AMERICAN SKANDIA TRUST
497, 1999-01-04
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PROSPECTUS                                                     December 31, 1998
                             AMERICAN SKANDIA TRUST
                 One Corporate Drive, Shelton, Connecticut 06484
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Skandia Trust (the "Trust") is a managed,  open-end  investment company
whose separate  portfolios  ("Portfolios")  are  diversified,  unless  otherwise
indicated.  The Trust seeks to meet the differing  investment  objectives of its
Portfolios.  The  Portfolios  as of  the  date  of  this  Prospectus  and  their
respective investment objectives are as follows:

AST JanCap Growth Portfolio seeks growth of capital in a manner  consistent with
preservation  of capital.  AST Janus  Small-Cap  Growth  Portfolio seeks capital
appreciation. T. Rowe Price International Equity Portfolio seeks total return on
its assets  from  long-term  growth of capital  and income  principally  through
investments in common stocks of  established,  non-U.S.  companies.  AST T. Rowe
Price Small Company Value  Portfolio  seeks  long-term  capital  appreciation by
investing   primarily   in   small-capitalization   stocks  that  appear  to  be
undervalued. AST INVESCO Equity Income Portfolio seeks high current income while
following sound investment practices. Capital growth potential is an additional,
but secondary, consideration in the selection of portfolio securities. AST PIMCO
Total Return Bond  Portfolio  seeks to maximize  total return,  consistent  with
preservation  of capital.  AST PIMCO Limited  Maturity Bond  Portfolio  seeks to
maximize  total  return,  consistent  with  preservation  of capital and prudent
investment  management.  AST Stein Roe Venture Portfolio seeks long-term capital
appreciation. AST Neuberger Berman Mid-Cap Value Portfolio seeks capital growth.
AST Neuberger Berman Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio seeks capital appreciation.

Investments in the Trust are neither insured nor guaranteed by the United States
Government.  Such  investments  are not bank  deposits,  and are not insured by,
guaranteed by, obligations of, or otherwise supported by, any bank.

This Prospectus sets forth concisely the information that a prospective investor
should know before  investing  in shares of the Trust and should be retained for
future reference. A Statement of Additional Information, dated December 31, 1998
(the "SAI"),  containing  additional  information about the Trust has been filed
with the Securities and Exchange  Commission  (the  "Commission")  and is hereby
incorporated  by reference  into this  Prospectus.  The Trust's SAI is available
without  charge  upon  request  to the Trust at the above  address or by calling
(800) 752-6342.  The Commission maintains a Web site (http:/  /www.sec.gov) that
contains the SAI,  material  incorporated  by reference,  and other  information
regarding the Trust.

THESE  SECURITIES  HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR  DISAPPROVED  BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE COMMISSION OR
ANY STATE  SECURITIES  COMMISSION  PASSED UPON THE  ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS
PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

Shares of the Trust are  available  to,  and are  marketed  as a pooled  funding
vehicle for, life  insurance  companies  ("Participating  Insurance  Companies")
writing variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance  policies.  As of
the date of this  Prospectus,  the only  Participating  Insurance  Companies are
American Skandia Life Assurance  Corporation and Kemper Investors Life Insurance
Company.  From time to time,  however,  the Trust may enter  into  participation
agreements with other Participating Insurance Companies. The profit sharing plan
covering  employees  of American  Skandia  Life  Assurance  Corporation  and its
affiliates (the "Skandia Qualified Plan"),  which is a retirement plan qualified
under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,  may also
directly own shares of the Trust.  The Trust sells and redeems its shares at net
asset value without any sales  charges,  commissions  or redemption  fees.  Each
variable  annuity  contract and variable life insurance policy involves fees and
expenses  not  described  in  this  Prospectus.  Certain  Portfolios  may not be
available in connection with a particular  variable annuity contract or variable
life insurance  policy or the Qualified Plan.  Please read the Prospectus of the
variable  annuity  contracts  and variable  life  insurance  policies  issued by
Participating  Insurance  Companies for information  regarding contract fees and
expenses and any restrictions on purchases.



<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

Caption                                                                                                        Page

<S>  <C>                                                                                                         <C>
Portfolio Annual Expenses.........................................................................................3
Financial Highlights..............................................................................................6
Investment Objectives and Policies...............................................................................10
     AST JanCap Growth Portfolio.................................................................................10
     AST Janus Small-Cap Growth Portfolio........................................................................12
     AST T. Rowe Price International Equity Portfolio............................................................15
     AST T. Rowe Price Small Company Value Portfolio.............................................................17
     AST INVESCO Equity Income Portfolio.........................................................................19
     AST PIMCO Total Return Bond Portfolio.......................................................................21
     AST PIMCO Limited Maturity Bond Portfolio...................................................................27
     AST Stein Roe Venture Portfolio.............................................................................34
     AST Neuberger Berman Mid-Cap Value Portfolio................................................................36
     AST Neuberger Berman Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio...............................................................40
Certain Risk Factors and Investment Methods......................................................................45
Regulatory Matters...............................................................................................52
Portfolio Turnover...............................................................................................52
Brokerage Allocation.............................................................................................53
Investment Restrictions..........................................................................................53
Net Asset Values.................................................................................................53
Purchase and Redemption of Shares................................................................................53
Organization and Management of the Trust.........................................................................54
Tax Matters......................................................................................................60
Description of Shares of the Trust...............................................................................61
Performance......................................................................................................61
Transfer and Shareholder Servicing Agent.........................................................................62
Custodian........................................................................................................62
Counsel and Auditors.............................................................................................62
Other Information................................................................................................63
</TABLE>


<PAGE>


PORTFOLIO  ANNUAL  EXPENSES  (as a  percentage  of average net  assets):  Unless
otherwise  indicated,  the expenses shown below are for the year ending December
31, 1997.  "N/A" indicates that no entity has agreed to reimburse the particular
expense  indicated.  The expenses of the portfolios  either are currently  being
partially  reimbursed or may be partially  reimbursed in the future.  Management
Fees, Other Expenses and Total Annual Expenses are provided on both a reimbursed
and not reimbursed basis, if applicable.

Maximum  Sales Load Imposed on Purchases  (as a  percentage  of offering  price)
NONE*  Maximum  Sales Load Imposed on  Reinvested  Dividends (as a percentage of
offering price) NONE* Deferred Sales Load (as a percentage of original  purchase
price  or  redemption  proceeds,  as  applicable)  NONE*  Redemption  Fees (as a
percentage of amount redeemed, if applicable) NONE* Exchange Fee NONE*

* Because shares of the Portfolios may be purchased  through variable  insurance
contracts, the prospectus of the Participating Insurance Company sponsoring such
contract should be carefully  reviewed for  information on relevant  charges and
expenses. The table on the following page does not reflect any such charges.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                          Annual Fund Operating Expenses (as a percentage of average net assets)

                                                                                               Total        Total
                                                                                               Annual       Annual
                                    Management   Management     Other           Other          Expenses     Expenses
                                    Fee          Fee            Expenses        Expenses       after any    without any
                                    after any    without any    after any       without any    applicable   applicable
Portfolio:                          voluntary    voluntary      applicable      applicable     waiver or    waiver or
                                    waiver       waiver         reimbursement   reimbursement  reimbursementreimbursement
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<S>                                 <C>           <C>                <C>          <C>             <C>          <C>  
AST JanCap Growth                   0.88%         0.90%              N/A          0.18%           1.06%        1.08%
AST Janus Small-Cap Growth            N/A         0.90%              N/A          0.23%             N/A        1.13%
AST T. Rowe Price International EquityN/A         1.00%              N/A          0.26%             N/A        1.26%
AST T. Rowe Price Small Company Value N/A         0.90%              N/A          0.26%             N/A        1.16%
AST INVESCO Equity Income             N/A         0.75%              N/A          0.20%             N/A        0.95%
AST PIMCO Total Return Bond           N/A         0.65%              N/A          0.21%             N/A        0.86%
AST PIMCO Limited Maturity Bond       N/A         0.65%              N/A          0.23%             N/A        0.88%
AST Stein Roe Venture(1)              N/A         0.95%            0.40%          1.24%           1.35%        2.19%
AST Neuberger Berman Mid-Cap Value(2) N/A         0.90%              N/A          0.25%             N/A        1.15%
AST Neuberger Berman Mid-Cap Growth(3)N/A         0.90%              N/A          0.24%             N/A        1.14%
</TABLE>

(1) These  Portfolios  commenced  operations in January 1998.  "Other  Expenses"
shown are based on  estimated  amounts for the fiscal year ending  December  31,
1998.
(2)  Prior  to May  1,  1998,  the  Investment  Manager  had  engaged  Federated
Investment Counseling as Sub-advisor for the Portfolio, and the total Investment
Management  fee was at the annual  rate of .75% of the first $50  million of the
average daily net assets of the Portfolio,  plus .60% of the Portfolio's average
daily net assets in excess of $50  million.  As of May 1, 1998,  the  Investment
Manager engaged Neuberger Berman Management  Incorporated as Sub-advisor for the
Portfolio,  and the  Investment  Management fee is payable at the annual rate of
0.90% of the average daily net assets of the  Portfolio.  The  Management Fee in
the above chart  reflects the current  Investment  Management fee payable to the
Investment Manager.
(3) Prior to May 1, 1998, the Investment  Manager had engaged Berger Associates,
Inc. as Sub-advisor for the Portfolio,  and the total Investment  Management fee
was at the annual rate of .75% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio.
As of May 1, 1998, the Investment  Manager engaged  Neuberger Berman  Management
Incorporated as Sub-advisor for the Portfolio, and the Investment Management fee
is payable at the annual  rate of 0.90% of the  average  daily net assets of the
Portfolio. The Management Fee in the above chart reflects the current Investment
Management fee payable to the Investment Manager.


<PAGE>


EXPENSE EXAMPLES:

The  examples  shown assume that the total  annual  expenses for the  Portfolios
throughout the period  specified will be the lower of the total annual  expenses
without  any   applicable   reimbursement   or  expenses  after  any  applicable
reimbursement.

     You would pay the  following  expenses  rounded to the nearest  dollar on a
$1,000 investment,  assuming a 5% hypothetical  annual return at the end of each
time period shown below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                After:
Portfolio:                                           1 yr.             3 yrs.           5 yrs.            10 yrs.
- ---------                                            ------------------------------------------------------------

<S>                                                  <C>               <C>              <C>               <C>
AST JanCap Growth                                    11                34               59                130
AST Janus Small-Cap Growth                           12                36               62                137
AST T. Rowe Price International Equity               13                40               69                152
AST T. Rowe Price Small Company                      12                37               64                141
AST INVESCO Equity Income                            10                31               53                117
AST PIMCO Total Return Bond                          9                 28               48                107
AST PIMCO Limited Maturity Bond                      9                 28               49                108
AST Stein Roe Venture                                14                43               N/A               N/A
AST Neuberger Berman Mid-Cap Value                   12                37               64                140
AST Neuberger Berman Mid-Cap Growth                  12                37               64                140
</TABLE>

The above tables are provided to assist you in  understanding  the various costs
and expenses  that you would bear  directly or  indirectly as an investor in the
Portfolio(s). THE ABOVE EXPENSE EXAMPLES ARE ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE
CONSIDERED  AS A  REPRESENTATION  OF THE  PORTFOLIOS'  PAST OR FUTURE  EXPENSES.
ACTUAL EXPENSES MAY BE GREATER OR LESS THAN THOSE SHOWN.




















                 (This page has been intentionally left blank.)


<PAGE>







FINANCIAL  HIGHLIGHTS  (Selected Per Share Data for an Average Share Outstanding
and Ratios Throughout Each Period): The tables below contain unaudited financial
information and financial information which has been audited in conjunction with
the annual  audits of the  financial  statements  of American  Skandia  Trust by
Deloitte & Touche LLP,  Independent  Auditors.  Audited Financial Statements for
the year ended December 31, 1997 and the Independent  Auditors'  Report thereon,
and  unaudited  Financial  Statements  for the period ended June 30,  1998,  are
included in the Trust's SAI,  which is available  without charge upon request to
the Trust at One  Corporate  Drive,  Shelton,  Connecticut  or by calling  (800)
752-6342.  Further  information  about  the  performance  of the  Portfolios  is
contained in the annual  reports of the separate  accounts  funding the variable
annuity  contracts  and  variable  life  insurance  policies,  which also may be
obtained  without  charge  upon  request  to the Trust at that  address or phone
number.  The information  presented in these financial  highlights is historical
and is not intended to indicate future performance of the Portfolios.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                INCREASE (DECREASE) FROM
                                                 INVESTMENT OPERATIONS                        LESS DISTRIBUTIONS

                                    Net Asset      Net                                                                   Net Asset
                                     Value       Investment Net  RealizedTotal From  From Net    From Net                 Value
                        Period      Beginning     Income    & Unrealized Investment  Investment  Realized    Total         End
     Portfolio          Ended       of Period     (Loss)    Gain (Loss)  Operations  Income       Gains    Distributions of Period
     ---------          -----       ---------     ------    -----------  ----------  ------       -----    ------------- ---------

<S>                  <C>   <C>      <C>          <C>         <C>           <C>      <C>          <C>        <C>           <C>   
AST JanCap Growth    06/30/98*      $23.15       $0.04       $7.53         $7.57    $(0.08)      $(1.21)    $(1.29)       $29.43
                     12/31/97        18.79        0.06        5.16          5.22     (0.05)       (0.81)     (0.86)        23.15
                     12/31/96        15.40        0.02        4.19          4.21     (0.02)       (0.80)     (0.82)        18.79
                     12/31/95        11.22        0.06        4.18          4.24     (0.06)           --     (0.06)        15.40
                     12/31/94        11.78        0.06       (0.59)       (0.53)     (0.03)           --     (0.03)        11.22
                     12/31/93        10.53        0.03        1.22          1.25        --            --         --        11.78
                     12/31/92(2)     10.00      (0.01)        0.54          0.53        --            --         --        10.52

AST Neuberger Berman 06/30/98*      $15.15       $0.18      $(0.45)      $(0.27)    $(0.36)      $(1.32)    $(1.68)       $13.20
   Mid-Cap Value**   12/31/97        12.83        0.32        2.87          3.19     (0.36)       (0.51)     (0.87)        15.15
                     12/31/96        11.94        0.36        0.97          1.33     (0.44)           --     (0.44)        12.83
                     12/31/95         9.87        0.40        2.09          2.49     (0.42)           --     (0.42)        11.94
                     12/31/94        10.79        0.46       (1.20)       (0.74)     (0.16)       (0.02)     (0.18)         9.87
                    12/31/93(3)      10.00        0.17        0.62          0.79         --           --         --        10.79

AST PIMCO Total      06/30/98*      $11.72       $0.25       $0.21         $0.46    $(0.51)      $(0.24)    $(0.75)       $11.43
   Return Bond       12/31/97        11.11        0.48        0.58          1.06     (0.45)           --     (0.45)        11.72
                     12/31/96        11.34        0.46      (0.10)          0.36     (0.28)       (0.31)     (0.59)        11.11
                     12/31/95         9.75        0.25        1.55          1.80     (0.21)           --     (0.21)        11.34
                    12/31/94(4)      10.00        0.26       (0.51)       (0.25)         --           --         --         9.75

AST INVESCO Equity   06/30/98*      $16.51       $0.15       $1.53         $1.68    $(0.32)      $(0.81)    $(1.13)       $17.06
   Income            12/31/97        13.99        0.31        2.84          3.15     (0.26)       (0.37)     (0.63)        16.51
                     12/31/96        12.50        0.27        1.79          2.06     (0.24)       (0.33)     (0.57)        13.99
                     12/31/95         9.75        0.25        2.65          2.90     (0.15)           --     (0.15)        12.50
                    12/31/94(4)      10.00        0.16       (0.41)       (0.25)         --           --         --         9.75

AST Janus            06/30/98*      $17.81     $(0.05)       $0.75         $0.70        $--      $(0.85)    $(0.85)       $17.66
   Small-Cap Growth***12/31/97       16.80      (0.05)        1.06          1.01         --           --         --        17.81
                     12/31/96        14.25      (0.03)        2.85          2.82         --       (0.27)     (0.27)        16.80
                     12/31/95        10.84      (0.04)        3.54          3.50     (0.09)           --     (0.09)        14.25
                    12/31/94(4)      10.00        0.11        0.73          0.84         --           --         --        10.84


- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

(1) Annualized.
(2) Commenced operations on November 6, 1992. 
(3) Commenced operations on May 4, 1993. 
(4) Commenced operations on January 4, 1994.
* Unaudited.
** Prior to May 1, 1998, Federated  Investment  Counseling served as Sub-advisor
to the AST Neuberger  Berman Mid-Cap Value  Portfolio  (formerly,  the Federated
Utility Income Portfolio). Neuberger Berman Management,  Incorporated has served
as Sub-advisor to the Portfolio since May 1, 1998.
***  Prior  to  January  1,  1999,  Founders  Asset  Management  LLC  served  as
Sub-advisor to the AST Janus Small-Cap Growth Portfolio (formerly,  the Founders
Capital  Appreciation  Portfolio).  Janus  Capital  Corporation  has  served  as
Sub-advisor to the Portfolio since January 1, 1999.


<PAGE>
















<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      Ratios of Expenses           Ratios of Net Investment Income
                            Supplemental Data                        to Average Net Assets          ((Loss) to Average Net Assets

                                                               After Advisory    Before Advisory  After Advisory     Before Advisory
                            Net Assets at       Portfolio       Fee Waiver        Fee Waiver       Fee Waiver         Fee Waiver
         Total              End of Period       Turnover        and Expense       and Expense      and Expense        and Expense
         Return              (in 000's)          Rate          Reimbursement     Reimbursement    Reimbursement      Reimbursement
         ------              ----------          ----          -------------     -------------    -------------      -------------

         <S>              <C>                     <C>           <C>  <C>          <C>  <C>         <C>  <C>          <C>  <C>
         33.83%           $2,241,721              21%           1.03%(1)          1.05%(1)         0.30%(1)          0.28%(1)
         28.66%            1,511,563             94%              1.07%            1.08%             0.24%            0.23%
         28.36%              892,324             79%              1.10%            1.10%             0.25%            0.25%
         37.98%              431,321            113%              1.12%            1.12%             0.51%            0.51%
          (4.51%)            245,645             94%              1.18%            1.18%             0.62%            0.62%
         11.87%              157,852             92%              1.22%            1.22%             0.35%            0.35%
          5.30%               15,218              2%              1.33%(1)          2.21%(1)        (0.90%)(1)        (1.78%)(1)

          (2.03%)           $215,366             143%           0.96%(1)          0.96%(1)         2.59%(1)          2.59%(1)
         26.42%              201,143              91%             0.90%            0.90%             3.34%            3.34%
         11.53%              123,138              73%             0.93%            0.93%             3.14%            3.14%
         26.13%              107,399              71%             0.93%            0.93%             4.58%            4.58%
          (6.95%)             71,205              54%             0.99%            0.99%             5.11%            5.11%
          7.90%               57,643               5%           1.18%(1)          1.18%(1)         5.09%(1)          5.09%(1)

          4.09%             $697,088             130%           0.84%(1)          0.84%(1)         5.34%(1)          5.34%(1)
          9.87%              572,100             320%             0.86%            0.86%             5.56%            5.56%
          3.42%              360,010             403%             0.89%            0.89%             5.38%            5.38%
         18.78%              225,335             124%             0.89%            0.89%             5.95%            5.95%
         (2.50%)              46,493             139%           1.02%(1)          1.02%(1)         5.57%(1)          5.57%(1)

         10.49%             $747,227              34%           0.93%(1)          0.93%(1)         2.12%(1)          2.12%(1)
         23.33%              602,105              73%             0.95%            0.95%             2.54%            2.54%
         17.09%              348,680              58%             0.98%            0.98%             2.83%            2.83%
         30.07%              176,716              89%             0.98%            0.98%             3.34%            3.34%
         (2.50%)              65,201              63%           1.14%(1)          1.14%(1)         3.41%(1)          3.41%(1)

          3.79%             $269,622              59%           1.12%(1)          1.12%(1)       (0.53%)(1)        (0.53%)(1)
          6.01%              278,258              77%             1.13%            1.13%           (0.32%)          (0.32%)
         20.05%              220,068              69%             1.16%            1.16%           (0.38%)          (0.38%)
         32.56%               90,460              68%             1.22%            1.22%           (0.28%)          (0.28%)
          8.40%               28,559             198%           1.30%(1)          1.55%(1)         2.59%(1)          2.34%(1)


- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>



<PAGE>







<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AMERICAN SKANDIA TRUST

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
PER SHARE DATA (FOR A SHARE OUTSTANDING THROUGHOUT EACH PERIOD)

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                INCREASE (DECREASE) FROM
                                                 INVESTMENT OPERATIONS                        LESS DISTRIBUTIONS

                                    Net Asset      Net                                                                   Net Asset
                                     Value       Investment Net  RealizedTotal From  From Net    From Net                 Value
                        Period      Beginning     Income    & Unrealized Investment  Investment  Realized    Total         End
     Portfolio          Ended       of Period     (Loss)    Gain (Loss)  Operations  Income       Gains    Distributions of Period
     ---------          -----       ---------     ------    -----------  ----------  ------       -----    ------------- ---------

<S>                  <C>   <C>      <C>          <C>         <C>           <C>      <C>          <C>        <C>           <C>   
AST T. Rowe Price    06/30/98*      $12.09       $0.08       $1.45         $1.53    $(0.14)      $(0.23)    $(0.37)       $13.25
   International Equity12/31/97      12.07        0.09        0.08          0.17     (0.07)       (0.08)     (0.15)        12.09
                     12/31/96        10.65        0.06        1.44          1.50     (0.08)           --     (0.08)        12.07
                     12/31/95         9.62        0.07        0.99          1.06     (0.01)       (0.02)     (0.03)        10.65
                    12/31/94(2)      10.00        0.02       (0.40)       (0.38)         --           --         --         9.62

AST Neuberger Berman 06/30/98*      $16.61      $(0.01)      $2.98         $2.97    $(0.01)      $(2.60)    $(2.61)       $16.97
   Mid-Cap Growth**  12/31/97        14.39        0.01        2.36          2.37     (0.02)       (0.13)     (0.15)        16.61
                     12/31/96        12.40        0.01        2.01          2.02     (0.03)           --     (0.03)        14.39
                     12/31/95         9.97        0.04        2.40          2.44     (0.01)           --     (0.01)        12.40
                    12/31/94(3)      10.00        0.01       (0.04)       (0.03)         --           --         --         9.97

AST PIMCO Limited    06/30/98*      $11.02       $0.30      $(0.05)        $0.25    $(0.53)   $       --    $(0.53)       $10.74
   Maturity Bond     12/31/97        10.81        0.55        0.22          0.77     (0.56)           --     (0.56)        11.02
                     12/31/96        10.47        0.56       (0.15)         0.41     (0.05)       (0.02)     (0.07)        10.81
                    12/31/95(4)      10.00        0.05        0.42          0.47         --           --         --        10.47

AST T. Rowe Price Small06/30/98*    $12.88       $0.03       $0.28         $0.31    $(0.05)      $(0.06)    $(0.11)       $13.08
   Company Value    12/31/97(5)      10.00        0.06        2.82          2.88         --           --         --        12.88

AST Stein Roe Venture06/30/98(6)    $10.00      $(0.01)     $(0.81)      $(0.82)   $     --     $     --   $     --        $9.18


- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

(1) Annualized.
(2) Commenced operations on January 4, 1994. 
(3) Commenced operations on October 20, 1994. 
(4) Commenced  operations on May 2, 1995. 
(5) Commenced  operations on January 2, 1997. 
(6) Commenced operations on January 2, 1998 (Unaudited).
*  Unaudited.
** Prior to May 1, 1998,  Berger  Associates,  Inc. served as Sub-advisor to the
AST Neuberger  Berman Mid-Cap  Growth  Portfolio  (formerly,  the Berger Capital
Growth  Portfolio).  Neuberger  Berman  Management,  Incorporated  has served as
Sub-advisor to the Portfolio since May 1, 1998.



<PAGE>




<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



                                                                      Ratios of Expenses           Ratios of Net Investment Income
                            Supplemental Data                        to Average Net Assets          ((Loss) to Average Net Assets

                                                               After Advisory    Before Advisory  After Advisory     Before Advisory
                            Net Assets at       Portfolio       Fee Waiver        Fee Waiver       Fee Waiver         Fee Waiver
         Total              End of Period       Turnover        and Expense       and Expense      and Expense        and Expense
         Return              (in 000's)          Rate          Reimbursement     Reimbursement    Reimbursement      Reimbursement
         ------              ----------          ----          -------------     -------------    -------------      -------------

         <S>                <C>                   <C>           <C>  <C>          <C>  <C>         <C>  <C>          <C>  <C>
         12.84%             $477,431              12%           1.25%(1)          1.25%(1)         1.25%(1)          1.25%(1)
          1.36%              464,456              19%             1.26%            1.26%             0.71%            0.71%
         14.17%              402,559              11%             1.30%            1.30%             0.84%            0.84%
         11.09%              195,667              17%             1.33%            1.33%             1.03%            1.03%
         (3.80%)             108,751              16%           1.75%(1)          1.77%(1)         0.45%(1)          0.43%(1)

         18.63%             $217,779             143%           1.02%(1)          1.02%(1)       (0.10%)(1)        (0.10%)(1)
         16.68%              185,050             305%             0.99%            0.99%             0.07%            0.07%
         16.34%              136,247             156%             1.01%            1.01%             0.24%            0.24%
         24.42%               45,979              84%             1.17%            1.17%             0.70%            0.70%
          (0.30%)              3,030               5%           1.25%(1)          1.70%(1)         1.41%(1)          0.97%(1)

          2.39%             $300,682             128%           0.87%(1)          0.87%(1)         5.84%(1)          5.84%(1)
          7.46%              288,642              54%             0.88%            0.88%             5.71%            5.71%
          3.90%              209,013             247%             0.89%            0.89%             5.69%            5.69%
          4.70%              161,940             205%           0.89%(1)          0.89%(1)         4.87%(1)          4.87%(1)

          2.38%             $309,444               6%           1.11%(1)          1.11%(1)         0.72%(1)          0.72%(1)
         28.80%              199,896               7%           1.16%(1)          1.16%(1)         1.20%(1)          1.20%(1)

         (8.20%)              $4,971              33%           1.35%(1)          2.13%(1)        (0.46%)(1)       (1.24%)(1)


- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

<PAGE>








INVESTMENT  OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES:  The investment  objective and policies for
each of the Portfolios are described below, and should be considered separately.
While certain  policies apply to all Portfolios,  generally each Portfolio has a
different  investment  objective and certain policies may vary. As a result, the
risks,  opportunities and returns in each Portfolio may differ. Those investment
policies  specifically  labeled  as  "fundamental"  may not be  changed  without
approval  of  the  shareholders  of the  affected  Portfolio.  Each  Portfolio's
investment objective or investment policies,  unless otherwise specified, is not
a fundamental policy and may be changed without shareholder approval.  There can
be no assurance that any Portfolio's investment objective will be achieved. Risk
factors  in  relation  to  various  securities  and  instruments  in  which  the
Portfolios  may invest are described in the sections of this  Prospectus and the
Trust's SAI entitled "Certain Risk Factors and Investment  Methods."  Additional
information  about the investment  objectives and policies of each Portfolio may
be found in the Trust's SAI under "Investment Objectives and Policies."

     American  Skandia  Investment  Services,   Incorporated  ("ASISI")  is  the
investment  manager  ("Investment  Manager")  for the  Trust.  Currently,  ASISI
engages a sub-advisor  ("Sub-advisor")  for each Portfolio.  The Sub-advisor for
each Portfolio is as follows: (a) Janus Capital  Corporation:  AST JanCap Growth
Portfolio,  and  AST  Janus  Small-Cap  Growth  Portfolio;  (b)  T.  Rowe  Price
Associates,  Inc.:  AST T. Rowe Price Small  Company Value  Portfolio;  (c) Rowe
Price-Fleming  International,  Inc.:  AST T.  Rowe  Price  International  Equity
Portfolio;  (d) INVESCO Funds Group,  Inc.: AST INVESCO Equity Income Portfolio;
(e)  Pacific  Investment   Management  Company:  AST  PIMCO  Total  Return  Bond
Portfolio,  and AST  PIMCO  Limited  Maturity  Bond  Portfolio;  (f) Stein Roe &
Farnham  Incorporated:  AST Stein Roe Venture  Portfolio;  (g) Neuberger  Berman
Management  Incorporated:  AST Neuberger Berman Mid-Cap Value Portfolio, and AST
Neuberger Berman Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio.

         Subject to approval  of the Board of  Trustees of the Trust,  the Trust
may add one or more  portfolios  and may cease to offer one or more  portfolios,
any such cessation to be subject to obtaining required regulatory approvals.

AST JanCap Growth Portfolio:

Investment  Objective:  The  investment  objective  of the  Portfolio is to seek
growth of capital  in a manner  consistent  with the  preservation  of  capital.
Realization  of income is not a  significant  investment  consideration  and any
income realized on the Portfolio's investments, therefore, will be incidental to
the Portfolio's objective. This is a fundamental objective of the Portfolio.

Investment Policies:

         The  Portfolio  will pursue its  objective  by  investing  primarily in
common stocks. Common stock investments will be in industries and companies that
the Sub-advisor  believes are  experiencing  favorable demand for their products
and  services,  and which  operate in a  favorable  competitive  and  regulatory
environment.  Although  the  Sub-advisor  expects to invest  primarily in equity
securities,  the Sub-advisor may increase the Portfolio's  cash position without
limitation  when the Sub-advisor is of the opinion that  appropriate  investment
opportunities for capital growth with desirable risk/reward  characteristics are
unavailable.  The  Portfolio  may also  invest to a lesser  degree in  preferred
stocks, convertible securities, warrants, and debt securities when the Portfolio
perceives an opportunity  for capital growth from such securities or so that the
Portfolio  may receive a return on its idle cash.  The Portfolio may also invest
in money  market  funds  managed by the  Sub-advisor  as a means of  receiving a
return on idle cash.  Debt  securities  that the Portfolio may purchase  include
corporate  bonds and  debentures  (not to exceed 5% of net assets in bonds rated
below  investment  grade),  government  securities,  mortgage- and  asset-backed
securities,  zero-coupon bonds,  indexed/structured notes, high-grade commercial
paper,  certificates of deposit and repurchase  agreements.  For a discussion of
other  investment   companies   (including  money  market  funds),   lower-rated
securities,  mortgage- and  asset-backed  securities and zero coupon bonds,  see
this  Prospectus  and the Trust's SAI under "Certain Risk Factors and Investment
Methods."

         Although it is the general policy of the Portfolio to purchase and hold
securities  for capital  growth,  changes in the  Portfolio  will be made as the
Sub-advisor  deems  advisable.  For example,  portfolio  changes may result from
liquidity needs,  securities  having reached a price objective,  or by reason of
developments  not  foreseen  at the time of the  original  investment  decision.
Portfolio  changes may be effected  for other  reasons.  In such  circumstances,
investment income will increase and may constitute a large portion of the return
on the Portfolio and the Portfolio will not  participate in the market  advances
or declines to the extent that it would if it were fully invested.

         The Portfolio may invest in "special  situations"  from time to time. A
"special  situation"  arises  when,  in  the  opinion  of the  Sub-advisor,  the
securities of a particular  company will be recognized  and  appreciate in value
due to a specific development, such as a technological breakthrough,  management
change or new  product  at that  company.  Investment  in  "special  situations"
carries an additional risk of loss in the event that the anticipated development
does not occur or does not attract the expected attention.

         Foreign  Securities.  The  Portfolio  may also  purchase  securities of
foreign  issuers,  including  foreign equity and debt  securities and depositary
receipts.  Foreign  securities  are selected on a  stock-by-stock  basis without
regard to any defined allocation among countries or geographic regions. However,
certain  factors  such as  expected  levels of  inflation,  government  policies
influencing business  conditions,  the outlook for currency  relationships,  and
prospects for economic growth among  countries,  regions or geographic areas may
warrant greater  consideration in selecting  foreign stocks. No more than 25% of
the  Portfolio's  assets may be invested in foreign  securities  denominated  in
foreign currency and not publicly traded in the United States.  For a discussion
of  depositary   receipts  and  the  risks  involved  in  investing  in  foreign
securities, including the risk of currency fluctuations, see this Prospectus and
the Trust's SAI under "Certain Risk Factors and Investment Methods."

         Futures,  Options and Other Derivative Instruments.  Subject to certain
limitations,  the  Portfolio  may  purchase  and write  options  on  securities,
financial indices,  and foreign currencies,  and may invest in futures contracts
on securities,  financial indices, and foreign currencies ("futures contracts"),
options on  futures  contracts,  forward  contracts  and swaps and  swap-related
products.  These  instruments  will be used  primarily to hedge the  Portfolio's
positions  against potential  adverse  movements in securities  prices,  foreign
currency markets or interest rates. To a limited extent,  the Portfolio may also
use  derivative  instruments  for  non-hedging  purposes such as increasing  the
Portfolio's  income or otherwise  enhancing  return.  The Portfolio will not use
futures  contracts  and  options  for  leveraging  purposes.  There  can  be  no
assurance,  however,  that the use of these  instruments  by the Portfolio  will
assist it in achieving its investment  objective.  The use of futures,  options,
forward  contracts and swaps involves  investment risks and transaction costs to
which the Portfolio would not be subject absent the use of these strategies. The
Sub-advisor may, from time to time, at its own expense, call upon the experience
of experts to assist it in implementing these strategies. The Portfolio may also
use a  variety  of  currency  hedging  techniques,  including  forward  currency
contracts,  to manage exchange rate risk with respect to investments  exposed to
foreign  currency  fluctuations.  For an  additional  discussion  of futures and
options transactions and the risks involved therein, see this Prospectus and the
Trust's SAI under "Certain Risk Factors and Investment Methods."

         Repurchase  Agreements.  Subject to guidelines promulgated by the Board
of Trustees of the Trust,  the Portfolio may enter into  repurchase  agreements,
which  involve the purchase of a security by the  Portfolio  and a  simultaneous
agreement  (generally with a bank or dealer) to repurchase the security from the
Portfolio  at a  specified  date  or upon  demand.  The  Portfolio's  repurchase
agreements will at all times be fully  collateralized.  Pursuant to an exemptive
order granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Portfolio and other
funds advised by the Sub-advisor  may invest in repurchase  agreements and other
money market  instruments  through a joint trading account.  For a discussion of
repurchase  agreements and the risks involved therein, see this Prospectus under
"Certain Risk Factors and Investment Methods."

         Reverse Repurchase Agreements. The Portfolio is permitted to enter into
reverse repurchase agreements.  In a reverse repurchase agreement, the Portfolio
sells a security and agrees to repurchase it at a mutually  agreed upon date and
price. For a discussion of reverse repurchase  agreements and the risks involved
therein,  see  this  Prospectus  under  "Certain  Risk  Factors  and  Investment
Methods."

         When-Issued,  Delayed Delivery and Forward Transactions.  The Portfolio
may purchase  securities  on a  when-issued  or delayed  delivery  basis,  which
generally  involves the purchase of a security  with payment and delivery due at
some time in the future. The Portfolio does not earn interest on such securities
until  settlement  and bears the risk of market value  fluctuations  between the
purchase and  settlement  dates.  For an additional  discussion  of  when-issued
securities  and  certain  risks  involved  therein,  see the  Trust's  SAI under
"Certain Risk Factors and Investment Methods."

         Illiquid Securities.  Subject to guidelines promulgated by the Board of
Trustees of the Trust, the Portfolio may also invest up to 15% of its net assets
in securities that are considered  illiquid  because of the absence of a readily
available  market  or due  to  legal  or  contractual  restrictions.  Securities
eligible  for  resale  under  Rule  144A  of the  Securities  Act of  1933,  and
commercial  paper issued under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, could
be deemed "liquid" when saleable in a readily available market. For a discussion
of illiquid securities and the risks involved therein, see this Prospectus under
"Certain Risk Factors and Investment Methods."

         Lower-Rated  High-Yield Bonds. The Portfolio may invest no more than 5%
of its net assets (at the time of investment) in lower-rated  high-yield  bonds.
For a discussion of these instruments and the risks involved  therein,  see this
Prospectus  and the  Trust's SAI under  "Certain  Risk  Factors  and  Investment
Methods."

         Borrowing.  Subject to the Portfolio's  restrictions on borrowing,  the
Portfolio may also borrow money from banks.  For a discussion of the Portfolio's
limitations  on borrowing  and certain  risks  involved in  borrowing,  see this
Prospectus  under "Certain Risk Factors and Investment  Methods" and the Trust's
SAI under "Investment Objectives and Policies."

     Securities Lending. The Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities.  For a
discussion of the limits on and risks of lending securities, see this Prospectus
under "Certain Risk Factors and Investment Methods."

         Portfolio  Turnover.  Because  investment  changes usually will be made
without  reference to the length of time a security has been held, a significant
number of short-term transactions may result. To a limited extent, the Portfolio
may also purchase individual securities in anticipation of relatively short-term
price gains, and the rate of portfolio turnover will not be a determining factor
in the sale of such securities.  For a discussion of portfolio  turnover and its
effects, see this Prospectus and the Trust's SAI under "Portfolio Turnover."

AST Janus Small-Cap Growth Portfolio:

Investment  Objective:  The  investment  objective  of the  Portfolio is capital
appreciation. The Portfolio pursues its objective by normally investing at least
65% of its total assets in securities issued by small-sized companies.

Investment Policies:

         The  Portfolio  invests  primarily in common stocks with an emphasis on
securities of small-sized  companies.  Small-sized companies are those that have
market  capitalizations  of less than $1.5 billion or annual  gross  revenues of
less than $500 billion.  Companies whose capitalization or revenues fall outside
these ranges after the Portfolio's  initial  purchase  continue to be considered
small-sized  for the purposes of this policy.  The  Portfolio may also invest in
stocks of larger companies with potential for capital appreciation.

         The  Portfolio  will invest  substantially  all of its assets in common
stocks  to  the  extent  the  Sub-advisor  believes  that  the  relevant  market
environment  favors profitable  investing in those  securities.  The Sub-advisor
generally  takes a "bottom  up"  approach to building  the  Portfolio.  In other
words, it seeks to identify individual  companies with earnings growth potential
that may not be recognized by the market at large. Although themes may emerge in
the Portfolio,  securities are generally  selected without regard to any defined
industry sector or other similarly defined selection  procedure.  Realization of
income is not a significant investment consideration.

         Because  the  Portfolio  invests   primarily  in  common  stocks,   the
fundamental  risk of investing in the  Portfolio is that the value of the stocks
it  holds  might  decrease.  Stock  values  may  fluctuate  in  response  to the
activities of an individual company or in response to general market or economic
conditions.  Historically, common stocks have provided greater long-term returns
and have entailed greater  short-term risks than other  investments.  Smaller or
newer issuers,  such as those in which the Portfolio invests, are more likely to
realize more substantial  growth as well as suffer more significant  losses than
larger or more  established  issuers.  Investments in such companies can be both
more volatile and more speculative.

         The  Portfolio is designed  for  long-term  investors  who seek capital
appreciation  and who can tolerate the greater risks associated with investments
in foreign and  domestic  common  stocks.  The  Portfolio  is not  designed as a
short-term  trading  vehicle  and  should  not be  relied  upon  for  short-term
financial needs.

         The  Sub-advisor  tries to  reduce  the risk of the  Portfolio  through
diversification  of the  Portfolio's  assets,  so that the  effect of any single
holding on its overall  portfolio value is reduced.  In addition,  the Portfolio
will not  invest  25% or more of its  total  assets in any  particular  industry
(excluding U.S.  government  securities).  As described below, the Portfolio may
use futures,  options and other derivative  instruments to protect its portfolio
from movements in securities  prices and interest rates. The Portfolio may use a
variety of currency hedging techniques, including forward currency contracts, to
manage exchange rate risk.

         The Portfolio may invest in "special  situations"  from time to time. A
special situation arises when, in the opinion of the Sub-advisor, the securities
of a  particular  issuer will be  recognized  and  appreciate  in value due to a
specific  development  with  respect  to that  issuer.  Developments  creating a
special situation may include significant  changes in a company's  allocation of
its existing  capital,  a restructuring of assets,  a new product or process,  a
technological breakthrough, a management change or other extraordinary corporate
event,  or  differences  in  market  supply  of and  demand  for  the  security.
Investment in special  situations  may carry an  additional  risk of loss in the
event that the  anticipated  development  does not occur or does not attract the
expected attention.

         The  Portfolio  may  invest to a lesser  degree in types of  securities
other than common stocks,  including  preferred  stocks,  warrants,  convertible
securities and debt securities. The Portfolio may invest up to 25% of its assets
in mortgage- and asset-backed securities.  The Portfolio may invest up to 10% of
its assets in zero coupon,  pay-in-kind  and step coupon  securities,  which are
securities  that do not, or may not under  certain  circumstances,  make regular
interest payments.  The Portfolio may invest in  indexed/structured  securities,
which typically are short- to  intermediate-term  debt securities whose value at
maturity  or  interest  rate is linked to  currencies,  interest  rates,  equity
securities,  indices,  commodity  prices  or other  financial  indicators.  Such
securities may offer growth potential because of anticipated changes in interest
rates,  credit  standing,  currency  relationships  or other  factors.  For more
information  on certain of the other types of  securities in which the Portfolio
may invest,  see this  Prospectus  under  "Certain  Risk Factors and  Investment
Methods."

         When the Sub-advisor  believes that market conditions are not favorable
for  profitable  investing or when it is otherwise  unable to locate  investment
opportunities  with  favorable  risk/reward  characteristics,   the  Portfolio's
investments  may be  hedged  to a  greater  degree  and/or  its cash or  similar
investments  may increase.  In other words,  the Portfolio  does not always stay
fully invested in stocks and bonds. The assets that remain after the Sub-advisor
has committed available assets to desirable investment opportunities are kept in
cash or similar investments,  such as high-grade commercial paper,  certificates
of  deposit,   repurchase  agreements  or  other  short-term  debt  obligations,
including money market funds managed by the  Sub-advisor.  When the Portfolio is
hedged  or its cash  position  increases,  it might  not  participate  in market
advances  or  declines  to the  extent  that it would if it was not hedged or it
remained more fully invested in common stocks.

         Investing in Smaller  Companies.  The Portfolio may invest in companies
that have relatively small revenues,  have a small share of the market for their
products or services, or have limited geographic or product markets.  Smaller or
newer  companies  may lack depth of  management,  they may be unable to generate
funds  necessary for growth or potential  development  internally or to generate
such  funds  through  external  financing  on  favorable  terms,  or they may be
developing  or marketing  new products or services for which markets are not yet
established and may never become established. In addition, such companies may be
or become subject to intense competition from larger competitors.  Securities of
small companies held by the Portfolio may have more limited trading markets than
the markets for  securities of larger or more  established  issuers,  and may be
subject to wider price fluctuations.

         The Portfolio measures the size of a company in part through its market
capitalization.  Market  capitalization is the most commonly used measure of the
size and value of a company.  It is computed by  multiplying  the current market
price of a share  of the  company's  stock by the  total  number  of its  shares
outstanding.

         Foreign  Securities.  The Portfolio may invest without limit in foreign
equity  and debt  securities.  The  Portfolio  may  invest  directly  in foreign
securities  denominated  in foreign  currencies  and not publicly  traded in the
United States.  Other ways of investing in foreign securities include depositary
receipts or shares, and passive foreign  investment  companies.  Generally,  the
same criteria are used to select foreign securities as domestic securities.  The
Sub-advisor  seeks  companies  that meet its  selection  criteria  regardless of
country  of  organization  or  place of  principal  business  activity.  Foreign
securities are generally  selected on a  stock-by-stock  basis without regard to
any defined allocation among countries or geographic regions.  However,  certain
factors such as expected levels of inflation,  government  policies  influencing
business conditions,  the outlook for currency relationships,  and prospects for
economic growth among countries, regions or geographic areas may warrant greater
consideration in selecting foreign securities.

         Investments  in  foreign   securities,   including   those  of  foreign
governments,  may involve  greater risks than  investing in comparable  domestic
securities. The Portfolio may invest in emerging market or developing countries.
Emerging market  countries  involve  greater risks than other foreign  countries
such as immature economic structures,  national policies restricting investments
by foreigners,  and different  legal systems.  As long as the Portfolio  holds a
foreign security,  its value will be affected by the value of the local currency
relative  to the  U.S.  dollar.  When the  Portfolio  sells a  foreign  currency
denominated  security,  its value may be worth less in U.S.  dollars even though
the security  increases in value in its home country.  U.S.  dollar  denominated
securities of foreign issuers (e.g., depositary receipts) are subject to many of
the same risks as other foreign  securities,  including  currency risk,  because
their values depend on the performance of a foreign security  denominated in its
home currency. The risks of foreign investing,  including currency risks and the
risks of investing in developing countries, are described in more detail in this
Prospectus  and the  Trust's SAI under  "Certain  Risk  Factors  and  Investment
Methods."

         Portfolio  Turnover.   The  Portfolio  generally  intends  to  purchase
securities  for long-term  investment  rather than  short-term  gains.  However,
short-term  transactions  may result from  liquidity  needs,  securities  having
reached a price or yield  objective,  changes  in  interest  rates or the credit
standing  of an  issuer,  or by reason of  economic  or other  developments  not
foreseen  at the  time  of the  investment  decision.  Changes  are  made in the
Portfolio's  investments  whenever  the  Sub-advisor  believes  such changes are
desirable. Portfolio turnover rates are generally not a factor in making buy and
sell decisions.

         To  a  limited  extent,  the  Portfolio  may  purchase   securities  in
anticipation of relatively  short-term  price gains. The Portfolio may also sell
one security and  simultaneously  purchase the same or a comparable  security to
take advantage of short-term  differentials in bond yields or securities prices.
For a discussion of portfolio turnover and its effects,  see this Prospectus and
the Trust's SAI under "Portfolio Turnover."

         Illiquid  Investments.  The  Portfolio  may invest up to 15% of its net
assets in illiquid investments.  If illiquid securities exceed 15% of net assets
after  the time of  purchase,  the  Portfolio  will  take  steps to reduce in an
orderly fashion its holdings of illiquid securities. An illiquid investment is a
security  or other  position  that  cannot be  disposed of quickly in the normal
course of business because of the absence of a readily  available market for the
security, because of the terms of the security or because of legal restrictions.
The  Sub-advisor  will follow  guidelines  established  by the Trust's  Board of
Trustees in making  liquidity  determinations  for certain types of  securities,
including Rule 144A securities and privately placed  commercial paper. Rule 144A
securities are securities that are not registered for sale to the general public
under  the   Securities  Act  of  1933,  but  that  may  be  resold  to  certain
institutional investors.

     Borrowing and Lending.  The Portfolio may borrow money and lend  securities
in accordance with the restrictions  described below under "Certain Risk Factors
and Investment Methods."

         Futures,  Options and Other Derivative  Instruments.  The Portfolio may
enter into  futures  contracts  on  securities,  financial  indices  and foreign
currencies  and  options  on  such  contracts,  and may  invest  in  options  on
securities,  financial  indices and foreign  currencies,  forward  contracts and
interest  rate  swaps  and  swap-related  products   (collectively   "derivative
instruments").   The  Portfolio  intends  to  use  most  derivative  instruments
primarily  to  hedge  the  value  of its  portfolio  against  potential  adverse
movements in securities prices, foreign currency markets or interest rates. To a
limited  extent,   the  Portfolio  may  also  use  derivative   instruments  for
non-hedging  purposes  such as seeking to  increase  the  Portfolio's  income or
otherwise  seeking to enhance  return.  For a more detailed  discussion of these
instruments and their risks, see this Prospectus under "Certain Risk Factors and
Investment  Methods"  and the  Trust's  SAI  under  "Investment  Objectives  and
Policies and "Certain Risk Factors and Investment Methods."

         Although the  Sub-advisor  believes the use of  derivative  instruments
will benefit the Portfolio,  the Portfolio's  performance could be worse than if
the Portfolio had not used such instruments if the Sub-advisor's judgment proves
incorrect.

         High-Yield/High-Risk  Securities. The Portfolio may invest up to 35% of
its assets in high-yield/high-risk  securities.  High-yield/high-risk securities
(or "junk"  bonds)  are debt  securities  rated  below  investment  grade by the
primary rating agencies such as Standard & Poor's Ratings Services  ("Standard &
Poor's") and Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's").

         Investments  in  high-yield   securities  are  considered  to  be  more
speculative  than  higher  quality  investments.  The  value  of  lower  quality
securities  generally  is more  dependent  on the ability of the company to meet
interest and principal payments (i.e.,  credit risk) than is the case for higher
quality  securities.  In addition,  issuers of  high-yield  securities  are more
vulnerable  to real or perceived  economic  changes (for  instance,  an economic
downturn or prolonged period of rising interest rates),  and political  changes.
For an additional  discussion of high-yield securities and their risks, see this
Prospectus  and the  Trust's SAI under  "Certain  Risk  Factors  and  Investment
Methods." Please refer to the SAI for a description of bond rating categories.

         When-Issued,  Delayed Delivery and Forward Commitment Transactions. The
Portfolio may purchase securities on a when-issued,  delayed delivery or forward
commitment  basis.  These  transactions  typically  involve  the  purchase  of a
security with payment and delivery at some time in the future (i.e.,  beyond the
normal settlement  period).  The Portfolio earns no interest on such securities,
but bears the risk of fluctuations  in their market value,  between the purchase
and settlement dates.

         Short Sales. The Fund may engage in "short sales against the box." This
technique  involves  selling  either a security  that the  Portfolio  owns, or a
security that the Portfolio has the right to obtain without additional cost, for
delivery at a specified date in the future. The Portfolio may enter into a short
sale against the box to hedge against  anticipated  declines in the market price
of portfolio  securities.  If the value of the securities  sold short  increases
prior to the scheduled  delivery  date, the Portfolio  loses the  opportunity to
participate in the gain.

AST T. Rowe Price International Equity Portfolio:

Investment  Objective:  The  investment  objective of the Portfolio is to seek a
total  return on its  assets  from  long-term  growth  of  capital  and  income,
principally  through  investments  in  common  stocks of  established,  non-U.S.
companies. Investments may be made solely for capital appreciation or solely for
income or any  combination of both for the purpose of achieving a higher overall
return. Total return consists of capital appreciation or depreciation,  dividend
income,  and currency  gains or losses.  This is a fundamental  objective of the
Portfolio.

Investment Policies:

         The Portfolio intends to diversify  investments broadly among countries
and to  normally  have at least three  different  countries  represented  in the
Portfolio.  The  Portfolio  may invest in  countries of the Far East and Western
Europe as well as South  Africa,  Australia,  Canada and other areas  (including
developing  countries).  Under unusual  circumstances,  the Portfolio may invest
substantially all of its assets in one or two countries.

         In seeking its objective, the Portfolio will invest primarily in common
stocks of established  foreign  companies which have the potential for growth of
capital or income or both.  However,  the Portfolio may also invest in a variety
of other  equity-related  securities,  such as  preferred  stocks,  warrants and
convertible  securities,  as well as corporate and governmental debt securities,
when  considered  consistent  with the  Portfolio's  investment  objectives  and
program.   Under  normal  market  conditions,   the  Portfolio's  investment  in
securities  other  than  common  stocks is  limited to no more than 35% of total
assets.  Under exceptional  economic or market conditions  abroad, the Portfolio
may temporarily  invest all or a major portion of its assets in U.S.  government
obligations  or debt  obligations  of U.S.  companies.  The  Portfolio  will not
purchase  any  debt  security  which  at the time of  purchase  is  rated  below
investment grade. This would not prevent the Portfolio from retaining a security
downgraded to below investment grade after purchase.

         The  Portfolio  may also  invest its  reserves  in  domestic as well as
foreign  money market  instruments.  Also,  the Portfolio may enter into forward
foreign currency exchange  contracts in order to protect against  uncertainty in
the level of future foreign exchange rates.

         In  addition  to  the  investments  described  below,  the  Portfolio's
investments may include,  but are not limited to, American  Depositary  Receipts
(ADRs),  bonds,  notes,  other  debt  securities  of  foreign  issuers,  and the
securities of foreign  investment  funds or trusts  (including  passive  foreign
investment companies).

         Cash Reserves.  While the Portfolio will remain  primarily  invested in
common stocks, it may, for temporary defensive measures, invest in cash reserves
without  limitation.  The  Portfolio  may  establish  and  maintain  reserves as
Sub-advisor  believes is advisable to facilitate the Portfolio's cash flow needs
(e.g.,  redemptions,  expenses and  purchases of  portfolio  securities)  or for
temporary,  defensive  purposes.  The  Portfolio's  reserves  may be invested in
domestic and foreign  money market  instruments  rated within the top two credit
categories  by a national  rating  organization,  or if unrated,  of  equivalent
investment quality as determined by the Sub-advisor.

         Convertible  Securities,  Preferred Stocks, and Warrants. The Portfolio
may  invest  in  debt  or  preferred  equity  securities   convertible  into  or
exchangeable  for  equity  securities.  Preferred  stocks  are  securities  that
represent an ownership interest in a corporation providing the owner with claims
on the company's  earnings and assets before common stock owners, but after bond
owners. Warrants are options to buy a stated number of shares of common stock at
a specified  price any time during the life of the warrants  (generally,  two or
more years).

         Foreign Currency Transactions.  The Portfolio will normally conduct its
foreign currency exchange  transactions  either on a spot (i.e.,  cash) basis at
the spot rate prevailing in the foreign  currency  exchange  market,  or through
entering  into forward  contracts to purchase or sell  foreign  currencies.  The
Portfolio  will  generally  not  enter  into a forward  contract  with a term of
greater than one year.

         The  Portfolio  will  generally  enter into  forward  foreign  currency
exchange  contracts  only under two  circumstances.  First,  when the  Portfolio
enters into a contract for the purchase or sale of a security  denominated  in a
foreign  currency,  it may  desire  to "lock  in" the U.S.  dollar  price of the
security.  Second,  when  the  Sub-advisor  believes  that  the  currency  of  a
particular  foreign country may suffer or enjoy a substantial  movement  against
another currency, it may enter into a forward contract to sell or buy the former
foreign  currency (or another  currency which acts as a proxy for that currency)
approximating the value of some or all of the Portfolio's securities denominated
in such foreign currency. Under certain circumstances,  the Portfolio may commit
a substantial  portion or the entire value of its portfolio to the  consummation
of these  contracts.  The Sub-advisor will consider the effect such a commitment
of its portfolio to forward  contracts  would have on the investment  program of
the  Portfolio  and the  flexibility  of the  Portfolio  to purchase  additional
securities.  For a  discussion  of  foreign  currency  contracts  and the  risks
involved  therein,  see this  Prospectus and the Trust's SAI under "Certain Risk
Factors and Investment Methods."

         Futures Contracts and Options. The Portfolio may enter into stock index
or currency  futures  contracts  (or options  thereon) to hedge a portion of the
Portfolio,  to provide an efficient means of regulating the Portfolio's exposure
to the equity  markets,  or as a hedge against  changes in prevailing  levels of
currency  exchange  rates.  The  Portfolio  will not use futures  contracts  for
leveraging purposes.  Such contracts may be traded on U.S. or foreign exchanges.
The  Portfolio  may write covered call options and purchase put and call options
on foreign currencies, securities, and stock indices. The aggregate market value
of the  Portfolio's  currencies  or portfolio  securities  covering  call or put
options will not exceed 25% of the Portfolio's total assets.  The Portfolio will
not commit more than 5% of its total assets to premiums when  purchasing call or
put options.  For an additional  discussion of futures contracts and options and
the risks  involved  therein,  see this  Prospectus  and the  Trust's  SAI under
"Certain  Risk  Factors  and  Investment  Methods"  and the  Trust's  SAI  under
"Investment Objectives and Policies."

         Hybrid  Investments.  The  Portfolio  may invest up to 10% of its total
assets in hybrid instruments.  As part of its investment program and to maintain
greater flexibility,  the Portfolio may invest in these instruments,  which have
the  characteristics  of futures,  options and securities.  Such instruments may
take a variety of forms,  such as debt  instruments  with  interest or principal
payments  determined by reference to the value of a currency,  security index or
commodity at a future point in time. The risks of such investments would reflect
both the risks of investing in futures,  options,  currencies,  and  securities,
including volatility and illiquidity.  Under certain conditions,  the redemption
value  of a  hybrid  instrument  could  be  zero.  For a  discussion  of  hybrid
investments  and  the  risks  involved  therein,   see  the  Trust's  SAI  under
"Investment  Objectives  and Policies" and "Certain Risk Factors and  Investment
Methods."

         Passive Foreign  Investment  Companies.  The Portfolio may purchase the
securities of certain foreign  investment funds or trusts called passive foreign
investment companies. Such trusts have been the only or primary way to invest in
certain  countries.  In addition  to bearing  their  proportionate  share of the
Portfolio's expenses (management fees and operating expenses), shareholders will
also indirectly bear similar expenses of such trusts.

         Illiquid Securities.  Subject to guidelines promulgated by the Board of
Trustees of the Trust,  the Portfolio may acquire  illiquid  securities (no more
than 15% of net  assets).  The  Portfolio  will not invest  more than 10% of its
total assets in restricted securities (other than securities eligible for resale
under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933). For a discussion of illiquid and
restricted  securities and the risks involved therein, see this Prospectus under
"Certain  Risk  Factors  and  Investment  Methods"  and the  Trust's  SAI  under
"Investment Objectives and Policies."

         Repurchase  Agreements.  Subject to guidelines promulgated by the Board
of Trustees of the Trust,  the  Portfolio may enter into  repurchase  agreements
with a  well-established  securities  dealer or a bank  which is a member of the
Federal  Reserve System.  For a discussion of repurchase  agreements and certain
risks  involved  therein,  see this  Prospectus  under "Certain Risk Factors and
Investment  Methods"  and the  Trust's  SAI  under  "Investment  Objectives  and
Policies."

     Borrowing. For a discussion of the Portfolio's limitations on borrowing and
certain risks  involved in borrowing,  see this  Prospectus  under "Certain Risk
Factors  and  Investment   Methods"  and  the  Trust's  SAI  under   "Investment
Restrictions."

AST T. Rowe Price Small Company Value Portfolio:

     Investment  Objective:  The  investment  objective  of the  Portfolio is to
provide   long-term   capital    appreciation   by   investing    primarily   in
small-capitalization stocks that appear to be undervalued. This is a fundamental
objective of the Portfolio.

Investment Policies:

         Reflecting a value  approach to investing,  the Portfolio will seek the
stocks of  companies  whose  current  stock  prices do not appear to  adequately
reflect their  underlying value as measured by assets,  earnings,  cash flow, or
business franchises.  The Portfolio will invest at least 65% of its total assets
in  companies  with a market  capitalization  of $1 billion or less that  appear
undervalued by various  measures,  such as  price/earnings  or price/book  value
ratios.

         Although the Portfolio will invest primarily in U.S. common stocks,  it
may also purchase other types of securities,  for example,  foreign  securities,
convertible  stocks and bonds, and warrants when considered  consistent with the
Portfolio's  investment objective and policies. The Portfolio may also engage in
a variety of investment management practices, such as buying and selling futures
and options.

         In  managing  the  Portfolio,   the  Sub-advisor  will  apply  a  value
investment  approach.  Value  investors seek to buy a stock (or other  security)
when its price is low  relative to its  perceived  worth.  They hope to identify
companies whose stocks are currently out of favor or are not followed closely by
stock  analysts.  Often  these  stocks have  above-average  yields and offer the
potential for capital  appreciation as other investors recognize their intrinsic
value and drive up their prices. Some of the principal measures used to identify
such stocks are:

                  (i)  Price/Earnings  Ratio.  Dividing  a stock's  price by its
earnings per share generates a  price/earnings  or P/E ratio. A stock with a P/E
that is significantly below that of its peers, the market as a whole, or its own
historical norm may represent an attractive opportunity.

                  (ii)  Price/Book  Value  Ratio.  This  ratio,   calculated  by
dividing a stock's  price by its book value per share,  indicates how a stock is
priced relative to the accounting (i.e.,  book) value of the company's assets. A
ratio below the market, that of its competitors,  or its own historic norm could
indicate an undervalued situation.

                  (iii) Dividend  Yield.  Value  investors look for  undervalued
assets. A stock's dividend yield is found by dividing its annual dividend by its
share price. A yield  significantly above a stock's own historic norm or that of
its peers may suggest an investment opportunity.

                  (iv)  Price/Cash  Flow.   Dividing  a  stock's  price  by  the
company's cash flow per share, rather than its earnings or book value,  provides
a more useful  measure of value in some cases.  A ratio below that of the market
or of its peers  suggests the market may be  incorrectly  valuing the  company's
cash flow for reasons that may be temporary.

                  (v)  Undervalued  Assets.  This analysis  compares a company's
stock price with its underlying asset values, its projected value in the private
(as opposed to public) market,  or its expected value if the company or parts of
it were sold or liquidated.

                  (vi)  Restructuring   Opportunities.   The  market  can  react
favorably to the  announcement or the successful  implementation  of a corporate
restructuring,  financial reengineering,  or asset redeployment. Such events can
result in an increase in a company's  stock price.  A value  investor may try to
anticipate  these  actions and invest  before the market  places an  appropriate
value on any actual or expected changes.

         Risks   of   a   Value   Approach   to   Small-Cap   Investing.   Small
companies--those with a capitalization (market value) of $1 billion or less--may
offer greater potential for capital appreciation since they are often overlooked
or  undervalued  by  investors.  Small-capitalization  stocks are less  actively
followed  by stock  analysts  than are  larger-capitalization  stocks,  and less
information  is  available  to evaluate  small-cap  stock  prices.  As a result,
compared  with  larger-capitalization  stocks,  there may be greater  variations
between the current stock price and the estimated  underlying value, which could
represent greater opportunity for appreciation.

         Investing in small companies  involves  greater risk as well as greater
opportunity  than is customarily  associated  with more  established  companies.
Stocks  of small  companies  may be  subject  to more  abrupt or  erratic  price
movements than larger company  securities.  Small  companies  often have limited
product lines,  markets, or financial  resources,  and their management may lack
depth and experience.  In addition,  a value approach to investing  includes the
risks that 1) the market will not recognize a security's  intrinsic value for an
unexpectedly  long  time,  and 2) a stock  that is judged to be  undervalued  is
actually  appropriately  priced due to intractable or fundamental  problems that
are not yet apparent.

         Common and Preferred Stocks.  Stocks represent shares of ownership in a
company.  Generally,  preferred  stock has a specified  dividend and ranks after
bonds and before common stocks in its claim on income for dividend  payments and
on assets should the company be  liquidated.  After other claims are  satisfied,
common stockholders  participate in company profits on a pro rata basis; profits
may be paid out in  dividends  or  reinvested  in the  company  to help it grow.
Increases and decreases in earnings are usually  reflected in a company's  stock
price,  so  common  stocks   generally  have  the  greatest   appreciation   and
depreciation potential of all corporate securities.  While most preferred stocks
pay a dividend,  the Portfolio may purchase preferred stock where the issuer has
omitted, or is in danger of omitting,  payment of its dividend. Such investments
would be made primarily for their capital appreciation potential.

         Convertible  Securities and Warrants.  The Portfolio may invest in debt
or preferred  equity  securities  convertible  into or  exchangeable  for equity
securities.  Traditionally,   convertible  securities  have  paid  dividends  or
interest  at rates  higher  than  common  stocks but lower  than  nonconvertible
securities.  They generally  participate in the  appreciation or depreciation of
the underlying stock into which they are convertible, but to a lesser degree. In
recent years,  convertibles  have been  developed  which combine higher or lower
current  income with options and other  features.  Warrants are options to buy a
stated number of shares of common stock at a specified  price anytime during the
life of the warrants (generally, two or more years).

         Foreign  Securities.  The  Portfolio  may invest up to 20% of its total
assets   (excluding    reserves)   in   foreign   securities.    These   include
nondollar-denominated    securities    traded    outside   of   the   U.S.   and
dollar-denominated  securities of foreign  issuers  traded in the U.S.  (such as
ADRs). Some of the countries in which the Portfolio may invest may be considered
to be developing and may involve special risks.  For a discussion of these risks
as well as the risks involved in investing in foreign securities in general, see
this  Prospectus  and the Trust's SAI under "Certain Risk Factors and Investment
Methods."

         Foreign  Currency  Transactions.  Investors in foreign  securities  may
"hedge" their exposure to potentially unfavorable currency changes by purchasing
a contract  to  exchange  one  currency  for  another on some  future  date at a
specified  exchange rate. In certain  circumstances,  a "proxy  currency" may be
substituted for the currency in which the investment is denominated,  a strategy
known as "proxy  hedging."  For a  discussion  of  foreign  currency  contracts,
certain  risks  involved  therein,  and  the  risks  of  currency   fluctuations
generally,  see this Prospectus and the Trust's SAI under "Certain Risks Factors
and Investment Methods."

         Fixed Income Securities. The Portfolio may invest in debt securities of
any type without regard to quality or rating. Such securities would be purchased
in companies that meet the investment criteria for the Portfolio. The price of a
bond fluctuates with changes in interest rates,  rising when interest rates fall
and falling when interest rates rise.

         High-Yield/High-Risk  Investing.  The  Portfolio  will not  purchase  a
noninvestment-grade  debt  security  (or junk  bond) if  immediately  after such
purchase the Portfolio  would have more than 5% of its total assets  invested in
such  securities.  For a  discussion  of the  risks  involved  in  investing  in
high-yield lower-rated debt securities,  see this Prospectus and the Trust's SAI
under "Certain Risk Factors and Investment Methods."

         Hybrid  Instruments.  The  Portfolio  may invest up to 10% of its total
assets in hybrid  instruments.  Hybrids  can have  volatile  prices and  limited
liquidity  and  their  use  by  the  Portfolio  may  not  be  successful.  These
instruments  (a  type of  potentially  high-risk  derivative)  can  combine  the
characteristics of securities,  futures, and options. For example, the principal
amount,  redemption,  or conversion  terms of a security could be related to the
market price of some commodity,  currency,  or securities index. Such securities
may bear interest or pay dividends at below market (or even relatively  nominal)
rates.  Under certain  conditions,  the  redemption  value of such an investment
could be zero. For a discussion of hybrid investments, see the Trust's SAI under
"Certain Risk Factors and Investment Methods."

         Illiquid Securities.  Subject to guidelines promulgated by the Board of
Trustees of the Trust,  the Portfolio may acquire  illiquid  securities (no more
than 15% of net assets).  For a discussion of illiquid  securities and the risks
involved therein, see this Prospectus under "Certain Risk Factors and Investment
Methods" and the Trust's SAI under "Investment Objectives and Policies."

         Private Placements (Restricted  Securities).  These securities are sold
directly to a small  number of investors  usually  institutions.  Unlike  public
offerings,  such securities are not registered with the SEC. Although certain of
these  securities  may be readily sold, for example under Rule 144A, the sale of
others  may  involve  substantial  delays  and  additional  costs.   Subject  to
guidelines promulgated by the Board of Trustees of the Trust, the Portfolio will
not invest more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities,  but not more
than 10% of its total  assets in  restricted  securities  (other  than Rule 144A
securities).  For a discussion  of illiquid and  restricted  securities  and the
risks involved  therein,  see this Prospectus and the Trust's SAI under "Certain
Risk Factors and Investment Methods."

         Cash Position.  The Portfolio will hold a certain portion of its assets
in U.S.  and  foreign  dollar-denominated  money  market  securities,  including
repurchase  agreements,  in the two highest rating  categories,  maturing in one
year or less.  For  temporary,  defensive  purposes,  the  Portfolio  may invest
without   limitation  in  such  securities.   This  reserve  position   provides
flexibility in meeting redemptions,  expenses, and the timing of new investments
and serves as a short-term defense during periods of unusual market volatility.

         Borrowing.  The  Portfolio  can borrow  money from banks as a temporary
measure for emergency purposes,  to facilitate redemption requests, or for other
purposes consistent with the Portfolio's  investment objective and program. Such
borrowings may be collateralized with Portfolio assets, subject to restrictions.
For an additional  discussion of the  Portfolio's  limitations  on borrowing and
certain risks  involved in borrowing,  see this  Prospectus  under "Certain Risk
Factors  and  Investment   Methods"  and  the  Trust's  SAI  under   "Investment
Restrictions."

     Securities Lending. The Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities.  For a
discussion of the limits on and risks of lending securities, see this Prospectus
under "Certain Risk Factors and Investment Methods."

         Futures and Options. The Portfolio may enter into futures contracts (or
options thereon) to hedge all or a portion of its portfolio,  as a hedge against
changes in prevailing levels of interest rates or currency exchange rates, or as
an efficient  means of adjusting its exposure to the bond,  stock,  and currency
markets.  The Portfolio will not use futures contracts for leveraging  purposes.
The  Portfolio  may also write call and put  options and  purchase  put and call
options on securities,  financial indices, and currencies.  The aggregate market
value of the Portfolio's  securities or currencies  covering call or put options
will not exceed 25% of the Portfolio's net assets. For an additional  discussion
of futures  contracts  and  options  and the risks  involved  therein,  see this
Prospectus  and the  Trust's SAI under  "Certain  Risk  Factors  and  Investment
Methods" and the Trust's SAI under "Investment Objectives and Policies."

AST INVESCO Equity Income Portfolio:

Investment Objective:  The investment objective of the Portfolio is to seek high
current income while following sound investment practices. This is a fundamental
objective of the  Portfolio.  Capital  growth  potential is an  additional,  but
secondary, consideration in the selection of portfolio securities.

Investment Policies:

         The Portfolio seeks to achieve its objective by investing in securities
which will provide a relatively  high yield and stable return and which,  over a
period of years, may also provide capital  appreciation.  The Portfolio normally
will  invest at least 65% of its assets in  dividend-paying,  marketable  common
stocks of domestic and foreign issuers.  Up to 10% of the Portfolio's assets may
be  invested  in  equity  securities  that do not  pay  regular  dividends.  The
Portfolio  also will  invest in  convertible  bonds,  preferred  stocks and debt
securities.   In  periods  of  uncertain  market  and  economic  conditions,  as
determined  by the Board of Trustees,  the  Portfolio  may depart from the basic
investment  objective  and assume a  defensive  position  with up to 100% of its
assets  temporarily  invested  in high  quality  corporate  bonds,  or notes and
government issues, or held in cash.

         The Portfolio's investments in common stocks may, of course, decline in
value.  To minimize  the risk this  presents,  the  Sub-advisor  only invests in
common stocks and equity  securities  of domestic and foreign  issuers which are
marketable;  and will not invest more than 5% of the  Portfolio's  assets in the
securities of any one company or more than 25% of the Portfolio's  assets in any
one industry.

         Debt  Securities.  The Portfolio's  investments in debt securities will
generally be subject to both credit risk and market risk. Credit risk relates to
the ability of the issuer to meet  interest or principal  payments,  or both, as
they come due.  Market risk  relates to the fact that the market  values of debt
securities in which the Portfolio  invests generally will be affected by changes
in the level of interest  rates.  An  increase  in  interest  rates will tend to
reduce the market values of debt securities, whereas a decline in interest rates
will tend to increase  their  values.  Although the  Sub-advisor  will limit the
Portfolio's  debt security  investments to securities it believes are not highly
speculative,  both kinds of risk are  increased by investing in debt  securities
rated below the top four grades by Standard & Poor's  Corporation  ("Standard  &
Poor's) or  Moody's  Investors  Services,  Inc.  ("Moody's")  and  unrated  debt
securities,   other  than  Government  National  Mortgage  Association  modified
pass-through certificates.

         In order to decrease  its risk in  investing  in debt  securities,  the
Portfolio  will invest no more than 15% of its assets in debt  securities  rated
below AAA,  AA, A or BBB by Standard & Poor's,  or Aaa, Aa, A or Baa by Moody's,
and in no event will the Portfolio  ever invest in a debt  security  rated below
Caa by  Moody's  or CCC by  Standard  & Poor's.  Lower  rated  bonds by  Moody's
(categories  Ba,  B,  Caa)  are of  poorer  quality  and  may  have  speculative
characteristics.  Bonds  rated Caa may be in  default  or there  may be  present
elements of danger with respect to  principal or interest.  Lower rated bonds by
Standard & Poor's  (categories BB, B, CCC) include those which are regarded,  on
balance,  as predominantly  speculative with respect to the issuer's capacity to
pay interest and repay  principal in accordance  with their terms;  BB indicates
the lowest degree of  speculation  and CCC a high degree of  speculation.  While
such bonds will likely have some quality and protective  characteristics,  these
are  outweighed  by large  uncertainties  or major  risk  exposures  to  adverse
conditions.  For a description  of securities  ratings,  see the Appendix to the
Trust's SAI.

         While the  Sub-advisor  will monitor all of the debt  securities in the
Portfolio  for the  issuers'  ability to make  required  principal  and interest
payments and other quality factors,  the Sub-advisor may retain in the Portfolio
a debt security whose rating is changed to one below the minimum rating required
for purchase of such a security.  For a discussion of the special risks involved
in  lower-rated  bonds,  see this  Prospectus and the Trust's SAI under "Certain
Risk Factors and Investment Methods."

         Portfolio Turnover.  There are no fixed limitations regarding portfolio
turnover. The rate of portfolio turnover may fluctuate as a result of constantly
changing  economic  conditions and market  circumstances.  Securities  initially
satisfying the Portfolio's basic objectives and policies may be disposed of when
they are no longer  suitable.  As a result,  the  Portfolio's  annual  portfolio
turnover  rate may be higher  than that of other  investment  companies  seeking
current  income  with  capital  growth  as  a  secondary  consideration.  For  a
discussion of portfolio  turnover and its effects,  see this  Prospectus and the
Trust's SAI under "Portfolio Turnover."

         Repurchase  Agreements.  Subject to guidelines promulgated by the Board
of Trustees of the Trust,  the  Portfolio may enter into  repurchase  agreements
with respect to debt instruments eligible for investment by the Portfolio. These
agreements  are entered  into with member banks of the Federal  Reserve  System,
registered  broker-dealers,  and registered  government securities dealers which
are deemed  creditworthy.  A repurchase agreement is a means of investing moneys
for a short period.  In a repurchase  agreement,  the Portfolio  acquires a debt
instrument  (generally  a security  issued by the U.S.  Government  or an agency
thereof, a banker's acceptance or a certificate of deposit) subject to resale to
the seller at an agreed upon price and date  (normally,  the next business day).
In the event that the original  seller  defaults on its obligation to repurchase
the security,  the Portfolio could incur costs or delays in seeking to sell such
security.  To minimize risk, the securities underlying each repurchase agreement
will be maintained with the Portfolio's custodian in an amount at least equal to
the repurchase price under the agreement (including accrued interest),  and such
agreements will be effected only with parties that meet certain creditworthiness
standards  established by the Trust's Board of Trustees.  The Portfolio will not
enter  into a  repurchase  agreement  maturing  in more than  seven days if as a
result  more than 15% of the  Portfolio's  net assets  would be invested in such
repurchase  agreements  and other  illiquid  securities.  The  Portfolio has not
adopted  any limit on the amount of its total  assets  that may be  invested  in
repurchase agreements maturing in seven days or less.

         Foreign  Securities.  The  Portfolio  may invest up to 25% of its total
assets in foreign securities. Investments in securities of foreign companies and
in  foreign  markets  involve  certain  additional  risks  not  associated  with
investments  in domestic  companies  and markets.  The  Portfolio  may invest in
countries  considered to be developing  which may involve  special risks.  For a
discussion  of these risks and the risks of investing in foreign  securities  in
general, see this Prospectus and the Trust's SAI under "Certain Risk Factors and
Investment Methods."

         Illiquid Securities.  Subject to guidelines promulgated by the Board of
Trustees of the Trust,  the  Portfolio may invest up to 15% of its net assets in
securities  that are illiquid by virtue of legal or contractual  restrictions on
resale or the absence of a readily available market.  The Board of Trustees,  or
the Investment Manager or the Sub-advisor acting pursuant to authority delegated
by the Board of Trustees,  may determine that a readily  available market exists
for  securities  eligible for resale  pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities
Act of 1933, or any successor to that rule, and therefore  that such  securities
are not subject to the  foregoing  limitation.  For a discussion  of  restricted
securities and the risks involved  therein,  see this Prospectus  under "Certain
Risk Factors and Investment Methods."

     Borrowing. For a discussion of the Portfolio's limitations on borrowing and
certain risks  involved in borrowing,  see this  Prospectus  under "Certain Risk
Factors  and  Investment   Methods"  and  the  Trust's  SAI  under   "Investment
Restrictions."

AST PIMCO Total Return Bond Portfolio:

Investment  Objective:  The investment  objective of the Portfolio is to seek to
maximize total return,  consistent with preservation of capital. The Sub-advisor
will seek to employ  prudent  investment  management  techniques,  especially in
light of the broad range of  investment  instruments  in which the Portfolio may
invest.

Investment Policies:

         In selecting securities for the Portfolio, the Sub-advisor will utilize
economic forecasting, interest rate anticipation, credit and call risk analysis,
foreign  currency  exchange  rate  forecasting,  and  other  security  selection
techniques.  The proportion of the Portfolio's assets committed to investment in
securities with particular  characteristics  (such as maturity,  type and coupon
rate) will vary based on the  Sub-advisor's  outlook  for the U.S.  and  foreign
economies, the financial markets and other factors. The Portfolio will invest at
least 65% of its assets in the following types of securities which may be issued
by domestic  or foreign  entities  and  denominated  in U.S.  dollars or foreign
currencies: securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies
or   instrumentalities;   corporate  debt  securities,   including   convertible
securities and commercial  paper;  mortgage and other  asset-backed  securities;
inflation-indexed bonds issued by both governments and corporations;  structured
notes,  including  hybrid  or  "indexed"  securities,  and loan  participations;
variable and floating rate debt securities;  bank certificates of deposit, fixed
time  deposits  and  bankers'  acceptances;  repurchase  agreements  and reverse
repurchase agreements; obligations of foreign governments or their subdivisions,
agencies  and   instrumentalities,   international   agencies  or  supranational
entities; and foreign currency  exchange-related  securities,  including foreign
currency warrants.

         The Portfolio  will invest in a diversified  portfolio of  fixed-income
securities  of  varying  maturities.  The  average  portfolio  duration  of  the
Portfolio normally will vary within a three- to six-year time frame based on the
Sub-advisor's forecast for interest rates. The Portfolio may invest up to 10% of
its assets in fixed income  securities that are rated below investment grade but
rated B or higher by Moody's Investors Services,  Inc. ("Moody's") or Standard &
Poor's Corporation ("S&P") (or, if unrated,  determined by the Sub-advisor to be
of comparable quality).  The Portfolio will maintain an overall  dollar-weighted
average  quality of at least A (as rated by  Moody's or S&P).  In the event that
ratings services assign different ratings to the same security,  the Sub-advisor
will determine which rating it believes best reflects the security's quality and
risk at that time,  which may be the  higher of the  several  assigned  ratings.
Securities  rated B are judged to be  predominantly  speculative with respect to
their capacity to pay interest and repay  principal in accordance with the terms
of the  obligations.  The Sub-advisor  will seek to reduce the risks  associated
with investing in such securities by limiting the  Portfolio's  holdings in such
securities and by the depth of its own credit analysis.  For a discussion of the
risks  involved in lower-rated  high-yield  bonds,  see this  Prospectus and the
Trust's  SAI under  "Certain  Risk  Factors  and  Investment  Methods."  See the
Appendix  to the  Trust's SAI for a  description  of Moody's  and S&P's  ratings
applicable to fixed income securities.

         The  Portfolio  may  invest  up to  20%  of its  assets  in  securities
denominated  in foreign  currencies,  and may invest  beyond  this limit in U.S.
dollar-denominated  securities of foreign  issuers.  Portfolio  holdings will be
concentrated  in areas of the bond market (based on quality,  sector,  coupon or
maturity) which the Sub-advisor believes to be relatively undervalued.

         The Portfolio may buy or sell interest rate futures contracts,  options
on  interest  rate  futures  contracts  and options on debt  securities  for the
purpose  of  hedging  against  changes  in the  value of  securities  which  the
Portfolio owns or anticipates  purchasing due to anticipated changes in interest
rates.  The  Portfolio  may engage in  foreign  currency  transactions.  Foreign
currency  exchange  transactions  may be  entered  into the  purpose  of hedging
against foreign currency  exchange risk arising from the Portfolio's  investment
or anticipated investment in securities denominated in foreign currencies.

         The  Portfolio  may enter  into swap  agreements  for the  purposes  of
attempting  to obtain a  particular  investment  return  at a lower  cost to the
Portfolio  than if the  Portfolio had invested  directly in an  instrument  that
provided that desired return.  In addition,  the Portfolio may purchase and sell
securities on a when-issued  and delayed  delivery  basis and enter into forward
commitments to purchase securities;  lend its securities to brokers, dealers and
other  financial  institutions  to earn income;  and borrow money for investment
purposes.

         The "total return" sought by the Portfolio will consist of interest and
dividends  from  underlying   securities,   capital  appreciation  reflected  in
unrealized  increases  in value of  portfolio  securities  or realized  from the
purchase  and sale of  securities,  and use of futures and options or gains from
favorable changes in foreign currency exchange rates.  Generally,  over the long
term,  the total  return  obtained by a portfolio  investing  primarily in fixed
income securities is not expected to be as great as that obtained by a portfolio
investing in equity securities. At the same time, the market risk and volatility
of a fixed  income  portfolio  is  expected  to be less  than  that of an equity
portfolio, so that a fixed income portfolio is generally considered to be a more
conservative  investment.  The  change  in the  market  value  of  fixed  income
securities (and therefore their capital appreciation or depreciation) is largely
a function of changes in the  current  level of interest  rates.  When  interest
rates are  falling,  a  portfolio  with a shorter  duration  generally  will not
generate as high a level of total return as a portfolio with a longer  duration.
Conversely,  when interest rates are rising, a portfolio with a shorter duration
will generally  outperform longer duration  portfolios.  When interest rates are
flat, shorter duration portfolios  generally will not achieve as high a level of
return as longer duration portfolios (assuming that long-term interest rates are
higher than short-term interest rates, which is commonly the case). With respect
to the composition of any fixed income portfolio, the longer the duration of the
portfolio,  the greater the potential for total return,  with, however,  greater
attendant  market risk and price  volatility than for a portfolio with a shorter
duration.  The market value of securities  denominated in currencies  other than
U.S.  dollars  also may be affected by movements  in foreign  currency  exchange
rates.

         Unless  otherwise  indicated,  all limitations  applicable to Portfolio
investments  (as stated in this Prospectus and in the Trust's SAI) apply only at
the time a  transaction  is  entered  into.  Any  subsequent  change in a rating
assigned by any rating  service to a security  (or, if unrated,  deemed to be of
comparable quality), or change in the percentage of Portfolio assets invested in
certain  securities or other  instruments,  or change in the average duration of
the  Portfolio's  investment  portfolio,  resulting from market  fluctuations or
other changes in the Portfolio's  total assets will not require the Portfolio to
dispose of an investment until the Sub-advisor determines that it is practicable
to sell or close out the  investment  without undue market  consequences  to the
Portfolio.

         The  Portfolio's  investments  include,  but are not  limited  to,  the
following:

         U.S. Government Securities.  U.S. Government securities are obligations
of, or guaranteed by, the U.S.  Government,  its agencies or  instrumentalities.
Some U.S.  Government  securities,  such as Treasury bills, notes and bonds, and
securities  guaranteed by the Government National Mortgage Association ("GNMA"),
are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States; others, such as
those of the Federal Home Loan Banks,  are  supported by the right of the issuer
to borrow from the U.S. Treasury;  others, such as those of the Federal National
Mortgage Association ("FNMA"),  are supported by the discretionary  authority of
the U.S. Government to purchase the agency's obligations; and still others, such
as the Student Loan Marketing  Association,  are supported only by the credit of
the instrumentality.

         Corporate Debt Securities.  Corporate debt securities include corporate
bonds, debentures, notes and other similar corporate debt instruments, including
convertible securities.  Debt securities may be acquired with warrants attached.
Corporate  income-producing  securities  may also include  forms of preferred or
preference  stock.  The rate of  return  or  return  of  principal  on some debt
obligations  may be linked or indexed to the level of exchange rates between the
U.S. dollar and a foreign  currency or currencies.  Investment in corporate debt
securities  that are below  investment  grade (rated below Baa  (Moody's) or BBB
(S&P)) are described as "speculative" both by Moody's and S&P. For a description
of the special  risks  involved  with  lower-rated  high-yield  bonds,  see this
Prospectus  and the  Trust's SAI under  "Certain  Risk  Factors  and  Investment
Methods."  For a  description  of  securities  ratings,  see the Appendix to the
Trust's SAI.

         Convertible  Securities.   The  Portfolio  may  invest  in  convertible
securities, which may offer higher income than the common stocks into which they
are convertible.  Typically,  convertible securities are callable by the issuing
company,  which  may,  in effect,  force  conversion  before  the  holder  would
otherwise choose.

         The convertible securities in which the Portfolio may invest consist of
bonds,  notes,  debentures  and  preferred  stocks  which  may be  converted  or
exchanged at a stated or determinable  exchange ratio into underlying  shares of
common  stock.  The  Portfolio  may  be  required  to  permit  the  issuer  of a
convertible  security  to redeem the  security,  convert it into the  underlying
common stock,  or sell it to a third party.  Thus, the Portfolio may not be able
to control whether the issuer of a convertible  security chooses to convert that
security.  If the issuer  chooses to do so,  this  action  could have an adverse
effect on the Portfolio's ability to achieve its investment objective.

         While  some  countries  or  companies  may  be  regarded  as  favorable
investments,  pure fixed income opportunities may be unattractive or limited due
to insufficient  supply,  legal or technical  restrictions.  In such cases,  the
Portfolio may consider equity  securities or convertible  bonds to gain exposure
to such investments.

         Loan Participation and Assignments.  The Portfolio may invest in fixed-
and floating-rate loans arranged through private  negotiations between an issuer
of  debt  instruments  and  one  or  more  financial  institutions  ("lenders").
Generally, the Portfolio's investments in loans are expected to take the form of
loan participations and assignments of portions of loans from third parties.

         Large loans to corporation  or governments  may be shared or syndicated
among several  lenders,  usually  banks.  The Portfolio may  participate in such
syndicates, or can buy part of a loan, becoming a direct lender.  Participations
and assignments involve special types of risk,  including limited  marketability
and  the  risks  of  being a  lender.  See  "Illiquid  Securities"  below  for a
discussion of the limits on the Portfolio's  investments in loan  participations
and  assignments  with  limited  marketability.  If the  Portfolio  purchases  a
participation, it may only be able to enforce its rights through the lender, and
may  assume  the  credit  risk of the lender in  addition  to the  borrower.  In
assignments,  the  Portfolio's  rights  against the borrower may be more limited
than those held by the original lender.

         Variable  and Floating  Rate  Securities.  Variable  and floating  rate
securities  provide for a periodic  adjustment  in the interest rate paid on the
obligations.  The terms of such obligations must provide that interest rates are
adjusted  periodically  based upon an interest rate adjustment index as provided
in the  respective  obligations.  The adjustment  intervals may be regular,  and
range  from  daily up to  annually,  or may be event  based,  such as based on a
change in the prime rate.

         The   Portfolio   may  invest  in   floating   rate  debt   instruments
("floaters"). The interest rate on a floater is a variable rate which is tied to
another  interest rate, such as a money-market  index or Treasury bill rate. The
interest  rate on a floater  resets  periodically,  typically  every six months.
While,  because  of the  interest  rate  reset  feature,  floaters  provide  the
Portfolio with a certain degree of protection  against rises in interest  rates,
the Portfolio will participate in any declines in interest rates as well.

         The Portfolio may also invest in inverse floating rate debt instruments
("inverse  floaters").  The interest  rate on an inverse  floater  resets in the
opposite direction from the market rate of interest to which the inverse floater
is  indexed.  An inverse  floating  rate  security  may  exhibit  greater  price
volatility than a fixed rate obligation of similar credit quality. The Portfolio
will not  invest  more than 5% of its net assets in any  combination  of inverse
floater, interest only, or principal only securities.

         Inflation-Indexed  Bonds.  Inflation-indexed  bonds  are  fixed  income
securities whose principal value is periodically  adjusted according to the rate
of inflation. The interest rate on these bonds is generally fixed at issuance at
a rate lower than typical  bonds.  Over the life of an  inflation-indexed  bond,
however,  interest will be paid based on a principal value which is adjusted for
inflation.  For example,  if the Portfolio purchased an  inflation-indexed  bond
with a par value of $1,000  and a 3% real rate of return  coupon  (payable  1.5%
semi-annually),  and  inflation  over the first six months were 1%, the mid-year
par value of the bond would be $1,010 and the first semi-annual interest payment
would be $15.15 ($1,010 times 1.5%).

         Repayment of the original bond principal upon maturity (as adjusted for
inflation) is guaranteed in the case of U.S. Treasury  inflation-indexed  bonds,
even during a period of  deflation.  However,  the current  market  value of the
bonds is not guaranteed,  and will  fluctuate.  The Portfolio may also invest in
other inflation related bonds which may or may not provide a similar  guarantee.
If a guarantee of principal is not provided, the adjusted principal value of the
bond repaid at maturity may be less than the original principal.

         The value of inflation-indexed  bonds is expected to change in response
to changes in real interest rates (which are nominal interest rates adjusted for
inflation).  If inflation  were to rise at a faster rate than  nominal  interest
rates,  real interest  rates would  decline,  leading to an increase in value of
inflation-indexed  bonds. In contrast,  if nominal interest rates increased at a
faster  rate than  inflation,  real  interest  rates  would  rise,  leading to a
decrease in value of inflation-indexed bonds.

         While these  securities  are  expected to be protected  from  long-term
inflationary trends,  short-term increases in inflation may lead to a decline in
value.  If interest rates rise due to reasons other than inflation (for example,
due to changes in currency  exchange  rates),  investors in these securities may
not be protected to the extent that the increase is not  reflected in the bond's
inflation measure.

         The U.S.  Treasury has only recently  begun  issuing  inflation-indexed
bonds. As such, there is no trading history of these  securities,  and there can
be no assurance that a liquid market in these instruments will develop, although
one is expected.  There also can be no  assurance  that the U.S.  Treasury  will
issue  any  particular  amount  of  inflation-indexed   bonds.  Certain  foreign
governments,  such as the United  Kingdom,  Canada and Australia,  have a longer
history  of  issuing  inflation-indexed  bonds,  and there may be a more  liquid
market in certain of these countries for these securities.

         Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed  Securities.  The Portfolio may
invest all of its assets in mortgage-related and other asset-backed  securities,
including  mortgage   pass-through   securities  and   collateralized   mortgage
obligations. The value of some mortgage- or asset-backed securities in which the
Portfolio  invests  may be  particularly  sensitive  to  changes  in  prevailing
interest rates, and, like the other investments of the Portfolio, the ability of
the Portfolio to successfully  utilize these instruments may depend in part upon
the ability of the  Sub-advisor  to forecast  interest  rates and other economic
factors  correctly.  For a description of these securities and the special risks
involved  therein,  see this  Prospectus and the Trust's SAI under "Certain Risk
Factors and Investment Methods" and the Trust's SAI under "Investment Objectives
and Policies."

         Repurchase  Agreements.  For  the  purpose  of  achieving  income,  the
Portfolio  may  enter  into   repurchase   agreements,   subject  to  guidelines
promulgated by the Board of Trustees of the Trust. The Portfolio will not invest
more than 15% of its net assets  (taken at current  market  value) in repurchase
agreements  maturing in more than seven days.  For a  discussion  of  repurchase
agreements and the risks involved  therein,  see this Prospectus  under "Certain
Risk Factors and Investment Methods."

         Reverse  Repurchase  Agreements,  Dollar Rolls and Other Borrowings.  A
reverse  repurchase  agreement  involves the sale of a security by the Portfolio
and its agreement to repurchase  the  instrument at a specified  time and price,
and for some  purposes may be  considered a borrowing.  The  Portfolio  may also
enter into dollar rolls, in which the Portfolio sells  mortgage-backed  or other
securities  for delivery in the current  month and  simultaneously  contracts to
purchase  substantially  similar  securities on a specified  future date. In the
case of dollar rolls involving mortgage-backed  securities,  the mortgage-backed
securities  that are  purchased  will be of the same type and will have the same
interest  rate as  those  sold,  but will be  supported  by  different  pools of
mortgages.  The Portfolio  foregoes  principal and interest paid during the roll
period on the securities sold in a dollar roll, but the Portfolio is compensated
by the  difference  between the current  sales price and the lower price for the
future  purchase  as well  as by any  interest  earned  on the  proceeds  of the
securities sold. The Portfolio also could be compensated  through the receipt of
fee income equivalent to a lower forward price.

         These  practices  will tend to exaggerate the effect on net asset value
of any  increase  or decrease  in the value of the  Portfolio  and may cause the
Portfolio to liquidate  portfolio positions when it would not be advantageous to
do so. The Portfolio  will maintain a segregated  account  consisting of cash or
other liquid assets to cover its obligations under reverse repurchase agreements
and dollar rolls. Reverse repurchase agreements and dollar rolls will be subject
to the  Portfolio's  limitations  on  borrowing  as discussed in the Trust's SAI
under  "Investment  Restrictions."  Apart from  transactions  involving  reverse
repurchase  agreements  and dollar rolls,  the Portfolio  will not borrow money,
except for temporary  administrative  purposes.  For an additional discussion of
the  risks of  borrowing  and of  reverse  repurchase  agreements  and the risks
involved  therein,  see this  Prospectus and the Trust's SAI under "Certain Risk
Factors and Investment Methods."

         When-Issued, Delayed-Delivery, and Forward Commitment Transactions. The
Portfolio may purchase or sell securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery, or
forward  commitment  basis.  These  transactions  involve  a  commitment  by the
Portfolio to purchase or sell  securities  for a  predetermined  price or yield,
with  payment and delivery  taking place more than seven days in the future,  or
after a period  longer  than the  customary  settlement  period for that type of
security. When such purchases are outstanding,  the Portfolio will set aside and
maintain  until the  settlement  date,  in a segregated  account,  cash or other
liquid assets in an amount sufficient to meet the purchase price.  Typically, no
income  accrues on securities  the Portfolio has committed to purchase  prior to
the time  delivery of the  securities  is made,  although the Portfolio may earn
income on securities it has deposited in a segregated account. When purchasing a
security on a when-issued,  delayed delivery,  or forward  commitment basis, the
Portfolio  assumes the rights and risks of ownership of the security,  including
the risk of price  and yield  fluctuations,  and takes  such  fluctuations  into
account  when  determining  its net asset  value.  Because the  Portfolio is not
required to pay for the  security  until the delivery  date,  these risks are in
addition to the risks associated with the Portfolio's other investments.  If the
Portfolio  remains  substantially  fully  invested  at a time when  when-issued,
delayed delivery, or forward commitment purchases are outstanding, the purchases
may result in a form of leverage.  When the  Portfolio  has sold a security on a
when-issued,  delayed delivery,  or forward commitment basis, the Portfolio does
not  participate in future gains or losses with respect to the security.  If the
other party to a  transaction  fails to deliver or pay for the  securities,  the
Portfolio  could miss a favorable  price or yield  opportunity or could suffer a
loss.  The  Portfolio may dispose of or  renegotiate  a transaction  after it is
entered into, and may sell when-issued or forward  commitment  securities before
they are  delivered,  which may  result in a capital  gain or loss.  There is no
percentage  limitation on the extent to which the Portfolio may purchase or sell
securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery, or forward commitment basis.

         Short Sales.  The Portfolio may from time to time effect short sales as
part  of its  overall  portfolio  management  strategies,  including  the use of
derivative  instruments,  or to  offset  potential  declines  in  value  of long
positions in similar  securities as those sold short. A short sale (other than a
short sale  "against the box") is a transaction  in which the Portfolio  sells a
security it does not own at the time of the sale in anticipation that the market
price of that security will decline. To the extent that the Portfolio engages in
short  sales,  it must  (except  in the case of  short  sales  against  the box)
maintain  asset  coverage  in the  form of  cash or  other  liquid  assets  in a
segregated  account.  A short sale is  "against  the box" to the extent that the
Portfolio  contemporaneously  owns, or has the right to obtain at no added cost,
securities identical to those sold short.

         Foreign  Securities.  The Portfolio may invest directly in fixed income
securities of non-U.S.  issuers.  The  Portfolio  will  concentrate  its foreign
investments to securities of issuers based in developed countries. The Portfolio
may invest up to 10% of its assets in  securities  of issuers based in countries
with  emerging  securities  markets.  The  Sub-advisor  has broad  discretion to
identify  and invest in  countries  that it  considers  to  qualify as  emerging
securities  markets.  Investing  in the  securities  of issuers  in any  foreign
country involves special risks and considerations not typically  associated with
investing in U.S. companies. For a discussion of the risks involved in investing
in foreign  securities,  in  general,  and the  special  risks of  investing  in
developing countries,  as well as the risks of currency  fluctuations,  see this
Prospectus  and the  Trust's SAI under  "Certain  Risk  Factors  and  Investment
Methods."

         Brady Bonds.  The Portfolio may invest in Brady Bonds.  Brady Bonds are
securities  created  through the exchange of existing  commercial  bank loans to
sovereign  entities for new obligations in connection  with debt  restructurings
under a debt  restructuring  plan  introduced  by former U.S.  Secretary  of the
Treasury, Nicholas F. Brady. Brady Bonds have been issued only recently, and for
that  reason  do  not  have  a  long  payment   history.   Brady  Bonds  may  be
collateralized  or  uncollateralized,  are  issued in  various  currencies  (but
primarily  the U.S.  dollar),  and are actively  traded in the  over-the-counter
secondary  market.  Brady  Bonds  are  not  considered  to  be  U.S.  Government
Securities.  In light of the  residual  risk of Brady  Bonds  and,  among  other
factors, the history of defaults with respect to commercial bank loans by public
and private  entities in countries  issuing  Brady Bonds,  investments  in Brady
Bonds may be viewed as  speculative.  There can be no assurance that Brady Bonds
acquired by the Portfolio will not be subject to  restructuring  arrangements or
to requests  for new credit,  which may cause the  Portfolio to suffer a loss of
interest or principal on any of its holdings.

         Foreign Currency  Transactions.  The Portfolio may buy and sell foreign
currency  futures  contracts  and  options on  foreign  currencies  and  foreign
currency  futures  contracts,  enter  into  forward  foreign  currency  exchange
contracts to reduce the risks of adverse changes in foreign  exchange rates. The
Portfolio  may enter into these  contracts  for the  purpose of hedging  against
foreign  exchange risk arising from the  Portfolio's  investment or  anticipated
investment in securities denominated in foreign currencies.  For a discussion of
foreign  currency   transactions  and  the  risks  involved  therein,  see  this
Prospectus  and the  Trust's SAI under  "Certain  Risk  Factors  and  Investment
Methods."

         Options on Securities, Securities Indexes and Currencies. The Portfolio
may purchase and write call and put options on  securities,  securities  indexes
and on foreign  currencies,  and enter into futures contracts and use options on
futures  contracts as further described below. The Portfolio may also enter into
swap  agreements  with  respect  to  foreign  currencies,   interest  rates  and
securities  indexes.  The  Portfolio  may use these  techniques to hedge against
changes in interest rates, foreign currency, exchange rates or securities prices
or as part of its overall investment strategy.

         The Portfolio may purchase options on securities to protect holdings in
an underlying or related security against a substantial decline in market value.
A  Portfolio  may  purchase  call  options  on  securities  to  protect  against
substantial  increases in prices of securities the Portfolio intends to purchase
pending  its  ability to invest in such  securities  in an orderly  manner.  The
Portfolio may sell put or call options it has previously purchased,  which could
result in a net gain or loss  depending  on whether  the amount  realized on the
sale is more or less than the  premium and other  transaction  costs paid on the
put or call option which is sold.  The  Portfolio may write a call or put option
only if it is "covered" by the  Portfolio  holding a position in the  underlying
securities or by other means which would permit  immediate  satisfaction  of the
Portfolio's obligation as writer of the option. Prior to exercise or expiration,
an option may be closed out by an  offsetting  purchase  or sale of an option of
the same series.

         The Portfolio may also invest in foreign-denominated securities and may
buy or sell put and call options on foreign currencies.  Currency options traded
on U.S. or other exchanges may be subject to position limits which may limit the
ability of the Portfolio to reduce foreign currency risk using such options. For
a discussion  of options and the risks  involved  therein,  as well as the risks
involved in investing in foreign  currency,  see this Prospectus and the Trust's
SAI under "Certain Risk Factors and Investment Methods."

         Swap Agreements.  The Portfolio may enter into interest rate, index and
currency  exchange rate swap agreements for the purposes of attempting to obtain
a  particular  desired  return  at a  lower  cost to the  Portfolio  than if the
Portfolio  had  invested  directly  in an  instrument  that  yielded the desired
return.  Swap  agreements  are  two-party  contracts  entered into  primarily by
institutional  investors  for periods  ranging from a few weeks to more than one
year.  In a standard  "swap"  transaction,  two parties  agree to  exchange  the
returns (or  differentials  in rates of return) earned or realized on particular
predetermined  investments or instruments.  The gross returns to be exchanged or
"swapped"  between  the  parties  are  calculated  with  respect to a  "notional
amount," i.e., the return on or increase in value of a particular  dollar amount
invested at a particular interest rate, in a particular foreign currency,  or in
a "basket" of securities  representing  a particular  index.  Commonly used swap
agreements include interest rate caps, under which, in return for a premium, one
party  agrees to make  payments to the other to the extent that  interest  rates
exceed a specified rate or "cap";  interest floors, under which, in return for a
premium,  one party  agrees to make  payments  to the other to the  extent  that
interest  rates fall below a  specified  level or  "floor";  and  interest  rate
collars,  under which a party sells a cap and purchases a floor or vice versa in
an attempt to protect itself against  interest rate  movements  exceeding  given
minimum or maximum levels.

         The  "notional  amount" of a swap  agreement is only a fictive basis on
which to calculate the  obligations  which the parties to a swap  agreement have
agreed to exchange.  Most swap  agreements  entered into by the Portfolio  would
calculate  the  obligations  of the parties to the  agreement  on a "net basis."
Consequently,  the  Portfolio's  obligations  (or rights) under a swap agreement
will  generally be equal only to the net amount to be paid or received under the
agreement  based on the relative  values of the positions  held by each party to
the agreement ("net amount"). The Portfolio's obligations under a swap agreement
will be accrued daily (offset  against  amounts owed to the  Portfolio)  and any
accrued  unpaid net amounts owed to a swap  counterparty  will be covered by the
maintenance of a segregated account consisting of cash or other liquid assets to
avoid any potential  leveraging of the  Portfolio.  The Portfolio will not enter
into a swap  agreement  with any single  party if the net  amount  owed or to be
received  under  existing  contracts  with  that  party  would  exceed 5% of the
Portfolio's total assets.

         Risks of Swaps.  Whether the Portfolio's use of swap agreements will be
successful in furthering its investment objective will depend on the Portfolio's
ability to predict  correctly  whether certain types of investment are likely to
produce  greater  returns than other  investments.  Because  they are  two-party
contracts and because they have terms of longer than seven days, swap agreements
may be considered  illiquid.  Moreover,  the Portfolio bears the risk of loss of
the amount  expected to be  received  under a swap  agreement  in the event of a
default or bankruptcy of a swap agreement  counterparty.  The  Sub-advisor  will
cause the Portfolio to enter into swap agreements only with  counterparties that
would be eligible for consideration as repurchase agreement counterparties under
the Portfolio's repurchase agreement guidelines. Certain restrictions imposed on
the Portfolio by the Internal Revenue Code may limit the Portfolio's  ability to
use  swap  agreements.  The  swaps  market  is  relatively  new  and is  largely
unregulated.  It is possible that  developments  in the swaps market,  including
potential  governmental  regulation,  could  adversely  affect  the  Portfolio's
ability to  terminate  existing  swap  agreements  or to  realize  amounts to be
received under such agreements.

         Futures Contracts and Options on Futures  Contracts.  The Portfolio may
invest in interest rate futures  contracts,  stock index  futures  contracts and
foreign currency futures contracts and options thereon that are traded on a U.S.
or  foreign  exchange  or board of trade.  The  Portfolio  will only  enter into
futures contracts or futures options which are standardized and traded on a U.S.
or  foreign  exchange  or board of trade,  or  similar  entity,  or quoted on an
automated  quotation system.  The Portfolio will use financial futures contracts
and related  options  only for "bona  fide"  hedging  purposes,  as such term is
defined in the applicable regulations of the CFTC, or, with respect to positions
in  financial  futures  and  related  options  that do not qualify as "bona fide
hedging"  positions,  will enter such  non-hedging  positions only to the extent
that  aggregate  initial  margin  deposit plus  premiums paid by it for the open
futures  options  position,  less the  amount  by which any such  positions  are
"in-the-money,"  would not exceed 5% of the  Portfolio's  total  assets.  For an
additional  discussion of futures  contracts and related options,  and the risks
involved  therein,  see this  Prospectus and the Trust's SAI under "Certain Risk
Factors and Investment Methods."

         Hybrid Instruments.  The Portfolio may invest up to 5% of its assets in
hybrid  instruments.  A hybrid  instrument  can combine the  characteristics  of
securities,  futures, and options.  Hybrids can be used as an efficient means of
pursuing a variety of investment goals,  including  currency  hedging,  duration
management,  and increased total return. For an additional  discussion of hybrid
instruments  and  certain  risks  involved  therein,  see the  Trust's SAI under
"Certain Risk Factors and Investment Methods."

         Illiquid Securities.  Subject to guidelines promulgated by the Board of
Trustees of the Trust,  the  Portfolio may invest up to 15% of its net assets in
illiquid  securities.  Certain  illiquid  securities may require pricing at fair
value  as  determined  in good  faith  under  the  supervision  of the  Board of
Trustees.  The term "illiquid securities" for this purpose means securities that
cannot be disposed of within  seven days in the  ordinary  course of business at
approximately  the amount at which the  Portfolio  has  valued  the  securities.
Illiquid  securities  are  considered to include,  among other  things,  written
over-the-counter options,  securities or other liquid assets being used as cover
for such options, repurchase agreements with maturities in excess of seven days,
certain loan participation interests,  fixed time deposits which are not subject
to prepayment or provide for withdrawal  penalties upon  prepayment  (other than
overnight  deposits),  securities  that are  subject  to  legal  or  contractual
restrictions  on resale and other  securities  whose  disposition  is restricted
under the federal securities laws (other than securities issued pursuant to Rule
144A under the Securities Act of 1933 that the  Sub-advisor has determined to be
liquid under procedures approved by the Board of Trustees).  Illiquid securities
may include  privately  placed  securities,  which are sold  directly to a small
number  of  investors,  usually  institutions.  Unlike  public  offerings,  such
securities  are not  registered  under the  federal  securities  laws.  Although
certain of these  securities may be readily sold, for example,  under Rule 144A,
others  may be  illiquid,  and their  sale may  involve  substantial  delays and
additional costs.

     Portfolio  Turnover.  The Portfolio may have higher portfolio turnover than
other mutual  funds with  similar  investment  objectives.  For a discussion  of
portfolio  turnover and its  effects,  see this  Prospectus  and the Trust's SAI
under "Portfolio Turnover."

AST PIMCO Limited Maturity Bond Portfolio:

     Investment Objective:  The investment objective of the Portfolio is to seek
to maximize total return,  consistent  with  preservation of capital and prudent
investment management. This is a fundamental objective of the Portfolio.

Investment Policies:

         In selecting  securities for the Portfolio,  the  Sub-advisor  utilizes
economic forecasting, interest rate anticipation, credit and call risk analysis,
foreign  currency  exchange  rate  forecasting,  and  other  security  selection
techniques. The proportion of each Portfolio's assets committed to investment in
securities with particular  characteristics  (such as maturity,  type and coupon
rate) will vary based on the  Sub-advisor's  outlook  for the U.S.  and  foreign
economies, the financial markets, and other factors.

         The  Portfolio  will  invest at least  65% of its  total  assets in the
following  types of  securities,  which  may be issued by  domestic  or  foreign
entities  and  denominated  in U.S.  dollars or foreign  currencies:  securities
issued or guaranteed by the U.S.  Government,  its agencies or instrumentalities
("U.S. Government securities"); corporate debt securities, including convertible
securities and commercial  paper;  mortgage and other  asset-backed  securities;
inflation-indexed bonds issued by both governments and corporations;  structured
notes,  including  hybrid  or  "indexed"  securities,  and loan  participations;
variable and floating rate debt securities;  bank certificates of deposit, fixed
time  deposits  and  bankers'  acceptances;  repurchase  agreements  and reverse
repurchase agreements; obligations of foreign governments or their subdivisions,
agencies  and   instrumentalities,   international   agencies  or  supranational
entities; and foreign currency  exchange-related  securities,  including foreign
currency warrants.

         The Portfolio  may hold  different  percentages  of its assets in these
various  types of  securities,  and may invest  all of its assets in  derivative
instruments or in mortgage- or asset-backed securities.  There are special risks
involved in these instruments.

         The Portfolio  will invest in a  diversified  portfolio of fixed income
securities  of  varying  maturities.  The  average  portfolio  duration  of  the
Portfolio  generally  will vary within a one- to three-year  time frame based on
the  Sub-advisor's  forecast for interest rates.  The Portfolio may invest up to
10% of its assets in corporate debt securities  that are rated below  investment
grade but rated B or higher by Moody's or S&P (or, if unrated, determined by the
Sub-advisor  to be of comparable  quality).  The Portfolio may also invest up to
20% of its assets in securities denominated in foreign currencies. The Portfolio
will make use of use of average  portfolio  credit  quality  standards to assist
institutional  investors whose own investment  guidelines  limit its investments
accordingly.  In determining the  Portfolio's  overall  dollar-weighted  average
quality,  unrated securities are treated as if rated, based on the Sub-advisor's
view of their  comparability  to rated  securities.  In the event  that  ratings
services assign  different  ratings to the same security,  the Sub-advisor  will
determine which rating it believes best reflects the security's quality and risk
at that  time,  which may be the higher of the  several  assigned  ratings.  The
Portfolio's investments may range in quality from securities rated in the lowest
category in which the  Portfolio is permitted to invest to  securities  rated in
the highest  category (as rated by Moody's or S&P or, if unrated,  determined by
the  Sub-advisor  to  be  of  comparable  quality).  The  percentage  of  a  the
Portfolio's  assets invested in securities in a particular  rating category will
vary.  See the Appendix to the Trust's SAI for a description  of Moody's and S&P
ratings applicable to fixed income securities.

         The  Portfolio  may  invest  up to  20%  of its  assets  in  securities
denominated  in foreign  currencies,  and may invest  beyond  this limit in U.S.
dollar-denominated securities of foreign issuers.

         The Portfolio may buy or sell interest rate futures contracts,  options
on  interest  rate  futures  contracts  and options on debt  securities  for the
purpose  of  hedging  against  changes  in the  value of  securities  which  the
Portfolio owns or anticipates  purchasing due to anticipated changes in interest
rates. The Portfolio may invest in securities denominated in foreign currencies,
and also may engage in foreign currency exchange transactions by means of buying
or selling foreign  currencies on a spot basis,  entering into foreign  currency
forward  contracts,  and buying and selling foreign  currency  options,  foreign
currency  futures,  and options on foreign  currency  futures.  Foreign currency
exchange  transactions  may be entered  into for the purpose of hedging  against
foreign  currency  exchange  risk arising  from the  Portfolio's  investment  or
anticipated  investment in securities  denominated  in foreign  currencies.  The
Portfolio also may enter into foreign currency forward contracts and buy or sell
foreign  currencies  or foreign  currency  options for  purposes  of  increasing
exposure  to a  particular  foreign  currency  or to shift  exposure  to foreign
currency fluctuations from one country to another.

         The Portfolio may enter into swap agreements for purposes of attempting
to obtain a particular  investment  return at a lower cost to the Portfolio than
if the  Portfolio  had invested  directly in an  instrument  that  provided that
desired return. In addition, the Portfolio may purchase and sell securities on a
when-issued or  delayed-delivery  basis,  sell securities  short, and enter into
forward  commitments to purchase  securities;  lend their securities to brokers,
dealers and other financial  institutions  to earn income;  and borrow money for
investment purposes.

         The "total return" sought by the Portfolio will consist of interest and
dividends  from  underlying   securities,   capital  appreciation  reflected  in
unrealized   increases  in  value  of  portfolio  securities  (realized  by  the
shareholder  only upon selling shares) or realized from the purchase and sale of
securities,  and use of futures and options,  or gains from favorable changes in
foreign currency exchange rates. Generally, over the long term, the total return
obtained by a portfolio  investing  primarily in fixed income  securities is not
expected to be as great as that obtained by a portfolio  that invests  primarily
in equity securities.  At the same time, the market risk and price volatility of
a fixed  income  portfolio  is  expected  to be  less  than  that  of an  equity
portfolio, so that a fixed income portfolio is generally considered to be a more
conservative  investment.  The change in market value of fixed income securities
(and therefore their capital appreciation or depreciation) is largely a function
of changes in the  current  level of interest  rates.  When  interest  rates are
falling, a portfolio with a shorter duration generally will not generate as high
a level of total return as a portfolio with a longer duration.  Conversely, when
interest rates are rising,  a portfolio  with a shorter  duration will generally
outperform  longer duration  portfolios.  When interest rates are flat,  shorter
duration portfolios  generally will not generate as high a level of total return
as longer duration portfolios (assuming that long-term interest rates are higher
than  short-term  rates,  which is  commonly  the  case).  With  respect  to the
composition  of any fixed  income  portfolio,  the  longer the  duration  of the
portfolio,  the  greater  the  anticipated  potential  for total  return,  with,
however, greater attendant market risk and price volatility than for a portfolio
with  a  shorter  duration.  The  market  value  of  securities  denominated  in
currencies  other than the U.S.  dollar  also may be affected  by  movements  in
foreign currency exchange rates.

         Unless  otherwise  indicated,  all limitations  applicable to Portfolio
investments  (as stated in this Prospectus and in the Trust's SAI) apply only at
the time a  transaction  is  entered  into.  Any  subsequent  change in a rating
assigned by any rating  service to a security  (or, if unrated,  deemed to be of
comparable quality), or change in the percentage of Portfolio assets invested in
certain  securities or other  instruments,  or change in the average duration of
the  Portfolio's  investment  portfolio,  resulting from market  fluctuations or
other changes in the Portfolio's  total assets will not require the Portfolio to
dispose of an investment until the Sub-advisor determines that it is practicable
to sell or close out the  investment  without undue market  consequences  to the
Portfolio.

         The  Portfolio's  investments  include,  but are not  limited  to,  the
following:

         U.S. Government Securities.  U.S. Government securities are obligations
of, or guaranteed by, the U.S.  Government,  its agencies or  instrumentalities.
Some U.S.  Government  securities,  such as Treasury bills, notes and bonds, and
securities  guaranteed by the Government National Mortgage Association ("GNMA"),
are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States; others, such as
those of the Federal Home Loan Banks,  are  supported by the right of the issuer
to borrow from the U.S. Treasury;  others, such as those of the Federal National
Mortgage Association ("FNMA"),  are supported by the discretionary  authority of
the U.S. Government to purchase the agency's obligations; and still others, such
as those of the Student Loan  Marketing  Association,  are supported only by the
credit of the instrumentality.

         Corporate Debt Securities.  Corporate debt securities include corporate
bonds, debentures, notes and other similar corporate debt instruments, including
convertible securities.  Debt securities may be acquired with warrants attached.
Corporate  income-producing  securities  may also include  forms of preferred or
preference  stock.  The rate of  return  or  return  of  principal  on some debt
obligations  may be linked or indexed to the level of exchange rates between the
U.S. dollar and a foreign currency or currencies.  Investments in corporate debt
securities  that are below  investment  grade (rated below Baa  (Moody's) or BBB
(S&P)) are described as "speculative" both by Moody's and S&P. For a description
of the special  risks  involved  with  lower-rated  high-yield  bonds,  see this
Prospectus  and the  Trust's SAI under  "Certain  Risk  Factors  and  Investment
Methods."  For a  description  of  securities  ratings,  see the Appendix to the
Trust's SAI.

         Convertible  Securities.   The  Portfolio  may  invest  in  convertible
securities, which may offer higher income than the common stocks into which they
are convertible.  Typically,  convertible securities are callable by the issuing
company,  which  may,  in effect,  force  conversion  before  the  holder  would
otherwise choose.

         The convertible securities in which the Portfolio may invest consist of
bonds,  notes,  debentures  and  preferred  stocks  which  may be  converted  or
exchanged at a stated or determinable  exchange ratio into underlying  shares of
common  stock.  The  Portfolio  may  be  required  to  permit  the  issuer  of a
convertible  security  to redeem the  security,  convert it into the  underlying
common stock,  or sell it to a third party.  Thus, the Portfolio may not be able
to control whether the issuer of a convertible  security chooses to convert that
security.  If the issuer  chooses to do so,  this  action  could have an adverse
effect on the Portfolio's ability to achieve its investment objective.

         While  some  countries  or  companies  may  be  regarded  as  favorable
investments,  pure fixed income opportunities may be unattractive or limited due
to insufficient  supply,  legal or technical  restrictions.  In such cases,  the
Portfolio may consider equity  securities or convertible  bonds to gain exposure
to such investments.

         Loan Participation and Assignments.  The Portfolio may invest in fixed-
and floating-rate loans arranged through private  negotiations between an issuer
of  debt  instruments  and  one  or  more  financial  institutions  ("lenders").
Generally, the Portfolio's investments in loans are expected to take the form of
loan participations and assignments of portions of loans from third parties.

         Large loans to corporation  or governments  may be shared or syndicated
among several  lenders,  usually  banks.  The Portfolio may  participate in such
syndicates, or can buy part of a loan, becoming a direct lender.  Participations
and assignments involve special types of risk,  including limited  marketability
and  the  risks  of  being a  lender.  See  "Illiquid  Securities"  below  for a
discussion of the limits on the Portfolio's  investments in loan  participations
and  assignments  with  limited  marketability.  If the  Portfolio  purchases  a
participation, it may only be able to enforce its rights through the lender, and
may  assume  the  credit  risk of the lender in  addition  to the  borrower.  In
assignments,  the  Portfolio's  rights  against the borrower may be more limited
than those held by the original lender.

         Variable  and Floating  Rate  Securities.  Variable  and floating  rate
securities  provide for a periodic  adjustment  in the interest rate paid on the
obligations.  The terms of such obligations must provide that interest rates are
adjusted  periodically  based upon an interest rate adjustment index as provided
in the  respective  obligations.  The adjustment  intervals may be regular,  and
range  from  daily up to  annually,  or may be event  based,  such as based on a
change in the prime rate.

         The   Portfolio   may  invest  in   floating   rate  debt   instruments
("floaters"). The interest rate on a floater is a variable rate which is tied to
another  interest rate, such as a money-market  index or Treasury bill rate. The
interest  rate on a floater  resets  periodically,  typically  every six months.
While,  because  of the  interest  rate  reset  feature,  floaters  provide  the
Portfolio with a certain degree of protection  against rises in interest  rates,
the Portfolio will participate in any declines in interest rates as well.

         The Portfolio may also invest in inverse floating rate debt instruments
("inverse  floaters").  The interest  rate on an inverse  floater  resets in the
opposite direction from the market rate of interest to which the inverse floater
is  indexed.  An inverse  floating  rate  security  may  exhibit  greater  price
volatility than a fixed rate obligation of similar credit quality. The Portfolio
will not  invest  more than 5% of its net assets in any  combination  of inverse
floater, interest only, or principal only securities.

         Inflation-Indexed  Bonds.  Inflation-indexed  bonds  are  fixed  income
securities whose principal value is periodically  adjusted according to the rate
of inflation. The interest rate on these bonds is generally fixed at issuance at
a rate lower than typical  bonds.  Over the life of an  inflation-indexed  bond,
however,  interest will be paid based on a principal value which is adjusted for
inflation.  For example,  if the Portfolio purchased an  inflation-indexed  bond
with a par value of $1,000  and a 3% real rate of return  coupon  (payable  1.5%
semi-annually),  and  inflation  over the first six months were 1%, the mid-year
par value of the bond would be $1,010 and the first semi-annual interest payment
would be $15.15 ($1,010 times 1.5%).

         Repayment of the original bond principal upon maturity (as adjusted for
inflation) is guaranteed in the case of U.S. Treasury  inflation-indexed  bonds,
even during a period of  deflation.  However,  the current  market  value of the
bonds is not guaranteed,  and will  fluctuate.  The Portfolio may also invest in
other inflation related bonds which may or may not provide a similar  guarantee.
If a guarantee of principal is not provided, the adjusted principal value of the
bond repaid at maturity may be less than the original principal.

         The value of inflation-indexed  bonds is expected to change in response
to changes in real interest rates (which are nominal interest rates adjusted for
inflation).  If inflation  were to rise at a faster rate than  nominal  interest
rates,  real interest  rates would  decline,  leading to an increase in value of
inflation-indexed  bonds. In contrast,  if nominal interest rates increased at a
faster  rate than  inflation,  real  interest  rates  would  rise,  leading to a
decrease in value of inflation-indexed bonds.

         While these  securities  are  expected to be protected  from  long-term
inflationary trends,  short-term increases in inflation may lead to a decline in
value.  If interest rates rise due to reasons other than inflation (for example,
due to changes in currency  exchange  rates),  investors in these securities may
not be protected to the extent that the increase is not  reflected in the bond's
inflation measure.

         The U.S.  Treasury has only recently  begun  issuing  inflation-indexed
bonds. As such, there is no trading history of these  securities,  and there can
be no assurance that a liquid market in these instruments will develop, although
one is expected.  There also can be no  assurance  that the U.S.  Treasury  will
issue  any  particular  amount  of  inflation-indexed   bonds.  Certain  foreign
governments,  such as the United  Kingdom,  Canada and Australia,  have a longer
history  of  issuing  inflation-indexed  bonds,  and there may be a more  liquid
market in certain of these countries for these securities.

         Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed  Securities.  The Portfolio may
invest all of its assets in mortgage- or asset-backed  securities.  The value of
some mortgage- or asset-backed  securities in which the Portfolio invests may be
particularly  sensitive to changes in prevailing  interest rates,  and, like the
other investments of the Portfolio, the ability of the Portfolio to successfully
utilize these instruments may depend in part upon the ability of the Sub-advisor
to forecast interest rates and other economic factors correctly.

         Mortgage-related   securities   include  securities  other  than  those
described above that directly or indirectly represent a participation in, or are
secured  by and  payable  from,  mortgage  loans on real  property,  such as CMO
residuals or stripped mortgage-backed securities ("SMBS"), and may be structured
in classes with rights to receive varying proportions of principal and interest.

         A  common  type of SMBS  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 yield to maturity on an IO
class is  extremely  sensitive  to the  rate of  principal  payments  (including
prepayments)  on the related  underlying  mortgage  assets,  and a rapid rate of
principal  payments may have a material adverse effect on the Portfolio's  yield
to maturity  from these  securities.  In addition,  the  Portfolio may invest in
other  asset-backed  securities  that have been  offered  to  investors.  For an
additional discussion of mortgage-related and other asset-backed  securities and
the risks  involved  therein,  see this  Prospectus  and the  Trust's  SAI under
"Certain  Risk  Factors  and  Investment  Methods"  and the  Trust's  SAI  under
"Investment Objectives and Policies."

         Repurchase  Agreements.  Subject to guidelines promulgated by the Board
of Trustees of the Trust, for the purpose of achieving income, the Portfolio may
enter into  repurchase  agreements,  which  entail the  purchase  of a portfolio
eligible  security from a bank or  broker-dealer  that agrees to repurchase  the
security at the Portfolio's cost plus interest within a specified time (normally
one day).  The Portfolio  will not invest more than 15% of its net assets (taken
at current  market value) in repurchase  agreements  maturing in more than seven
days. For a discussion of repurchase  agreements and the risks involved therein,
see this Prospectus under "Certain Risk Factors and Investment Methods."

         Reverse  Repurchase  Agreements,  Dollar Rolls and Other Borrowings.  A
reverse  repurchase  agreement  involves the sale of a security by the Portfolio
and its agreement to repurchase  the  instrument at a specified  time and price,
and for some  purposes may be  considered a borrowing.  The  Portfolio  may also
enter into dollar rolls, in which the Portfolio sells  mortgage-backed  or other
securities  for delivery in the current  month and  simultaneously  contracts to
purchase  substantially  similar  securities on a specified  future date. In the
case of dollar rolls involving mortgage-backed  securities,  the mortgage-backed
securities  that are  purchased  will be of the same type and will have the same
interest  rate as  those  sold,  but will be  supported  by  different  pools of
mortgages.  The Portfolio  foregoes  principal and interest paid during the roll
period on the securities sold in a dollar roll, but the Portfolio is compensated
by the  difference  between the current  sales price and the lower price for the
future  purchase  as well  as by any  interest  earned  on the  proceeds  of the
securities sold. The Portfolio also could be compensated  through the receipt of
fee income equivalent to a lower forward price.

         These  practices  will tend to exaggerate the effect on net asset value
of any increase or decrease in the value of the  Portfolio's  portfolio  and may
cause  the  Portfolio  to  liquidate  portfolio  positions  when it would not be
advantageous  to do  so.  The  Portfolio  will  maintain  a  segregated  account
consisting of cash or other liquid assets to cover its obligations under reverse
repurchase agreements and dollar rolls. Reverse repurchase agreements and dollar
rolls will be subject to the Portfolio's  limitations on borrowings as discussed
in the  Trust's SAI under  "Investment  Restrictions."  Apart from  transactions
involving reverse repurchase agreements and dollar rolls, the Portfolio will not
borrow money, except for temporary  administrative  purposes.  For an additional
discussion of the risks of borrowing,  and of reverse repurchase  agreements and
the risks  involved  therein,  see this  Prospectus  and the  Trust's  SAI under
"Certain Risk Factors and Investment Methods."

         When-Issued, Delayed-Delivery, and Forward Commitment Transactions. The
Portfolio may purchase or sell securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery, or
forward  commitment  basis.  These  transactions  involve  a  commitment  by the
Portfolio to purchase or sell  securities  for a  predetermined  price or yield,
with  payment and delivery  taking place more than seven days in the future,  or
after a period  longer  than the  customary  settlement  period for that type of
security. When such purchases are outstanding,  the Portfolio will set aside and
maintain  until the  settlement  date,  in a segregated  account,  cash or other
liquid assets in an amount sufficient to meet the purchase price.  Typically, no
income  accrues on securities  the Portfolio has committed to purchase  prior to
the time  delivery of the  securities  is made,  although the Portfolio may earn
income on securities it has deposited in a segregated account. When purchasing a
security on a when-issued,  delayed delivery,  or forward  commitment basis, the
Portfolio  assumes the rights and risks of ownership of the security,  including
the risk of price  and yield  fluctuations,  and takes  such  fluctuations  into
account  when  determining  its net asset  value.  Because the  Portfolio is not
required to pay for the  security  until the delivery  date,  these risks are in
addition to the risks associated with the Portfolio's other investments.  If the
Portfolio  remains  substantially  fully  invested  at a time when  when-issued,
delayed delivery, or forward commitment purchases are outstanding, the purchases
may result in a form of leverage.  When the  Portfolio  has sold a security on a
when-issued,  delayed delivery,  or forward commitment basis, the Portfolio does
not  participate in future gains or losses with respect to the security.  If the
other party to a  transaction  fails to deliver or pay for the  securities,  the
Portfolio  could miss a favorable  price or yield  opportunity or could suffer a
loss.  The  Portfolio may dispose of or  renegotiate  a transaction  after it is
entered into, and may sell when-issued or forward  commitment  securities before
they are  delivered,  which may  result in a capital  gain or loss.  There is no
percentage  limitation on the extent to which the Portfolio may purchase or sell
securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery, or forward commitment basis.

         Short Sales.  The Portfolio may from time to time effect short sales as
part  of its  overall  portfolio  management  strategies,  including  the use of
derivative  instruments,  or to  offset  potential  declines  in  value  of long
positions in similar  securities as those sold short. A short sale (other than a
short sale  "against the box") is a transaction  in which the Portfolio  sells a
security it does not own at the time of the sale in anticipation that the market
price of that security will decline. To the extent that the Portfolio engages in
short  sales,  it must  (except  in the case of  short  sales  against  the box)
maintain  asset  coverage  in the  form of  cash or  other  liquid  assets  in a
segregated  account.  A short sale is  "against  the box" to the extent that the
Portfolio  contemporaneously  owns, or has the right to obtain at no added cost,
securities identical to those sold short.

         Foreign  Securities.  The Portfolio may invest directly in fixed income
securities of non-U.S.  issuers.  The  Portfolio  will  concentrate  its foreign
investments to securities of issuers based in developed countries. The Portfolio
may invest up to 5% of its assets in  securities  of issuers  based in countries
with  emerging  securities  markets.  The  Sub-advisor  has broad  discretion to
identify  and invest in  countries  that it  considers  to  qualify as  emerging
securities  markets.  Investing  in the  securities  of issuers  in any  foreign
country involves special risks and considerations not typically  associated with
investing in U.S. companies. For a discussion of the risks involved in investing
in foreign  securities,  in  general,  and the  special  risks of  investing  in
developing countries,  as well as the risks of currency  fluctuations,  see this
Prospectus  and the  Trust's SAI under  "Certain  Risk  Factors  and  Investment
Methods."

         Brady Bonds.  The Portfolio may invest in Brady Bonds.  Brady Bonds are
securities  created  through the exchange of existing  commercial  bank loans to
sovereign  entities for new obligations in connection  with debt  restructurings
under a debt  restructuring  plan  introduced  by former U.S.  Secretary  of the
Treasury, Nicholas F. Brady. Brady Bonds have been issued only recently, and for
that  reason  do  not  have  a  long  payment   history.   Brady  Bonds  may  be
collateralized  or  uncollateralized,  are  issued in  various  currencies  (but
primarily  the U.S.  dollar),  and are actively  traded in the  over-the-counter
secondary  market.  Brady  Bonds  are  not  considered  to  be  U.S.  Government
Securities.  In light of the  residual  risk of Brady  Bonds  and,  among  other
factors, the history of defaults with respect to commercial bank loans by public
and private  entities in countries  issuing  Brady Bonds,  investments  in Brady
Bonds may be viewed as  speculative.  There can be no assurance that Brady Bonds
acquired by the Portfolio will not be subject to  restructuring  arrangements or
to requests  for new credit,  which may cause the  Portfolio to suffer a loss of
interest or principal on any of its holdings.

         Foreign Currency  Transactions.  The Portfolio may buy and sell foreign
currency  futures  contracts  and  options on  foreign  currencies  and  foreign
currency  futures  contracts,  enter  into  forward  foreign  currency  exchange
contracts to reduce the risks of adverse changes in foreign  exchange rates. The
Portfolio  may enter into these  contracts  for the  purpose of hedging  against
foreign  exchange risk arising from the  Portfolio's  investment or  anticipated
investment in securities denominated in foreign currencies.  For a discussion of
foreign  currency   transactions  and  the  risks  involved  therein,  see  this
Prospectus  and the  Trust's SAI under  "Certain  Risk  Factors  and  Investment
Methods."

         Options  on  Securities,   Securities  Indexes,  and  Currencies.   The
Portfolio may purchase put options on securities.  One purpose of purchasing put
options is to protect  holdings in an underlying or related  security  against a
substantial  decline in market  value.  The  Portfolio  may also  purchase  call
options on  securities.  One purpose of  purchasing  call  options is to protect
against  substantial  increases in prices of securities the Portfolio intends to
purchase  pending its ability to invest in such securities in an orderly manner.
The Portfolio may sell put or call options it has  previously  purchased,  which
could result in a net gain or loss  depending on whether the amount  realized on
the sale is more or less than the  premium and other  transaction  costs paid on
the put or call  option  which is sold.  The  Portfolio  may write a call or put
option only if the option is  "covered" by the  Portfolio  holding a position in
the  underlying  securities  or by other  means  which  would  permit  immediate
satisfaction  of the  Portfolio's  obligation as writer of the option.  Prior to
exercise or expiration, an option may be closed out by an offsetting purchase or
sale of an option of the same series.

         The  Portfolio  may  buy or  sell  put  and  call  options  on  foreign
currencies. Currency options traded on U.S. or other exchanges may be subject to
position  limits which may limit the ability of the Portfolio to reduce  foreign
currency  risk using such  options.  For a  discussion  of options and the risks
involved  therein,  as  well as the  risks  involved  in  investing  in  foreign
currency,  see this  Prospectus  and the Trust's SAI under "Certain Risk Factors
and Investment Methods."

         Swap Agreements.  The Portfolio may enter into interest rate, index and
currency  exchange rate swap  agreements  for purposes of attempting to obtain a
particular desired return at a lower cost to the Portfolio than if the Portfolio
had invested  directly in an instrument that yielded that desired  return.  Swap
agreements  are  two-party  contracts  entered into  primarily by  institutional
investors  for  periods  ranging  from a few weeks to more  than one year.  In a
standard  "swap"  transaction,  two parties  agree to  exchange  the returns (or
differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on particular predetermined
investments  or  instruments.  The gross  returns to be  exchanged  or "swapped"
between the parties are  calculated  with respect to a "notional  amount," i.e.,
the return on or increase in value of a particular  dollar amount  invested at a
particular interest rate, in a particular foreign currency,  or in a "basket" of
securities  representing  a  particular  index.  Commonly  used swap  agreements
include  interest  rate caps,  under which,  in return for a premium,  one party
agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest  rates exceed a
specified  rate, or "cap";  interest rate floors,  under which,  in return for a
premium,  one party  agrees to make  payments  to the other to the  extent  that
interest  rates fall below a specified  level,  or "floor";  and  interest  rate
collars,  under which a party sells a cap and purchases a floor or vice versa in
an attempt to protect itself against  interest rate  movements  exceeding  given
minimum or maximum levels.

         The "notional  amount" of the swap agreement is only a fictive basis on
which to calculate the  obligations  which the parties to a swap  agreement have
agreed to exchange.  Most swap  agreements  entered into by the Portfolio  would
calculate  the  obligations  of the parties to the  agreement  on a "net basis."
Consequently,  the  Portfolio's  obligations  (or rights) under a swap agreement
will  generally be equal only to the net amount to be paid or received under the
agreement  based on the relative  values of the positions  held by each party to
the agreement  (the "net  amount").  The  Portfolio's  obligations  under a swap
agreement will be accrued daily (offset  against  amounts owed to the Portfolio)
and any  accrued  but unpaid net  amounts  owed to a swap  counterparty  will be
covered by the  maintenance  of  segregated  assets  consisting of cash or other
liquid assets to avoid any potential  leveraging of the  Portfolio.  A Portfolio
will not enter into a swap  agreement  with any  single  party if the net amount
owed or to be received under existing  contracts with that party would exceed 5%
of the Portfolio's assets.

         Whether the  Portfolio's  use of swap  agreements will be successful in
furthering its investment objective will depend on the Sub-advisor's  ability to
predict  correctly  whether  certain types of investments  are likely to produce
greater returns than other investments. Because they are two-party contracts and
because they may have terms of greater than seven days,  swap  agreements may be
considered to be illiquid. Moreover, the Portfolio bears the risk of loss of the
amount  expected  to be  received  under a swap  agreement  in the  event of the
default or bankruptcy of a swap agreement  counterparty.  The  Sub-advisor  will
cause the Portfolio to enter into swap agreements only with  counterparties that
would be eligible for consideration as repurchase agreement counterparties under
the Portfolio's repurchase agreement guidelines. Certain restrictions imposed on
the Portfolio by the Internal Revenue Code may limit the Portfolio's  ability to
use swap agreements.  The swaps market is a relatively new market and is largely
unregulated.  It is possible that  developments  in the swaps market,  including
potential government regulation,  could adversely affect the Portfolio's ability
to terminate existing swap agreements or to realize amounts to be received under
such agreements.

         Futures Contracts and Options on Futures  Contracts.  The Portfolio may
invest in interest rate futures  contracts,  stock index  futures  contracts and
foreign currency futures contracts and options thereon ("futures  options") that
are traded on a U.S. or foreign  exchange or board of trade.  The Portfolio will
only enter into futures  contracts or futures options which are standardized and
traded on a U.S. or foreign  exchange or board of trade, or similar  entity,  or
quoted on an automated  quotation  system.  Each  Portfolio  will use  financial
futures contracts and related options only for "bona fide hedging" purposes,  as
such term is defined in applicable  regulations of the CFTC, or, with respect to
positions in financial  futures and related options that do not qualify as "bona
fide  hedging"  positions,  will enter such  non-hedging  positions  only to the
extent that aggregate  initial margin deposits plus premiums paid by it for open
futures  option  positions,  less the  amount  by which any such  positions  are
"in-the-money,"  would not exceed 5% of the Portfolio's total net assets. For an
additional  discussion of futures  contracts and related options,  and the risks
involved  therein,  see this  Prospectus and the Trust's SAI under "Certain Risk
Factors and Investment Methods."

         Hybrid Instruments.  The Portfolio may invest up to 5% of its assets in
hybrid  instruments.  A hybrid  instrument  can combine the  characteristics  of
securities,  futures, and options.  Hybrids can be used as an efficient means of
pursuing a variety of investment goals,  including  currency  hedging,  duration
management,  and increased total return. For an additional  discussion of hybrid
instruments  and  certain  risks  involved  therein,  see the  Trust's SAI under
"Certain Risk Factors and Investment Methods."

         Illiquid Securities.  Subject to guidelines promulgated by the Board of
Trustees of the Trust,  the  Portfolio may invest up to 15% of its net assets in
illiquid  securities.  Certain  illiquid  securities may require pricing at fair
value  as  determined  in good  faith  under  the  supervision  of the  Board of
Trustees.  The term "illiquid securities" for this purpose means securities that
cannot be disposed of within  seven days in the  ordinary  course of business at
approximately  the amount at which the  Portfolio  has  valued  the  securities.
Illiquid  securities  are  considered to include,  among other  things,  written
over-the-counter options,  securities or other liquid assets being used as cover
for such options, repurchase agreements with maturities in excess of seven days,
certain loan participation interests,  fixed time deposits which are not subject
to prepayment or provide for withdrawal  penalties upon  prepayment  (other than
overnight  deposits),  securities  that are  subject  to  legal  or  contractual
restrictions  on resale and other  securities  whose  disposition  is restricted
under the federal securities laws (other than securities issued pursuant to Rule
144A under the Securities Act of 1933 that the  Sub-advisor has determined to be
liquid under procedures approved by the Board of Trustees).  Illiquid securities
may include  privately  placed  securities,  which are sold  directly to a small
number  of  investors,  usually  institutions.  Unlike  public  offerings,  such
securities  are not  registered  under the  federal  securities  laws.  Although
certain of these  securities may be readily sold, for example,  under Rule 144A,
others  may be  illiquid,  and their  sale may  involve  substantial  delays and
additional costs.

     Portfolio  Turnover.  The Portfolio may have portfolio turnover higher than
other  mutual  funds  with  similar  investment  objectives.  For an  additional
discussion of portfolio  turnover and its effects,  see this  Prospectus and the
Trust's SAI under "Portfolio Turnover."

AST Stein Roe Venture Portfolio:

Investment  Objective:  The  investment  objective of the Portfolio is long-term
capital appreciation. The Portfolio emphasizes investments in financially strong
small and medium-sized companies,  based principally on management appraisal and
stock valuation.

Investment Policies:

         The  Portfolio  will pursue its  objective by investing  primarily in a
diversified portfolio of common stocks and other equity-type securities (such as
preferred stocks,  securities convertible or exchangeable for common stocks, and
warrants  or rights to  purchase  common  stocks) of  entrepreneurially  managed
companies that the Sub-advisor  believes  represent special  opportunities.  The
Portfolio  emphasizes  investments in financially  strong small and medium-sized
companies,  based  principally  on  appraisal  of  their  management  and  stock
valuations. The Sub-advisor considers "small" and "medium-sized" companies to be
those with market  capitalizations of less than $1 billion and $1 to $3 billion,
respectively.

         In both its initial and ongoing  appraisals of a company's  management,
the Sub-advisor  seeks to know both the principal  owners and senior  management
and to assess their business  judgment and strategies  through  personal visits.
The  Sub-advisor  favors  companies  whose  management  has  an  owner/operator,
risk-averse  orientation  and  a  demonstrated  ability  to  create  wealth  for
investors.  Attractive company  characteristics  include unit growth,  favorable
cost structures or competitive  positions,  and financial  strength that enables
management to execute business strategies under difficult conditions.  A company
is attractively  valued when its stock can be purchased at a meaningful discount
to the value of the underlying business.

Portfolio Investments and Strategies.

         Debt Securities.  In pursuing its investment  objective,  the Portfolio
may  invest in debt  securities  of  corporate  and  governmental  issuers.  The
Portfolio  may invest up to 35% of its net assets in debt  securities,  but does
not expect to invest more than 5% of its net assets in debt  securities that are
rated below investment grade (i.e.,  below the four highest grades assigned by a
nationally recognized statistical rating organization). Securities in the fourth
highest grade may possess speculative  characteristics,  and changes in economic
conditions  are more likely to affect the issuer's  capacity to pay interest and
repay principal.

         The risks inherent in debt securities  depend primarily on the term and
quality  of the  obligation  as well as on market  conditions.  A decline in the
prevailing  levels  of  interest  rates  generally  increases  the value of debt
securities.  Conversely,  an increase in rates usually reduces the value of debt
securities.  Securities  that are rated below  investment  grade are  considered
predominantly  speculative with respect to the issuer's capacity to pay interest
and repay  principal  according to the terms of the  obligation,  and  therefore
carry greater  investment risk,  including the possibility of issuer default and
bankruptcy.  When the  Sub-advisor  determines  that adverse  market or economic
conditions exist and considers a temporary  defensive  position  advisable,  the
Portfolio may invest without  limitation in high-quality fixed income securities
or hold assets in cash or cash equivalents.

         Convertible  Securities.  By investing in convertible  securities,  the
Portfolio obtains the right to benefit from the capital  appreciation  potential
in the  underlying  stock upon exercise of the conversion  right,  while earning
higher  current  income  than would be  available  if the stock  were  purchased
directly.  In  determining  whether to  purchase  a  convertible  security,  the
Sub-advisor  will  consider  substantially  the  same  criteria  that  would  be
considered in purchasing the underlying stock.

         Although   convertible   securities  purchased  by  the  Portfolio  are
frequently  rated  investment  grade,  the Portfolio  also may purchase  unrated
securities or securities rated below investment grade if the securities meet the
Sub-advisor's  other  investment  criteria.  Convertible  securities rated below
investment  grade:  (1) tend to be more  sensitive to interest rate and economic
changes;  (2) may be  obligations  of  issuers  who are less  creditworthy  than
issuers of higher  quality  convertible  securities;  and (3) may be more thinly
traded due to the fact that such  securities  are less well  known to  investors
than investment grade convertible securities,  common stock or conventional debt
securities.  As a result, the Sub-advisor's own investment research and analysis
tends  to be  more  important  than  other  factors  in  the  purchase  of  such
securities.

         Foreign  Securities.  The Portfolio  may invest in foreign  securities.
Other  than  American  Depositary  Receipts  (ADRs),   foreign  debt  securities
denominated in U.S.  dollars,  and securities  guaranteed by a U.S. person,  the
Portfolio  is  limited  to  investing  no more than 25% of its  total  assets in
foreign  securities.  The Portfolio may invest in sponsored or unsponsored ADRs.
In  addition  to, or in lieu of,  such  direct  investment,  the  Portfolio  may
construct a synthetic  foreign debt position by (a) purchasing a debt instrument
denominated  in one  currency,  generally  U.S.  dollars;  and (b)  concurrently
entering  into a forward  contract  to  deliver a  corresponding  amount of that
currency  in  exchange  for a  different  currency  on a  future  date  and at a
specified rate of exchange.  Because of the  availability of a variety of highly
liquid U.S. dollar debt instruments, a synthetic foreign debt position utilizing
such U.S. dollar  instruments may offer greater liquidity than direct investment
in foreign currency debt instruments. In connection with the purchase of foreign
securities, the Portfolio may contract to purchase an amount of foreign currency
sufficient to pay the purchase price of the  securities at the settlement  date.
Such a contract  involves  the risk that the value of the foreign  currency  may
decline  relative to the value of the dollar prior to the settlement  date--this
risk is in addition to the risk that the value of the foreign security purchased
may decline.  The Portfolio also may enter into foreign currency  contracts as a
hedging  technique  to limit or reduce  exposure  to currency  fluctuations.  In
addition,  the  Portfolio  may use options and futures  contracts,  as described
below,  to limit or reduce  exposure  to  currency  fluctuations.  For a further
discussion of the risks involved in investing in foreign  securities,  including
the risk of currency fluctuations, see this prospectus and the Trust's SAI under
"Certain Risk Factors and Investment Methods."

         Interfund Lending;  When-Issued and  Delayed-Delivery  Securities.  The
Portfolio may participate in an interfund  lending  program,  subject to certain
restrictions  described  in the SAI.  The  Portfolio  may  invest in  securities
purchased on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis. Although the payment terms
of these  securities are  established at the time the Portfolio  enters into the
commitment,  the  securities may be delivered and paid for a month or more after
the date of purchase, when their value may have changed. The Portfolio will make
such commitments  only with the intention of actually  acquiring the securities,
but may sell the securities before settlement date if it is deemed advisable for
investment reasons.

         Derivatives. Consistent with its objective, the Portfolio may invest in
a broad array of financial  instruments and securities,  including  conventional
exchange-traded  and  non-exchange-traded  options,  futures contracts,  futures
options, swaps, caps, floors, collars,  securities  collateralized by underlying
pools of mortgages or other  receivables,  floating rate instruments,  and other
instruments  that securitize  assets of various types  ("Derivatives").  In each
case, the value of the instrument or security is "derived" from the  performance
of an underlying  asset or a "benchmark"  such as a security  index, an interest
rate, or a currency. The Portfolio does not expect to invest more than 5% of its
net assets in any type of Derivative except for options,  futures contracts, and
futures options.

         Derivatives are most often used to manage  investment risk or to create
an investment position indirectly because they are more efficient or less costly
than direct investment.  They also may be used in an effort to enhance portfolio
returns.

         The successful use of Derivatives depends on the Sub-advisor's  ability
to  correctly  predict  changes in the levels and  directions  of  movements  in
currency  exchange  rates,  security  prices,  interest  rates and other  market
factors  affecting the Derivative itself or the value of the underlying asset or
benchmark.  In addition,  correlations in the performance of an underlying asset
to a Derivative may not be well established.  Finally,  privately negotiated and
over-the-counter  Derivatives  may  not be as  well  regulated  and  may be less
marketable than  exchange-traded  Derivatives.  For an additional  discussion of
certain  risks  involved in derivative  securities,  see this  Prospectus  under
"Certain Risk Factors and Investment Methods."

         In  seeking  to  achieve  its  desired  investment  objective,  provide
additional  revenue,  or to hedge against changes in security  prices,  interest
rates or currency  fluctuation,  the Portfolio  may: (1) purchase and write both
call options and put options on securities,  indices and foreign currencies; (2)
enter into interest rate,  index and foreign  currency  futures  contracts;  (3)
write options on such futures contracts; and (4) purchase other types of forward
or  investment  contracts  linked to  individual  securities,  indices  or other
benchmarks.  The  Portfolio may write a call or put option only if the option is
covered. As the writer of a covered call option, the Portfolio foregoes,  during
the option's life,  the  opportunity to profit from increases in market value of
the  security  covering  the call  option  above the sum of the  premium and the
exercise  price of the call.  Because  futures  positions may require low margin
deposits,  the use of futures  contracts  involves a high degree of leverage and
may result in losses in excess of the amount of the margin deposit.

         Short Sales Against the Box. The Portfolio may sell short securities it
owns or has the right to acquire  without  further  consideration,  a  technique
called  selling short "against the box." Short sales against the box may protect
the  Portfolio  against  the  risk  of  losses  in the  value  of its  portfolio
securities  because any unrealized losses with respect to such securities should
be wholly  or  partly  offset  by a  corresponding  gain in the short  position.
However,  any potential gains in such  securities  should be wholly or partially
offset by a corresponding  loss in the short  position.  Short sales against the
box may be used to lock in a profit  on a  security  when,  for tax  reasons  or
otherwise, the Sub-advisor does not want to sell the security.

Risks and Investment Considerations.

         All  investments,  including  those in mutual  funds,  have  risks.  No
investment  is  suitable  for all  investors.  The  Portfolio  is  designed  for
long-term investors who want greater return potential than is available from the
stock market in general,  and who are willing to tolerate the greater investment
risk and market volatility associated with investments in small and medium-sized
companies.  Of course, there can be no guarantee that the Portfolio will achieve
its objective.

         The Portfolio's  investment  objective is not a fundamental  policy and
may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder  approval.  However,
shareholders of the Portfolio will receive at least 30 days written notice prior
to any change in the Portfolio's  investment objective.  If there is a change in
the Portfolio's  investment objective,  shareholders should consider whether the
Portfolio remains an appropriate investment.

         Securities  of small  and  medium-sized  companies  may be  subject  to
greater price  volatility than securities of larger companies and tend to have a
lower degree of market liquidity.  They also may be more sensitive to changes in
economic and business  conditions,  and may react differently than securities of
larger  companies.  In  addition,  such  companies  are less  well  known to the
investing public and may not be as widely followed by the investment community.

         Although the Portfolio does not attempt to reduce or limit risk through
wide  industry   diversification   of  investment,   it  usually  allocates  its
investments among a number of different  industries rather than concentrating in
a particular industry or group of industries. The Portfolio will not invest more
than 25% of the total  value of its  assets (at the time of  investment)  in the
securities of companies in any one industry.

AST Neuberger Berman Mid-Cap Value Portfolio:

     Investment Objective:  The investment objective of the Portfolio is to seek
capital growth.

Investment Policies:

         The Portfolio seeks capital growth through an investment  approach that
is designed to increase  capital with  reasonable  risk.  The Portfolio  invests
principally  in common  stocks of  medium  to large  capitalization  established
companies,  using  the  value-oriented  investment  approach.  A  value-oriented
portfolio  manager  buys  stocks  that are selling at a price that is lower than
what the  manager  believes  they  are  worth.  These  include  stocks  that are
currently under-researched or are temporarily out of favor on Wall Street.

         Portfolio  managers  identify  value stocks in several ways. One of the
most common  identifiers  is a low  price-to-earnings  ratio -- that is,  stocks
selling  at  multiples  of  earnings  per share  that are lower than that of the
market as a whole.  Other  criteria are high dividend  yield,  a strong  balance
sheet and financial position, a recent company  restructuring with the potential
to realize hidden values,  strong management,  and low price-to-book  value (net
value of the company's assets). The Sub-advisor looks for securities believed to
be undervalued based on strong fundamentals,  including a low  price-to-earnings
ratio, consistent cash flow, and the company's track record through all parts of
the market cycle.

         The  Sub-advisor   believes  that,  over  time,   securities  that  are
undervalued  are more likely to  appreciate in price and be subject to less risk
of price decline than securities  whose market prices have already reached their
perceived  economic value.  This approach also  contemplates  selling  portfolio
securities when they are considered to have reached their potential.

         The Sub-advisor  considers additional factors when selecting securities
for  the  Portfolio,  including  ownership  by a  company's  management  of  the
company's stock and the dominance of a company in its particular field.

         In  addition  to  investing  in the  stocks  of  medium  capitalization
companies ("mid-cap  companies") and large capitalization  companies ("large-cap
companies"),  investments  may be made in  smaller,  less  well-known  companies
("small-cap  companies").  Investments in small- and mid-cap  company stocks may
present  greater  opportunities  for capital  appreciation  than  investments in
stocks of large-cap  companies.  However,  small- and mid-cap company stocks may
have higher  risk and  volatility.  These  stocks  generally  are not as broadly
traded as large-cap  company  stocks and their prices may fluctuate  more widely
and  abruptly.  Any such  movements  in stocks  held by the  Portfolio  would be
reflected in the Portfolio's net asset value.  Small- and mid-cap company stocks
are also less researched than large-cap  company stocks and are often overlooked
in the market.

         An investment in the Portfolio  involves certain risks,  depending upon
the types of investments  it makes.  Although the Portfolio  ordinarily  invests
primarily  in common  stocks,  when market  conditions  warrant it may invest in
preferred stocks, securities convertible into or exchangeable for common stocks,
U.S.  Government  and  agency  securities,  debt  securities,  or  money  market
instruments, or may retain assets in cash or cash equivalents. The Portfolio may
not  necessarily  buy any or all of the types of securities or use any or all of
the  techniques  that are  described  below.  As discussed in more detail below,
special  risk  factors  apply  to  certain  investments  that may be made by the
Portfolio,  including investments in foreign securities, options contracts, zero
coupon bonds, and debt securities rated below investment grade. Up to 15% of the
Portfolio's net assets,  measured at the time of investment,  may be invested in
corporate  debt  securities  that are below  investment  grade or in  comparable
unrated securities.  The use of hedging or other techniques is discretionary and
no  representation is made that the risk of the Portfolio will be reduced by the
techniques discussed below.

         Short-Term Trading;  Portfolio Turnover. While the Sub-advisor does not
purchase securities with the intention of profiting from short-term trading, the
Portfolio may sell portfolio  securities when the Sub-advisor believes that such
action is advisable. Therefore, the Portfolio may have higher portfolio turnover
than other mutual funds with similar  objectives.  For a discussion of portfolio
turnover  and its  effects,  see  this  Prospectus  and the  Trust's  SAI  under
"Portfolio Turnover."

         Cash Investments.  For temporary defensive purposes,  the Portfolio may
invest up to 100% of its assets in cash or cash equivalents, U.S. Government and
agency securities,  commercial paper and certain other money market instruments,
as well as repurchase agreements  collateralized by the foregoing. To the extent
that the Portfolio is invested in these temporary defensive instruments, it will
not be pursuing its investment objective.

         Fixed Income  Securities.  The  Portfolio may invest in fixed income or
debt  securities,  the value of which are  likely to  decline in times of rising
interest  rates and rise in times of falling  interest  rates.  In general,  the
longer the  maturity of a fixed  income  security,  the more  pronounced  is the
effect of a change in interest rates on the value of the security.

         High quality debt securities are securities that have received a rating
from  at  least  one  nationally  recognized   statistical  rating  organization
("NRSRO"),  such as Standard & Poor's Rating Group  ("S&P"),  Moody's  Investors
Service,  Inc.  ("Moody's"),  Fitch Investors Services,  or Duff & Phelps Credit
Rating Co. in one of the two highest rating  categories (the highest category in
the case of  commercial  paper)  or,  if not  rated by any  NRSRO,  such as U.S.
Government and Agency securities,  have been determined by the Sub-advisor to be
of comparable  quality.  Investment  grade debt  securities are those  receiving
ratings from at least one NRSRO in one of the four highest rating categories or,
if unrated by any NRSRO,  deemed  comparable  by the  Sub-advisor  to such rated
securities. Securities rated by Moody's in its fourth highest category (Baa) may
have speculative  characteristics;  a change in economic factors could lead to a
weakened capacity of the issuer to repay.

         Lower-Rated  Fixed Income  Securities.  Debt securities rated below the
fourth  highest  category  by all NRSROs that have rated  them,  and  comparable
unrated  securities,  are considered to be below investment grade. The Portfolio
may invest up to 15% of its net assets,  measured at the time of investment,  in
debt  securities  that  are  below  investment   grade  or  comparable   unrated
securities. Securities rated below investment grade ("junk bonds") are judged to
be  predominantly  speculative  with  respect to the  issuer's  capacity  to pay
interest and repay  principal in accordance  with the terms of the  obligations.
While such  securities  may be  considered  predominantly  speculative,  as debt
securities,  they  generally  have priority  over equity  securities of the same
issuer and are generally better secured.

         Debt  securities  in  the  lowest  rating   categories  may  involve  a
substantial risk of default or may be in default. Changes in economic conditions
or developments  regarding the individual  issuer are more likely to cause price
volatility  and weaken the  capacity  of the issuer of such  securities  to make
principal  and  interest  payments  than  is  the  case  for  higher-grade  debt
securities. An economic downturn affecting the issuer may result in an increased
incidence of default. In the case of lower-rated  securities  structured as zero
coupon or pay-in-kind securities,  their market prices are affected to a greater
extent by interest  rate changes,  and  therefore  tend to be more volatile than
securities  that pay interest  periodically  and in cash. The  Sub-advisor  will
invest in such securities only when it concludes that the anticipated  return to
the Portfolio on such an investment warrants exposure to the additional level of
risk.

         For an  additional  discussion  of the risks  involved  in  lower-rated
bonds,  see this  Prospectus and the Trust's SAI under "Certain Risk Factors and
Investment  Methods." For an  additional  description  of the ratings  services'
securities ratings, see the Appendix the Trust's SAI.

         Convertible  Securities.   The  Portfolio  may  invest  in  convertible
securities. A convertible security is a bond, debenture,  note, preferred stock,
or other  security  that may be  converted  into or  exchanged  for a prescribed
amount of common  stock of the same or a different  issuer  within a  particular
period of time at a specified price or formula. Many convertible  securities are
rated below investment grade, or are unrated.

         Zero Coupon  Securities.  Zero coupon  securities  do not pay  interest
currently;  instead,  they are sold at a discount  from their face value and are
redeemed at face value when they  mature.  Because  zero coupon bonds do not pay
current income, their prices can be very volatile when interest rates change.

     U.S.  Government  and Agency  Securities.  U.S.  Government  securities are
obligations  of the U.S.  Treasury  backed by the full  faith and  credit of the
United States.  U.S.  Government  agency  securities are issued or guaranteed by
U.S. Government agencies, instrumentalities,  or other U.S. Government-sponsored
enterprises,  such as the Government  National  Mortgage  Association  (commonly
known  as  "Ginnie  Mae"),   Fannie  Mae,  formerly  Federal  National  Mortgage
Association,  Freddie  Mac,  formerly  Federal Home Loan  Mortgage  Corporation,
Student  Loan  Marketing  Association  (commonly  known as  "Sallie  Mae"),  and
Tennessee Valley  Authority.  Agency  securities may be backed by the full faith
and credit of the United  States,  the issuer's  ability to borrow from the U.S.
Treasury,  subject to the Treasury's discretion in certain cases, or only by the
credit of the  issuer.  U.S.  Government  and  agency  securities  include  U.S.
Government  and agency  mortgage-backed  securities.  The market  prices of U.S.
Government  and agency  securities  are not  guaranteed  by the  government  and
generally fluctuate inversely with changing interest rates.

         Borrowings. As a non-fundamental policy, the Portfolio may not purchase
portfolio securities if its outstanding borrowings, including reverse repurchase
agreements, exceed 5% of its total assets. In addition, the Portfolio is subject
to the fundamental  restriction on borrowing  described in the Trust's SAI under
"Investment Restrictions."

         Illiquid,  Restricted and Rule 144A  Securities.  Subject to guidelines
established  by the Board of Trustees of the Trust,  the Portfolio may invest up
to 15% of its net  assets in  illiquid  securities,  which are  securities  that
cannot be expected to be sold within  seven days at  approximately  the price at
which  they are  valued.  These may  include  unregistered  or other  restricted
securities  and  repurchase  agreements  maturing  in greater  than seven  days.
Illiquid securities may also include Rule 144A securities (restricted securities
that may be traded freely among  qualified  institutional  buyers pursuant to an
exemption from the  registration  requirements  of the securities  laws);  these
securities are considered  illiquid unless the  Sub-advisor,  acting pursuant to
the guidelines established by the Board of Trustees, determines they are liquid.
Generally,  foreign securities freely tradable in their principal market are not
considered  restricted or illiquid.  Illiquid  securities may be difficult for a
Portfolio to value or dispose of due to the absence of an active trading market.
The sale of some  illiquid  securities  by the Portfolio may be subject to legal
restrictions which could be costly to the Portfolio.

         Foreign Securities. The Portfolio may invest in U.S. dollar-denominated
foreign securities.  Foreign securities are those of issuers organized and doing
business  principally outside the U.S.,  including non-U.S.  governments,  their
agencies, and instrumentalities.  The Portfolio may invest in foreign securities
denominated in or indexed to foreign  currencies,  which may also be affected by
the  fluctuation  of  the  foreign  currencies  relative  to  the  U.S.  dollar,
irrespective  of the performance of the underlying  investment.  The Sub-advisor
considers these factors in making  investments for the Portfolio.  The Portfolio
may invest in U.S. dollar-denominated and non-U.S.  dollar-denominated corporate
and government debt securities of foreign  issuers.  In addition,  the Portfolio
may  enter  into  forward  foreign  currency   contracts  or  futures  contracts
(agreements  to exchange  one currency for another at a future date) and related
options  to manage  currency  risks and to  facilitate  transactions  in foreign
securities.

         The  Portfolio  may only  invest  up to 10% of the  value of its  total
assets,  measured  at the time of  investment,  in foreign  securities.  The 10%
limitation  does  not  apply  with  respect  to  foreign   securities  that  are
denominated in U.S.
dollars.

     The Portfolio may invest in ADRs,  EDRs, GDRs, and IDRs. ADRs (sponsored or
unsponsored)  are  receipts  typically  issued by a U.S.  bank or trust  company
evidencing its ownership of the  underlying  foreign  securities.  Most ADRs are
denominated in U.S. dollars and are traded on a U.S. stock exchange.  Issuers of
the securities  underlying  unsponsored ADRs are not contractually  obligated to
disclose  material  information in the U.S. and,  therefore,  there may not be a
correlation  between such  information  and the market value of the  unsponsored
ADR.  EDRs and IDRs are receipts  typically  issued by a European  bank or trust
company evidencing its ownership of the underlying foreign securities.  GDRs are
receipts issued by either a U.S. or non-U.S.  banking institution evidencing its
ownership of the underlying foreign securities and are often denominated in U.S.
dollars.

         Investments  in  foreign   securities  could  be  affected  by  factors
generally  not thought to be present in the U.S. Such factors  include,  but are
not limited to, varying custody, brokerage and settlement practices;  difficulty
in pricing some foreign securities;  and potentially  adverse local,  political,
economic,  social, or diplomatic  developments,  the investment  significance of
which may be difficult to discern.

         In addition,  the risks of investing in securities of foreign companies
and governments include changes in currency exchange rates and currency exchange
control regulations or other foreign or U.S. laws or restrictions  applicable to
such  investments  or  devaluations  of  foreign  currencies.  A decline  in the
exchange   rate  would  reduce  the  value  of  certain   portfolio   securities
irrespective  of the  performance of the underlying  investment.  Investments in
depositary  receipts (whether or not denominated in U.S. dollars) may be subject
to  exchange  controls  and changes in rates of  exchange  with the U.S.  dollar
because the underlying security is usually denominated in foreign currency.  All
of the foregoing  risks may be intensified in emerging  industrialized  and less
developed countries.

         For an  additional  discussion  of  foreign  securities  and the  risks
involved  therein,  including  the  risks  of  currency  fluctuations,  see this
Prospectus  and the  Trust's SAI under  "Certain  Risk  Factors  and  Investment
Methods."

         Foreign  Currency  Transactions.  The  Portfolio may enter into forward
contracts  in order to protect  against  adverse  changes  in  foreign  currency
exchange  rates,  to  facilitate  transactions  in  foreign  securities  and  to
repatriate  dividend or interest  income  received  in foreign  currencies.  The
Portfolio  may enter into  contracts to purchase  foreign  currencies to protect
against an anticipated rise in the U.S. dollar price of securities it intends to
purchase. The Portfolio may also enter into contracts to sell foreign currencies
to  protect  against  a decline  in value of its  foreign  currency  denominated
portfolio securities due to a decline in the value of foreign currencies against
the U.S. dollar.

         If the  Portfolio  enters  into a  forward  contract  to  sell  foreign
currency, it may be required to place cash, fixed income or equity securities in
a segregated  account in an amount equal to the value of the  Portfolio's  total
assets  committed to the  consummation of the forward  contract.  Although these
contracts can protect the Portfolio from adverse  exchange  rates,  they involve
risk of  loss if the  Sub-advisor  fails  to  predict  foreign  currency  values
correctly.  For an additional  discussion of forward  contracts and their risks,
see this  Prospectus  and the  Trust's  SAI  under  "Certain  Risk  Factors  and
Investment Methods."

         Covered  Call  Options.  The  Portfolio  may try to reduce  the risk of
securities price changes (hedge) or generate income by writing (selling) covered
call options against  securities held in its portfolio having a market value not
exceeding 10% of its net assets and may purchase call options in related closing
transactions.  When the  Portfolio  writes  a  covered  call  option  against  a
security,  the  Portfolio is obligated to sell that security to the purchaser of
the  option  at a fixed  price at any  time  during a  specified  period  if the
purchaser  decides to  exercise  the option.  The  maximum  price the seller may
realize on the security during the option period is the fixed price.  The seller
continues to bear the risk of a decline in the security's  price,  although this
risk is  reduced,  at least in part,  by the  premium  received  for writing the
option.

         The writing of options is a highly specialized  activity which involves
investment  techniques and risks  different from those  associated with ordinary
portfolio  securities   transactions  including   transactional  expense,  price
volatility and a high degree of leverage. The writing of options could result in
significant  increases in the Portfolio's  turnover rate. The writing of options
also could  result in the  inability  of the  Portfolio  to  purchase  or sell a
security at a time that would  otherwise  be  favorable  for it to do so, or the
need for the Portfolio to sell a security at a disadvantageous  time, due to its
need to maintain  "cover" or to segregate  securities in connection with its use
of options. Options are considered derivatives.  For an additional discussion of
options and their risks,  see this Prospectus and the Trust's SAI under "Certain
Risk Factors and Investment Methods."

         When-Issued  Securities.  In a when-issued  transaction,  the Portfolio
commits to  purchase  securities  in order to secure an  advantageous  price and
yield at the time of the commitment  and pays for the  securities  when they are
delivered at a future date (generally within two months). If the seller fails to
complete the sale, the Portfolio may lose the  opportunity to obtain a favorable
price and yield.  When issued securities may decline or increase in value during
the period from the Portfolio's  investment  commitment to the settlement of the
purchase, which may magnify fluctuation in the Portfolio's net asset value.

         Repurchase  Agreements.  Subject to guidelines established by the Board
of Trustees of the Trust, the Portfolio may enter into repurchase agreements. In
a repurchase  agreement,  the Portfolio  buys a security from a Federal  Reserve
member bank, or a securities dealer and simultaneously agrees to sell it back at
a higher  price,  at a  specified  date,  usually  less than a week  later.  The
underlying  securities must fall within the Portfolio's  investment policies and
limitations. Under the repurchase agreement guidelines, the Sub-advisor monitors
the   creditworthiness  of  repurchase  agreement  sellers.  For  an  additional
discussion of repurchase agreements and certain risks involved therein, see this
Prospectus  under "Certain Risk Factors and Investment  Methods" and the Trust's
SAI under "Investment Objectives and Policies."

         Reverse Repurchase Agreements.  In a reverse repurchase agreement,  the
Portfolio sells securities to a bank or a securities dealer and at the same time
agrees to repurchase  the same  securities at a higher price on a specific date.
During the period  before the  repurchase,  the  Portfolio  continues to receive
principal and interest payments on the securities.  The Portfolio is compensated
by the difference  between the current sales price and the forward price for the
future purchase  (often  referred to as the "drop"),  as well as by the interest
earned on the cash proceeds of the initial sale. Reverse  repurchase  agreements
may increase  fluctuations  in the Portfolio's net asset value and may be viewed
as a form of leverage.  The Sub-advisor monitors the creditworthiness of parties
to  reverse  repurchase  agreements.  For an  additional  discussion  of reverse
repurchase  agreements and certain risks involved  therein,  see this Prospectus
under  "Certain Risk Factors and  Investment  Methods" and the Trust's SAI under
"Investment Objectives and Policies."

         Short  Sales  Against-the-Box.  The  Portfolio  may  make  short  sales
against-the-box.  To effect a short sale,  the Portfolio  will borrow a security
from a brokerage  firm to make  delivery  to the buyer.  The  Portfolio  then is
obligated  to replace the  security  borrowed  at a later date.  A short sale is
"against-the-box"  when, at all times during which a short position is open, the
Portfolio owns an equal amount of such securities,  or owns securities giving it
the right,  without  payment  of  additional  consideration,  to obtain an equal
amount of securities sold short. Short sales against-the-box allow the Portfolio
to hedge against price fluctuations by locking in a sale price for securities it
does not wish to sell immediately.

AST Neuberger Berman Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio:

     Investment Objective:  The investment objective of the Portfolio is to seek
capital appreciation.

Investment Policies:

         The  Portfolio  invests in a  diversified  portfolio  of common  stocks
believed to have the  maximum  potential  for  long-term  above-average  capital
appreciation.  Under normal conditions,  the Portfolio  primarily invests in the
common  stocks  of  medium  capitalization   companies  ("mid-cap   companies").
Companies with equity market capitalizations from $300 million to $10 billion at
the time of investment are considered  mid-cap  companies.  The Trust may revise
this definition based on market  conditions.  Although the Portfolio will invest
primarily in the common stocks of mid-cap companies,  investments may be made in
the securities of larger,  widely traded  companies  ("large-cap  companies") as
well as smaller,  less well-known companies ("small-cap  companies").  At times,
markets may favor the relative  safety of larger  capitalization  securities and
the greater growth  potential of smaller  capitalization  securities over medium
capitalization  securities.  The Portfolio does not seek to invest in securities
that pay dividends or interest, and any such income is incidental.

         Investments in small- and mid-cap  company  stocks may present  greater
opportunities  for capital  appreciation than investments in stocks of large-cap
companies.  However,  small- and mid-cap company stocks may have higher risk and
volatility.  These  stocks  generally  are not as  broadly  traded as  large-cap
company stocks and their prices may fluctuate more widely and abruptly. Any such
movements in stocks held by the Portfolio  would be reflected in the Portfolio's
net asset value. Small- and mid-cap company stocks are also less researched than
large-cap company stocks and are often overlooked in the market.

         The Portfolio is normally  managed using a  growth-oriented  investment
approach.  A growth  approach  seeks  stocks of companies  that the  Sub-advisor
projects will grow at  above-average  rates and faster than others  expect.  The
Portfolio's  growth  investment  program  involves greater risks and share price
volatility than programs that invest in more  undervalued  securities.  When the
Sub-advisor  believes  that  particular  securities  have greater  potential for
long-term  capital  appreciation,  the Portfolio may purchase such securities at
prices with higher  multiples to measures of economic value (such as earnings or
cash flow) than an investor  focusing  primarily on current  fundamental  value.
These multiples,  however,  tend to be reasonable  relative to the Sub-advisor's
expectation of the company's earnings growth rate.

         In selecting equity securities for the Portfolio,  the Sub-advisor will
consider,  among other  factors,  an issuer's  financial  strength,  competitive
position,  projected  future  earnings,   management  strength  and  experience,
reasonable valuations,  and other investment criteria. The Portfolio diversifies
its investments among companies and industries.

         An investment in the Portfolio  involves certain risks,  depending upon
the types of investments it makes.  Although equity  securities are normally the
Portfolio's primary investment,  when market conditions warrant it may invest in
preferred stocks, securities convertible into or exchangeable for common stocks,
U.S. Government and Agency Securities, investment grade and non-investment grade
debt securities,  or money market  instruments,  or may retain assets in cash or
cash equivalents.  The Portfolio may not necessarily buy any or all of the types
of securities or use any or all of the investment  techniques that are described
below. As discussed in more detail below,  special risk factors apply to certain
investments that may be made by the Portfolio,  including investments in foreign
securities, options and futures contracts, zero coupon bonds and debt securities
rated below  investment  grade.  As part of its  strategy  to achieve  long-term
capital  appreciation,  the  Portfolio may invest up to 20% of its net assets in
securities  of issuers  organized  and doing  business  principally  outside the
United States. Up to 10% of the Portfolio's net assets,  measured at the time of
investment,  may be  invested  in  corporate  debt  securities  that  are  below
investment  grade,  but  rated at least C by  Moody's  Investors  Service,  Inc.
("Moody's")  or Standard & Poor's Rating Group  ("S&P"),  or comparable  unrated
securities.  The use of  hedging or other  techniques  is  discretionary  and no
representation  is made that the risk of the  Portfolio  will be  reduced by the
techniques discussed below.

         Short-Term Trading;  Portfolio Turnover. While the Sub-advisor does not
purchase securities with the intention of profiting from short-term trading, the
Portfolio may sell portfolio  securities when the Sub-advisor believes that such
action is advisable. Therefore, the Portfolio may have higher portfolio turnover
than other mutual funds with similar  objectives.  For a discussion of portfolio
turnover  and its  effects,  see  this  Prospectus  and the  Trust's  SAI  under
"Portfolio Turnover."

         Cash Investments.  For temporary defensive purposes,  the Portfolio may
invest up to 100% of its assets in cash or cash equivalents, U.S. Government and
agency securities,  commercial paper and certain other money market instruments,
as well as repurchase agreements  collateralized by the foregoing. To the extent
that the Portfolio is invested in these temporary defensive instruments, it will
not be pursuing its investment objective.

         Fixed Income  Securities.  The  Portfolio may invest in fixed income or
debt  securities,  the value of which are  likely to  decline in times of rising
interest  rates and rise in times of falling  interest  rates.  In general,  the
longer the  maturity of a fixed  income  security,  the more  pronounced  is the
effect of a change in interest rates on the value of the security.

         High quality debt securities are securities that have received a rating
from  at  least  one  nationally  recognized   statistical  rating  organization
("NRSRO"),  such as Standard & Poor's Rating Group  ("S&P"),  Moody's  Investors
Service,  Inc.  ("Moody's"),  Fitch Investors Services,  or Duff & Phelps Credit
Rating Co. in one of the two highest rating  categories (the highest category in
the case of  commercial  paper)  or,  if not  rated by any  NRSRO,  such as U.S.
Government and Agency securities,  have been determined by the Sub-advisor to be
of comparable  quality.  Investment  grade debt  securities are those  receiving
ratings from at least one NRSRO in one of the four highest rating categories or,
if unrated by any NRSRO,  deemed  comparable  by the  Sub-advisor  to such rated
securities. Securities rated by Moody's in its fourth highest category (Baa) may
have speculative  characteristics;  a change in economic factors could lead to a
weakened capacity of the issuer to repay.

         Lower-Rated  Fixed Income  Securities.  Debt securities rated below the
fourth  highest  category  by all NRSROs that have rated  them,  and  comparable
unrated  securities,  are considered to be below investment grade. The Portfolio
may invest up to 10% of its net assets,  measured at the time of investment,  in
debt  securities  that  are  below  investment   grade  or  comparable   unrated
securities,  but may not invest in securities rated below C by Moody's or S&P at
the time of investment.  Securities  rated below investment grade ("junk bonds")
are judged to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer's capacity
to pay  interest  and  repay  principal  in  accordance  with  the  terms of the
obligations.  While such securities may be considered predominantly speculative,
as debt securities,  they generally have priority over equity  securities of the
same issuer and are generally better secured.

         Debt  securities  in  the  lowest  rating   categories  may  involve  a
substantial risk of default or may be in default. Changes in economic conditions
or developments  regarding the individual  issuer are more likely to cause price
volatility  and weaken the  capacity  of the issuer of such  securities  to make
principal  and  interest  payments  than  is  the  case  for  higher-grade  debt
securities. An economic downturn affecting the issuer may result in an increased
incidence of default. In the case of lower-rated  securities  structured as zero
coupon or pay-in-kind securities,  their market prices are affected to a greater
extent by interest  rate changes,  and  therefore  tend to be more volatile than
securities  that pay interest  periodically  and in cash. The  Sub-advisor  will
invest in such securities only when it concludes that the anticipated  return to
the Portfolio on such an investment warrants exposure to the additional level of
risk.

         If the quality of any fixed  income  securities  held by the  Portfolio
deteriorates  so that they no longer are rated at least C by Moody's or S&P, or,
if unrated,  are  determined  by the  Sub-advisor  to no longer be of comparable
quality,  the Portfolio will engage in an orderly  disposition of the securities
to the  extent  necessary  to  ensure  that  the  Portfolio's  holdings  of such
securities will not exceed 5% of its net assets.

         For an  additional  discussion  of the risks  involved  in  lower-rated
bonds,  see this  Prospectus and the Trust's SAI under "Certain Risk Factors and
Investment  Methods." For an  additional  description  of the ratings  services'
securities ratings, see the Appendix the Trust's SAI.

         Convertible  Securities.   The  Portfolio  may  invest  in  convertible
securities. A convertible security is a bond, debenture,  note, preferred stock,
or other  security  that may be  converted  into or  exchanged  for a prescribed
amount of common  stock of the same or a different  issuer  within a  particular
period of time at a specified price or formula. Many convertible  securities are
rated below investment grade, or are unrated.

         Zero Coupon  Securities.  Zero coupon  securities  do not pay  interest
currently;  instead,  they are sold at a discount  from their face value and are
redeemed at face value when they  mature.  Because  zero coupon bonds do not pay
current income, their prices can be very volatile when interest rates change.

     U.S.  Government  and Agency  Securities.  U.S.  Government  securities are
obligations  of the U.S.  Treasury  backed by the full  faith and  credit of the
United States.  U.S.  Government  agency  securities are issued or guaranteed by
U.S. Government agencies, instrumentalities,  or other U.S. Government-sponsored
enterprises,  such as the Government  National  Mortgage  Association  (commonly
known  as  "Ginnie  Mae"),   Fannie  Mae,  formerly  Federal  National  Mortgage
Association,  Freddie  Mac,  formerly  Federal Home Loan  Mortgage  Corporation,
Student  Loan  Marketing  Association  (commonly  known as  "Sallie  Mae"),  and
Tennessee Valley  Authority.  Agency  securities may be backed by the full faith
and credit of the United  States,  the issuer's  ability to borrow from the U.S.
Treasury,  subject to the Treasury's discretion in certain cases, or only by the
credit of the  issuer.  U.S.  Government  and  agency  securities  include  U.S.
Government  and agency  mortgage-backed  securities.  The market  prices of U.S.
Government  and agency  securities  are not  guaranteed  by the  government  and
generally fluctuate inversely with changing interest rates.

         Borrowings. As a non-fundamental policy, the Portfolio may not purchase
portfolio securities if its outstanding borrowings, including reverse repurchase
agreements, exceed 5% of its total assets. In addition, the Portfolio is subject
to the fundamental  restriction on borrowing  described in the Trust's SAI under
"Investment Restrictions."

         Illiquid,  Restricted and Rule 144A  Securities.  Subject to guidelines
established  by the Board of Trustees of the Trust,  the Portfolio may invest up
to 15% of its net  assets in  illiquid  securities,  which are  securities  that
cannot be expected to be sold within  seven days at  approximately  the price at
which  they are  valued.  These may  include  unregistered  or other  restricted
securities  and  repurchase  agreements  maturing  in greater  than seven  days.
Illiquid securities may also include Rule 144A securities (restricted securities
that may be traded freely among  qualified  institutional  buyers pursuant to an
exemption from the  registration  requirements  of the securities  laws);  these
securities are considered  illiquid unless the  Sub-advisor,  acting pursuant to
the guidelines established by the Board of Trustees, determines they are liquid.
Generally,  foreign securities freely tradable in their principal market are not
considered  restricted or illiquid.  Illiquid  securities may be difficult for a
Portfolio to value or dispose of due to the absence of an active trading market.
The sale of some  illiquid  securities  by the Portfolio may be subject to legal
restrictions which could be costly to the Portfolio.

         Foreign Securities. The Portfolio may invest in U.S. dollar-denominated
foreign securities.  Foreign securities are those of issuers organized and doing
business  principally outside the U.S.,  including non-U.S.  governments,  their
agencies, and instrumentalities.  The Portfolio may invest in foreign securities
denominated in or indexed to foreign  currencies,  which may also be affected by
the  fluctuation  of  the  foreign  currencies  relative  to  the  U.S.  dollar,
irrespective  of the performance of the underlying  investment.  The Sub-advisor
considers these factors in making  investments for the Portfolio.  The Portfolio
may invest in U.S. dollar-denominated and non-U.S.  dollar-denominated corporate
and government debt securities of foreign  issuers.  In addition,  the Portfolio
may  enter  into  forward  foreign  currency   contracts  or  futures  contracts
(agreements  to exchange  one currency for another at a future date) and related
options  to manage  currency  risks and to  facilitate  transactions  in foreign
securities.

         The  Portfolio  may only  invest  up to 20% of the  value of its  total
assets,  measured  at the time of  investment,  in foreign  securities.  The 20%
limitation  does  not  apply  with  respect  to  foreign   securities  that  are
denominated in U.S.
dollars.

     The Portfolio may invest in ADRs,  EDRs, GDRs, and IDRs. ADRs (sponsored or
unsponsored)  are  receipts  typically  issued by a U.S.  bank or trust  company
evidencing its ownership of the  underlying  foreign  securities.  Most ADRs are
denominated in U.S. dollars and are traded on a U.S. stock exchange.  Issuers of
the securities  underlying  unsponsored ADRs are not contractually  obligated to
disclose  material  information in the U.S. and,  therefore,  there may not be a
correlation  between such  information  and the market value of the  unsponsored
ADR.  EDRs and IDRs are receipts  typically  issued by a European  bank or trust
company evidencing its ownership of the underlying foreign securities.  GDRs are
receipts issued by either a U.S. or non-U.S.  banking institution evidencing its
ownership of the underlying foreign securities and are often denominated in U.S.
dollars.

         Investments  in  foreign   securities  could  be  affected  by  factors
generally  not thought to be present in the U.S. Such factors  include,  but are
not limited to, varying custody, brokerage and settlement practices;  difficulty
in pricing some foreign securities;  and potentially  adverse local,  political,
economic,  social, or diplomatic  developments,  the investment  significance of
which may be difficult to discern.

         In addition,  the risks of investing in securities of foreign companies
and governments include changes in currency exchange rates and currency exchange
control regulations or other foreign or U.S. laws or restrictions  applicable to
such  investments  or  devaluations  of  foreign  currencies.  A decline  in the
exchange   rate  would  reduce  the  value  of  certain   portfolio   securities
irrespective  of the  performance of the underlying  investment.  Investments in
depositary  receipts (whether or not denominated in U.S. dollars) may be subject
to  exchange  controls  and changes in rates of  exchange  with the U.S.  dollar
because the underlying security is usually denominated in foreign currency.  All
of the foregoing  risks may be intensified in emerging  industrialized  and less
developed countries.

         For an  additional  discussion  of  foreign  securities  and the  risks
involved  therein,  including  the  risks  of  currency  fluctuations,  see this
Prospectus  and the  Trust's SAI under  "Certain  Risk  Factors  and  Investment
Methods."

         Foreign  Currency  Transactions.  The  Portfolio may enter into forward
contracts  in order to protect  against  adverse  changes  in  foreign  currency
exchange  rates,  to  facilitate  transactions  in  foreign  securities  and  to
repatriate  dividend or interest  income  received  in foreign  currencies.  The
Portfolio  may enter into  contracts to purchase  foreign  currencies to protect
against an anticipated rise in the U.S. dollar price of securities it intends to
purchase. The Portfolio may also enter into contracts to sell foreign currencies
to  protect  against  a decline  in value of its  foreign  currency  denominated
portfolio securities due to a decline in the value of foreign currencies against
the U.S. dollar.

         If the  Portfolio  enters  into a  forward  contract  to  sell  foreign
currency, it may be required to place cash, fixed income or equity securities in
a segregated  account in an amount equal to the value of the  Portfolio's  total
assets  committed to the  consummation of the forward  contract.  Although these
contracts can protect the Portfolio from adverse  exchange  rates,  they involve
risk of  loss if the  Sub-advisor  fails  to  predict  foreign  currency  values
correctly.  For an additional  discussion of forward  contracts and their risks,
see this  Prospectus  and the  Trust's  SAI  under  "Certain  Risk  Factors  and
Investment Methods."

         Put and Call Options, Futures Contracts,  Options on Futures Contracts.
The Portfolio  may try to reduce the risk of  securities  price or exchange rate
changes  (hedge) or generate  income by writing  (selling)  covered call options
against  securities held in its portfolio,  may purchase call options in related
closing transactions,  and may also purchase put options on portfolio securities
or foreign currencies. When the Portfolio writes a covered call option against a
security,  the  Portfolio is obligated to sell that security to the purchaser of
the  option  at a fixed  price at any  time  during a  specified  period  if the
purchaser  decides to  exercise  the option.  The  maximum  price the seller may
realize on the security during the option period is the fixed price.  The seller
continues to bear the risk of a decline in the security's  price,  although this
risk is  reduced,  at least in part,  by the  premium  received  for writing the
option.

         The  Portfolio  may enter into futures  contracts  on debt  securities,
interest  rates,  and securities  indices,  and may purchase and sell options on
such  contracts  on  both  the  U.S.  and  foreign  exchanges  for  hedging  and
non-hedging purposes.

         The  Portfolio  may  purchase and write put and call options on foreign
currencies to protect against declines in the dollar value of foreign  portfolio
securities and against  increases in the U.S. dollar cost of foreign  securities
to be acquired.  The  Portfolio  may also use options on foreign  currencies  to
cross-hedge.  In addition,  the  Portfolio  may purchase  call or put options on
currencies for non-hedging purposes when the Sub-advisor expects that a currency
will appreciate or depreciate in value,  but the securities  denominated in that
currency do not present attractive investment  opportunities and are not held by
the  Portfolio.  Options on foreign  currencies may be traded on U.S. or foreign
exchanges or over-the-counter.  Options on foreign currencies that are traded in
the  over-the-counter  market may be  considered to be illiquid  securities  and
subject to the Portfolio's restrictions on illiquid securities.

         The Portfolio may write call and put options on any securities in which
it may invest or options on any  securities  index based on  securities in which
the  Portfolio  may  invest.  The  Portfolio  will not write a call  option on a
security or currency  unless it owns the underlying  security or currency or has
the right to obtain it at no additional cost.

         The use of futures  contracts and the writing and purchasing of options
are highly specialized  activities that involve investment  techniques and risks
different from those associated with ordinary securities transactions, including
transactional  expense,  price  volatility  and a high degree of  leverage.  The
writing of options  could result in  significant  increases  in the  Portfolio's
turnover  rate.  The use of futures and the writing of options also could result
in the  inability of the Portfolio to purchase or sell a security at a time that
would  otherwise be favorable  for it to do so, or the need for the Portfolio to
sell a security at a  disadvantageous  time, due to its need to maintain "cover"
or to  segregate  securities  in  connection  with  these  techniques.  When the
Portfolio uses these techniques,  the Portfolio will place cash, fixed income or
equity  securities  in a segregated  account or will "cover" its position to the
extent  required  by  SEC  staff  policy.  Futures  and  options  contracts  are
considered derivatives.

         For an  additional  discussion  of options  and their  risks,  see this
Prospectus  and the  Trust's SAI under  "Certain  Risk  Factors  and  Investment
Methods."

         Forward  Commitments  and When-Issued  Securities.  In a when-issued or
forward commitment transaction,  the Portfolio commits to purchase securities in
order to secure an  advantageous  price and yield at the time of the  commitment
and pays for the securities  when they are delivered at a future date (generally
within two months).  If the seller fails to complete the sale, the Portfolio may
lose the  opportunity  to  obtain a  favorable  price  and  yield.  When  issued
securities or securities subject to a forward commitment may decline or increase
in value during the period from the  Portfolio's  investment  commitment  to the
settlement of the purchase, which may magnify fluctuation in the Portfolio's net
asset value.

         Repurchase  Agreements.  Subject to guidelines established by the Board
of Trustees of the Trust,  the Portfolio may enter into  repurchase  agreements.
The  Portfolio  may enter  into  repurchase  agreements  on up to 25% of its net
assets. In a repurchase agreement,  the Portfolio buys a security from a Federal
Reserve member bank, or a securities dealer and simultaneously agrees to sell it
back at a higher price, at a specified date, usually less than a week later. The
underlying  securities must fall within the Portfolio's  investment policies and
limitations. Under the repurchase agreement guidelines, the Sub-advisor monitors
the   creditworthiness  of  repurchase  agreement  sellers.  For  an  additional
discussion of repurchase agreements and certain risks involved therein, see this
Prospectus  under "Certain Risk Factors and Investment  Methods" and the Trust's
SAI under "Investment Objectives and Policies."

         Reverse Repurchase Agreements.  In a reverse repurchase agreement,  the
Portfolio sells securities to a bank or a securities dealer and at the same time
agrees to repurchase  the same  securities at a higher price on a specific date.
During the period  before the  repurchase,  the  Portfolio  continues to receive
principal and interest payments on the securities.  The Portfolio is compensated
by the difference  between the current sales price and the forward price for the
future purchase  (often  referred to as the "drop"),  as well as by the interest
earned on the cash proceeds of the initial sale. Reverse  repurchase  agreements
may increase  fluctuations  in the Portfolio's net asset value and may be viewed
as a form of leverage.  The Sub-advisor monitors the creditworthiness of parties
to  reverse  repurchase  agreements.  For an  additional  discussion  of reverse
repurchase  agreements and certain risks involved  therein,  see this Prospectus
under  "Certain Risk Factors and  Investment  Methods" and the Trust's SAI under
"Investment Objectives and Policies."


<PAGE>


CERTAIN RISK FACTORS AND INVESTMENT METHODS:

         Some of the risk factors related to certain securities, instruments and
techniques  that may be used by one or more of the  Portfolios  are described in
the "Investment  Objectives and Policies"  section of this Prospectus and in the
"Investment  Objectives  and Policies" and "Certain Risk Factors and  Investment
Methods"  sections of the Trust's SAI. The following is a description of certain
additional risk factors related to various of these securities,  instruments and
techniques.  The risks so  described  only apply to those  Portfolios  which may
invest in such securities and instruments or use such techniques.  Also included
is a general description of some of the investment  instruments,  techniques and
methods  which  may be  used  by one or  more  of the  Portfolios.  The  methods
described only apply to those Portfolios which may use such methods.

Derivative Instruments:

         To the extent permitted by the investment  objectives and policies of a
Portfolio,  a Portfolio may invest in securities and other  instruments that are
commonly  referred to as "derivatives."  For instance,  a Portfolio may purchase
and write call and put  options on  securities,  securities  indexes and foreign
currencies,  and  enter  into  futures  contracts  and use  options  on  futures
contracts,  and enter into swap agreements  with respect to foreign  currencies,
interest rates, and securities  indexes. A Portfolio may use these techniques to
hedge against  changes in interest  rates,  foreign  currency  exchange rates or
securities prices or as part of their overall investment strategies.

         In  general,  derivative  instruments  are  those  securities  or other
instruments  whose  value is derived  from or related to the value of some other
instrument or asset,  but not those securities whose payment of principal and/or
interest  depend  upon cash flows from  underlying  assets,  such as mortgage or
asset-backed  securities.  The value of some  derivative  instruments in which a
Portfolio  invests  may be  particularly  sensitive  to  changes  in  prevailing
interest rates, and, like the other  investments of a Portfolio,  the ability of
the Portfolio to successfully  utilize these instruments may depend in part upon
the ability of the  Sub-advisor  to forecast  interest  rates and other economic
factors correctly. If the Sub-advisor incorrectly forecasts such factors and has
taken positions in derivative  instruments contrary to prevailing market trends,
the Portfolio could be exposed to the risk of a loss.

         A Portfolio might not employ any of the derivative strategies described
below,  and no assurance can be given that any strategy used will succeed.  If a
Sub-advisor  incorrectly  forecasts  interest  rates,  market  values  or  other
economic  factors in  utilizing a  derivatives  strategy  for a  Portfolio,  the
Portfolio  might have been in a better  position if it had not entered  into the
transaction at all. The use of these strategies  involves certain special risks,
including a possible  imperfect  correlation,  or even no  correlation,  between
price  movements  of  derivative  instruments  and price  movements  of  related
investments. In addition, while some strategies involving derivative instruments
can reduce the risk of loss,  they can also reduce the  opportunity for gain, or
even  result in losses,  by  offsetting  favorable  price  movements  in related
investments.  Furthermore,  a  Portfolio  may be  unable to  purchase  or sell a
portfolio  security at a time that otherwise would be favorable for it to do so,
or need to sell a portfolio security at a disadvantageous  time, due to the need
to  maintain  asset  coverage  or  offsetting   positions  in  connection   with
transactions in derivative  instruments.  Finally,  a Portfolio may be unable to
close out or to liquidate its derivatives positions.

Options and Futures Contracts:

         Call  Options.  A call option on a security  gives the purchaser of the
option,  in return for a premium paid to the writer  (seller),  the right to buy
the  underlying  security  at the  exercise  price at any time during the option
period. Upon exercise by the purchaser, the writer (seller) of a call option has
the obligation to sell the  underlying  security at the exercise  price.  When a
Portfolio  purchases a call option,  it will pay a premium to the party  writing
the option and a commission to the broker  selling the option.  If the option is
exercised by such  Portfolio,  the amount of the premium and the commission paid
may be greater than the amount of the brokerage commission that would be charged
if the security  were to be  purchased  directly.  By writing a call  option,  a
Portfolio  assumes  the risk that it may be  required  to deliver  the  security
having a market  value  higher than its market  value at the time the option was
written.  The  Portfolio  will write call options in order to obtain a return on
its investments from the premiums  received and will retain the premiums whether
or not the options are  exercised.  Any decline in the market value of portfolio
securities  will be  offset  to the  extent  of the  premiums  received  (net of
transaction  costs).  If an option is  exercised,  the  premium  received on the
option will effectively increase the exercise price.

         If a Portfolio  writes a call option on a security it already  owns, it
gives up the  opportunity  for capital  appreciation  above the  exercise  price
should market price of the underlying security increase, but retains the risk of
loss should the price of the underlying security decline.

         A call option on a  securities  index is similar to a call option on an
individual security, except that the value of the option depends on the weighted
value of the group of securities  comprising the index,  and all settlements are
made in cash. A call option may be terminated by the writer (seller) by entering
into a closing purchase  transaction in which it purchases an option of the same
series as the option previously written.

         Put  Options.  A put option on a security  gives the  purchaser  of the
option, in return for premium paid to the writer (seller), the right to sell the
underlying  security at the exercise price at any time during the option period.
Upon exercise by the purchaser, the writer of a put option has the obligation to
purchase the underlying security at the exercise price. By writing a put option,
a Portfolio  assumes the risk that it may be required to purchase the underlying
security at a price in excess of its current market value.

         A put  option on a  securities  index is  similar to a put option on an
individual security, except that the value of the option depends on the weighted
value of the group of securities  comprising the index,  and all settlements are
made in cash.

         A  Portfolio  may  sell a call  option  or a put  option  which  it has
previously  purchased  prior to the purchase (in the case of a call) or the sale
(in the case of a put) of the underlying security. Any such sale would result in
a net gain or loss depending on whether the amount  received on the sale is more
or less than the  premium  and other  transaction  costs paid on the call or put
which is sold.

         Futures  Contracts and Related  Options.  A financial  futures contract
calls for  delivery of a particular  security at a specified  price at a certain
time in the future.  The seller of the contract  agrees to make  delivery of the
type of  security  called  for in the  contract  and the  buyer  agrees  to take
delivery at a specified future time. A Portfolio may also write call options and
purchase  put options on  financial  futures  contracts as a hedge to attempt to
protect the Portfolio's  securities  from a decrease in value.  When a Portfolio
writes a call option on a futures contract,  it is undertaking the obligation of
selling a  futures  contract  at a fixed  price at any time  during a  specified
period if the option is exercised.  Conversely, the purchaser of a put option on
a futures contract is entitled (but not obligated) to sell a futures contract at
a fixed price during the life of the option.

         Financial  futures contracts consist of interest rate futures contracts
and  securities  index  futures  contracts.  An interest  rate futures  contract
obligates  the seller of the  contract to  deliver,  and the  purchaser  to take
delivery of,  interest rate  securities  called for in a contract at a specified
future  time at a specified  price.  A stock index  assigns  relative  values to
common stocks included in the index and the index fluctuates with changes in the
market values of the common stocks included. A stock index futures contract is a
bilateral  contract pursuant to which two parties agree to take or make delivery
of an amount of cash equal to a specified  dollar  amount  times the  difference
between  the  stock  index  value at the  close of the last  trading  day of the
contract and the price at which the futures  contract is originally  struck.  An
option on a financial futures contract gives the purchaser the right to assume a
position in the  contract  (a long  position if the option is a call and a short
position  if the  option  is a put) at a  specified  exercise  price at any time
during the period of the option.

         Risks of Options and Futures  Contracts.  Futures contracts and options
can be highly  volatile and could result in  reduction  of a  Portfolio's  total
return,  and a Portfolio's  attempt to use such investments for hedging purposes
may not be  successful.  Successful  futures  strategies  require the ability to
predict future movements in securities prices, interest rates and other economic
factors.  A Portfolio's  potential losses from the use of futures extends beyond
its initial investment in such contracts.  Also, losses from options and futures
could be  significant  if a Portfolio is unable to close out its position due to
distortions in the market or lack of liquidity.

         The  use  of  futures  and  options   involves   investment  risks  and
transaction  costs to which a Portfolio  would not be subject  absent the use of
these  strategies.  If a  Sub-advisor  seeks  to  protect  a  Portfolio  against
potential adverse movements in the securities, foreign currency or interest rate
markets  using these  instruments,  and such  markets do not move in a direction
adverse  to the  Portfolio,  the  Portfolio  could  be left in a less  favorable
position than if such  strategies had not been used. The successful use of these
strategies  therefore may depend on the ability of the  Sub-advisor to correctly
forecast interest rate movements and general stock market price movements. Risks
inherent in the use of futures and options  include:  (a) the risk that interest
rates,  securities  prices and currency  markets will not move in the directions
anticipated;  (b) imperfect correlation between the price of futures and options
and movements in the prices of the  securities or currencies  being hedged;  (c)
the fact that skills needed to use these  strategies  are  different  from those
needed to select  portfolio  securities;  (d) the  possible  absence of a liquid
secondary market for any particular instrument at any time; and (e) the possible
need to  defer  closing  out  certain  hedged  positions  to avoid  adverse  tax
consequences. A Portfolio's ability to terminate option positions established in
the   over-the-counter   market  may  be  more  limited  than  in  the  case  of
exchange-traded  options and may also involve the risk that  securities  dealers
participating in such transactions  would fail to meet their obligations to such
Portfolio.

         The  use  of  options  and  futures  involves  the  risk  of  imperfect
correlation between movements in options and futures prices and movements in the
price of securities which are the subject of a hedge.  Particularly with respect
to options on stock  indices  and stock  index  futures,  the risk of  imperfect
correlation  increases as the  composition  of the  Portfolio  diverges from the
composition of the relevant index.

         Pursuant to regulations of the Commodity  Futures  Trading  Commission,
the Trust has represented that:

         (i) a Portfolio will not purchase or sell futures or options on futures
contracts  or  stock   indices  for  purposes   other  than  bona  fide  hedging
transactions  (as  defined  by the CFTC) if as a result  the sum of the  initial
margin  deposits  and  premiums  required  to  establish  positions  in  futures
contracts  and related  options that do not fall within the  definition  of bona
fide  hedging  transactions  would  exceed  5% of the fair  market  value of the
Portfolio's net assets; and

         (ii) a  Portfolio  will not enter  into any  futures  contracts  if the
aggregate  amount  of the  Portfolio's  commitments  under  outstanding  futures
contracts  positions  would  exceed the market  value of the  Portfolio's  total
assets.

Asset-Backed Securities:

         Asset-backed securities represent a participation in, or are secured by
and payable  from, a stream of payments  generated  by  particular  assets,  for
example,  credit card, automobile or trade receivables.  Asset-backed commercial
paper, one type of asset-backed security, is issued by a special purpose entity,
organized solely to issue the commercial paper and to purchase  interests in the
assets.  The  credit  quality of these  securities  depends  primarily  upon the
quality  of the  underlying  assets  and the  level  of  credit  support  and/or
enhancement provided.

         The underlying  assets (e.g.,  loans) are subject to prepayments  which
shorten the securities' weighted average life and may lower their return. If the
credit  support or  enhancement  is  exhausted,  losses or delays in payment may
result if the  required  payments of principal  and  interest are not made.  The
value of these  securities  also may change  because of changes in the  market's
perception  of the  creditworthiness  of the servicing  agent for the pool,  the
originator  of the pool,  or the  financial  institution  providing  the  credit
support or enhancement.

Mortgage-Backed Securities:

         Mortgage pass-through  securities are securities representing interests
in "pools" of mortgage loans secured by residential or commercial  real property
in which payments of both interest and principal on the securities are generally
made  monthly,  in  effect  "passing  through"  monthly  payments  made  by  the
individual borrowers on the mortgage loans which underlie the securities (net of
fees paid to the issuer or  guarantor  of the  securities).  Early  repayment of
principal on some  mortgage-related  securities  (arising  from  prepayments  of
principal due to sale of the underlying property,  refinancing,  or foreclosure,
net of fees and costs which may be incurred)  expose a Portfolio to a lower rate
of return  upon  reinvestment  of  principal.  Also,  if a  security  subject to
prepayment has been purchased at a premium, in the event of prepayment the value
of the premium would be lost. Like other fixed-income securities,  when interest
rates rise, the value of a  mortgage-related  security will  generally  decline;
however,  when  interest  rates are  declining,  the  value of  mortgage-related
securities  with  prepayment   features  may  not  increase  as  much  as  other
fixed-income  securities.  The value of these securities also may change because
of changes in the market's  perception  of the  creditworthiness  of the federal
agency or private  institution  that issued  them.  In  addition,  the  mortgage
securities   market  in  general  may  be  adversely   affected  by  changes  in
governmental regulation or tax policies.

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (CMOs):

         CMOs are obligations  fully  collateralized by a portfolio of mortgages
or  mortgage-related  securities.  Payments  of  principal  and  interest on the
mortgages are passed  through to the holders of the CMOs on the same schedule as
they are received,  although  certain  classes of CMOs have priority over others
with  respect  to  the  receipt  of  prepayments  on the  mortgages.  Therefore,
depending on the type of CMOs in which a Portfolio  invests,  the investment may
be  subject  to a greater  or lesser  risk of  prepayment  than  other  types of
mortgage-related  securities.  CMOs  may  also be  less  marketable  than  other
securities.

Stripped Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities:

         Stripped Agency  Mortgage-Backed  securities  represent  interests in a
pool of mortgages,  the cash flow of which has been  separated into its interest
and principal components.  "IOs" (interest only securities) receive the interest
portion of the cash flow while "POs"  (principal  only  securities)  receive the
principal portion.  Stripped Agency Mortgage-Backed  Securities may be issued by
U.S.  Government  Agencies or by private issuers.  Unlike other debt instruments
and other mortgage-backed securities, the value of IOs tends to move in the same
direction as interest rates.

         The cash flows and yields on IO and PO classes are extremely  sensitive
to the  rate  of  principal  payments  (including  prepayments)  on the  related
underlying  mortgage  assets.  For  example,  a rapid or slow rate of  principal
payments  may  have a  material  adverse  effect  on the  prices  of IOs or POs,
respectively.   If  the  underlying  mortgage  assets  experience  greater  than
anticipated  prepayments of principal,  an investor may fail to recoup fully its
initial investment in an IO class of a stripped  mortgage-backed  security, even
if the IO class is rated AAA or Aaa or is  derived  from a full faith and credit
obligation. Conversely, if the underlying mortgage assets experience slower than
anticipated  prepayments of principal,  the price on a PO class will be affected
more  severely  than  would  be  the  case  with a  traditional  mortgage-backed
security.

Foreign Securities:

         Investments in securities of foreign issuers may involve risks that are
not present with domestic  investments.  While investments in foreign securities
are  intended  to  reduce  risk  by  providing  further  diversification,   such
investments  involve  sovereign  risk in  addition  to credit and market  risks.
Sovereign  risk includes  local  political or economic  developments,  potential
nationalization,  withholding  taxes  on  dividend  or  interest  payments,  and
currency  blockage  (which  would  prevent  cash from being  brought back to the
United  States).  Compared to United  States  issuers,  there is generally  less
publicly  available  information  about  foreign  issuers  and there may be less
governmental regulation and supervision of foreign stock exchanges,  brokers and
listed companies.  Brokerage commissions on foreign securities exchanges,  which
may be fixed,  are generally  higher than in the United States.  Foreign issuers
are not  generally  subject to uniform  accounting  and auditing  and  financial
reporting standards,  practices and requirements  comparable to those applicable
to domestic  issuers.  Securities  of some  foreign  issuers are less liquid and
their prices are more volatile than securities of comparable  domestic  issuers.
In some  countries,  there  may  also be the  possibility  of  expropriation  or
confiscatory  taxation,  limitations  on the  removal of funds or other  assets,
difficulty in enforcing  contractual and other obligations,  political or social
instability  or  revolution,  or  diplomatic  developments  which  could  affect
investments  in those  countries.  Settlement  of  transactions  in some foreign
markets may be delayed or less frequent than in the United  States,  which could
affect the liquidity of investments. For example, securities which are listed on
foreign  exchanges  or  traded in  foreign  markets  may trade on days  (such as
Saturday  or  Holidays)  when a  Portfolio  does not compute its price or accept
orders for the purchase,  redemption or exchange of its shares. As a result, the
net asset value of a Portfolio may be significantly  affected by trading on days
when shareholders  cannot make transactions.  Further,  it may be more difficult
for the Trust's agents to keep currently  informed about corporate actions which
may affect the price of portfolio  securities.  Communications  between the U.S.
and foreign countries may be less reliable than within the U.S.,  increasing the
risk of delayed settlements or loss of certificates for portfolio securities.

         Currency  Fluctuations.   Investments  in  foreign  securities  may  be
denominated  in  foreign   currencies.   The  value  of  Portfolio   investments
denominated in foreign currencies may be affected,  favorably or unfavorably, by
the relative  strength of the U.S. dollar,  changes in foreign currency and U.S.
dollar exchange rates and exchange control regulations.  A Portfolio's net asset
value per share may,  therefore,  be affected  by changes in  currency  exchange
rates.  Changes in foreign currency  exchange rates may also affect the value of
dividends  and  interest  earned,  gains  and  losses  realized  on the  sale of
securities  and net  investment  income and gains,  if any, to be distributed to
shareholders  by a Portfolio.  Foreign  currency  exchange  rates  generally are
determined  by the forces of supply and demand in foreign  exchange  markets and
the relative  merits of investment in different  countries,  actual or perceived
changes  in  interest  rates  or  other  complex   factors,   as  seen  from  an
international  perspective.   Currency  exchange  rates  also  can  be  affected
unpredictably by intervention by U.S. or foreign governments or central banks or
the failure to intervene,  or by currency controls or political  developments in
the U.S. or abroad. In addition,  a Portfolio may incur costs in connection with
conversions between various currencies. Investors should understand and consider
carefully the special risks involved in foreign investing. These risks are often
heightened for investments in emerging or developing countries.
         The expected introduction of a single currency, the euro, on January 1,
1999 for  participating  nations in the European  Economic  and  Monetary  Union
presents  unique  uncertainties,  including  whether the payment and operational
systems of banks and other financial institutions will be ready by the scheduled
launch date; the legal treatment of certain outstanding financial contracts that
refer to existing currencies rather than the euro; the establishment of exchange
rates  for  existing  currencies  and the euro;  and the  creation  of  suitable
clearing and settlement payment systems for the new currency. Although the Trust
is taking steps intended to achieve  readiness for the planned  introduction  of
the euro, these or other external factors could cause market  disruptions before
or after the  introduction of the euro, and could adversely  affect the value of
securities held by the Portfolios.

         Developing  Countries.   Investing  in  developing  countries  involves
certain risks not typically  associated with investing in U.S.  securities,  and
imposes  risks  greater  than, or in addition to, risks of investing in foreign,
developed  countries.  These  risks  include:  the  risk of  nationalization  or
expropriation  of assets or confiscatory  taxation;  currency  devaluations  and
other  currency  exchange  rate  fluctuations;  social,  economic and  political
uncertainty  and  instability  (including  the  risk of war);  more  substantial
government  involvement  in  the  economy;  higher  rates  of  inflation;   less
government supervision and regulation of the securities markets and participants
in those markets; controls on foreign investment and limitations on repatriation
of invested  capital and on a Portfolio's  ability to exchange local  currencies
for U.S.  dollars;  unavailability  of currency  hedging  techniques  in certain
developing  countries;  the fact that  companies in developing  countries may be
smaller, less seasoned and newly organized companies; the difference in, or lack
of,   auditing  and  financial   reporting   standards,   which  may  result  in
unavailability of material  information  about issuers;  the risk that it may be
more difficult to obtain and/or enforce a judgment in a court outside the United
States;   and  greater  price  volatility,   substantially  less  liquidity  and
significantly smaller market capitalization of securities markets.

American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs"), European Depositary Receipts ("EDRs") and
Global Depositary Receipts ("GDRs"):

         ADRs are  dollar-denominated  receipts  generally  issued by a domestic
bank that represents the deposit of a security of a foreign issuer.  ADRs may be
publicly traded on exchanges or  over-the-counter in the United States. EDRs are
receipts  similar  to ADRs and are  issued  and  traded in  Europe.  GDRs may be
offered  privately  in the  United  States  and also  trade in public or private
markets in other  countries.  Depositary  Receipts may be issued as sponsored or
unsponsored  programs.  In sponsored programs,  the issuer makes arrangements to
have its securities traded in the form of a Depositary  Receipt.  In unsponsored
programs,  the  issuer  may not be  directly  involved  in the  creation  of the
program.   Although  regulatory  requirements  with  respect  to  sponsored  and
unsponsored   programs  are  generally  similar,   the  issuers  of  unsponsored
Depositary  Receipts are not obligated to disclose  material  information in the
United  States  and,  therefore,  the  import  of  such  information  may not be
reflected in the market value of such securities.

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts:

         A forward foreign currency  exchange contract involves an obligation to
purchase or sell a specified  currency at a future date,  which may be any fixed
number of days from the date the  contract is agreed upon by the  parties,  at a
price  set at the time of the  contract.  By  entering  into a  forward  foreign
currency contract, a Portfolio "locks in" the exchange rate between the currency
it will  deliver  and the  currency  it will  receive  for the  duration  of the
contract.  As a result, a Portfolio reduces its exposure to changes in the value
of the  currency it will  deliver and  increases  its exposure to changes in the
value of the currency into which it will exchange.  The effect on the value of a
Portfolio  is similar to selling  securities  denominated  in one  currency  and
purchasing  securities  denominated  in another.  The  Portfolios may enter into
these  contracts  for the  purposes of hedging  against  foreign  exchange  risk
arising from such Portfolio's investment or anticipated investment in securities
denominated  in or exposed to foreign  currencies.  Although a Sub-advisor  may,
from time to time,  seek to  protect a  Portfolio  by using  forward  contracts,
anticipated currency movements may not be accurately predicted and the Portfolio
may incur a gain or a loss on a forward contract.  A forward contract may reduce
a Portfolio's losses on securities  denominated in foreign currency,  but it may
also reduce the  potential  gain on the  securities  depending on changes in the
currency's value relative to the U.S. dollar or other currencies.


<PAGE>


Lower-Rated High-Yield Bonds:

         Lower-rated  high-yield  bonds  (commonly  known as "junk  bonds")  are
generally  considered  to be high risk  investments,  as they are  subject  to a
higher risk of default than  higher-rated  bonds.  In  addition,  the market for
lower-rated  high-yield  bonds  generally  is more  limited  than the market for
higher-rated  bonds,  and because  their markets may be thinner and less active,
the market prices of  lower-rated  high-yield  bonds may fluctuate more than the
prices  of  higher-rated  bonds,  particularly  in times of  market  stress.  In
addition,  while the market for high-yield corporate debt securities has been in
existence for many years,  the market in recent years has experienced a dramatic
increase in the  large-scale  use of such  securities  to fund highly  leveraged
corporate acquisitions and restructurings.  Accordingly, past experience may not
provide an accurate  indication of future  performance  of the  high-yield  bond
market,  especially during periods of economic recession.  Other risks which may
be associated with  lower-rated  high-yield  bonds include:  the exercise of any
redemption  or call  provisions  in a  declining  market  may  result  in  their
replacement by lower yielding  bonds;  and  legislation,  from time to time, may
adversely  affect  their  market.  Since the risk of  default  is  higher  among
lower-rated  high-yield  bonds,  a  Sub-advisor's  research  and analysis are an
important  ingredient in the selection of lower-rated  high-yield bonds. Through
portfolio  diversification,  good  credit  analysis  and  attention  to  current
developments  and trends in interest rates and economic  conditions,  investment
risk may be reduced, although there is no assurance that losses will not occur.

Illiquid and Restricted Securities:

         The Board of  Trustees  of the Trust has  promulgated  guidelines  with
respect to illiquid  securities.  Illiquid securities are deemed as such because
they are subject to  restrictions on their resale  ("restricted  securities") or
because, based upon their nature or the market for such securities, they are not
readily marketable. Restricted securities are acquired through private placement
transactions,  directly from the issuer or from security  holders,  generally at
higher yields or on terms more favorable to investors than  comparable  publicly
traded securities. However, the restrictions on resale may make it difficult for
a  Portfolio  to  dispose  of  such  securities  at  the  time  considered  most
advantageous by its  Sub-advisor,  and/or may involve expenses that would not be
incurred in the sale of securities that were freely marketable. A Portfolio that
may  purchase  restricted  securities  may  qualify  for  and  trade  restricted
securities in the  "institutional  trading market"  pursuant to Rule 144A of the
Securities Act of 1933. Trading in the institutional trading market may enable a
Sub-advisor  to  dispose  of  restricted  securities  at a time the  Sub-advisor
considers  advantageous and/or at a more favorable price than would be available
if such securities were not traded in such market.  However,  the  institutional
trading market is relatively  new and liquidity of a Portfolio's  investments in
such market  could be impaired if trading  does not develop or  declines.  Risks
associated with restricted  securities  include the potential  obligation to pay
all or part of the  registration  expenses in order to sell  certain  restricted
securities.  A  considerable  period of time may elapse  between the time of the
decision to sell a security and the time a Portfolio may be permitted to sell it
under an effective  registration  statement.  If, during such a period,  adverse
conditions were to develop, a Portfolio might obtain a less favorable price than
prevailing when it decided to sell.

Repurchase Agreements:

         The Board of  Trustees  of the Trust has  promulgated  guidelines  with
respect to repurchase agreements.  Repurchase agreements are agreements by which
a Portfolio purchases a security and obtains a simultaneous  commitment from the
seller to repurchase  the security at an agreed upon price and date.  The resale
price is in excess of the purchase price and reflects an agreed upon market rate
unrelated to the coupon rate on the purchased security. A repurchase transaction
is usually  accomplished either by crediting the amount of securities  purchased
to the account of a Portfolio's  custodian maintained in a central depository or
book-entry  system or by physical  delivery of the  securities  to a Portfolio's
custodian in return for delivery of the purchase price to the seller. Repurchase
transactions  are  intended  to  be  short-term  transactions  with  the  seller
repurchasing the securities, usually within seven days.

         A Portfolio  which enters into a repurchase  agreement  bears a risk of
loss in the event  that the other  party to such an  agreement  defaults  on its
obligation and such Portfolio is delayed or prevented from exercising its rights
to  dispose  of the  collateral  securities,  including  the risk of a  possible
decline in value of the underlying  securities  during the period such Portfolio
seeks to assert  these  rights,  as well as the risk of  incurring  expenses  in
asserting  these  rights and the risk of losing  all or part of the income  from
such an agreement. If the seller institution defaults, a Portfolio might incur a
loss or delay in the  realization  of  proceeds  if the value of the  collateral
securing the repurchase  agreement declines and it might incur disposition costs
in liquidating the collateral.  In the event that such a defaulting seller filed
for  bankruptcy  or  became  insolvent,  disposition  of  such  securities  by a
Portfolio might be delayed pending court action.

Reverse Repurchase Agreements:

         In a reverse repurchase agreement,  a Portfolio transfers possession of
a portfolio  instrument to another person,  such as a broker-dealer or financial
institution in return for a percentage of the instrument's  market value in cash
and  agrees  that  on a  stipulated  date  in the  future  such  Portfolio  will
repurchase the portfolio instrument by remitting the original consideration plus
interest at an agreed upon rate. When effecting reverse  repurchase  agreements,
assets of a Portfolio,  in a dollar  amount  sufficient  to make payment for the
obligations to be repurchased, are segregated on such Portfolio's records at the
trade  date  and are  maintained  until  the  transaction  is  settled.  Reverse
repurchase  agreements  involve the risk that the market value of the securities
retained  by the  Portfolio  may  decline  below  the  repurchase  price  of the
securities which it is obligated to repurchase.

Borrowing:

         Each Portfolio's  borrowings are limited so that immediately after such
borrowing the value of the Portfolio's  assets  (including  borrowings) less its
liabilities (not including borrowings) is at least three times the amount of the
borrowings. Should a Portfolio, for any reason, have borrowings that do not meet
the above test then, within three business days, such Portfolio must reduce such
borrowings so as to meet the necessary  test.  Under such a  circumstance,  such
Portfolio may have to liquidate  securities at a time when it is disadvantageous
to do so. Gains made with additional funds borrowed will generally cause the net
asset  value of such  Portfolio's  shares to rise  faster than could be the case
without borrowings.  Conversely, if investment results fail to cover the cost of
borrowings,  the net asset value of such Portfolio could decrease faster than if
there had been no borrowings.

Convertible Securities and Warrants:

         Convertible  securities  generally  participate in the  appreciation or
depreciation of the underlying stock into which they are  convertible,  but to a
lesser  degree.  Warrants are options to buy a stated number of shares of common
stock at a specified  price any time during the life of the warrants.  The value
of warrants may fluctuate more than the value of the securities  underlying such
warrants.  The value of a warrant  detached  from its  underlying  security will
expire without value if the rights under such warrant are not exercised prior to
its expiration date.

Lending Portfolio Securities:

         Each Portfolio may lend securities with a value of up to 33 1/3% of its
total  assets to  broker-dealers,  institutional  investors,  or others  for the
purpose of  realizing  additional  income.  Voting  rights on loaned  securities
typically  pass to the  borrower,  although a Portfolio  is able to  terminate a
securities  loan,  usually  within  three  business  days,  in  order to vote on
significant  matters  or  for  other  reasons.  All  securities  loans  will  be
collateralized by cash or securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government
or its  agencies  at least  equal in value  to the  market  value of the  loaned
securities.  Nonetheless,  lending securities involves certain risks,  including
the risk that the Portfolio  will be delayed or prevented  from  recovering  the
collateral if the borrower fails to return a loaned security.  For an additional
discussion  of  the  Portfolios'   limitations  on  lending,   see  "Fundamental
Investment Restrictions" in the Trust's SAI.

Other Investment Companies:

         The Trust has made  arrangements with certain money market mutual funds
so that the  Sub-advisors  for the various  Portfolios  can "sweep"  excess cash
balances of the Portfolios to those funds for temporary investment purposes.  In
addition,  certain  of the  Sub-advisors  may use money  market  funds that they
advise for temporary investment  purposes.  Mutual funds pay their own operating
expenses,  and the Portfolios,  as shareholders in the money market funds,  will
indirectly pay their proportionate share of such funds' expenses. Investments in
other  mutual  funds  and  investment  companies  will  be made  subject  to the
restrictions  of  the  Investment  Company  Act  of  1940,  which,  among  other
restrictions,  places certain  limits on the proportion of a Portfolio's  assets
that can be invested in other investment companies.

Year 2000 Risks:

         Many  services  provided  to  the  Trust  and  its  Portfolios  by  the
Investment  Manager,  the Sub-advisors,  and the Trust's other service providers
(collectively,  the  "Service  Providers")  rely  on the  functioning  of  their
respective  computer systems.  Many computer systems cannot distinguish the year
2000 from the year 1900,  with  resulting  potential  difficulty  in  performing
various  systems  functions  (the "Year 2000 Issue").  The Year 2000 Issue could
potentially  have an adverse  impact on the  handling  of security  trades,  the
payment of interest and  dividends,  pricing,  account  services and other Trust
operations.

         The Service  Providers  recognize the importance of the Year 2000 Issue
and have advised the Trust that they are taking  appropriate  steps necessary in
preparation  for the year 2000.  At this time,  there can be no  assurance  that
these steps will be  sufficient to avoid any adverse  impact on the  Portfolios,
nor can there be any assurance that the Year 2000 Issue will not have an adverse
effect  on  the  Portfolios'  investments  or on  global  markets  or  economies
generally. In addition, it has been reported that foreign institutions have made
less progress in addressing the Year 2000 Issue than major U.S. entities,  which
could adversely effect the Portfolio's foreign investments.

         The Investment Manager and the Trust have been informed that all of the
Service Providers  anticipate that their systems will be adapted in time for the
year 2000. The  Investment  Manager will continue to monitor the Year 2000 Issue
in an effort to confirm appropriate preparation by the Service Providers.

REGULATORY MATTERS:

         The Trust currently does not foresee any  disadvantages  to the holders
of variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies of affiliated
or unaffiliated Participating Insurance Companies or participants of the Skandia
Qualified Plan (see page 2 of this  Prospectus) or other plans  qualified  under
Section  401(a) of the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,  arising from
the fact that the interests of the various holders of variable annuity contracts
and variable life insurance  policies and  participants  of qualified  plans may
differ due to  differences  of tax treatment or other  considerations  or due to
conflicts between the Participating  Insurance Companies and/or qualified plans.
Nevertheless,  the  Trustees  intend to monitor  events in order to identify any
material irreconcilable conflicts which may possibly arise and to determine what
action,  if any,  should be taken in response to such  conflicts.  The  variable
annuity  contracts  and variable  life  insurance  policies are described in the
separate prospectuses issued by the Participating Insurance Companies. The Trust
assumes no responsibility for such prospectuses.

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER:

         Each  Portfolio may  generally  change its  investments  at any time in
accordance with its Sub-advisor's  appraisal of factors affecting any particular
issuer or the market or economy in general.  The  frequency  of the  Portfolio's
transactions  -- the  Portfolio's  turnover  rate -- will vary from year to year
depending upon market  conditions.  High turnover  (generally in excess of 100%)
involves  correspondingly  greater  brokerage  commissions and other transaction
costs. Trading in fixed income securities does not generally involve the payment
of brokerage  commissions,  but does involve indirect  transaction costs. A 100%
portfolio  turnover  rate would occur if all the  securities  in a portfolio  of
investments were replaced during a given period.  The following  Portfolios have
anticipated annual rates of turnover exceeding 100%.

         AST JanCap  Growth  Portfolio  (not to exceed 200% under normal  market
conditions).

         AST Janus Small-Cap  Growth  Portfolio (not to exceed 200% under normal
market conditions).

         AST PIMCO Total Return Bond  Portfolio (not to exceed 350% under normal
market conditions).

         AST PIMCO  Limited  Maturity Bond  Portfolio  (not to exceed 350% under
normal market conditions).

         AST Neuberger  Berman Mid-Cap Value Portfolio (not to exceed 150% under
normal market conditions).

         AST Neuberger Berman Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio (not to exceed 200% under
normal market conditions).

         For  further  details  regarding  the  portfolio  turnover  rates,  see
"Portfolio Turnover" in the Trust's SAI.


<PAGE>


BROKERAGE ALLOCATION:

         Generally,  the primary  consideration in placing Portfolio  securities
transactions with broker-dealers is to obtain, and maintain the availability of,
execution  at the best net  price  available  and in the most  effective  manner
possible.  The Trust's brokerage allocation policy may permit a Portfolio to pay
a broker-dealer  which furnishes research services a higher commission than that
which might be charged by another  broker-dealer which does not furnish research
services,  provided that such commission is deemed reasonable in relation to the
value  of  the  services  provided  by  such  broker-dealer.   Each  Portfolio's
Sub-advisor may consider the use of broker-dealers  that are, or might be deemed
to be, their affiliates or affiliatesof the Investment Manager.  In addition,  a
Sub-advisor may consider sale of shares of the Portfolios or variable  insurance
products  that use the  Portfolios as  investment  vehicles,  or may consider or
follow  recommendations  of the  Investment  Manager  that take such  sales into
account,  as factors in  selection  of  broker-dealers  to effect  transactions,
subject  to the  requirements  of best net price  available  and most  favorable
execution.  In this regard,  the Investment  Manager has directed certain of the
Sub-advisors  to try to  effect  a  portion  of their  Portfolios'  transactions
through broker-dealers that give prominence to variable insurance products using
the Portfolios as investment  vehicles,  to the extent  consistent with best net
price  available  and most  favorable  execution.  For a complete  discussion of
portfolio  transactions and brokerage allocation,  see "Brokerage Allocation" in
the Statement of Additional Information.

INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS:

         For each  Portfolio  the  Trust  has  adopted  a number  of  investment
restrictions  which are fundamental  policies and may not be changed without the
approval of the holders of a majority of the  affected  Portfolio's  outstanding
voting  securities as defined in the Investment  Company Act of 1940, as amended
(the "1940  Act").  The  Trust's  SAI  describes  all the  restrictions  on each
Portfolio's investment activities.

NET ASSET VALUES:

         The net asset  value  per  share of each  Portfolio  is  determined  by
dividing  the market  value of that  Portfolio's  securities  as of the close of
trading plus any cash or other assets (including dividends and accrued interest)
less all  liabilities  (including  accrued  expenses)  by the  number  of shares
outstanding in that Portfolio. Each Portfolio will determine the net asset value
of its shares as of 4:00 P.M. Eastern Time on each "business" day, which is each
day that the New York Stock  Exchange  (the  "NYSE") is open for  business.  The
Trust's Board of Trustees has established procedures for valuing the Portfolios'
securities.  In general, these valuations are based on market value. However, in
certain circumstances where market quotations are not readily available,  assets
are  valued  by  methods  specified  in the  procedures  that  are  believed  to
accurately  reflect the  assets'  fair value.  With  respect to all  Portfolios,
short-term  investments  that  will  mature  in 60 days or less  are  valued  at
amortized cost, which is intended to approximate  market value. See "Computation
of Net Asset Values" in the Trust's SAI.

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES:

         Purchases  of shares  of the  Portfolios  may be made only by  separate
accounts  of  Participating  Insurance  Companies  for the  purpose  of  funding
variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance  policies or by Qualified
Plans.  The separate  accounts of the  Participating  Insurance  Companies place
orders to purchase and redeem  shares of the Trust based on, among other things,
the amount of premium  payments to be invested and the amount of  surrender  and
transfer requests (as defined in the prospectus  describing the variable annuity
contracts  and  variable  life  insurance  policies)  to be effected on that day
pursuant to variable  annuity  contracts and variable life  insurance  policies.
Orders received by the Trust or the Trust's  transfer agent are effected on days
on which the NYSE is open for  trading.  For orders  received  before  4:00 P.M.
Eastern time,  purchases and redemptions of the shares of the Trust are effected
at the net asset value per share determined as of 4:00 P.M. Eastern Time on that
same day. Orders received after 4:00 P.M.  Eastern Time are effected at the next
calculated net asset value.  Payment for redemptions will be made by the Trust's
transfer  agent on behalf of the Trust  within  seven days after the  request is
received.  The Trust does not assess any fees,  either  when it sells or when it
redeems its securities.  Surrender charges,  mortality and expense risk fees and
other charges may be assessed by  Participating  Insurance  Companies  under the
variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policies.
These  fees  should  be  described  in the  Participating  Insurance  Companies'
prospectuses.

         As of the date of this  Prospectus,  American  Skandia  Life  Assurance
Corporation  ("ASLAC") and Kemper Investors Life Insurance  Company are the only
Participating  Insurance  Companies.  In the future,  shares of the Trust may be
sold to and held by separate  accounts that fund  variable  annuity and variable
life  insurance   contracts   issued  by  other   affiliated  and   unaffiliated
Participating  Insurance  Companies and also  directly to the Skandia  Qualified
Plan and other qualified plans. While it is not anticipated, should any conflict
arise  between the holders of  variable  annuity  contracts  and  variable  life
insurance  policies of  Participating  Insurance  Companies and  participants in
qualified  plans which would require that a substantial  amount of net assets be
withdrawn from the Trust, orderly portfolio management could be disrupted to the
potential  detriment of such holders.  As of December 3, 1998,  more than 99% of
each Portfolio of the Trust was owned of record by ASLAC on behalf of the owners
of variable annuity contracts issued by ASLAC.

ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUST:

         The Trust is a managed,  open-end  investment  company  organized  as a
Massachusetts business trust, whose separate Portfolios are diversified,  unless
otherwise  indicated.  As  of  the  date  of  this  Prospectus,  the  Trust  has
twenty-nine  Portfolios,  ten of which are offered through this Prospectus.  The
Trust may offer additional Portfolios with a range of investment objectives that
Participating  Insurance  Companies may consider suitable for variable annuities
and variable  life  insurance  policies or that may be  considered  suitable for
Qualified  Plans. The Trust's current approach to achieving this goal is to seek
to have multiple  organizations  unaffiliated with each other be responsible for
conducting the investment  programs for the Portfolios.  Each such  organization
would  be   responsible   for  the   Portfolio  or   Portfolios  to  which  such
organization's expertise is best suited.

         Formerly,  the Trust was known as the  Henderson  International  Growth
Fund,  which  consisted  of only  one  Portfolio.  The  Investment  Manager  was
Henderson  International,  Inc.  Shareholders  of what  was,  at the  time,  the
Henderson  International Growth Fund, approved certain changes in a meeting held
April 17, 1992. These changes included  engagement of a new Investment  Manager,
engagement  of a Sub-advisor  and election of new  Trustees.  Subsequent to that
meeting,  the new Trustees adopted a number of resolutions,  including,  but not
limited to,  resolutions  renaming the Trust.  Since that time the Trustees have
adopted a number of  resolutions,  including,  but not  limited  to,  making new
Portfolios available and adopting forms of Investment  Management Agreements and
Sub-advisory  Agreements  between the  Investment  Manager and the Trust and the
Investment Manager and each Sub-advisor, respectively.

     The Trustees of the Trust have oversight  responsibility for the operations
of each Portfolio.  The Trustees are David E.A. Carson, Julian A. Lerner, Thomas
M. Mazzaferro,  Thomas M. O'Brien, F. Don Schwartz, Jan R. Carendi and Gordon C.
Boronow.  Additional  information  about the Trustees and the Trust's  executive
officers may be found in the Trust's SAI under the section "Management."

Investment   Manager:   American  Skandia  Investment   Services,   Incorporated
("ASISI"), One Corporate Drive, Shelton, Connecticut, acts as Investment Manager
to the Trust. ASISI, a Connecticut  corporation organized in 1991, is registered
as an investment adviser with the Securities and Exchange  Commission.  Prior to
April 7, 1995, ASISI was known as American  Skandia Life Investment  Management,
Inc. ASISI is a wholly-owned  subsidiary of American Skandia  Investment Holding
Corporation,   whose  indirect   parent  is  Skandia   Insurance   Company  Ltd.
("Skandia").  Skandia is a Swedish company that owns, directly or indirectly,  a
number of insurance  companies in many  countries.  The  predecessor  to Skandia
commenced operations in 1855.

         American Skandia Life Assurance Corporation,  a Participating Insurance
Company,  is also a  wholly-owned  subsidiary  of  American  Skandia  Investment
Holding Corporation. Certain officers of the Trust are officers and/or directors
of  one or  more  of the  following  companies:  ASISI,  American  Skandia  Life
Assurance Corporation,  American Skandia Marketing,  Incorporated (the principal
underwriter for various  annuities  deemed to be securities for American Skandia
Life Assurance Corporation) and American Skandia Investment Holding Corporation.

Sub-advisors:

         Janus  Capital  Corporation  ("Janus"),  100 Fillmore  Street,  Denver,
Colorado 80206-4923,  serves as Sub-advisor for the AST JanCap Growth Portfolio,
and the AST Janus Small-Cap Growth Portfolio. Janus serves as investment advisor
to the Janus Funds,  as well as advisor or  sub-advisor  to several other mutual
funds and individual,  corporate, charitable and retirement accounts. As of June
30, 1998,  Janus  managed  assets worth over $89 billion.  Kansas City  Southern
Industries, Inc. ("KCSI") owns approximately 83% of the outstanding voting stock
of Janus Capital,  most of which it acquired in 1984.  KCSI is a publicly traded
holding  company  whose  primary  subsidiaries  are  engaged in  transportation,
information processing and financial services.  Thomas H. Bailey,  President and
Chairman of the Board of Janus, owns  approximately 12% of its voting stock and,
by agreement with KCSI, selects a majority of Janus' Board.

     The portfolio  manager  responsible for management of the AST JanCap Growth
Portfolio is Scott W. Schoelzel.  Mr.  Schoelzel,  a Senior Portfolio Manager at
Janus who has managed the Portfolio since August, 1997, joined Janus in January,
1994 as Vice President of  Investments.  From 1991 to 1993, Mr.  Schoelzel was a
Portfolio Manager with Founders Asset Management.

         The AST Janus  Small-Cap  Growth  Portfolio  is managed by a management
team  consisting  of James P. Craig,  William  Bales and Jonathan  Coleman.  The
management  team has managed the  Portfolio  since Janus became the  Portfolio's
sub-advisor in January 1999. James P. Craig, III is Chief Investment  Officer of
Janus Capital. He joined Janus in May 1983. William H. Bales has been a research
analyst  with  Janus  since  1993,  focusing  primarily  on the  transportation,
consumer products and restaurant industries.  He joined Janus in September 1991.
Jonathan  D.  Coleman  has been a research  analyst  with Janus since July 1994,
focusing primarily on the railroad, computer,  healthcare and financial services
industries.  Prior to joining  Janus,  Mr.  Coleman was a Fulbright  Fellow from
August 1993 until June 1994.
         T. Rowe  Price  Associates,  Inc.  ("T.  Rowe  Price"),  100 East Pratt
Street,  Baltimore,  Maryland  21202,  serves as Sub-advisor for the AST T. Rowe
Price Small  Company Value  Portfolio.  T. Rowe Price was founded in 1937 by the
late Thomas Rowe Price,  Jr. As of June 30,  1998,  the firm and its  affiliates
managed  approximately  $140 billion for approximately 6 million  individual and
institutional accounts.

         The AST T. Rowe Price Small  Company  Value  Portfolio is managed by an
Investment  Advisory  Committee  composed of the following  members:  Preston G.
Athey,  Chairman,  Hugh M. Evans III and Gregory A.  McCrickard.  The  Committee
Chairman has day-to-day responsibility for managing the Portfolio and works with
the Committee in developing and executing the  Portfolio's  investment  program.
Mr. Athey joined T. Rowe Price in 1978, has been managing investments since 1982
and has been Chairman of the Investment Advisory Committee since the Portfolio's
inception in December, 1996.

     Rowe Price-Fleming  International,  Inc. ("Price-Fleming"),  100 East Pratt
Street,  Baltimore,  Maryland  21202,  serves as Sub-advisor for the AST T. Rowe
Price  International  Equity  Portfolio.  Price-Fleming was founded in 1979 as a
joint venture between T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. and Robert Fleming Holdings
Limited.  Price-Fleming is one of the world's largest  international mutual fund
asset managers with  approximately  $33 billion under  management as of June 30,
1998 in its offices in Baltimore, London, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore and Buenos
Aires.  Each  Portfolio has an  investment  advisory  group that has  day-to-day
responsibility  for managing the  Portfolio  and  developing  and  executing the
Portfolio's investment program.

     The advisory group for the AST T. Rowe Price International Equity Portfolio
consists of Martin G. Wade, Mark C.J.  Bickford-Smith,  Robert W. Smith, John R.
Ford, James B.M. Seddon, and David J.L. Warren. Martin Wade joined Price-Fleming
in 1979  and has 27  years of  experience  with  Fleming  Group  (Fleming  Group
includes  Robert  Fleming  Holdings Ltd.  and/or Jardine  Fleming  International
Holdings Ltd.) in research, client service and investment management.  Mark C.J.
Bickford-Smith  joined  Price-Fleming  in 1995 has 14 years  experience with the
Fleming  Group in  research  and  financial  analysis.  Robert W.  Smith  joined
Price-Fleming  in 1996,  and had been with T. Rowe Price since  1992.  He has 12
years  experience in financial  analysis.  John R. Ford joined  Price-Fleming in
1982 and has 17 years of experience with Fleming Group in research and portfolio
management.  James B.M. Seddon joined  Price-Fleming in 1987 and has 12 years of
experience in investment  management.  David J.L. Warren joined Price-Fleming in
1984 and has 17 years experience in equity  research,  fixed income research and
portfolio management.

         INVESCO Funds Group, Inc. ("INVESCO"), 7800 East Union Avenue, P.O. Box
173706, Denver,  Colorado 80217-3706,  serves as Sub-advisor for the AST INVESCO
Equity Income  Portfolio.  INVESCO was  established  in 1932.  AMVESCAP PLC, the
parent of  INVESCO,  is one of the  largest  independent  investment  management
businesses in the world and managed  approximately  $261 billion of assets as of
June 30, 1998.

     The  portfolio  managers  responsible  for  management of the Portfolio are
Charles P. Mayer,  Portfolio Co-Manager,  and Donovan J. (Jerry) Paul, Portfolio
Co-Manager.  Mr. Mayer has served as Co-Manager  of the  Portfolio  since April,
1993.  Mr.  Mayer began his  investment  career in 1969 and is now a senior vice
president of INVESCO.  From 1993 to 1994, he was vice president of INVESCO,  and
from 1984 to 1993, he was a portfolio  manager with  Westinghouse  Pension.  Mr.
Paul has served as Co-Manager of the Portfolio  since May 1994. Mr. Paul entered
the investment management industry in 1976, and has been a senior vice president
of INVESCO since 1994. From 1993 to 1994, he was president of Quixote Investment
Management, Inc.

         Pacific Investment  Management  Company  ("PIMCO"),  840 Newport Center
Drive, Suite 360, Newport Beach,  California 92660 serves as Sub-advisor for the
AST PIMCO Total Return Bond  Portfolio and the AST PIMCO  Limited  Maturity Bond
Portfolio.  PIMCO is an  investment  counseling  firm founded in 1971 and, as of
June 30, 1998, had approximately $138 billion of assets under management.  PIMCO
is a subsidiary general partnership of PIMCO Advisors L.P. ("PIMCO Advisors"). A
majority  interest in PIMCO Advisors is held by PIMCO Partners,  G.P., a general
partnership  between Pacific  Investment  Management  Corporation,  a California
corporation,  and an indirect wholly owned  subsidiary of Pacific Life Insurance
Company,  and PIMCO  Partners,  LLC,  a  California  limited  liability  company
controlled by the managing directors of PIMCO.

         The portfolio manager responsible for management of the AST PIMCO Total
Return Bond  Portfolio  and the AST PIMCO  Limited  Maturity  Bond  Portfolio is
William H. Gross.  Mr. Gross is managing  director of PIMCO has been  associated
with the firm since 1971, and has managed each Portfolio since their  respective
commencement of operations.

         Stein Roe & Farnham Incorporated ("Stein Roe"), One South Wacker Drive,
Chicago,  Illinois  60606  serves as  Sub-advisor  to the AST Stein Roe  Venture
Portfolio.  Stein Roe was organized in 1986 to succeed the business of Stein Roe
& Farnham,  a partnership  that had advised and managed  mutual fund since 1949.
Stein Roe is a wholly owned  subsidiary of Liberty  Financial  Companies,  Inc.,
which  in turn  is a  majority  owned  indirect  subsidiary  of  Liberty  Mutual
Insurance Company.  As of June 30, 1998, Stein Roe managed  approximately  $29.1
billion in assets.

     William M. Garrison and Steven M. Salopek have been  co-portfolio  managers
of the Portfolio  since October 1998. Mr.  Garrison is a vice president of Stein
Roe, which he joined in 1989. He has been an equity research  analyst with Stein
Roe since 1993.  Mr.  Salopek is also a vice  president  of Stein Roe,  which he
joined in 1996 as an analyst. From 1990 to 1996, Mr. Salopek was an analyst with
Banc One Investment Advisors.

         Neuberger Berman Management  Incorporated ("NB Management"),  605 Third
Avenue,  New York, NY 10158,  serves as sub-advisor for the AST Neuberger Berman
Mid-Cap Value Portfolio and the AST Neuberger  Berman Mid-Cap Growth  Portfolio.
NB Management and its  predecessor  firms have  specialized in the management of
mutual funds since 1950.  All of the voting stock of NB  Management  is owned by
individuals who are principals of Neuberger  Berman,  LLC ("Neuberger  Berman").
Neuberger  Berman is a member  firm of the NYSE and other  principal  exchanges,
acts as the Portfolios'  principal  broker in the purchase and sale of portfolio
securities and the sale of covered call options, and provides NB Management with
certain assistance in the management of the Portfolios without added cost to the
Portfolios. Neuberger Berman and its affiliates, including NB Management, manage
securities accounts,  including mutual funds, that had approximately $59 billion
of assets as of June 30, 1998.

     The portfolio  managers  responsible  for the day-to-day  management of AST
Neuberger  Berman  Mid-Cap  Value  Portfolio  are Michael M.  Kassen,  Robert I.
Gendelman and S. Basu Mullick.  Mr. Kassen and Mr.  Gendelman have been managing
the Portfolio  since NB Management  became the  Portfolio's  Sub-Advisor  in May
1998,  and Mr.  Mullick has been managing the Portfolio  since October 1998. Mr.
Kassen has been a Vice  President of NB Management  and a principal of Neuberger
Berman since December  1992,  and was an employee of NB Management  from 1990 to
December  1992.  Mr.  Gendelman is a principal of Neuberger  Berman and has been
with NB Management since 1994, where he is currently a Vice President.  He was a
portfolio manager for another mutual fund manager from 1992 to 1993. Mr. Mullick
has been a Vice  President of NB Management  since  October  1998.  From 1993 to
1998, Mr. Mullick was a portfolio manager for a prominent investment adviser.

     Jennifer K. Silver and Brooke A. Cobb have been primarily  responsible  for
the day-to-day  management of the AST Neuberger  Berman Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio
since N B Management became the Portfolio's  Sub-advisor in May 1998. Ms. Silver
is Director of the Neuberger  Berman  Growth Equity Group,  and both she and Mr.
Cobb  are Vice  Presidents  of NB  Management.  Ms.  Silver  is a  principal  of
Neuberger  Berman.  Previously,  Ms. Silver was a portfolio  manager for several
large mutual funds managed by a prominent  investment adviser.  Previously,  Mr.
Cobb was the chief investment  officer for an investment  advisory firm managing
individual  accounts  from 1995 to 1997  and,  from  1992 to 1995,  a  portfolio
manager of a large mutual fund managed by a prominent adviser.



Investment  Management  Agreements:   The  Trust  has  entered  into  Investment
Management Agreements with the Investment Manager (the "Management  Agreements")
which provide that the Investment Manager will furnish each applicable Portfolio
with investment  advice and investment  management and  administrative  services
with respect to the applicable Portfolio subject to the supervision of the Board
of  Trustees  and in  conformity  with the  stated  policies  of the  applicable
Portfolio.  The Investment  Manager has engaged the Sub-advisors  noted above to
conduct the  investment  programs of each  Portfolio,  including  the  purchase,
retention and  disposition  of  securities.  Such  Sub-advisors  are required to
provide  research  and  statistical  analysis  and to keep books and  records of
securities  transactions.  The Investment  Manager is responsible for monitoring
the  activities  of the  Sub-advisors  and  reporting on the  activities  of the
Sub-advisors to the Trustees. The Investment Manager must also provide or obtain
for  the  Trust,  and  thereafter  supervise,  such  executive,  administrative,
accounting,  custody,  transfer agent and shareholder  servicing services as are
deemed advisable by the Trustees of the Trust.

         Under the terms of the Management  Agreements,  each Portfolio pays all
of its expenses, including, but not limited to, the costs incurred in connection
with the  maintenance of its  registration  under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended,  and the 1940 Act, printing and mailing  prospectuses and statements of
additional information to shareholders,  certain office and financial accounting
services, taxes or governmental fees, brokerage commissions,  portfolio pricing,
custodial,  transfer and shareholder  servicing agent costs, expenses of outside
counsel and  independent  accountants,  preparation of  shareholder  reports and
expenses of trustee and shareholder meetings. Expenses incurred by the Trust not
directly  attributable to any specific  Portfolio or Portfolios are allocated on
the basis of the net assets of the respective Portfolios.

         The  Investment  Manager  receives a fee,  payable each month,  for the
performance  of its services.  The  Investment  Manager pays each  Sub-advisor a
portion  of such  fee for the  performance  of the  Sub-advisory  services.  The
Investment   Management  fee  payable   differs  from  Portfolio  to  Portfolio,
reflecting the objective,  policies and  restrictions  of each Portfolio and the
nature of each Investment Management Agreement and Sub-advisory Agreement.  Each
Portfolio's  fee is accrued daily for the purposes of  determining  the offering
and  redemption  price  of the  Portfolio's  shares.  The  fees  payable  to the
Investment Manager are as follows:

         AST JanCap  Growth  Portfolio:  An annual  rate of .90% of the  average
daily net assets of the Portfolio. The Investment Manager has voluntarily agreed
to waive a portion of its fee equal to .05% of the  average  daily net assets of
the Portfolio in excess of $1 billion. The Investment Manager may terminate this
voluntary agreement at any time.

     AST Janus Small-Cap Growth Portfolio: An annual rate of .90% of the average
daily net assets of the Portfolio.

     AST T. Rowe Price International Equity Portfolio: An annual rate of 1.0% of
the average daily net assets of the Portfolio.

     AST T. Rowe Price Small Company Value Portfolio:  An annual rate of .90% of
the average daily net assets of the Portfolio.

     AST INVESCO Equity Income Portfolio:  An annual rate of .75% of the average
daily net assets of the Portfolio.

     AST PIMCO  Total  Return  Bond  Portfolio:  An  annual  rate of .65% of the
average daily net assets of the Portfolio.

     AST PIMCO Limited  Maturity Bond  Portfolio:  An annual rate of .65% of the
average daily net assets of the Portfolio.

     AST Stein Roe  Venture  Portfolio:  An annual  rate of .95% of the  average
daily net assets of the Portfolio.

         AST Neuberger Berman Mid-Cap Value Portfolio: An annual rate of .90% of
the portion of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio not in excess of $1
billion;  plus .85% of the portion of the net assets  over $1 billion.  Prior to
May 1, 1998, the Investment Manager had engaged Federated Investment  Counseling
as  Sub-advisor  for the  Portfolio  (formerly,  the  Federated  Utility  Income
Portfolio), for a total Investment Management fee equal to .75% of the first $50
million  of the  average  daily net  assets of the  Portfolio;  plus .60% of the
Portfolio's average daily net assets in excess of $50 million.

         AST Neuberger Berman Mid-Cap Growth  Portfolio:  An annual rate of .90%
of the portion of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio not in excess of
$1 billion; plus .85% of the portion of the net assets over $1 billion. Prior to
May 1, 1998,  the  Investment  Manager had engaged  Berger  Associates,  Inc. as
Sub-advisor for the Portfolio  (formerly,  the Berger Capital Growth Portfolio),
for a total Investment Management fee of .75% of the average daily net assets of
the Portfolio.

         The  Investment  Manager  has  agreed,  by the terms of the  Management
Agreements for certain  Portfolios of the Trust,  and  voluntarily for the other
Portfolios  of the Trust,  to  reimburse  the  Portfolio  for certain  operating
expenses  so that total  expenses  of the  Portfolio  do not exceed a  specified
percentage  of  the  Portfolio's   average  daily  net  assets.  Such  specified
percentage  differs between the Portfolios,  reflecting the objective,  policies
and  restrictions  of each Portfolio and the expenses  involved in conducting an
investment program for each Portfolio. For an additional discussion of Portfolio
expense limitations, see "Investment Advisory and Other Services" in the Trust's
SAI.

Sub-Advisory  Agreements:  The Investment  Manager pays each Sub-advisor for the
performance of sub-advisory  services.  The fee paid to the Sub-advisors differs
from   Portfolio  to  Portfolio,   reflecting  the   objectives,   policies  and
restrictions  of each Portfolio and the nature of each  Sub-advisory  Agreement.
Each  Sub-advisor's  fee is accrued daily for purposes of determining the amount
payable to the Sub-advisor.  The fees payable to the present Sub-advisors are as
follows:

         Janus  Capital  Corporation  for the AST JanCap  Growth  Portfolio:  An
annual  rate of .60% of the  portion  of the  average  daily  net  assets of the
Portfolio  not in excess of $100  million;  plus .55% of the  portion  over $100
million  but not in  excess of $1  billion;  plus  .50% of the  portion  over $1
billion. Commencing September 4, 1996, the Sub-advisor has voluntarily agreed to
waive a portion of its fee equal to .10% of the  Portfolio's  average  daily net
assets  over  $500  million  but not in excess  of $1  billion;  and .05% of the
portion  of the  Portfolio's  average  daily net  assets  over $1  billion.  The
Sub-advisor may terminate this voluntary agreement at any time.

         Janus Capital Corporation for the AST Janus Small-Cap Growth Portfolio:
An annual  rate of .50% of the  portion of the  average  daily net assets of the
Portfolio  not in excess of $100  million;  plus .45% of the  portion of the net
assets  over $100  million but not in excess of $500  million;  plus .40% of the
portion of the net assets  over $500  million  but not in excess of $1  billion;
plus .35% of the portion of the net assets over $1 billion.  Commencing  January
1, 1999, the Sub-advisor  has  voluntarily  agreed to waive a portion of its fee
equal to .05% of the portions of the  Portfolio's  average daily net assets over
$400  million but not in excess of $500 million and over $900 million but not in
excess of $1 billion.  The Sub-advisor may terminate this voluntary agreement at
any time. Prior to January 1, 1999, the Investment  Manager had engaged Founders
Asset  Management  LLC as Sub-advisor  for the Portfolio  (formerly the Founders
Capital  Appreciation  Portfolio),  for a total  Sub-advisory fee of .65% of the
portion of the average  daily net assets of the  Portfolio  not in excess of $75
million;  plus .60% of the portion of the net assets over $75 million but not in
excess of $150  million;  plus .55% of the  portion of the net assets  over $150
million.

         Rowe  Price-Fleming  International,  Inc.  for  the AST T.  Rowe  Price
International  Equity  Portfolio:  An annual  rate of .75% of the portion of the
average  daily net assets of the  Portfolio  not in excess of $20 million;  plus
 .60% of the  portion of the net assets over $20 million but not in excess of $50
million;  and .50% of the portion in excess of $50 million.  The Sub-advisor has
voluntarily agreed to waive a portion of its fee equal to .25% of the portion of
the  Portfolio's  average daily net assets not in excess of $20 million and .10%
of the  portion  of the net  assets  over $20  million  but not in excess of $50
million,  so long as the  average  daily net  assets of the  Portfolio  equal or
exceed $200 million.  Furthermore,  the Sub-advisor  has  voluntarily  agreed to
waive an additional portion of its fee equal to .05% of the Portfolio's  average
daily  net  assets  so long as the  combined  average  daily  net  assets of the
Portfolio and the ASMT T. Rowe Price International  Equity Portfolio of American
Skandia Master Trust equal or exceed $500 million. The Sub-advisor may terminate
these voluntary agreements at any time.

         T. Rowe Price Associates,  Inc. for the AST T. Rowe Price Small Company
Value Portfolio:  An annual rate of .60% of the portion of the average daily net
assets of the Portfolio  not in excess of $20 million;  plus .50% of the portion
of the net assets over $20 million  but not in excess of $50  million.  When the
net assets of the  Portfolio  exceed $50  million,  the fee is an annual rate of
 .50% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio.

         INVESCO Funds Group,  Inc. for the AST INVESCO Equity Income Portfolio:
An annual  rate of .50% of the  portion of the  average  daily net assets of the
Portfolio  not in excess of $25  million;  plus .45% of the  portion  of the net
assets  over $25  million  but not in  excess of $75  million;  plus .40% of the
portion  of the net  assets in excess of $75  million  but not in excess of $100
million; and .35% of the portion of the net assets over $100 million.

         Pacific  Investment  Management  Company for the AST PIMCO Total Return
Bond  Portfolio:  An annual rate of .30% of the average  daily net assets of the
Portfolio  not in excess of $150  million;  and .25% on the  portion  of the net
assets over $150 million.

         Pacific  Investment  Management  Company  for  the  AST  PIMCO  Limited
Maturity Bond Portfolio:  An annual rate of .30% of the average daily net assets
of the Portfolio  not in excess of $150 million;  and .25% on the portion of the
net assets over $150 million.

         Stein  Roe &  Farnham  Incorporated  for  the  AST  Stein  Roe  Venture
Portfolio:  An  annual  rate of .50% of the  average  daily  net  assets  of the
Portfolio.

         Neuberger & Berman Management,  Incorporated for the Neuberger & Berman
Mid-Cap  Value  Portfolio:  An annual rate of .50% of the portion of the average
daily net assets of the Portfolio  not in excess of $750  million;  plus .45% of
the portion of the net assets over $750 million but not in excess of $1 billion;
plus .40% of the  portion in excess of $1  billion.  Prior to May 1,  1998,  the
Investment  Manager had engaged Federated  Investment  Counseling as Sub-advisor
for the Portfolio  (formerly,  the Federated  Utility Income  Portfolio),  for a
total Sub-advisory fee of .50% of the portion of the average daily net assets of
the Portfolio  not in excess $25 million;  plus .35% of the portion in excess of
$25 million but not in excess of $50 million; plus .25% of the portion in excess
of $50 million.

         Neuberger & Berman Management,  Incorporated for the Neuberger & Berman
Mid-Cap Growth  Portfolio:  An annual rate of .45% of the portion of the average
daily net assets of the Portfolio  not in excess of $100  million;  plus .40% of
the  portion  of the net assets  over $100  million.  Prior to May 1, 1998,  the
Investment  Manager had engaged Berger  Associates,  Inc. as Sub-advisor for the
Portfolio  (formerly,  the  Berger  Capital  Growth  Portfolio),   for  a  total
Sub-advisory fee of .55% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio not in
excess of $25 million; plus .50% of the portion of average daily net assets over
$25  million but not in excess of $50  million;  plus .40% of the portion of the
average daily net assets over $50 million.

Administrator:   PFPC  Inc.  (the   "Administrator"),   103  Bellevue   Parkway,
Wilmington,   Delaware  19809,  a  Delaware  corporation  that  is  an  indirect
wholly-owned  subsidiary of PNC Financial Corp., serves as the administrator for
the Trust pursuant to a Trust Accounting and  Administration  Agreement  between
the  Trust  and  the  Administrator,  dated  May 1,  1992  (the  "Administration
Agreement").   The   Administrator   provides   certain  fund   accounting   and
administrative  services  to  the  Trust,   including,   among  other  services,
accounting  relating to the Trust and investment  transactions of the Trust, and
computing  daily  net  asset  values.   The  Administrator  does  not  have  any
responsibility  or authority for the management of the assets of the Trust,  the
determination of its investment  policies,  or for any matter  pertaining to the
distribution of securities issued by the Trust.

         As  compensation  for  the  services  and  facilities  provided  by the
Administrator under the Administration Agreement, the Trust has agreed to pay to
the  Administrator  its  "out-of-pocket"  expenses  plus the  greater of certain
percentages  of the average  daily net assets of the Trust or certain  specified
minimum annual amounts  calculated for each  Portfolio.  The  percentages of the
average daily net assets are: (a) 0.10% of the first $200 million;  (b) 0.06% of
the next $200 million;  (c) 0.0375% of the next $200  million;  and (d) 0.03% of
average  daily net assets over $600 million.  The minimum  amount is $75,000 for
each of the AST JanCap  Growth  Portfolio,  the AST T. Rowe Price Small  Company
Value Portfolio,  the AST INVESCO Equity Income  Portfolio,  the AST PIMCO Total
Return Bond Portfolio,  the AST PIMCO Limited  Maturity Bond Portfolio,  the AST
Neuberger  Berman Mid-Cap Value  Portfolio and the AST Neuberger  Berman Mid-Cap
Growth  Portfolio.  The  minimum  amount is  $100,000  for the AST T. Rowe Price
International  Equity  Portfolio.  The minimum amount for the fiscal year ending
December  31, 1998 for the AST Stein Roe Venture  Portfolio  is $34,375.  For an
additional  discussion of the services provided by the  Administrator  under the
Administration  Agreement,  and the "out-of-pocket" expenses the Trust is to pay
the  Administrator,  see the Trust's  SAI under  "Management  of the Trust:  The
Administrator and Transfer and Shareholder Servicing Agent."

Sale of Shares:  Shares are sold at net asset value to  Participating  Insurance
Companies and the Skandia  Qualified  Plan.  The Trust has entered into separate
agreements  for  the  sale  of  shares  with  American  Skandia  Life  Assurance
Corporation  ("ASLAC") and Kemper Investors Life Insurance  Company  ("Kemper"),
respectively.  Pursuant to these agreements, the Trust will pay ASLAC and Kemper
for printing and delivery of certain documents to the beneficial owners of Trust
shares who are holders of variable annuity and variable life insurance  policies
issued by ASLAC and Kemper. Such documents include prospectuses, semi-annual and
annual  reports and any proxy  materials.  The Trust will pay ASLAC 0.1%,  on an
annualized  basis,  of the net asset  value of the shares  legally  owned by any
separate account of ASLAC, and will pay Kemper 0.1%, on an annualized  basis, of
the net asset  value of the shares  legally  owned by the  separate  accounts of
Kemper named in the sales  agreement.  The Trust may enter into sales agreements
with other Participating  Insurance Companies in the future.  Owners of variable
annuity  contracts  and variable  insurance  policies  will  receive  annual and
semi-annual  reports  including the financial  statements of the Portfolios that
they have authorized for investment.

TAX MATTERS:

         This  discussion  of  federal  income tax  consequences  applies to the
Participating  Insurance  Companies  and  qualified  plans  since  the  separate
accounts of the Participating  Insurance  Companies and the qualified plans will
be the  shareholders  of the Trust.  Holders of variable  annuity  contracts  or
variable  life  insurance  policies  must  consult  the  prospectuses  of  their
respective  contracts  or policies  for  information  on the federal  income tax
consequences  to such  holders,  and plan  participants  must  consult  with any
applicable plan documents for information on the federal income tax consequences
to such holders.  The Trust intends to qualify as a regulated investment company
by satisfying the  requirements  under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986,  as  amended  (the  "Code"),  including  requirements  with  respect to
diversification  of assets,  distribution of income and sources of income. It is
the Trust's policy to distribute to  shareholders  all of its investment  income
(net of expenses)  and any capital  gains (net of capital  losses) in accordance
with the timing requirements  imposed by the Code so that the Trust will satisfy
the  distribution  requirement  of  Subchapter  M and not be  subject to federal
income taxes or the 4% excise tax.

         Distributions by the Trust of its net investment income and the excess,
if any, of its net short-term  capital gain over its net long-term  capital loss
are taxable to shareholders as ordinary income.  These distributions are treated
as  dividends  for federal  income tax  purposes,  but will  qualify for the 70%
dividends-received  deduction  for  corporate  shareholders  only to the  extent
designated as attributable  to dividends  received by the Trust in a notice from
the  Trust.  Distributions  by the  Trust  of the  excess,  if  any,  of its net
long-term  capital gain over its net  short-term  capital loss are designated as
capital gain  dividends  and are taxable to  shareholders  as long-term  capital
gains, regardless of the length of time the shareholder held his shares.

         Portions  of certain  Portfolio's  investment  income may be subject to
foreign income taxes withheld at source.  The Trust may elect to  "pass-through"
to the  shareholders of such Portfolios these foreign taxes, in which event each
shareholder  will be  required to include  his pro rata  portion  thereof in his
gross  income,  but will be able to deduct or (subject  to various  limitations)
claim a foreign tax credit for such amount.

         Distributions  to  shareholders  will be treated in the same manner for
federal income tax purposes whether received in cash or reinvested in additional
shares of the  Trust.  In  general,  distributions  by the Trust are taken  into
account by the shareholders in the year in which they are made. However, certain
distributions  made  during  January  will be treated as having been paid by the
Trust and received by the  shareholders  on December 31 of the preceding year. A
statement setting forth the federal income tax status of all distributions  made
or deemed made during the year,  including  any amount of foreign  taxes "passed
through,"  will be sent to  shareholders  promptly  after the end of each  year.
Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  distributions by the Trust to certain Qualified
Plans may be exempt from federal income tax.

         Under Code  Section  817(h),  a segregated  asset  account upon which a
variable  annuity  contract or variable life  insurance  policy is based must be
"adequately   diversified."  A  segregated  asset  account  will  be  adequately
diversified if it satisfies one of two  alternative  tests set forth in Treasury
regulations.   For  purposes  of  these  alternative  diversification  tests,  a
segregated asset account investing in shares of a regulated  investment  company
will be entitled to "look-through"  the regulated  investment company to its pro
rata  portion  of  the  regulated  investment  company's  assets,  provided  the
regulated  investment  company  satisfies  certain  conditions  relating  to the
ownership  of  its  shares.   The  Trust  intends  to  satisfy  these  ownership
conditions.  Further,  the Trust intends that each Portfolio  separately will be
adequately diversified. Accordingly, a segregated asset account investing solely
in shares of a Portfolio will be adequately diversified,  and a segregated asset
account  investing in shares of one or more Trust Portfolios and shares of other
adequately diversified funds generally will be adequately diversified.

         The foregoing discussion of federal income tax consequences is based on
tax laws and  regulations  in  effect  on the  date of this  Prospectus,  and is
subject to change by  legislative  or  administrative  action.  As the foregoing
discussion is for general information only, each prospective  shareholder should
consult with his own tax advisor as to the tax  consequences  of  investments in
the Trust,  including the  application of state and local taxes which may differ
from the federal income tax consequences described above.  DESCRIPTION OF SHARES
OF THE TRUST:

         The Trust's  Declaration of Trust dated October 31, 1988, which governs
certain Trust  matters,  permits the Trust's Board of Trustees to issue multiple
classes of shares,  and within  each  class,  an  unlimited  number of shares of
beneficial interest with a par value of $.001 per share. Each share entitles the
holder to one vote for the  election of Trustees  and on all other  matters that
are  not  specific  to one  class  of  shares,  and to  participate  equally  in
dividends,  distributions  of capital  gains and net  assets of each  applicable
Portfolio.  Only  shareholders  of shares of a  specific  Portfolio  may vote on
matters  specific to that  Portfolio.  Shares of one class may not bear the same
economic  relationship  to the Trust as shares of another class. In the event of
dissolution  or  liquidation,  holders of shares of a Portfolio will receive pro
rata, subject to the rights of creditors, the proceeds of the sale of the assets
held in such  Portfolio less the  liabilities  attributable  to such  Portfolio.
Shareholders of a Portfolio will not be liable for the expenses,  obligations or
debts of another Portfolio.

         There are no preemptive or conversion  rights  applicable to any of the
Trust's  shares.  The  Trust's  shares,   when  issued,   will  be  fully  paid,
non-assessable and transferable.  The Trustees may at any time create additional
series of shares without shareholder approval.

         Generally, there will not be annual meetings of shareholders. A Trustee
may, in accordance with certain rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission,
be removed from office when the holders of record of not less than two-thirds of
the  outstanding  shares  either  present a written  declaration  to the Trust's
custodian or vote in person or by proxy at a meeting called for this purpose. In
addition,  the Trustees will promptly call a meeting of shareholders to remove a
Trustee(s) when requested to do so in writing by record holders of not less than
10%  of  the  outstanding  shares.  Finally,  the  Trustees  shall,  in  certain
circumstances,  give  such  shareholders  access  to a  list  of the  names  and
addresses of all other shareholders or inform them of the number of shareholders
and the cost of mailing their request.

         Under   Massachusetts   law,    shareholders   could,   under   certain
circumstances,  be held liable for the  obligations of the Trust.  However,  the
Declaration of Trust disclaims  shareholder liability for acts or obligations of
the  Trust  and  requires  that  notice  of such  disclaimer  be  given  in each
agreement, obligation or instrument entered into or executed by the Trust or the
Trustees to all parties,  and each party thereto must expressly waive all rights
of action directly against  shareholders.  The Declaration of Trust provides for
indemnification  out of the  Trust's  property  for all loss and  expense of any
shareholder  of the Trust  held  liable  on  account  of being or having  been a
shareholder. Thus, the risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss on account
of shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which the Trust would be
unable to meet its obligations  wherein the complaining party was held not to be
bound by the disclaimer.

         The Declaration of Trust further provides that the Trustees will not be
liable for errors of judgment or  mistakes of fact or law.  However,  nothing in
the  Declaration of Trust protects a Trustee  against any liability to which the
Trustee would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance,  bad faith,
gross negligence,  or reckless  disregard of the duties involving the conduct of
his office.  The Declaration of Trust provides for  indemnification by the Trust
of the  Trustees  and officers of the Trust except with respect to any matter as
to which any such person did not act in good faith in the reasonable belief that
his action was in or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust. Such person
may not be  indemnified  against  any  liability  to the  Trust  or the  Trust's
shareholders  to which he would  otherwise  be  subject  by  reason  of  willful
misfeasance,  bad faith,  gross  negligence or reckless  disregard of the duties
involved in the conduct of his office.  The Declaration of Trust also authorizes
the purchase of liability insurance on behalf of Trustees and officers.

PERFORMANCE:

         The Portfolios may measure performance in terms of total return,  which
is  calculated  for any  specified  period of time by assuming  the  purchase of
shares of the  Portfolio at the net asset value at the  beginning of the period.
Each dividend or other distribution paid by each Portfolio during such period is
assumed to have been reinvested at the net asset value on the reinvestment date.
The shares  then owned as a result of this  process  are valued at the net asset
value  at the end of the  period.  The  percentage  increase  is  determined  by
subtracting  the  initial  value of the  investment  from the  ending  value and
dividing the remainder by the initial value. Each Portfolio's total return shows
a Portfolio's overall dollar or percentage change in value, including changes in
share  price  and  assuming  each   Portfolio's   dividends  and  capital  gains
distributions  are  reinvested.  An average  annual  total  return  reflects the
hypothetical  annually  compounded  return  that  would have  produced  the same
cumulative return if a Portfolio's performance had been constant over the entire
period.  Total  return  figures  are based on the  overall  change in value of a
hypothetical  investment in each  Portfolio.  Because average annual returns for
more than one year tend to smooth out  variations  in each  Portfolio's  return,
investors  should  recognize  that  such  figures  are  not the  same as  actual
year-by-year  results.  To illustrate the components of overall  performance,  a
Portfolio may separate its  cumulative  and average  annual  returns into income
results and capital gains or losses.

         The  Portfolios may also measure  performance  in terms of yield.  Each
Portfolio's  yield  shows  the  rate  of  income  the  Portfolio  earns  on  its
investments as a percentage of the Portfolio's  share price. To calculate yield,
the  Portfolio  takes the  interest  and  dividend  income  it  earned  from its
investments  for a 30-day  period (net of  expenses),  divides it by the average
number of Portfolio  shares  entitled to receive  dividends,  and  expresses the
result as an annualized percentage rate based on the Portfolio's net asset value
at the end of the 30-day period. For the Portfolio's  investments denominated in
foreign  currencies,  income and expenses  are  calculated  in their  respective
currencies and then converted to U.S. dollars.  Yields are calculated  according
to methods that are  standardized  for all stock and bond funds.  Because  yield
calculation  methods differ from the method used for other  accounting  purposes
(for  instance,  currency  gains  and  losses  are not  reflected  in the  yield
calculation), a Portfolio's yield may not equal the income paid to shareholders'
accounts or the income reported in the Portfolio's financial statements.

         The  Portfolios  impose no sales or other charges that would impact the
total return or yield computations. Portfolio performance figures are based upon
historical  results and are not  intended to indicate  future  performance.  The
investment  return and principal value of an investment in any of the Portfolios
will fluctuate so that an investor's shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or
less than their original cost.

         Yield and total returns quoted from the  Portfolios  include the effect
of deducting each Portfolio's expenses, but may not include charges and expenses
attributable  to  any  particular  insurance  product.  Because  shares  of  the
Portfolios may be purchased through variable insurance contracts, the prospectus
of the  Participating  Insurance  Company  sponsoring  such  contract  should be
carefully  reviewed for information on relevant charges and expenses.  Excluding
these charges from quotations of each Portfolio's  performance has the effect of
increasing  the  performance  quoted.  The  effect  of these  charges  should be
considered  when  comparing a  Portfolio's  performance  to that of other mutual
funds. In advertising and sales literature, these figures will be accompanied by
figures that reflect the applicable contract charges.

         From time to time in advertisements  or sales material,  the Portfolios
(or Participating  Insurance Companies) may discuss their performance ratings or
other  information as published by recognized  mutual fund statistical or rating
services,   such  as  Lipper  Analytical  Services,   Inc.,  Morningstar  or  by
publications of general  interest,  such as Forbes or Money.  The Portfolios may
also compare their  performance to that of other selected  mutual funds,  mutual
fund averages or recognized  stock market  indicators,  including the Standard &
Poor's  500  Stock  Index,  the  Standard  & Poor  Midcap  Index,  the Dow Jones
Industrial Average, the Russell 2000 and the NASDAQ composite.  In addition, the
Portfolios may compare their total return or yield to the yield on U.S. Treasury
obligations and to the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index. The AST T.
Rowe Price  International  Equity  Portfolio may compare its  performance to the
record of global market indicators such as Morgan Stanley Capital  International
Europe,  Australia,  Far East Index (EAFE Index),  an unmanaged index of foreign
common stock prices  translated into U.S. dollars.  Such performance  ratings or
comparisons  may  be  made  with  funds  that  may  have  different   investment
restrictions,  objectives,  policies or techniques  than the Portfolios and such
other funds or market  indicators  may be  comprised of  securities  that differ
significantly from the Portfolios' investments.

TRANSFER AND  SHAREHOLDER  SERVICING  AGENT:  PFPC Inc.,  103 Bellevue  Parkway,
Wilmington,  Delaware  19809,  serves as the Trust's  transfer  and  shareholder
servicing agent.

CUSTODIAN: The custodian for all cash and securities holdings of the AST T. Rowe
Price   International   Equity  Portfolio  is  The  Chase  Manhattan  Bank,  One
Pierrepont,  Brooklyn,  New  York.  The  custodian  for all cash and  securities
holdings  of  the  other  Portfolios  is  PNC  Bank,  Airport  Business  Center,
International Court 2, 200 Stevens Drive, Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania 19113. For
these  Portfolios,  The Chase  Manhattan  Bank will serve as  co-custodian  with
respect to foreign securities holdings.

COUNSEL AND AUDITORS:  The firm of Werner & Kennedy, 1633 Broadway,  46th Floor,
New York, New York 10019,  is counsel for the Trust.  Deloitte & Touche LLP, 117
Campus  Drive,  Princeton,  New Jersey  08540,  has been  appointed  independent
auditor for the Trust.

OTHER INFORMATION:  This Prospectus omits certain  information  contained in the
registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies
of the registration statement, including items omitted herefrom, may be obtained
from the  Commission  by  paying  the  charges  prescribed  under  its rules and
regulations.

         Shareholder inquiries should be made by telephone to (800) 752-6342 or,
if  in  writing,  to  the  Trust's  office  at  One  Corporate  Drive,  Shelton,
Connecticut  06484.  Holders of variable  annuity  contracts  or  variable  life
insurance policies issued by Participating  Insurance Companies for which shares
of the Trust are the  investment  vehicle will  receive  from the  Participating
Insurance   Companies   semi-annual   reports  containing   unaudited  financial
statements and annual reports containing  year-end financial  statements audited
by the Trust's independent auditors.  Participants in the Skandia Qualified Plan
may request  such reports  from the plan's  trustees.  Each report will show the
investments owned by the Trust and the market values of the investments and will
provide other information about the Trust and its operations.

NO  PERSON  HAS  BEEN  AUTHORIZED  TO  GIVE  ANY  INFORMATION  OR  TO  MAKE  ANY
REPRESENTATIONS  OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS,  AND INFORMATION
OR  REPRESENTATIONS  NOT HEREIN CONTAINED,  IF GIVEN OR MADE, MUST NOT BE RELIED
UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE TRUST. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE
AN OFFER OR  SOLICITATION  IN ANY  JURISDICTION  IN WHICH SUCH  OFFERING MAY NOT
LAWFULLY BE MADE.





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