANCE. Prudential has been engaged in the insurance business since
1875. It ensures or provides financial services to nearly 40 million people
worldwide. Long one of the largest issuers of individual life insurance,
Prudential has 25 million life insurance policies in force today with a face
value of almost $1 trillion. Prudential has the largest capital base ($12.1
billion) of any life insurance company in the United States. Prudential provides
auto insurance for approximately 1.5 million cars and insures more than 1.2
million homes.
MONEY MANAGEMENT. Prudential is one of the largest pension fund managers
in the country, providing pension services to 1 in 3 Fortune 500 firms. It
manages $36 billion of individual retirement plan assets, such as 401(k) plans.
As of December 31, 1997, Prudential had more than $370 billion in assets under
management. Prudential Investments, a business group of Prudential (of which
Prudential Mutual Funds is a key part), manages over $211 billion in assets of
institutions and individuals. In INSTITUTIONAL INVESTOR, July 1998, Prudential
was ranked eighth in terms of total assets under management as of December 31,
1997.
REAL ESTATE. The Prudential Real Estate Affiliates is one of the leading
real estate residential and commercial brokerage networks in North America and
has more than 37,000 real estate brokers and agents with over 1,400 offices
across the United States.(2)
HEALTHCARE. Over two decades ago, Prudential introduced the first
federally-funded, for-profit HMO in the country. Today, approximately 4.9
million Americans receive healthcare from a Prudential managed care
membership.(3)
FINANCIAL SERVICES. The Prudential Savings Bank FSB, a wholly-owned
subsidiary of the Prudential, has nearly $1 billion in assets and serves nearly
1.5 million customers across 50 states.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE PRUDENTIAL MUTUAL FUNDS
As of December 30, 1997, Prudential Investments Fund Management was the
18th largest mutual fund company in the country, with over 2.5 million
shareholders invested in more than 50 mutual fund portfolios and variable
annuities with more than 3.7 million shareholder accounts.
The Prudential Mutual Funds have over 30 portfolio managers who manage
over $55 billion in mutual fund and variable annuity assets. Some of
Prudential's portfolio managers have over 20 years of experience managing
investment portfolios.
- ----------
(1) PIC serves as the Subadviser to substantially all of the Prudential Mutual
Funds. Wellington Management Company serves as the subadviser to Global
Utility Fund, Inc., Nicholas-Applegate Capital Management as the subadviser
to Nicholas-Applegate Fund, Inc., Jennison Associates LLC as one of the
subadvisers to The Prudential Investment Portfolios, Inc. and Mercator Asset
Management LP, as the subadviser to International Stock Series, a portfolio
of Prudential World Fund, Inc. There are multiple subadvisers for The Target
Portfolio Trust.
(2) As of December 31, 1996.
(3) On December 10, 1998, Prudential announced its intention to sell Prudential
Health Care to Aetna Inc. for $1 billion.
III-1
<PAGE>
From time to time, there may be media coverage of portfolio managers and
other investment professionals associated with the Manager and the Subadviser in
national and regional publications, on television and in other media.
Additionally, individual mutual fund portfolios are frequently cited in surveys
conducted by national and regional publications and media organizations such as
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, THE NEW YORK TIMES, BARRON'S and USA TODAY.
EQUITY FUNDS. Prudential Equity fund is managed with a "value" investment
style by PIC. In 1995, Prudential Securities introduced Prudential Jennison
Growth Fund, a growth-style equity fund managed by Jennison Associates LLC, a
premier institutional equity manager and a subsidiary of Prudential.
HIGH YIELD FUNDS. Investing in high yield bonds is a complex and research
intensive pursuit. A separate team of high yield bond analysts monitor
approximately 200 issues held in the Prudential High Yield Fund (one of the
largest funds of its kind in the country) along with 100 or so other high yield
bonds, which may be considered for purchase.(4) Non-investment grade bonds, also
known as junk bonds or high yield bonds, are subject to a greater risk of loss
of principal and interest including default risk than higher-rated bonds.
Prudential high yield portfolio managers and analysts meet face-to-face with
almost every bond issuer in the High Yield Fund's portfolio annually, and have
additional telephone contact throughout the year.
Prudential's portfolio managers are supported by a large and sophisticated
research organization. Investment grade bond analysts monitor the financial
viability of approximately 1,750 different bond issuers in the investment grade
corporate and municipal bond markets--from IBM to small municipalities, such as
Rockaway Township, New Jersey. These analysts consider among other things
sinking fund provisions and interest coverage ratios.
Prudential's portfolio managers and analysts receive research services
from almost 200 brokers and market service vendors. They also receive nearly 100
trade publications and newspapers--from PULP AND PAPER FORECASTER to WOMEN'S
WEAR DAILY--to keep them informed of the industries they follow.
Prudential Mutual Funds' traders scan over 100 computer monitors to
collect detailed information on which to trade. From natural gas prices in the
Rocky Mountains to the results of local municipal elections, a Prudential
portfolio manager or trader is able to monitor it if it's important to a
Prudential Mutual Fund.
Prudential Mutual Funds trade billions in U.S. and foreign government
securities a year. PIC seeks information from government policy makers.
Prudential's portfolio managers have met with several senior U.S. and foreign
government officials, on issues ranging from economic conditions in foreign
countries to the viability of index-linked securities in the United States.
INFORMATION ABOUT PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES
Prudential Securities is the fifth largest retail brokerage firm in the
United States with approximately 6,000 financial advisors. It offers to its
clients a wide range of products, including Prudential Mutual Funds and
annuities. As of December 31, 1998, assets held by Prudential Securities for its
clients approximated $268 billion. During 1998, over 31,000 new customer
accounts were opened each month at Prudential Securities.(5)
Prudential Securities has a two-year Financial Advisor training program
plus advanced education programs, including Prudential Securities "university,"
which provides advanced education in a wide array of investment and financial
planning areas.
In addition to training, Prudential Securities provides its financial
advisors with access to firm economists and market analysts. It has also
developed proprietary tools for use by financial advisors, including the
Financial Architects(SM), a state-of-the-art asset allocation software program
which helps Financial Advisors to evaluate a client's objectives and overall
financial plan, and a comprehensive mutual fund information and analysis system
that compares different mutual funds.
For more complete information about any of the Prudential Mutual Funds,
including charges and expenses, call your Prudential Securities financial
adviser or Pruco/Prudential representative for a free prospectus. Read it
carefully before you invest or send money.
- ----------
(4) As of December 31, 1997. The number of bonds and the size of the Fund are
subject to change.
(5) As of December 31, 1998.
III-2